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2024-03-31-accounts

,,Artnual 'Scouts- Epsom and Ewell

2024 ANNUAL REPORT

CONTENTS

CONTENTS
The Scout Association 2
Our Vision 3
District Officials and Contacts 4
Reports 1 District Commissioner 5
2 Appointment Committee 9
3 Boidier Hurst Campsite 11
4 International 13
5 Beaver Scouts 15
6 Cub Scouts 17
7 District Support Team 19
8 1stCuddington 21
9 7th Epsom 26
10 4th Ewell 32
11 1st Ruxley 36
12 2nd Epsom 38
? 13 3rd Epsom 41
14 1st Ewell Court 45
15 3rd Stoneleigh 47
16 2nd Cuddington 50
17 2nd Stoneleigh 53
18 8th/14th Epsom 56
Awards 58
Census 62
Trustees’ Report 64
Treasurer 68
Examined Annual Accounts 69
District Shop Details 74

Front Cover.

International Camp Fire in Kandersteg, Switzerland.

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION

THE PURPOSE OF SCOUTING

Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

THE VALUES OF SCOUTING

As Scouts, we are guided by these values:

THE SCOUT METHOD

Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting and:

THE SCOUT PROMISE

On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God (to uphold Scout values) and to the King (the country in which I now live), to help other people and to keep the Scout Law.

THE SCOUT LAW

1 - A Scout is to be trusted.

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OUR VISION

As Scouts, we believe in preparing young people with skills for life. We encourage our young people to do more, learn more and be more. Each week, we give young people the opportunity to enjoy fun and adventure while developing the skills they need to succeed, now and in the future.

We are talking about teamwork, leadership, and resilience – skills that have helped Scouts become everything from teachers and social workers to astronauts and Olympians. We believe in bringing people together.

We celebrate diversity and stand against intolerance, always. We are part of a worldwide movement, creating stronger communities and inspiring positive futures. We are preparing more young people with skills for life, supported by amazing Leaders delivering an inspiring programme.

We will be growing, more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities. We are proud to say we are a values-based movement. Our Scout values of integrity, respect, care, belief, and cooperation guide everything we do.

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DISTRICT OFFICIALS AND CONTACTS

District Commissioner Karl Nicholas* Chairman Sarah Oliphant
Youth Commissioner Sam Hodgson* Secretary Howard Park/Jane
Weller from 31/1/24
Youth Commissioner Orion Slater* Treasurer Peter Harvey
Deputy District
Commissioner		 John Hughes* Executive Member Nigel Bird
Deputy District
Commissioner (General)		 Richard Denyer Executive Member Geoff Collins
Deputy District Sandra Gosden Executive Member Richard Hunt
Commissioner (Training)
Stewart Ballantine
ADC Beaver Scouts Judith Sitford Executive Member
Died 9/11/23
ADC Cub Scouts Elaine Mustow* Executive Member Bob Frisby
ADC Scouts Vacant Executive Members include those marked * in
ADC (International) Caroline Pearce the previous column
ADC (General) Alan Mobbs
Appointments Pat Broom*
District Explorer Scout Vacant
Commissioner
Support Team Manager Clare Peckitt* Nights Away
Manager		 Dave Mustow
Shop Manager Joyce Nicholas* Vice President Hazel Luxton
District Administrator Carol Priddy Vice President Geoff Whitehead
District Shop The Scout Shop, 22 Broadway, Stoneleigh, KT17 2HU.
District Campsite Boidier Hurst, Box Hill Road, Headley.
Bankers
CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4JQ.
National Westminster
Bank PLC Victoria Branch, PO Box 1357, 169 Victoria Street, SW1E 5NA.
National Counties
Building Society Ebbisham House, 30 Church Street, Epsom, KT17 4NL.

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DISTRICT COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

The last twelve months has been another fantastic year for Scouting in Epsom and Ewell. With 1,212 youth members and 395 adults we are as strong as ever. County have now given each District a ‘growth’ target and this year we met this with an increase of 64 young people (+5.6%) and 23 adults (6.2%). This is an excellent 5.7% increase in total.

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In our January census we returned a total of 1,212 young people – the highest figure that Epsom and Ewell has shown since current available records started in 2001, which is phenomenal.

This year we have another two new Sections open –

Scouts at 2[nd] Epsom (after over fifteen years of being dormant) and a new Explorer Scout Unit at 2[nd] Stoneleigh, which is at the home of the former Dell Joint Unit. We only ’ it eS ae ae —

have one more Section to open to complete the full set of twelve Groups, each with a Colony, Pack, Troop and Unit (and I know we will have achieved this by next year’s report!).

Squirrel Scouts are still only active at 1[st] Cuddington, but they are thriving and proving an excellent provision and this year they celebrated their “1[st] birth-drey”.

With new many new building developments being planned across the District we will be

looking at how we can increase our Groups in these areas to ensure all those who want to join are able.

From a Trustee’s perspective we have some significant ongoing challenges that are taking considerable time away from our young people for several key adults.

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1[st] Ruxley

The 1[st] Ruxley Scout Headquarters has, for some time, needed investment. In 2019, we entered discussions with a developer who is leading the project at the adjoining site. To secure their development, they approached the Group to purchase a piece of land for additional parking. This secured eighty-six thousand pounds for the Group. Following lengthy discussions, this led to the proposal to fit a new roof (and remove the asbestos one), install new flooring, windows and to build a new extension to act a storage facility for the Group’s equipment. In addition, the Group have funded new doors to enable the entrance to be moved from the busy Kingston Road to Tealing Drive. This work was due to start in July 2023 and, as a result, the leadership team and parents stripped the building in preparation. Unfortunately, due to some significant issues with the roof purlins, additional funding was required, and a significant delay occurred. To secure the project, the District Trustees initially agreed to fund a four-thousand-pound grant and then a further ten thousand pounds was given to the Group. Whilst this may seem a significant amount from District funds, it was felt that this was key to secure provision in one of our few areas of deprivation within the borough and we have, uniquely, continued with our significant financial support subsequently.

2[nd] Epsom.

The lease at 2[nd] Epsom has been an ongoing issue since 2018 when, prior to reopening the Group, we contacted the PCC at Christchurch to begin the lease process. The PCC delayed discussions until November 2019 and this has been ongoing since. Unfortunately, the PCC allowed our lease to lapse in December 2020 and, as a result, the newly refurbished Scout building became the property of the church. Despite significant work from John Hughes and our solicitor we seem to be unable to agree the lease.

1[st] West Ewell.

With significant waiting lists we are now looking at the possibility of re-securing the lease for the former 1[st] West Ewell Headquarters site and hopefully reopening this in the future.

All these situations have taken a lot of time for many of us, but I would like to especially thank Dave Mustow and David White for their work with 1[st] Ruxley development, John Hughes who is leading on the lease at 2[nd] Epsom and Neil Dallen looking into 1[st] West Ewell. By doing this, it has allowed the leadership teams at both 1[st] Ruxley and 2[nd] Epsom to focus on providing activities for the young people and I am very grateful for their hard work with these projects.

We have twelve excellent Groups across the District, and you will be please to read that each of the Group Scout Leaders have highlighted their Group’s achievements later in this annual report. Through these you will be able to read the great news that each Group has to share and gain a greater insight into them.

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x Chair of Trustees Sarah Oliphant oo

We are so very fortunate to have a great team working behind the scenes in the District from our Trustee Board, Support Team and Scout Shop Team. The Trustees provide strategic leadership and during this year have worked hard to ensure we are meeting the requirements of the Charity Commission. During the year, Howard Park has relinquished his role as District Secretary, and I thank him for his commitment and excellent administrative skills and for keeping me in line for many years! We are fortunate that Jane Weller has agreed to take on

this role and began this in January 2024.

The Support Team continue to support activities across the District as well as provide Leaders with opportunities to enjoy some themselves. On top of the annual Challenge Hike, they have organised kayak sessions, rambles and hikes, archery, bowling

and curry evenings to enjoy. This year we also have our first Annual Leaders’ Quiz Night planned to really build our Scouting community.

The Scout Shop continue to provide such an amazing service to all parents, young people and Leaders across the District and further afield; as well as raising significant funds to keep our subscriptions as low as possible. Through this, we were able to reduce the District levy in 2020 by 25% from £5.25 to £4.00 and this has remained the same to date. This levy also includes our District payment to Boidier Hurst campsite that we share with Leatherhead District.

Boidier Hurst has once again had an excellent year and ongoing development of the site. New benches on the sites, cladding the Manly Building, fencing, painting,

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refurbishment and more. The site is well used by the District but there are plenty more opportunities available.

My sincere thanks to Clare, Joyce and Chris for their leadership of the Support Team, Shop and Boidier Hurst respectively and of course, to their excellent teams.

Epsom and Ewell is firmly on the map but finally, my sincere and personal gratitude to every adult who plays any part in Scouting in Epsom and Ewell as, without you, we would not be as successful as we are. Whether you hold a role that requires a weekly commitment or one that is a bit more ‘behind the scenes’ I thank you on behalf of all the young people of the borough. The Adult Awards section (page 58) truly highlights what amazing and dedicated Leaders we have!

I am looking forward to the challenges that this coming year will bring and to the further opportunities we will have to offer fantastic Scouting throughout the borough.

See you all soon.

