On 24th June 1998 the Trust was registered by the Charity Commission to advance the education of the public in the history of the Scout Movement. The Trustees are Rev Keith Fenton, Audrey Forster MBE, Michael Loomes, Ron Loomes, Elizabeth Rothwell, Colin Ovenden MBE and David Thornton. They took over responsibility for the Baden-Powell and Scout History Collection which had been established by Michael Loomes.

The first public exhibition of the Collection was held in 1958. There were many more small events until 1967, when a major exhibition, attended by well over a thousand people, was held at Greystone Heath, Liverpool's Approved School. This event resulted in an evening with Olave, Lady Baden-Powell at Hampton Court with some of the Greystone Heath Scouts. After this, it was determined to use all available resources to build a premier collection to serve the North West of England. The Collection was inspired by and dedicated to Olave, Lady B-P and the Founder Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell.

The immediate aim was a mobile museum which could be quickly set up at any venue, for any size of exhibition or to support an illustrated talk. The major sections of the Collection deal with B-P, Lady B-P, the Siege of Mafeking, the Brownsea Island Camp, the early days of Scouting and World Jamborees. The most valuable items are original material relating to the Siege of Mafeking and original B-P sketches, mainly from his books, including one of the missing sketches from the manuscript of Scouting for Boys. There are letters and other items from Lady B-P, awards, badges, postcards, first edition books and souvenirs from every World Jamboree.

Many people have generously donated items to the Collection most notable being Olave, Lady Baden- Powell. Other donors include Neil Armstrong, Stanley Brown, Patricia Butterworth, Hon Mrs Betty Clay CBE (B-P's daughter), Harald Dahl, Bill Fazackerley, Carl Giles, Jeanne Hudak, John & Vera Loomes, Ron & Vera Loomes, Celia Nuttall, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment, 13th/18th Royal Hussars and Dr John Frederick Wilkinson. The help and encouragement of the Scout Headquarters Archivists, Graham Coombe (retired) and Paul Moynihan have been invaluable.

Exhibitions have been held throughout the North West of England and further afield. By 24th June 1998 over 320 exhibitions and illustrated talks had been given. Part of the Collection has been exhibited in Sweden and the U.S.A. No charges or expenses have ever been made. Security is a priority and so the Collection, which is stored in various places, is never loaned or left unattended at exhibitions.

Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, World Chief Guide visited the Collection at Gilwell Park in 1971. Her grandson, Lord Baden-Powell has visited twice. Her daughter, the Honorable Betty Clay C.B.E., has visited on three occasions. Lord Maclean was the first Chief Scout to visit. Since then all of his successors have seen parts of the Collection at least once.

Enquiries on the development of Scouting are responded to and research is undertaken.

Duplicate items such as badges and books are traded. Personal or family items, that have been donated to the Trust, are conserved and displayed as frequently as possible.