The responsibility for the Trust's properties and assets and how it operates within the terms of the Charities Act is delegated by the Scout Association to the Trustees under a Trust Deed.
Currently, the Trust has three Trustees who are also members of a twelve-strong National Executive Committee under an elected Chairman who normally serves for three years. All are volunteers and all appointments are honorary.
They meet regularly throughout the year to decide on policy, expenditure, publicity and promotions, holiday rentals, future development and whatever else affects proper management of the Trust's affairs.
Each member looks after a particular aspect of the business: finance, displays and publicity, equipment supply, research and statistics and so on.
There is one full-time Administrator - Lynda Peters - who, with a part-time assistant - Ann Standing - run the Trust Office at Gilwell Park, and are the Trust's only paid staff. The Office is based at the new Scout Association Headquarters building at Gilwell. The Scout Association provides the office space and telephone service, and the Trust has access to the Association's professional services. However, it has to be remembered that the Trust is a totally separate charity and has to meet its own running expenses from income and donations. Fortunately past and present members of the Public Relations Department are able to give professional assistance in their speciality when needed, but all advertising and outside services are paid for.
Locally, each site has a Local Management Team consisting of a Secretary and some other supporters, who usually are from Scouting backgrounds. These people are responsible for on-the-spot supervision of the units, reporting defects, weather or other damage and, as approved by the Trust Administrator, organising necessary work.
Although there is usually a small amount of maintenance work to be done during wintertime, there is a commitment to the Trust's holidaymakers during the holiday season - from Easter until the end of October. Whenever possible, the local teams ensure that units are clean and tidy before each holiday party arrives and that all equipment and fittings are as they should be.
Some teams try to be there to welcome new arrivals and to help them to settle in, hand over the key and leave everyone happy. Several of our teams, even leave fresh flowers for our holidaymakers.
The Local Team Secretary is responsible for following up bookings advised by the Trust Office, and corresponds in advance with the prospective visitor to tell them of the arrangements for the release of our keys and the holiday park club membership, and passes on advice about the arrangements that will help to ensure a trouble-free holiday.
Local Management Teams, like the National Committee, are all volunteers and are mostly members of the Scout Fellowship. It is impossible to speak too highly of these people. They are constantly in the front line. As far as the visitors are concerned they are the Trust, on hand to deal with minor crises, equipment breakdowns or any other mishaps that might threaten to spoil the holiday.
Without them, the Trust would not be the Trust. They are the embodiment of the 'Scouts Good Turn' writ large.
At the end of the holiday season, members of the National Executive Committee visit each site and, in consultation with the Local Teams, plan any essential work to be carried out off-season, and resolve whatever other problems there may be in preparing for the following year. Thus the circuit is completed that keeps the Trust functioning.
The Trust Administrator provides a full back-up for all the Local Management Teams, and is available to them both during and outside Office hours.