Karl Nicholas

District Commissioner

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APPOINTMENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT

I am pleased to report that the District has once again been successful in attracting an excellent group of new volunteers to swell the ranks of the leadership teams in several Groups.

The Appointment Advisory Committee (AAC) have met on ten occasions in the reporting year and have welcomed twenty-five new adult volunteers to Scouting in Epsom and Ewell. Colonies, Packs, Troops and Explorer Units in nine Groups have all benefited from these new additions.

The majority have attended the meeting with clear evidence that they were aware of their roles, responsibilities and training obligations indicative of the support and guidance from their GSL and leadership teams. Without exception they were all passionate about getting involved and doing their bit to contribute to the development of the young people in their Sections.

In February, the District received an update about the Transformation programme from Dr Kielstra, the Deputy County Commissioner (Transformation). We were informed that although these changes had been two years in the formulating, so far much of the implementation was reliant on the new Scout Association digital platform. This unfortunately was not ready to be rolled out and there was no definitive target date.

With regards to our future, we were told that the AAC is to be discontinued. Around fifteen percent of the adult current roles in Scouting will be removed and this will include the AAC chair and panel members. It is to be replaced by a friendly

conversation with the GSL and a 'trained' Leader from the same section but outside of the new volunteer's Group. This conversation will include outlining the role description for the new volunteer.

Training Advisors are also to be discontinued as, when the new system goes live and training is on line, the Leaders' records will be automatically updated so there will be no requirement to download a PDF certificate to send to a validator for updating of the records.

Regarding the timescale for the phasing out of AAC panels, this will be delayed awaiting the additional training for the Section Leaders conducting the conversations that will become available with the new digital platform. It was hoped that it would be soon.

The new process would be managed by GSLs and, for Groups without a GSL, the DC could devolve this to be delivered elsewhere.

Going forward, Early Adopter Districts and Counties would be commencing the new process from 1 June 2024 with full transfer to the Welcome Conversation by 1 September.

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Epsom and Ewell are not in this group, and we will be continuing with the AAC in its current format for the present time. This will be subject to review later in the year.

My thanks as always to the other AAC panel members for their contributions to the meetings over the last year and our AAC administrator, Robert Pallant, for his hard work in marshalling the panel members and liaising with the new volunteers for their appointments.

Pat Broom

Chair of the Appointments Advisory Committee.

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BOIDIER HURST SCOUT CAMPSITE

It has been a busy year for us up at your ten-acre campsite on Boxhill. We have not only been working hard maintaining the grounds and buildings to keep them looking good, but we have also been trying to improve them to make your stay more enjoyable.

In 2023, we had 207 bookings for the campsite this year so far, we have hit 170, or more than 6,700 camping nights, and it’s only July. Unfortunately, the weather has not been at its best yet, but I am expecting to get more bookings as we head towards the school holidays and hopefully better weather.

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Albert
Albert
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Earlier this year we had to say goodbye to one of our most loyal and dependable workers. Yes, Albert, our Massey Ferguson 1030 tractor, built in 1987, and bought by the site in May 2006, finally became 37

years old and unfortunately unserviceable due to a lack of spare parts. It was goodbye to Albert and a welcome to Edward (from your history books you will know Edward is the son

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Edward
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of Prince Albert), an Avant 745 compact loader, giving us a lot more flexibility and usage of its many attachments.

We have been continuing our woodland management by carrying out routine coppicing on the site and tidying works in the camping areas. If you have been wondering what those little wooden structures are around the stumps, they are to protect the new growth from the deer that regularly visit the site for a tasty nibble of the new tree shoots. We have also taken part in Surrey County Council’s plant a tree’ campaign, where, following a successful bid, we were given 210 new trees to plant on the site supporting their plan to plant 1.2 million new trees by 2030, one for every resident in Surrey

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Our refurbishment works on the toilet block are still underway as part of a longer-term plan. However, the weather has thwarted us finishing the painting and external

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Deer Protection
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New Planting
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cladding of the Manly building.

The campsite works through the good will of the service crew and our volunteer wardens. If you can spare a few hours to attend a service crew day, you will be more than welcome (tea and biscuits

provided) or, if could you help us by undertaking just one weekend warden duty, it is not onerous and Boidier Hurst is a lovely place to spend a weekend in our purpose-built wardens’ building.

We look forward to seeing you soon, either for an evening, a day, a night’s camp, as the warden or as part of the service crew.

Chris Rose

Chair of Boidier Hurst Campsite Management Committee. chairman@boidierhurst.org.uk

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Levelling Out
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INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING REPORT

Members of the District have enjoyed international y adventures this year. Several of our Troops spent their s_ summer camp in Switzerland for “KIX 23” (Kandersteg International Expedition). Run brilliantly by our County team, it is a 10-day trip that is full of activities and open \£ to all Scouts. Maya from 8[th] /14[th] Epsom explains

Caroline Pearce

“ Everyone was buzzing as we waved our parents off and the thirteen coachloads of Surrey Scouts finally drove away from Cobham Services. We knew that it would be an extremely long journey to Kandersteg International Scout Centre (around 19 hours), but we could

not wait until

we reached the breathtaking views and snow–capped mountains of Switzerland. The exciting week that followed was full of activities and fun – hiking through the picturesque Kandersteg valley to the crystal-clear Lake Blausee and taking on the challenging high ropes course through the tree tops in Interlaken. I think that my overall favourite activity was rafting down the Aare river. We had

a great time racing our boats and pushing each other into the cool water as we floated past the stunning alpine scenery. On behalf of all the Scouts, thank you Leaders for making KIX 2023 such an unforgettable experience!”

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After two years of preparation, we also had a small number of Scouts from the District attend the 25[th] World Scout Jamboree

(WSJ) in Korea. WSJs only occur every four years and they are an opportunity for a huge number of Scouts from across the world to meet, learn about each other and have lots of fun. The Scouts spent five days in Seoul seeing royal palaces (some while wearing traditional dress), temples and tea ceremonies, and hopping on and off the metro

trains like locals while they learnt about Korean culture. Scouts were then taken to the site of the Jamboree itself, but a combination of extreme heat and weather warnings resulted in early evacuation of the site. They were returned to Seoul; not quite as expected but, nevertheless, it was an adventure that they were excited to talk about at the County AGM last year.

Caroline Pearce

ADC(International)

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BEAVER SCOUT REPORT

The District Beaver Team remains as last year, Michelle Davies and Martyn Holloway-Neville as District Beaver Leaders have once again supported me and the District Team with ideas and on-hand assistance at our events this year.

Chief Scout Bronze Awards

Judith Sitford

It is pleasing to see that we are back up to pre-pandemic levels of children achieving the Chief Scout’s Bronze Award. Across the District, sixty-four Chief Scout’s Bronze Awards have been earned. A massive well

done to all these children for their achievement.

County Events

Beavers Go Wild - September 2023

8[th] /14[th] Epsom took part in Beavers Go Wild in September 2023. This onenight camping experience is a lovely event for the Beaver Scouts - although I am not sure exactly how much sleep happens! They took part in lots of different activities that were on offer and made friends with other Beaver Scouts from across the county. The day’s activities were finished off with a campfire and bedtime story.

Reach for the Stars 2024

Many Beaver Scouts from across the District took the opportunity to join in with the online event back in February, Reach for the Stars, by completing the challenges and activities that were set during the day, including a night spent

somewhere other than their own bed. They joined seven hundred Beaver Scouts from Surrey online over the weekend.

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District Events ~~——~~

Beaveree - September 2023 =| r = —— Beaver Scouts - sorry, I should say Pirates, from across the fsra : Pe= — : bee, District came for a day of excitement at our annual Beaveree at Little Acres in September. Lots of fun and ) - fe . games were to be had and the smores were very popular! The Beaver Scouts explored the site and carried out a range of games and activities all with a pirate theme - and the sun shone!

The Emergency Aid Day

We ran this event as we did last We ran this event as we did last year with two sessions for the year with two sessions for the Stage 1 Emergency Aid badge back Stage 1 Emergency Aid badge back in November. This popular and in November. This popular and important event saw 58 Beaver important event saw 58 Beaver Scouts from Epsom and Ewell Scouts from Epsom and Ewell earning their badge and learning earning their badge and learning valuable life-saving skills. valuable life-saving skills.

Lizard Hike Lizard Hike

We were so grateful to the weather this year We were so grateful to the weather this year that we were able to hold this event! 79 that we were able to hold this event! 79

children plus their Leaders and some parental children plus their Leaders and some parental

support walked the Lizard Trail on Headley support walked the Lizard Trail on Headley

Heath. We managed to avoid the cows and We managed managed to avoid the cows cows and enjoyed a snack and drink half way.

Heath. Heath. We managed to avoid the cows and We managed managed to avoid the cows cows and

Judith Sitford ADC (Beaver Scouts)

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CUB SCOUT REPORT

Elaine Mustow

June 2023 saw the whole District joining the rest of Surrey County at SCRAM. This was held at the Hook Road Arena in Epsom where the Cub Scouts were

joined by the Brownies from across Surrey. There were numerous and varied activities for everyone to try as well as experiencing new foods and crafts. This

will be the last time the event will be held there as we have outgrown the venue, so the hunt is on to find an alternative location within the County for 2026.

October saw the Cub Scouts’

District Night Hike where over one hundred and twenty Cub Scouts walked from various drop off points back to Boidier Hurst Campsite for hot dogs, hot chocolate, soup and squash all of which the District Team provided. This was followed by a camp-fire singsong, which was ably led by Richard Ascough of 3[rd] Epsom. The harmonious singing could be heard all over the site.

