## Group Scout Leader Report July 2022 Firstly, I would like to thank the Section Leaders Kirsten, Emily & Steve and all the Assistant Leaders, Becky, Jacob and Anthony. Their commitment since the last AGM in September2021 has consolidated the renewal of the Groups activities since the pandemic. I’d also like to thank all the volunteer parents, particularly Karen, Mick & Mark for their help at meetings and supporting the Beavers, Cubs & Scouts. I’m pleased that Mick is taking on the assistant leaders’ role at Cubs. I would also like to thank the support provided by the new Executive Team, Phil and Rachel, for taking on responsibility for looking after the facilities, treasury and providing significant administrative support. I continue to attend District Group Scout Leader team meetings, All Member meetings and report regularly to the District Commissioner. Having been the GSL since September I have realised that, while the numbers of the young people in the sections is maintained and growing, the requirement for adult volunteers to support this demand is continual. This has been evidenced by the Beavers having to reduce to fortnightly sessions, despite several appeals to the parents for additional volunteers, and low attendance at the Hut Spring Clean day in May. Given the key roles Emily and Steve provide for Cubs and Scouts, these sections have also been occasionally affected. Therefore, we have started to cast the net wider for volunteers starting with information and an article in the local Focus newspaper, the local parish council website and a recruitment board in the hut. This campaign will be expanded next term. When I was a Scout, my favourite times were spent at camp, so my highlight of the year was to support the Scouts at the County Rally at Waddecar. I was also pleased that Emily took the Cubs to the District camp in July and Kirsten has plans to take the Beavers to the Red Rose Event. There were plenty of ‘Lessons Learned’ from the Camps, mainly including the provision of tents! I’d like to congratulate Emily on being appointed to the West Lancs County Team for the international trip to the Scouts European Jamboree in Serbia in 2023, a great opportunity to make friends across Europe for 1[st] Great Eccleston! Many thanks Richard Findlay – Group Scout Leader Richard.Findlay@wyrescouts.org.uk ## Beaver Scout Leader Report June 2022 The Beaver Scouts have worked really hard this year and have had the opportunity to gain 3 Challenge Awards: - **My World Challenge** - We learned about how volunteers help vulnerable people in our community with library books and made Christmas cards for older people. We learned about the UK and tried food from other countries. We also made fat balls to help nature. - **My Skills Challenge** - We worked together to complete problem-solving challenges, learned our emergency contact information, wrote and performed songs about Beavers, learned to write and communicate our names in Morse Code and how to fold our neckers. - **My Adventure Challenge-** We worked in teams to create outdoor games which we taught to the rest of the group. We shared adventurous activities we have done at home and learned some archery and [foam!] axe throwing. We will be finishing off the term by going on a walk and learning how to enjoy a nature ramble safely. This work also contributed to Beavers earning the following Activity badges: - International - Creative - Communicator - Cook - Global Issues - Safety - Community Impact During the school holidays, we also offered a Space afternoon to earn the Space Activity badge and Halloween session to earn the Experiment Activity badge.. We had a visit from the Garstang Fairtrade group to help us learn about Fairtrade and to earn our Global Issues badge. The Lodge Leaders have demonstrated great leadership skills and have also earned their Teamwork Challenge Award. Two Beavers who are moving up to Cubs in September will earn their Bronze Award before the end of term. 10 Beavers will be attending the Red Rose County Camp in August for a day and will get the opportunity to experience an international camp and take part in lots of fun activities. There are 20 Beaver Scouts in the colony and we expect this to be maintained in September as there are a similar number of new joiners as Beavers moving up to Cubs. In our adult volunteer team, we have 1 Leader, 1 Assistant Leader and 3 Occasional Helpers. Our aim for the upcoming year is to offer the opportunity for all Beavers to earn 3 more Challenge Awards. We would love to be able to deliver more opportunities for Beaver Scouts to go on outings and sleepovers and would welcome volunteers who can offer enthusiasm and some time to focus on this vital aspect of scouting. In the long term, we need