The main way we will communicate with members including those on the waitlist is through Online Scout Manager (OSM) which is an online portal where each member and prospective member’s contact information is stored. If the young person joins a section, OSM will also store emergency information, medical needs, and preferences such as whether we can take photos of the young person or apply sunscreen. It is important that parents and guardians review the emergency contact and medical information stored in OSM on a regular basis and may be required before activities outside the hall.

From OSM, a parent or guardian can also track badge progress, view both the programme and special events, and pay fees as needed.

When a young person starts in a new section, that section’s leaders will send via email an invitation link. If you’ve not used OSM before, following the link will require a short account setup, and if you have used it, the link will add you to the appropriate OSM system. The system also allows each email address in a member’s record (Primary Contacts) to link with that member’s record so that both parents or guardians can create their own login to manage his/her information.

Online Payments

We use OSM’s built in payment system that makes our bookkeeping easier and allows parents to pay our membership and event fees via GoCardless.

There are two different payment schedules thru which payments are requested: Membership Fees for all that goes to running weekly programmes with equipment, supplies, and badge needs, among other things, and Event Payments which will usually go to things like groceries at an overnight camp, or a booking fee for use of an activity or location at special events, camps and one-off activities.

Both schedules will allow you to either ‘Pay Now’ or ‘Create Subscription’. The Pay Now option is a one off payment while Create Subscription will automatically take payment when it’s requested by a leader. Even in the automatic payment, you will be notified via email 24 hours before a payment is taken.

The first time you authorise a payment either via the ‘Create Subscription’ or ‘Pay Now’ buttons, OSM will ask for and store your bank/card details so that you can then authorise OSM to take payment with a single click the next time you make a payment. This is NOT an automatic payment and will not take payment unless you click ‘Pay Now’ on another payment request.

Typically, parents will create a subscription to the membership fees schedule so that payment is automated, then use the ‘Pay Now’ button for each entry in the Events schedule as and when they come up.

If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact The Group Treasurer: treasurer@dunblanescouts.com

Gift Aid

As a recognised and registered charity, the Scout Group reclaims the tax on subscriptions paid by Gift Aid.

You will be prompted to donate by Gift Aid when paying your subscription and we would be extremely grateful if you are able to do this, although there is no requirement to do so.