The District Quiz took place in February 2024. This was closely contested but was won by 2[nd] Ewell who went on to represent Epsom and Ewell at the County Quiz, where they also won, so huge congratulations go to them.

The annual Cooking competition was cancelled this year, due to lack of Groups entering.

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There were forty-three Chief Scout’s Silver Awards presented to the Cub Scouts this year. Our congratulations go to each one of the high achieving young people and their guiding and skilful Leaders. It is gratifying that so many can triumph in this way.

My heartfelt thanks to all the Cub Scout Leaders and their teams in the District for all their hard work in putting on interesting and challenging programmes for their young people. Here’s to next year. Watch this space as plans are already in place for an entertaining and educational programme.

Elaine Mustow

ADC Cubs Epsom & Ewell

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EPSOM AND EWELL DISTRICT SUPPORT TEAM

Clare Peckett

New members are encouraged to join with any support being greatly appreciated, from towing Oo a trailer, marshalling a Scouts checkpoint, making teas, putting Epsom and Ewell up a mess tent or Support Team introducing/training in a new activity. We regularly meet on the second Wednesday of every month. If you are interested in joining, you can contact Clare at supportteam@epsomandewellscouts.org

In August we enjoyed canoeing at Surrey Scouts’ Water Activities Club (SSWAC) paddling down the River Wey and in the autumn we supported

Fireworks at Hook Road as usual.

The Christmas working party this

time moved to Boidier Hurst. Our main tasks were planting trees, splitting logs and leaf blowing.

On a cloudy January morning, seventeen of us and two dogs met on Epsom Downs for

a circular walk (AKA Hip Flask Ramble) via Headley, for a welcome coffee stop, and then Walton on the Hill for a pub lunch. We followed this with a dinner in one of the team’s homes.

Shrove Tuesday evening was spent eating pancakes at a member’s home, all bringing our

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own favourite topping, and, in the spring, we organised the Monopoly Run.

One wet London morning, two teams entered the ‘Monopoly Run Live’. Fun was had by all, chasing challenges and properties. The ‘boys’ beat the ‘girls’ by successfully visiting all the properties on the Monopoly board, with seconds to spare!

Thirty-six competing teams took part in our annual Challenge Hi ke that took place in March, from Holmbury St Mary Village Hall. Our thanks go to all those who helped with marshalling and shadowing. A meal was well needed after walking all day long!

Clare Peckitt EEDST

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1[st] CUDDINGTON (WARSPITE)

Scouting has at its heart the importance of safe adventure. Young people challenging themselves and building on those challenges and experiences is central. This year our

Group, Warspite, has been all about those challenges and adventure.

Some of it has been close to home. Our youngest section is the Squirrel Scouts, and this has been their first full year. Adventure for four and five-year-olds is important. It comes in stories, in cooking, in going to the park, hiking and litter picking locally.

Perhaps the biggest adventure was seeing our first Squirrel Scouts formally invested and wearing the Warspite Scarf. Of course, as Sea Scouts, it is important that our Squirrels get afloat, and we had both our family open day and a brilliant Squirrel Scouts and Parents’ boating trip.

Our Beaver Scouts are brilliant, and their adventures this year have been superb. We

have had sleepovers at Boidier Hurst (is there any bigger adventure than your first night away from family?) with campfires and tracking. We had boating on the Thames including rowing boats, sailing boat trips and kayaks. We have had visits out and visitors in. We have learnt new games and mastered old favourites. Stepping stones, ten pin bowling and hikes in the park have meant that Beaver Scouting is most definitely out and about.

Cub Scouts are absolutely centred on adventure. We have had a new Cub Scout sleepover, a massive activity weekend at Walton Firs; fire lighting, boating, games

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and much more. Perhaps the biggest adventure is our week-long Cub Scout Summer Camp in the Surrey countryside. With hikes, fires, camping, trips out, swimming, canoeing and kayaking; it really is a week of adventure; but it is fuelled by excellent food

(including three roast dinners), supported by a great Leader team and with the support of the local

community. This year we had an epic visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and were accompanied by a serving member of the Royal Navy, who recreated the

picture of his visit to the dockyard as an 8-year-old Warspite Cub Scout! There was a different adventure as the Group took to TikTok to document the week.

For Scouts, our primary adventure will always be on the water and much of these overlap with our Explorer Scout Unit. Both sections have sailed, rowed, kayaked, canoed, paddle boarded, and power boated. They have had gentle relaxed days on the river, and times when they have shown their skill and mettle. They won the National Sea Scout Regatta in July with an amazing result after making it into 13 of the 15 finals and winning eleven trophies. They also were a major part of the 21mile Great River Race, with all five Warspite youth

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boats finishing, and two trophies won. In the autumn, several of our older Explorer Scouts qualified as British Canoeing Paddle sports Instructors - another testament to their skills and determination. This continues a great tradition of the Explorer Scout Unit helping to get other Groups afloat from as near as in our District and as far away as Southampton. The adventure of our joint sailing weekends with Ajax Sea Scouts also continued and had every weather from bright sun to torrential rain.

Of course, it is not just about being afloat. Our Scouts had adventures based at our headquarters as well. They have

cooked and created; as well as hiked to the local chip shops to selflessly decide the area’s best chips. They have played wide games at Oxshott Woods and been on Summer Camp with climbing, caving, camping, archery and fencing, as well as a few camp fires.

For the Explorer Scouts, many of the adventures are about life skills, be

they menu planning a dinner, a teamwork evening with the RNLI or a massive hike in

the New Forest. There has been more Scuba diving and communication skills. Their summer camp included planned adventure with theme parks, climbing, boating to the Isle of Wight and expeditions; as well as unplanned adventure when the tide crept into a tent! But as always, our young people used the challenges to show their skills and attitude.

Our adventures are also international. In April we welcomed our Dutch Sister group, Karel Doorman, for a week in England. Our massive thanks to 2[nd] Cuddington who also helped host them. In November a team of older Explorer Scouts and Leaders visited

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Karel Doorman in their home town of Bergen Op Zoom for a weekend recce before our summer 2024 trip, as well as a great lunch in the town square with our Dutch friends.

There is something special about a 40-year-old group relationship where Scouts can really see that they are part of a larger movement.

Of course, it is not only Leaders who make the adventures happen, and this year has been a massive one for infrastructure. Multiple boats have been refurbished by committed volunteers. A join project with our sister Sea Scout Group, 4[th] Thames Ditton (Ajax), has led to an expansion and renewal of our lease. This meant that a welltested team of volunteers swung into action to resurface the car park and create a new compound. As is typical, the team went beyond brief and cleaned the local gutters and drains as part of our community service. At our Cunliffe Road headquarters, our weekly maintenance team has led on a major project to replace our storage and to have a contractor re-ceiling the hall, making it massively quieter compared to the last 60 years.

All these things will provide great opportunities for adventure for our young people.

Our Leaders thrive on adventures - both organising them for others, but also some of their own. This year we saw Leaders volunteering at the London Marathon, a team of veterans rowing

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in support of Prostate Cancer UK awareness and fundraising. None of this year could happen without committed and brilliant volunteers who really care about their community; and we are all massively grateful to them for their skills, their humour and hard work.

Every year is an adventure, and this year has been a fantastic opportunity for young people to have those challenges; whether they be making new friends, going away, trying new food or learning new skills. And now, onto our next adventure…

Richard Hunt

Group Scout Leader.

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

7[th] EPSOM (Methodist)

The Group continues to thrive, albeit without a GSL in place. Thanks to all the Leaders for their extra efforts in the circumstances. A full programme of camps, competitions, outings and sleepovers all took place with Spring Bank Holiday Camp, Summer Camp

and Water Weekend well attended (Water Weekend was as usual

oversubscribed!).

The Group’s finances remain on a sound basis with

enhanced fundraising activities. We ran the town’s Community Christmas Post as previously and a very well supported Quiz Night.

Beaver Scouts

Our three Beaver Scout Colonies work together and follow the same programme with brilliant support from our enthusiastic Young Leaders. In the summer term we made the most of more predictable weather to work on our Camp Craft, Health and Fitness and Explorer Activity badges. This included campfires at Boidier Hurst, exploring the Langley Vale Centenary Wood, pond dipping in the Hogsmill and a session on the climbing wall at the Scout Hall. We took a very excited group of Beaver Scouts to their first camp joining the other sections at our Spring Bank Holiday Camp at Walton Firs.

We managed to fit in an autumn scavenger hunt on Epsom Downs, working on our Cyclist Badges in Rosebery Park, learning about Epsom on a town trail and a night hike to look at the night sky (between clouds). As the nights drew in, we had more inside activities, working on problem solving challenges and completing work on our Space Badge and Creative Badge.

In the spring term our focus was on wildlife and working with local organisations. We had two sessions run by the Wildlife Aid Foundation in Leatherhead, learning about

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local wildlife and the work of the Foundation to help animals in trouble, and making bug hotels. We have spent several sessions finding out more about British wildlife and have explored the Millennium Green, learning about the work there to encourage wildlife in Epsom. All these activities contributed towards the My Outdoors and My World Challenge Badges. We also fitted in our annual pancake making, creating wildlife themed gifts for Mother’s Day, and completing the Emergency Aid Badge (Stage 1), as well as joining the District Hike on Headley Heath. Thanks to all these activities, a number of our Beaver Scouts have managed to achieve their Chief Scout’s Bronze Award, before swimming up to Cub Scouts.