to focus on recruiting more leaders so that we can meet the demand of our growing group and continue to offer the opportunity to be involved in scouting to all children in our community. **Kirsten Squirrell Beaver Scout Leader** 2 ## Cub Scout Leader Report July 2022 I would like to thank Emily, Cub Leader; Assistant Leader Jacob, new Section Assistant Mick, parent volunteer Mark and other parent volunteers for helping to run the section on a regular weekly basis this year. It has been another busy year for the cubs with plenty of activities and fun. In September, we were proud to see 5 of our senior cubs receive the Chief Scouts Silver Award, the highest award a Cub can attain. In January, we said goodbye to those cubs who moved up to the Scouts. ## Several new cubs have joined from the Beavers. In the regular sessions the cubs have been making Halloween potions and pancakes on pancake Tuesday, and crafts with sweets. The cubs have contributed to their own programme of events in a pack forum. Regular meetings have included: - Outdoor Quiz & Games night - Pitching tents - Team Building Games - Sixers Games night – games run by the Sixers giving them experience of taking responsibility. - Shelter & Hut building - Treasure Hunts - Learning about the Digestive System and making ‘poo’ from a Cancer Research Charity volunteer - Nerf Wars! The cubs have been working on a wide variety of badges, including: - Entertainer - Athletics - Astronomy - Computer - DIY - Digital Citizen - Scientist - Personal Safety - Local Knowledge The cubs attended a Beaver & Cub Fun Day at Wyre Estruary Country Park in April. The cubs took part in: a Puzzle Trail, Tree Rubbing, Pitch a Tent, Mini Beast, Knots, Build a Den, Ramble, Tracking, Keep Fit, Photo Challenge, Crafts, Fun Quiz and First Aid. The cubs attended a Cinema Day in Blackpool. The cubs have been boisterous this year, possibly because of letting off steam after the lockdowns, so on occasion we have applied a yellow and red card penalty to help with discipline. This and the additional adult help from Mick and Mark has improved the behaviour of the cubs. There have been occasions where parents have dropped off their cub too early for the meeting, so a reminder was sent out to parents of the “Scouts – Stay safe” – the safeguarding sules for protection of both the cubs and the volunteers. No further incidents of early drop offs were recorded. The highlight of the year for the cubs was the District Camp at Waddecar in July: Activities included Laser Tag, Assault Course, Bungee Run, Zorbing, Climbing Tower, Shooting & Archery. This was the cubs first camp for 3 years. Richard Findlay on behalf of Emily Byrne. 3 ## Scout Leader Report July2022 I would like to thank Steve, Scout Leader; Assistant Leader Anthony, and the parent volunteers for helping to run the section on a regular weekly basis this year. It has been solid year for the Scouts with plenty of activities. In March, we were proud that two of our senior Scouts, Nick and Matthew take part in the Bowlander Event (in a team with Scouts from other Groups in the District, 1[st] Thornton and 1[st] Carleton). This included a 2-day distance hike of over 20km in the Forest of Bowland area, carrying their own kit, navigating by map and compass, and basic camping with no facilities, in competition with other teams across the county. Both Scouts performed extremely well and were a credit to not only the Section, but also the Group. The Scouts have been achieved a wide variety of badges, including: The Challenge Badges Staged Badges: - Swimming stage - Nautical skills - Hikes away - Nights away - Time on the water - Navigator - Sailing ## Activity Badges: - Photography - Mechanic - Cycling - Hillwalker - Orienteer - Life saver - Power coxswain - Joining in - Fire Safety Badge – this included a isit to Fleetwood Fire Station, a tour of the station and the appliances, including seeing them go out and returning from an emergency. - Local Knowledge - Entertainer - Emergency Aid ## Activities during the regular sessions: - Night Hike of the local area, with practical map work. - Axe & knife work - Fire Lighting - Wide Games - Regular visits to Beacon Fell for Den Building, Map work and Wide games. - Baking cakes for the Jubilee - Map work Tests - Overnight camp - Climbing wall @ Preston Wall Climbing Centre 6 new Scouts have been inducted. 4 Scouts are in the process of becoming Explorer Scouts and Young Leaders. Highlight: County Camp @ Waddecar: Activities included Orienteering, Pioneering, Laser Tag, Assault Course, Bungee Run, Pillow Bash, Water Slide, Zorbing, Den Building, Climbing Tower, Shooting, Archery, Silent Disco, Canoeing, Kayaking, Tug of War & Axe Throwing. The Scouts were able to manage their own activities, camping together with other Scouts from the District. 