Scout chief warns of threat to volunteer groups as ground rents rocket

7 February 2011 1 min read Janaki Mahadevan Youth Work Uniformed

Scout groups across the UK are facing "impossible" hikes in council rents, the Scout Association chief executive has warned, as he hit out at compromises to the government's big society agenda.

Speaking to CYP Now ahead of his appearance at the education select committee this week (9 February), Derek Twine said reductions in council budgets have forced authorities to increase rents for buildings including those used by volunteer groups.

Twine cited the example of a council in the South East that has asked one group to raise its rent from £135 a year to £10,500; and another in Greater London that was increasing a group's rent from £130 a year to £4,000.

"These are ridiculous figures that the local authorities are being forced to push onto volunteer groups," he said. "Those volunteers that want to provide youth work are now in a situation of having to go out and do fundraising, often in areas of high unemployment where previously they were dedicating their time to working with young people."

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