Cub Scouts

Camp skills and pioneering were our first focus as well as the art of lighting fires, backwards cooking and building shelters 2 8 Bt tap, “>"2,*a4 . be | ry) ese= WA at Boidier Hurst and Headley.

We all had a brilliant time being with the rest of the group on the camp at Walton Firs Activity Centre.

We had a session run by the Mole Valley Orienteering Club that supported the work the Cub Scouts

had been doing around map skills. We once again worked in the community to litter pick around Epsom. This is always a great evening for both the Cub Scouts and the public who get to see our young people making a huge difference.

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We had a Water Weekend that all the Cub Scouts and Leaders really enjoyed and helped them gain their Time on Water staged badge.

We put the Cub Scouts through their paces as part of the Athletics and Athletics

Plus Badges. Again, they impressed with not only their determination to give every activity their best shot but also for the way they cheered each other on.

We focused on the activities around Remembrance Sunday that included making medals of thanks to hang on the memorial at the Centenary Woods in Langley Vale during our annual hike around the impressive and thought-provoking woodland.

Thanks to the support of Elaine Mustow, we were able to let the Cub Scouts try out their archery skills. When they were not firing off their arrows, they were taking part on the pack heats of the District Quiz Competition, and we were able to send two teams to represent the Group. Both teams

did well.

Our Cub Scouts completed both stage 1 and 2 of the Air Activities Badge, understanding more about the local community in which they lived and about the impact that our everyday lives have on the rest of the planet. We got them cooking, with us able to sample new foods as part of our look at the Lunar New Year, Shrove Tuesday, where a marmite pancake was the surprise of the evening and getting back up to Boidier Hurst for some backwoods cooking.

Over the year we presented six Silver Chief Scout’s Awards and four of our Leadership Team hit their five years as volunteers.

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Maclean Scouts

We have between 40-45 Scouts in the Troop. The Scout Leader team provides a varied Scouting programme with as many outside activities as possible and they are helped by a rota of parent helpers each week, and on many occasions, we could not run without them.

Spring Camp was a 7[th ] Epsom Group Camp with all four sections. We had a great weekend together with games and a campfire where we all joined together but apart from that our programmes run very separately.

Summer Camp was challenging because we had constant rain for the whole period when we were setting up, and then spent the rest of the week trying to dry things out.

Another bout of constant rain in the middle of the week followed. However, the Scouts showed their true colours and were stoic through all the challenges. We went to the top of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth

Water Weekend is always a favourite, and a great weekend was had by the Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Cub Scouts. Tony Marshall does an amazing job organising this event, that takes many hours. We also took part in the District Challenge Hike that our two teams enjoyed.

We offer a varied programme on a Friday night - based on a cycle where each Scout who attends regularly (including camps) and undertakes extra tasks at home should be able to complete most of the nine Challenge Badges during their four years with us. My hope is that Scouts are proud of all the badges that they receive, recognising the hard work that has gone into them from the Leaders and themselves.

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Epsom Hockey Club hosted an evening for the Scouts

Eagle Explorers

We hiked from Boidier Hurst across to Epsom Downs. Before the hike we stood in a horseshoe and renewed our Scout Vows to our new King in honour of his coronation the next day.

Leader Tom organised an amazing event when we were joined by the Scouts in Alexandra Park for an evening of sports- enjoyed by all. We had a beautiful sunlit evening of kayaking in Godalming with huge thanks to Jill, Alex, Kris and Ben. We also did litter picking from Horton to Christchurch, cycling up to the Downs, backwoods

cooking, and sports and a BBQ at Horton.

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Summer Camp was an absolute triumph, wholly organised by Leader Dave. It was a two-centre camp starting and ending at Cricket Campsite, Southampton. We travelled on the ferry to the Isle of Wight to spend two nights at Corf Camp. The Explorer Scouts enjoyed journeying around the island on their Freedom bus passes, a sea cruise to the Needles, hiking, paddling and ice creams.

Some of the Explorer Scouts were alert enough to beat the rush and get a coveted place on September’s Water Weekend – and the weather was beautiful.

Autumn term’s activities included carving pumpkins, a walk up to the Downs to watch the fireworks across London, dry slope donuts, a quiz and chips night and our annual Christmas party night. We chose Under One Sky as our Charity of the Year one evening at the beginning of term and ‘ " cs started our fundraising off by yy «~ g having a bake sale at the Remembrance Church Parade . eSco - 4 aof ¢ “ - and raised over £200 for them.

The New Year saw the Explorers writing a

programme of ice skating, mystery cooking, PowerPoint presentation evening and building their own crazy golf course. The 7[th ] Epsom Group also held a very successful Quiz Night with the Explorer Scouts all volunteering for the evening. They also sold a record number of raffle tickets and through this we raised just under £600 for Under One Sky.

Kevin Mead

Group Chairman

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4[th] EWELL

As a Group, we have been busy with plenty of activities at our headquarters, in the local parks or on external activities. All sections participated in the Ewell Village Remembrance Parade, a very well attended event. We ended the year with our main fundraising event, our successful annual Christmas Tree sale. It was supported by the members and their families – some of who we have persuaded to help us on a more regular basis. Now something from our Sections

4[th ] Ewell Beaver Scouts have been making friends and developing skills. They took part in a variety of activities including a sleepover at the hall, mapwork in Nonsuch Park and Bike riding. They showcased their interests during a ‘hobbies evening’, sharing their knowledge about their interests and learning about health.

Our Cub Scouts have had an exciting year. Our evenings at our headquarters have welcomed many visitors from guide dogs, the Food Bank and most recently the emergency response charity - Shelter Box. They have learnt so

much about the needs of our community and how they can make a difference, and we cannot forget the circus who came to teach us the skills of the Big Top!

Our travels have taken us to White Spider to hone our climbing skills, hiking and cycling adventures in Horton and Epsom Common. We spent an incredible ’Night at the Museum’ at Brooklands in November where it seemed, at times, that we were the only ones in the aircraft hangers.

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Our annual pilgrimage to Polyapes Scout Campsite, to stay in the Camping Bus with our Sixers and older Cub Scouts, was an amazing weekend of bushcraft skills, fires and games.

As always, our Young Leaders have played an integral role in running our section with many of them balancing their GCSE examination work with our Tuesday night meetings. We have also welcomed three more Young Leaders to the Pack.

Our Pack has got younger this year with a big influx coming up but all those going up have left us with their Chief Scout Silver Awards!

Our Scouts started the Autumn term with a trip to the Hogsmill River/Chambers Mead wetlands area where the young people learned about river conservation and how we can volunteer to help maintain the health of the river. The theme of social awareness continued with our traditional “Tramp Camp” where the young people used scavenged cardboard boxes and packing tape to build their own shelters, which were then moved outside into the grounds for the Scouts to sleep in. This is always a much-anticipated activity, and the Scouts had fun letting their creative sides run free, but it was accompanied by a conversation about homelessness and how we can help.

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Our annual Masterchef competition, where each week a patrol would cook food for two judges to sample and score. This year it was the turn of the Kestrels to lift the trophy.

Moving to the close of the year, the Troop turned their attentions to Remembrance

Sunday where we attended the annual parade through the village and ending with a short but

poignant service at St. Mary’s church in Ewell. Just prior to this, we spent the evening making Remembrance Day woggles out of paracord which were proudly worn on the day.

In the run-up to Christmas the Scouts enjoyed our biennial

Christmas Camp where the troop was able to celebrate the big day early – complete

with full Christmas Dinner and a visit from the Big Man himself. We rounded off the year with a pre-Christmas trip to Hampton Court Palace for an evening of ice skating.

The theme of the Spring term was very much about putting on our hiking boots and getting

some miles in our legs as the Troop took part in the Scouts’ Monopoly Run, which 4[th] Ewell collaborated with 1[st] Oxshott in entering several teams. For many of the Scouts this was their Expedition and a day navigating around London both sightseeing and

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competing in our mini tournament, which was finished off with an overnight stop at our headquarters before a breakfast of birthday cake as we helped one Scout celebrate her

special day in style.

A few weeks later the troop entered a team in the District Challenge Hike competition. This turned out to be a very soggy but very enjoyable day for all the young people.

April saw us return to the Hogsmill to look at how the wetlands area had developed and to help with some planting. We also had oan ae , ar eee an evening learning about Australia and creating aboriginal art.

The Explorer Scouts have had a busy year, with a combination of activities, from climbing, visiting the driving range to cooking some interesting delights!

We took time to clean the Group’s vehicles to keep them in a good condition – nobody likes a filthy minibus. They took advantage of our archery, shooting and axe throwing thanks to our skills instructors for organising this for us.

We are now planning our trip to the New Forest for Summer Camp which is going to see them horse riding and sailing – some new challenges for our Unit which they are very excited to try.

