Roger King International Fund

The RK Fund has been established in memory of the Roger King, a former County Commissioner, County Chairman and County Secretary. Roger was closely involved in Berkshire Scouting until his death in 2003 and was particularly interested in International activities.

i. The purpose of the RK Fund is to facilitate participation in International Scouting experiences outside of the UK for individuals who, for financial reasons, might otherwise be excluded from this important aspect of Scouting.

ii. The RK Fund fulfils its purpose by making grants of up to £100.00 per individual.

iii. The RK Fund is available to all invested young people and adult Leaders.

iv. Applications to the RK Fund can be made to the ACC (I) on a form which is also available on the County website.

v. Applications should ideally be submitted at least 3 months before the International experience to which they relate.

vi. The application form will generally be completed by the Section Leader and endorsed by the GSL and DC. The use and endorsement of the form is sufficiently flexible to recognise that a beneficiary might be a young person, Scout Network member or any adult Leader. The form contains a note advising that where an application relates to a young person their parents should be informed. The form closely mirrors existing forms used within the Scout Association for grant applications.

vii. The applications are evaluated by a small team comprising Rogers wife Jean, the ACC (I), a Scout Leader, an Explorer Scout Leader and a Scout Network member. The ACC (I) is also responsible for co-ordinating the evaluation of applications, seeking further information regarding applications (if necessary) and confirming the result to the persons who submitted and endorsed the application. In the case of forms originating from Districts the DC will always be advised of the result.

viii. The person who receives a grant will be asked to contribute a short article for the County website describing the International experience in which they took part. The article will not be presented in a way that reveals the author to have received a grant from the RK Fund.

ix. The evaluation team is empowered by the County Executive Committee (CEC) to make decisions regarding grants but will advise the CEC, in confidence, of all applications received and those accepted or refused.

x. The evaluation team will work with the CEC in guaranteeing the sustainability of the RK Fund by advising on possible sources of additional income for the fund.

xi. The evaluation team will, on an annual basis, review the value of individual grants available.

xii. Further information about the RK fund can be obtained from the RK fund Coordinator  Sue Clarkson ACC (I). Sue can be contacted by telephone on 0118 376 9272 or 07799 076296 or via the International Team

Version 1. (November 2004)