4 of our older Scouts assisted the event as Explorer Scouts. Behaviour of the Scouts was excellent and the perfect weather helped to make it an enjoyable weekend for all. Richard Findlay on behalf of Steve Thompson 4 FIRST GREAT ECCLESTON SCOUT GRO BALANCE SHEEf AT 31 MARCH 2022 ASSETS BANK ACCOUNT- 31 MAR 2022 30,770.89 CASH IN HAND 594.20 DEBTORS £31,365.09 IABILITIES UNPRESENTED CHEQUES -6.305.21 L4TEO FUND BALANCE BIFWD 1 APR 2021 9,617.19 INCREASEIDECREASE THROUGH THE PERIOD 21,747.89 £25.059.87 IWK VhtCLf FIRST GREAT ECCLEST N SCOUT GROUP INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 1 APRIL 2021- 31 ST MARCH SUBS BANK RECEIPTS CASH RECEIPTS BANK PAYMENTS CASH PAYMENTS 530.IYJ 1.285.00 o. LUBS BANK RECEIPTS CASH RECEIPTS BANK PAYMENTS CASH PAYMENTS 1.710.00 1.710A) OTHER INCOME BANK RECEIPTS CASH RECEIPTS 21.839.63 0.00 21M39.83 TOTAL INCOME 25,364.63 TILITY COSTS BANK PAYMENTS CASH PAYMENTS -2.781.59 MISC COSTS BANK PAYMENTS CASH PAYMENTS -855.15 TOTAL EXPENDITURE -3,616.74 INCREASEIDECRE IN FUND DURING YEAR £21,747.89 TOTAL INCOME TOTAL EXPENDrruRE INCREASEIDECREASE IN FUND DURING YEAR 25.364.63 -3.616.74 21,747.89 SUBS Remained at £30 per term, £25 for $I￿1r¥J$. CL Receipts increased due to the conlinugd use by the Great Eccleston Prfrschc THER IN COVID start up granls1£18.869) El8clricliy Feed-in tariff Tl Eleclrfcity, water, councl tax and insur8rKo Ml Special cost for unbthkiThJ tho drains General suppl￿5 for the srtlions C8PitatKJn - 2 years1£3.8011 Logn iopaKI to DMIr￿tI£2.￿j4) **1[st] Gt Eccleston Scout, Scout Hall, Off Hall Lane, Gt Eccleston, Lancs. PR3 0NX.** ## **– th Annual General Meeting 6 July 2022** ## **1. Attendees:** Richard Findlay (GSL), Phil Jones (Chair), Kirsten Squirrell (Beaver Group Leader), Jacob Mason (Cub Scout Assistant Leader), Steve Thompson (Scout Leader), Geoff Lyons (Assistant District Commissioner Adventurous Activities), Karen Taylor (Group Executive Committee Member). ## **2. Apologies:** Emily Byrne (Cubs leader), Rachel Craven (Secretary) & Jon Minshull (District Commissioner). The minutes of the previous AGM held on 28[th] September 2021 were reviewed. They were recognised as a true and accurate record of the meeting. They were proposed by Kirsten Squirrel and seconded by Richard Findlay. ## 3. **Group Scout Leaders report – Richard Findlay** Parents had been kept up to date with events and activities by social media communication. Highlights throughout the year included the scouts participating in the Bowlander Hiking challenge, and a County Rally held at Waddecar. The Cubs had also recently completed a county camp. The Beavers had recently completed a Wyre estuary trip. Beavers are looking forwards to their own weekend event camping shortly – the “Red Rose” weekend. There had been an uptake in the awarding of badges, most recently, the Beavers had completed their Astronomy badge. There has been a welcome increase in the amount of parents helping with Scouts, Cubs and Beavers over the last 12 months, however Richard made a request for further involvement in the groups, in order for them to continue growing from strength to strength. A formal report will be submitted by each of the group leaders. ## **4. Annual statement of accounts (Phil Jones in the absence of the Treasurer which is a vacant position** The group is fortunate to own the building outright and have a revenue stream via both the Great Eccleston Preschool and also the solar panels on the roof. There had been one exceptional cost to unblock a drain which was half covered by a payment from the Preschool, the other half had been covered through the normal income stream. £20,000 had been received in Post Covid restart grants. These had passed through into the groups surplus. The final accounts need to be completed and agreed by the committee. ## **5. Approval of the Group Scout Leaders nomination for the Group Chair** Phil Jones was proposed by Richard Findlay and seconded Steve Thompson. ## **6. Election of the Group Secretary** Rachel Craven was proposed Phil Jones and seconded Kirsten Squirrell. ## **7. Election of the Group Treasurer** This position remains vacant. ## **8. Announcement and approval of elected members** There were no elected members. ## 9. **Presentation from Geoff Lyons – Assistant District Commissioner - Adventurous activities** Geoff commented that it was welcoming to see the group development over the last 12 months, and he looked forward to see how we could develop further. Geoff also promoted adventurous activity opportunities coming up over the next 12 months, especially things like the “Red Rose: camping weekend at Waddecar. ## **10. Phil Jones called the meeting to a close.** Meeting closed at 19:15.