Dan Cook Group Scout Leader

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1[st] RUXLEY SEA SCOUTS

We are a smaller Group within the District, but we are very active and friendly. We start this report in our own building, but during the year we had to move out of it during its redevelopment. This saw the Leadership Team and some of our parents stripping out the building. As a temporary measure, the Beaver and Cub Scouts moved to 2[nd] Cuddington’s Scout Headquarters for which we are very grateful. The Scouts moved to Ruxley Church, but things have not gone to plan, and we are still out of our hall. Unfortunately, the Group lost youth members from all Sections due to the traveling particularly with the younger ones and with the no games restrictions of the church hall, some of the older ones. Despite this, the Leadership Team continue to run active programmes for all Sections. However, we have added to our leadership team following our AGM. One parent stepped up to join our Beaver Scout Colony, and a second joined our Scout Troop and we welcome them both.

Our Beaver and Cub Scouts had a joint visit to Epsom Fire Station, which was great fun

for all. The Beaver Scouts have achieved many activity badges during the year.

The Cub Scouts camped in Thriftwood Scout Camp Site where they took part in many activities. The most popular one was the kayaking in the yellow pond where the base of the lake is sand. We returned home after the long weekend

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with very tired but happy Cub

Scouts and with even more tired Leaders glad that they had a good time. The Pack had a lovely visit to police helicopters at Redhill. This was very interesting as when we arrived the helicopter landed from

being out looking for an elderly person. Our local police officer visited the Pack to talk about street safety. The Pack also attended SCRAM, a County event. Every one of us that went had fun, even the Leaders. They have also earned many activity badges.

The Scouts had their camp at Phasels Wood Activity Centre. The high light of this was

a trip to Harry Potter Studios where we invested our Explorer Scouts much to the amusement of the other visitors and staff. The Explorer Scout Unit was restarted alongside of the Troop in April with one member but with two more joining him just before summer camp.

The Group is eternally grateful for all the help is has received during this difficult time particularly for the accommodation and the financial support from District. We look forward to completing our refurbishment and getting back to our own building.

Dave Mustow Group Scout Leader.

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2[nd] EPSOM

We are pleased to report another successful year with further increases in our membership and with continued support from our leadership team and District. We brought all our sections together to celebrate St George’s Day and Remembrance Sunday and for a Christmas Fair in 2023 organised by our Cub Scout Leaders, which

was a fantastic

success, and we will be holding again.

Beavers.

Our colony has a consistent team of four Leaders and regular help from parents, with the Beaver Scouts participating in a wide variety of activities including sports, looking after their teeth and planting seeds.

Our programme year had a mixture of life

skills, fun, games and community trips and guests. We have taught putting up tents, tying shoe laces and tree identification. One of our main focuses this year has been increased badge work, doing activities during meetings and encouraging them to complete badge requirements at home. This has resulted in more activity badges being awarded as well as us increasing the number of them achieving their Chief Scout’s Bronze Award.

We finished the year with a visit to the fire station and a water fight that they thoroughly enjoyed by soaking the Leaders as much as each other.

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Cubs.

The last year has seen the 2[nd] Epsom Cub Scout Pack go from strength to strength. We have managed to consolidate our numbers, with our current membership sitting at around 30 young people, and our weekly meetings attracting attendance levels of

ninety percent. Our

weekly programme has featured an entertaining mix of fun activities and practical Scouting skills that has resulted in many badges being awarded, including two Chief Scout’s Silver Awards.,

We have made rope by hand-twisting sisal strands, which we then used to learn to tie knots. We made a large fire

outside and cooked marshmallows and we have often gone out onto Epsom Common, either just walking, or following tracking trails left by one of the Leaders. We played a bingo game, based on the Flags and Saints of the United Kingdom. This was excellent preparation for the slightly more traditional bingo game we played on our last night at Summer Camp that we held at Bentley Copse with the Cub Scouts taking part in climbing, zip-lining, air rifle shooting, pedal go karts, and a session on the assault course. Despite some rain early on in our stay, we finished on a high, with sunshine, a barbecue and fruit pizzas.

Scouts.

In the last year, our Troop, now in its third year, has continued to grow and develop, with the first year’s Scouts now approaching Explorer Scout age.

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Scouts have taken part in a varied programme over the last year – from supporting ecology for world bee day, through to outdoor skills such as shelter building and navigator badge work. We made and flew kites, created dragons for Chinese New Year, worked on our DIY badge with upcycling and took part in STEM challenges.

We plan to continue working towards the Master at Arms badge, and, looking forward, we have Scoutabout, with most of our Troop attending – this will be our largest camp to date.

Amie Adkin-Pepper

Acting Group Scout Leader

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3[rd] EPSOM

As usual the 3[rd] Epsom Scout Group have had a very busy year.

The Beaver Scouts have tried to pack as many varied activities into their programme as they can, and they wish they could pack in some more! They had a go at Maypole dancing, learned about St George, had a scooter night, prepared for camp, had a Coronation party, learned how to put up a tent, helped raise awareness for the Foodbank, did a history walk of Epsom, and did some mini-Olympics all in the run up to the summer holidays! The autumn term saw them make water filters, learn about Diwali, learn about endangered animals in our ‘zoo’, covered road safety, learned about recycling, and they also painted

flowers and birds for the Horton Out Of Sight project. After the Christmas break, they covered the Space and Experiment badges and had a visit from a local dentist to talk about teeth.

In the last year the Cub Scouts have undertaken heaps of badge-work and Scouting activities. Besides their May camp with the rest of the Group, the

three notable stand out activities are the Foodbank collection at Sainsbury’s in June, the ceramic flowers in October and the Remembrance jars in November.

Together with the Beaver Scouts, they managed to collect seven car loads (1.4 tonnes!) of food for the Epsom and Ewell food bank, together with over £800 generously

donated by the public. The children were a credit to the Group, and it was a very successful Saturday.

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In October we remembered Epsom’s forgotten residents and those buried in Horton cemetery. The Cub Scouts, together with the rest of the Group, painting over 100 ceramic flowers, leaves and birds for a memorial garden at The Horton Arts Centre. Over 9,000 former residents of the Epsom Cluster of mental health hospitals are buried in unmarked graves in

Horton Cemetery. The ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’ project has also been collecting their stories from old records.

For Remembrance Sunday the Cub Scouts, together with the other sections, created some lovely jam jars with remembrance symbols such as poppies. These were finished off with electric tea lights and then displayed in the Lady Chapel at St. Martin’s Church. They created a very memorable, respectful and thoughtful display, with lots of positive comments from members of the congregation.

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The Scouts highlight of the year must be our Scout trip to Kandersteg International

Camp as part of a trip organised by Surrey Scouts. Thirty-nine Scouts and eight adults enjoyed a great week in Switzerland undertaking lowwalks, high walks, rafting, high ropes, tobogganing, a day trip

to the Thermal baths as well as visits to the cities of Interlaken and Bern.

Other activities throughout the year have included building bug and bird boxes, finding out about bee keeping, finding out about the Millennium Wood in Langley Vale and completing a chip shop survey in Epsom. Unfortunately,

our fund-raising activity to help at St Mary’s Fair in Ewell was cancelled due to storm winds. Instead, we raised money, for our selected charity of the Children’s Trust in Tadworth, by running a plate smashing stall at the St. Martin’s Church Christmas Fair.

We also undertook activities such as Scouting values, an activity on the concepts of

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diversity and affinity bias, cooking, team building, knife safety and first aid. We also had an exceptional attendance at the Remembrance Service at St Martin’s Church where we led the readings, the exhortation and carried (as well as lowered) our flags as appropriate.

The 3[rd] Epsom Ashley Explorer Unit focused on developing life skills of independence and team work, together with fun and more traditional Scouting activities. The Explorer Scouts are expected to plan and run most evenings (in small groups) with support from the leadership team. Over the past year the Unit has enjoyed a wide variety of activities including creating ceramic flowers for the local Out of Sight Charity, blind drop hike, wide games, graveyard clearing at St Martin’s Church, Mexican and South Korean themed evenings, night hike, box fort buildings, quizzes, camp fires at Little Acres and Boidier Hurst and making wooden bird feeders.

Besides a long weekend of hill walking in Brecon, the Explorers held their summer camp at Boidier Hurst. They helped to plan the activities and the menu and whilst on camp

undertook all the cooking. The menu included cooking chicken curry in a Dutch oven over an open fire and baking cakes in cardboard ovens also over open fires. Activities included going offsite to Surrey Hills Adventure Company for paddleboarding, hiking over Headley Heath, taskmaster, pioneering challenges and a lot of campfires.

Richard Ascough Group Scout Leader

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1[st] EWELL COURT

We have had a fabulous year of Scouting, full of traditional Scouting skills and a varied and interesting programme across all the sections.

The Trustee Board made some brilliant equipment purchases that were funded with fundraising projects such as the annual ECRA quiz and supporting the Round Table with Carshalton Fireworks.

In May 2023 our Explorer Unit and Group supported ECRA, providing

refreshments for Picnic in the Park, helping to raise our profile in the local community.

Camping remains a firm favourite across the sections – Explorer Scouts at Kinver campsite in Staffordshire

with fabulous hiking trails, learning micro navigation skills and a tree felling masterclass.

Investitures are always adventurous in Explorer Scouts, this time on a kayak and climbing wall. The Troop camp was at Hallowtree near Ipswich, with climbing, archery, go karting and so much more on offer. Cub and Beaver Scouts had a joint camp in

Birchmere near Wisley and had fun building dens and singing camp fire songs.

Our young people make us very proud to be Leaders and on a weekly basis they demonstrate their kindness and thoughtfulness. They are all quick to welcome new members and make sure they feel part of the wider Scouting community. Our Group's

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peer leadership shines when we are at camp with the younger members being looked

after and helped by their older peers who have been camping before.

