Introduction

Scouts Canada’s goal is to ensure that all Groups receive appropriate support to execute the Mission locally and to consistently deliver on our promise to Parents and Youth. The Group Support Standard ensures a direct ‘person-to-person’ relationship between a Group and a Scouts Canada support representative. This relationship serves to cement ongoing alignment to Scouts Canada’s Mission, improve volunteer engagement and promote consistent program facilitation.

The objective of the Group Support Standard is to ensure that:

• Group Support plans are developed and implemented with full alignment to Scouts Canada’s priorities and each Group’s needs; and
• Groups receive consistent and high-quality support that meets or exceeds the expectations of our Group Commissioners.

Our Standards

1. The Standard applies to all Councils, volunteers and employees that actively support Groups.
2. Scouts Canada believes that our Groups are the core delivery mechanism for our programs, and we must provide them with the support they need, when they need it, so that they are set up to successfully deliver on our Mission.
3. Relationship Managers (volunteer or employee) will be identified for the purposes of direct ‘person-to-person’ account management for Group Commissioners and Groups. Volunteer appointments are conducted as per the Appointment of Scouters Standard.
   1. A Relationship Manager is defined as a volunteer or employee who formally acts as a mentor and coach that works directly with an assigned Group Commissioner(s) to enable them to deliver on Scouts Canada’s strategic priorities at the Group and Section level.
4. Scouts Canada shall ensure the following minimum requirements of the Group Support are included in annual plans and implemented:
   1. All Groups are assigned a dedicated Relationship Manager who is their key point of contact with Scouts Canada, and who will be available to support the Group Commissioner whenever it’s required or requested;
   2. Groups will be provided support to empower them to offer Scouting experiences to youth in their community, positively impacting Scouts Canada’s Mission;
   3. Group Health will be reviewed at least annually with the Group Commissioner, Relationship Manager and other volunteers and/or employees as appropriate, for the purpose of creating a support plan.
5. Relationship Managers may provide additional or enhanced support to Groups based on the following criteria:
   1. The overall health of a Group, as determined by the Group Health Navigator;
   2. The tenure, competence and experience of the Group Commissioner;
   3. The number of youth participating in Scouting programs within the Group;
   4. The retention rate of both youth and Scouters within the Group;
   5. The growth and retention rates for youth members participating in the Group’s programs over the past 3-5 years; and
   6. The potential to increase the Group’s impact in its community, based on capacity to enroll more youth and the quality of its program.
6. The support provided to each Group will be reviewed annually.