Our young people have achieved a staggering number of badges, all building their #skillsforlife. The numbers in each section are growing and their achievements show their zest for Scouting and its

many facets. Tai Chi, hula hooping, star constellations, healthy eating, local history, making cards for mother’s day… something for everyone.

Karen Kelly, Group Scout Leader

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3[rd] STONELEIGH (Methodist)

It has been a good year for 3[rd] Stoneleigh with high levels of attendance in all sections and an active waiting list of children wanting to join the Group. Our Group delivers a varied programme in all sections, and we have a good level of equipment. However, whilst we have the physical space to take more young people, we have been unable to recruit sufficient adult Leaders to enable us to increase our numbers.

Our Beaver Scout Colony has had a very busy year with the Beaver Scouts enjoying a mix of in-house activities and visits. Craft and learning activities are regularly included in conjunction with fun games, for example, they have recently completed some gardening tasks and a cycling proficiency evening, and the movie night was particularly popular.

Away from our HQ they have visited Pets at Home and really enjoyed meeting the animals there, probably more than the animals did!

The young people were very keen on joining in at Epsom and Ewell’s Beaveree.

As in previous years we had a sleepover at our headquarters on the evening prior to our Remembrance Church Parade and the Beaver Scouts were able to join other members of the Group for one night away at our Group/Family Camp.

The Cub Scout section has also followed a varied programme encompassing badge work and Cub Scout skills, cooking, crafting and lots of fun games, many with a learning theme. As there was no District Cooking competition this year, we held our own and

Leaders were impressed how well the food turned out. Much of our learning activities are around core skills such as map reading but we have also tackled Air activities,

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Scientist and World Challenge badges. In our craft sessions we have produced take home items at Easter and Christmas and we have theme evenings such as our pirate evening making pirate outfits and cutlasses, nature evening making bird feeders and Chinese New Year making paper dragons and masks.

Outings this year have included Pets at Home (probably the same traumatised animals!), a visit to the fire station, wide games in Oxshott Woods, a night hike in the woods on a dark November evening, mini golf at Horton and a visit to the trampoline park in Sutton.

Of course, the Cub Scouts also participated in the November sleepover under canvas at our Group camp. In addition, for our Cub Scout Summer Camp this year we went to Thriftwood Camp Site in Essex.

Our Scout Troop is very well attended, and I pay tribute here to our Scout Leader Matt Cater who now lives in Oxford but continues to take an active role in the Group.

Again, we follow a varied programme involving a mix of learning and games with an emphasis on selfdevelopment. Cooking is always popular and practical skills such as cycle maintenance prior to planning and executing a ride are covered alongside traditional Scouting skills.

At Group camp the Scouts were able to impress their parents with their ability to

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construct ‘A’ frames and set up a ropeway to transport barrels across the ‘ravine’. This year the Scouts enjoyed a camp in the Birmingham area and the other permanent fixture in our Troop diary, Christmas Ice Skating, was again a great success.

We are endeavouring to increase the percentage of time the Troop spends away from Headquarters, e.g. at Boidier Hurst or Oxshott Woods subject, as ever, to sufficient Leader availability.

Finally, I thank all the Leaders for their continued commitment and many hours of voluntary service.

Steve Lee

Cub Scout Leader

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2[nd] CUDDINGTON

In October 1943, during World War II, the first members of the 2[nd] Cuddington Scout Group met in the stables of the former Blakesley School on the corner of The Avenue and Delta Road in Worcester Park. 2023 saw 2[nd] Cuddington celebrating its 80[th] year, with 180 members and with its future secure in its own freehold Headquarters. Eighty years of quite amazing voluntary youth provision offering outstanding Scouting to the young people of Cuddington and which we set out to celebrate accordingly!

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Martin Gerrard
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Despite all our Sections already running action packed programmes, we managed to squeeze in those extra

events to make our 80[th] Anniversary that little bit special. The special Anniversary badge was worn by every member of the Group. The badge also appeared on a special Group flag which travelled around the world with various Group members and to all our camps and expeditions

as well as leading the other Group flags at all our Church Parades during the year.

One of the highlights of the year was the Anniversary family camp which saw some

two hundred participants together for an activity packed weekend at Boidier Hurst that included the Group Annual General Meeting which must make it one of the best attended!

Running throughout the year was the production of the ‘Cuddington Chronicles’, each month an issue covered a decade of the Group’s

history. The bonus was that circulation of the Chronicles brought us back into touch with many of our former members from 50/60 years ago who contributed their own memories.

Yet another special event was our ‘black tie’ dinner. The Anniversary dinner dance was held at Glenmore House in Surbiton. An excellent evening which sold out and it was

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great to have Brian Woodall, who was a Scout in the Troop sixty years ago, join us for the evening to propose the toast to the Group.

October was the actual month of the Group’s registration, and we took the now traditional anniversary photograph of the whole Group.

Our final event to celebrate the anniversary was our traditional annual Carol Service where we once again filled St Marys Church.

All this did not stop the ‘ordinary’ Scouting - far from it. The first big event in the reporting year was the Group St George’s Day outing and in 2023 we returned to Chatham Historic Dockyard who kindly closed HMS Gannet to give us exclusive use for the renewal of promises on the quarterdeck.

Expeditions form a major part of our training programme which progresses from day

walks with the Beaver Scouts through to the four-day wild country expeditions for the King’s Scout Award in our Scout Active Service Unit (SASU). The reporting year saw hikes in every Section which included those for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The Group is a registered centre for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and offer it to all those who are Year 9 or older - with

considerable success. Silver and Gold practice expeditions were held in the Surrey Hills and qualifying expeditions later in the year on the Welsh border and Wye Valley.

Like hiking, camping is progressive, starting with sleepovers in the Beaver Scouts through to lightweight and wild camping in the SASU. The year saw tents in action every month. Whilst sleepovers and weekend camps feature throughout the year, the main camps are in the summer. 2023 saw the Cub Scouts with their

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summer camp at Braids Wood in Buckinghamshire, the Scout Troop at Charnwood in Leicestershire and the Explorer Scout Unit were on the Isle of Wight. The Beaver Scouts combine each sleepover with a full day out, a typical example in 2023 was when the Colony visited the Amberley Chalk Pits Working Museum.

Three members of the Group, Explorer Scout Isabella Matson and Leaders Jo Blackgrove and Ellie Hodgson, were members of the UK contingent to the 25[th] World Jamboree in Korea.

The major source of income for the Group remains the Beer Festival, now in its twelfth year. Whilst it involves a year of planning and ten days of hard work for the actual event it has the bonus of being a major community event, and of bringing the whole

Group together. Our links with St Marys Church remain strong and in addition to visits by the Sections as part of the badge scheme, we also held our church parades during the year including Harvest Festival. We were back at St Marys for Remembrance Day when wore our poppies and laid our wreaths on behalf of the Group. We were grateful to the Vicar and Churchwardens for

allowing us the use of the church for our Group Carol Service in December and we returned to St Marys for the Mothering Sunday Service in March his year. The parades have also provided the opportunity to present major awards and to give them the prominence they deserve.

The Group has delivered hundreds of hours of programmes this year – over 500 at the Headquarters before you start counting outdoor activities, expeditions and camps, delivered by the five Section Teams, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and the Active Support Unit.

We are so fortunate to have such a fantastic team of Leaders and supporters, every one of which is an unpaid volunteer, who provide the programme, activities, facilities and resources to make 2[nd] Cuddington the success that it is. They can be as proud of their achievement in 2023 as those first Scouts were when they started the Group in 1943.

Martin Gerrard Group Scout Leader.

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

2[nd] STONELEIGH

Steph Howard

Towards the start of the year, we said a huge ‘ Thank You’ to Viv Frisby who had been our Group Scout Leader for twenty - Wy years, but she had Xi ve - y decided to step down from the role. Viv’s dedication to the Group j 4 for over sixty years has been fantastic, keeping us alive in tougher times, and growing numbers in the good

times. We are indebted to her for her service over such a long time. We celebrated with a Group wide evening of fun, games and of course cake and some gifts.

2[nd] Stoneleigh (St. John’s) Scout Group continues to go from strength to strength with another year of growth in the number of young people we can provide activities for. Look out for us in our new grey Group branded T shirts. Our Beaver Scout Colony and Cub Scout Pack meet on a Tuesday evening and the Scout Troop and Explorer Unit continue to meet on a Friday evening. All Sections have been busy during the year: we have taken part in several District events and attended both the Remembrance service and a special service at St. John’s Church to celebrate St. George’s Day, which was cowritten by the Group and involved our young people.

During the year our Beaver Scouts attended their annual spring camp at Boidier Hurst taking part in various activities including a hike on Headley Heath and sleeping under canvas. This was an adventure when you are six years old. They had a very busy year

with various events including the District pirate themed Beaveree at Little Acres, a takeover of Epsom Odeon to watch Elemental, undertaking the Stage 1 of the Emergency Aid badge, the online Surrey Reach for the Stars weekend with a virtual campfire and sleepover, and the Lizard Hike to finish off the year. They also got two nights away opportunities with a sleepover in the October half term that was combined with a trip to a

trampolining/climbing centre and our two-night

camp at Boidier Hurst in May where they enjoyed spending time in the outdoors den building, playing wide games, practising making sparks with a flint and steel, and many other exciting adventures. Other activities during the year included junk modelling flying machines related to the Stage 1 Air Activities badge, decorating frog biscuits,

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

learning about energy and recycling, and sharing our hobbies and collections with the rest of the Colony. We also spent one term saying hello and goodbye at our meetings in a different language each week.

The Cub Scouts numbers have remained steady. We held a three-night camp at Boidier Hurst in May getting back to the wild including fire lighting for backwards cooking, a hike and camp wide game favourite, Capture the Flag. Scram kept them occupied in June and this was followed by kayaking on the River Thames with Warspite. They joined sett * - ‘ my s Uae the Beaver Scouts and Scouts for the

cinema takeover in September and District for Stage 2 of the Emergency Aid badge in November. Finishing the year with a twonight trip to PGL at Marchant’s Hill for some adventurous activities including a giant

swing, climbing and fencing.

The Scout Troop has had an amazing year, with events including kayaking, cinema, a spring sleepover, and JOTI, where they spoke to Scouts around the world, and a PL/APL weekend away. Our older Scouts got themselves to Boidier Hurst and back by train and on foot for their Expedition Challenge. Summer camp was spent at Youlbury in Oxfordshire where they enjoyed J a week of adventurous activities on and off the campsite, \ f :‘ including aerial trek, pedal go ' karts, frisbee, golf, pioneering a , , | buggies to race, hiking and sailing on Farmoor Reservoir <= =a yp |e followed by a tremendous fish 7 Sate Se eet sy — = Si and chip supper. Our Section 7 ee 5 Saeerias IS SSN eS Assistant, James, did a great job —a Ee “ a of entertaining the Troop with a round of singing. Some of our Scouts assisted Surrey Wildlife Trust with a day of conservation at Nower Wood near Leatherhead, clearing invasive woodland species from the base of the native trees. We

Annual Report 2024 Page 54 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

finished the year with the District Challenge Hike around Holmbury, and a relaxing, game-filled overnight stay at Boidier Hurst.

Our Explorer Scout Unit started the year with just two members but grew rapidly in September with six ex-Scouts transferring to us from 9[th] Cheam. Since then, the Unit has grown to ten. The Unit also navigated the Scouts to the Regiment of Trees and spent the weekend at PGL enjoying their own adventurous activities by day and entertaining the Cub Scouts. Investitures took place on the ice rink at Hampton Court Palace, and they took themselves to the cinema for a movie night, crazy golf at Horton Park, and on a hike to sample the offerings at our local chip shops. Explorer Scout Dylan went with Surrey Scouts to Belgium for a week over the summer making new friends and memories to last a lifetime.

: ony, are x i a ~ ar During the year our Beaver Scout Section gained 225 badges including three Chief Scout's Bronze Awards. Our ay : Vr ba — Cub Scout Section gained 470 : ae da JUN > pl badges including three Chief Scout's Silver Awards and our WW y, iA > Scout Section gained 230 GI!) am 1s\4 &4 ———_— badges including two Chief Scout’s Gold Awards. The Explorer Scout Unit earned 28 badges. Overall, we provided 280 Nights Away for our young people over 15 different nights and across all sections within the Group.

I would like to thank our leadership team, Board of Trustees, supportive parents and our amazing young people for their continuing involvement in Scouting at 2[nd] Stoneleigh.

Steph Howard Group Scout Leader

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

8[th] /14[th] EPSOM (St Barnabas and St Joseph’s)

AIR SCOUT GROUP

8th/14th have had a stellar year, and our Group continued to provide a huge variety of camps and activities – it is always so lovely to recap on all the adventures had throughout the year.

----- Start of picture text -----
Luke Jennings
----- End of picture text -----

Some highlights have included helping to make bird feeders, Great Help Out on the Coronation weekend, trips to fire stations, temples, holding a Christmas fair to raise money for the Epsom Food Bank, Spring Camp, activity days, Remembrance Day, day and night hikes,

attending SCRAM, a Spring camp, representing Scouting at Trooping of the Colour, the Lord Mayor’s Show, bowling, trips to Kandersteg (KIX23) and Jersey and flying.

Our Group is very proud to have finally managed to get the Scouts and Explorer Scouts flying once again. As an RAF Recognised Air Scout Troop, it has always been our aim to get our Scouts in the air again after such as long period. We are very fortunate to have a Pilot within our Group, who, alongside Paul Dawson and members of

our Board of Trustees, have managed to get past all the red tape through changes to Scouting rules and procedures to finally make this happen again.

The aircraft are four seaters which can take three scouts and the pilot for a 20-minute flight up and around the local area over Epsom Downs and Box Hill. If lucky, the Scout in the front gets the chance to fly the aircraft. An all-round great experience and it is hoped we will be able to get more scouts up in 2024.

We had three members of our Group attend the Jamboree in South Korea and we have all enjoyed their stories through the build-up and regaling adventures after they returned. We also had one Explorer Scout attend the Expedition to Belgium that sounded a superb trip.

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

There were many Chief Scout’s Awards presented this year throughout different sections, but the biggest award presented went to Howard, our Assistant Group Scout Leader who many know has several roles in our Group, at District level and at County level. He has been an integral part of our Group for so long and it was a huge privilege to see him be presented with the Silver Wolf. We thank him and his wife Theresa for all their support over so many years.

Finally, Bob Clarke our Akela has helped with Beaver Scouts and Cub Scouts at 8[th] /14[th] for over 50 years but sadly he has finally stepped down. Bob has been an integral part of 8[th] /14[th] Group, and we all hold him in the highest regard. His experience will be greatly missed, and we thank him for all he has done and contributed to our Group.

We have a very strong Group with good numbers and great programmes led by an experience leadership team. However, we like many other Groups, need more leadership help especially in Scouts and Explorer Scout Sections and will continue to try to get more support as the year progresses.

We look forward to what this year entails…

Luke Jennings Group Scout Leader

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

AWARDS

THE SILVER WOLF

Howard Park County/District/8[th] /14[th] Epsom Air Scouts Linday Stacey District Scout Shop Nigel Bird District

THE BAR TO THE SILVER ACORN

Colin Thomas John Hughes

District/Boidier Hurst Camp Site

THE SILVER ACORN

District

THE BAR TO THE AWARD FOR MERIT

Dave Mustow 1[st] Ruxley Sea Scouts/District Ethel Merry 2[nd] Epsom (Christ Church) Frank Webber 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite) Stephen Lee 3[rd] Stoneleigh (Methodist)

AWARD FOR MERIT Derek Randall 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite) Guy Simpson 3rd Epsom (St. Martin’s) Hazel Draper 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite) Janet Roberts District Jennifer Arthur 1[st] Ruxley Sea Scouts Kevin Woodnut 1[st] Ruxley Sea Scouts Paul Dawson 8[th] /14[th] Epsom Air Scouts Paul Huitson 2[nd] Stoneleigh/3[rd] Epsom/District Scout Shop Peter Sitford 3[rd] Epsom (St. Martin’s) Sandra Toohey 2[nd] Stoneleigh (St. John’s)

THE CHIEF SCOUT’S COMMENDATION FOR GOOD SERVICE

Amie Adkin 2[nd] Epsom (Christ Church) Callum Mitchell 2[nd] Cuddington (Rowe) Clare Diplacito 7[th] Epsom (Methodist) Deborah Slater 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite)

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

THE CHIEF SCOUT’S COMMENDATION FOR GOOD SERVICE (Cont.)

Jay Haughton 2ndEpsom (Christ Church)
Karen Kelly 1stEwell Court (St. Clement’s)
Lauren Mansell 1stCuddington (Warspite)
Louise Prime 3rdEpsom (St. Martin’s)
Matt Pettipher-Young 1stCuddington (Warspite)
Paul Draper 1stCuddington (Warspite)
Paul Nowak 2ndCuddington (Rowe)
Peter Danks District Support Team
Pippa Del Nevo 8th/14thEpsom Air Scouts
Stuart Duffell 2ndCuddington (Rowe)
Tammy Gould 2ndEwell (Rainster’s)
Thomas Randall 1stCuddington (Warspite)
Tracey De Whaley 2ndCuddington (Rowe)
40 YEARS’ SERVICE AWARD
Sandra Gosden 2ndCuddington (Rowe)
30 YEARS’ SERVICE AWARD
Frank Webber 1stCuddington (Warspite)
30 YEARS’ SERVICE AWARD
Tracy Vlaeminck 2ndEpsom (Christ Church)
25 YEARS’ SERVICE AWARD
Roy Turner 2ndCuddington (Rowe)
20 YEARS’ SERVICE AWARD
Maureen Turner 2ndCuddington (Rowe)
Richard Hunt 1stCuddington (Warspite)
Viki Brooks 2ndEwell (Rainster’s)
15 YEARS’ SERVICE AWARD
Alan Pearson 1stCuddington (Warspite)
David Roberts 2ndCuddington (Rowe)
10 YEARS’ SERVICE AWARD

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

David Louch 2[nd] Cuddington (Rowe) Deborah Slater 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite) Fiona Bravery 3[rd] Epsom (St. Martin’s) Guy Simpson 3[rd] Epsom (St. Martin’s) Julie Roberts 2[nd] Cuddington (Rowe) Karen Kelly 1[st] Ewell Court (St. Clement’s) Lucie Dallen 2[nd] Cuddington (Rowe) Matt Pettipher-Young 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite) Natalie Cook 4[th] Ewell (Nonsuch) Paul Nowak 2[nd] Cuddington (Rowe) Phili Coley 7[th] Epsom (Methodist) Simon Harvey 2[nd] Ewell (Rainster’s) Steph Howard 2[nd] Stoneleigh (St. John’s)/ District 5 YEARS’ SERVICE AWARD

Daniel Webber 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite) Darren Neve 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite) Jane Barden 7[th] Epsom (Methodist) John Moffatt 2[nd] Ewell (Rainster’s) Jon Harrison 2[nd] Ewell (Rainster’s) Jon Tasch 3[rd] Epsom (St. Martin’s) Kelly Lambert 2[nd] Cuddington (Rowe) Leigh Hogarty 7[th] Epsom (Methodist) Lillian Carter 2[nd] Cuddington (Rowe) Patrick Bravery 3[rd] Epsom (St. Martin’s) Paul Dewis 7[th] Epsom (Methodist) Paul Graham 2[nd] Ewell (Rainster’s) Phil Kirk 7[th] Epsom (Methodist) Richard Bell 7[th] Epsom (Methodist) Rob Worthington 4[th] Ewell (Nonsuch) Samantha Henry 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite) Sarah Delahunty 2[nd] Stoneleigh (St. John’s) Steve Saville 4[th] Ewell (Nonsuch) Suzie Pearson 1[st] Cuddington (Warspite)

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

WOOD BADGE TRAINING AWARDS

Eileen Perren 7[th] Epsom (Methodist) Matthew Preston 1[st] Ewell Court (St. Clement’s) Paul Carpenter 7[th] Epsom (Methodist) Tomas Morgan 7[th] Epsom (Methodist)

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

CENSUS - January 2024
Male
Female
SI
PNTS
Total
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP
~~ae~~		 CENSUS - January 2024
Male
Female
SI
PNTS
Total
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP
~~ae~~		 CENSUS - January 2024
Male
Female
SI
PNTS
Total
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP
~~ae~~		 CENSUS - January 2024
Male
Female
SI
PNTS
Total
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP
~~ae~~		 CENSUS - January 2024
Male
Female
SI
PNTS
Total
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP
~~ae~~		 CENSUS - January 2024
Male
Female
SI
PNTS
Total
YOUTH MEMBERSHIP
~~ae~~
Squirrels 9 6 0 0 15
Beavers 202 75 0 0 277
Cubs 294 84 1 2 381
Scouts 260 80 0 1 341
Explorers (including Young Leaders) 93 71 2 0 166
Ventures 0 0 0 0 0
Network members 17 15 0 0 32
TOTAL YOUTH MEMBERSHIP
875
331
3
3
1,212
PROGRAMME DELIVERY ROLES
~~LSS~~
Section Leaders 24 22 0 0 46
Assistant Section Leaders 55 32 0 0 87
Section Assistants 33 27 0 0 60
TOTAL ADULT PROGRAMME DELIVERY ROLES 112 81 0 0 193
Young Leaders+ 35 22 0 0 57
TOTAL PROGRAMME DELIVERY ROLES
147
103
0
0
250
LINE MANAGER ROLES
~~ae~~
Group Scout Leaders 6 3 0 0 9
District Commissioners 1 0 0 0 1
District ES/SN Commissioners 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL LINE MANAGER ROLES
7
3
0
0
10
GOVERNANCE ROLES
~~ae~~
Group Chair 10 1 0 0 11
Group Secretary 3 7 0 0 10
Group Treasurer 10 2 0 0 12
Group Trustee Board members 12 10 0 0 22
TOTAL GROUP GOVERNANCE ROLES 35 20 0 0 55
District Chair 0 1 0 0 1
District Secretary 0 0 0 0 0
District Treasurer 1 0 0 0 1
District Trustee Board members 2 0 0 0 2
TOTAL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE ROLES 3 1 0 0 4
TOTAL GOVERNANCE ROLES
38
21
0
0
59
SUPPORT ROLES
~~ae~~
Deputy Group Scout Leaders 1 3 0 0 4
Group Administrators/Supporters 1 3 0 0 4
Group Skills Instructors 15 7 0 0 22
Other Group Adults 11 8 0 0 19
TOTAL GROUP SUPPORT ROLES 28 21 0 0 49
Deputy District Commissioners 2 0 0 0 2
District Youth Commissioners 0 0 0 0 0
Deputy District Youth Commissioners 0 0 0 0 0
Assistant District Commissioners 1 2 0 0 3
District Leaders 0 1 0 0 1
District Administrators/Supporters 3 5 0 0 8
District Skills Instructors 0 0 0 0 0
Other District Support roles 7 5 0 0 12
TOTAL DISTRICT SUPPORT ROLES 13 13 0 0 26

Annual Report 2024 Page 62 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

Active Support 36 36
22		 0 0 58
TOTAL SUPPORT ROLES 77 77
56		 0 0 133
TOTAL YOUTH MEMBERSHIP 875 875
331		 3 3 1,212
TOTAL ADULT MEMBERSHIP
234
161
0
0
395
TOTAL MEMBERSHIP
1,109
492
3
3
1,607
~~i~~
For the year ending January 2024 For the year ending January 2024
YOUTH
Squirrels
Beavers
Cubs
Scouts
Explorers
Network
Epsom and Ewell - Scout Network
0
0
0
0
0
32
~~i~~
~~ee~~
Epsom and Ewell Adult Support provision 0 0 0 0 0 0
Boidier Hurst Service Crew 0 0 0 0 0 0
Epsom and Ewell Explorer Scout provision 0 0 0 0 166 0
1stCuddington (Warspite) 15 26 43 55 0 0
2ndCuddington (Rowe) 0 23 38 39 0 0
2ndEpsom (Christ Church) 0 20 28 17 0 0
3rdEpsom (St Martins) 0 24 31 41 0 0
7thEpsom (Methodist) 0 59 72 47 0 0
8th/14thEpsom (St Barnabas & St. Joseph’s) 0 17 30 25 0 0
2ndEwell (Rainsters) 0 24 28 15 0 0
4thEwell (Nonsuch) 0 27 27 32 0 0
1stEwell Court (St Clements) 0 18 19 15 0 0
1stRuxley 0 7 10 5 0 0
2ndStoneleigh (St John's) 0 18 35 32 0 0
3rdStoneleigh (Methodist) 0 14 20 18 0 0
15 277 381 341 166 32
ADULTS
A/Support
Epsom and Ewell
0
~~ee ee~~		 Leadership
Managers
Support
0
1
26
~~ee~~		 Governance
4
Epsom and Ewell - Scout Network 0 0 0 0 0
Epsom and Ewell Adult Support provision 17 0 0 0 0
Boidier Hurst Service Crew 1 0 0 0 0
Epsom and Ewell Explorer Scout provision 0 27 0 0 0
1stCuddington (Warspite) 7 30 1 13 6
2ndCuddington (Rowe) 31 26 1 2 10
2ndEpsom (Christ Church) 0 9 1 2 5
3rdEpsom (St Martins) 2 19 1 2 4
7thEpsom (Methodist) 0 20 0 4 4
8th/14thEpsom (St Barnabas & St. Joseph’s) 0 10 1 1 5
2ndEwell (Rainsters) 0 8 0 0 2
4thEwell (Nonsuch) 0 11 1 17 5
1stEwell Court (St Clements) 0 8 1 7 6
1stRuxley 0 7 1 0 3
2ndStoneleigh (St John's) 0 9 1 1 3
3rdStoneleigh (Methodist) 0 9 0 0 2
58 193 10 75 5

Annual Report 2024 Page 63 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Reference and Administration Details

Charity Name: Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council [hereinafter described as "the charity"]

Charity No. 1031708

Scout Association Reg. No. 15408

Bankers: CAF Bank

Charity Contact: Jane Weller, 22 Lakeside, Ewell Court Avenue, KT19 0ED JaneScout@uwclub.net telephone 0792 9299571

Trustees:

Ex-officio Trustees

Karl Nicholas (District Commissioner)

Sam Hodgson (District Youth Commissioner) Orion Slater (District Youth Commissioner) John Hughes (Deputy District Commissioner) Sarah Oliphant (District Chair)

Jane Weller from 31 January 2024/Howard Park (District Secretary)

Peter Harvey (District Treasurer)

Trustees nominated by the members of the Charity at the Annual General Meeting

Bob Frisby

Stewart Ballentine

Nigel Bird Liz Slade Geoff Collins

Richard Hunt

Trustees co-opted by the ex – officio nominated and elected Trustees.

Joyce Nicholas (Badge Secretary and Scout Shop Manager) Pat Broom (Chairman, Appointments Advisory Committee) Clare Peckitt (Manager of the Support Team)

Elaine Mustow (Assistant District Commissioner) Cub Scouts

Annual Report 2024 Page 64 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document:

Constitution and Governance:

Annual Report 2024 Page 65 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

RISK AND INTERNAL CONTROL

The Charity has in place systems of internal control that are designed to provide reasonable cover against material mismanagement or loss; these include requiring two signatories for all payments and comprehensive insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Annual Report 2024 Page 66 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The Charity has continued to witness a high standard of Scouting throughout the Scout Groups and Explorer Scout Units within the District. The Support Team and District Scout Shop Team continue to provide all Groups and Units with excellent support as and when required.

The District Commissioner’s Report, as presented at the Annual General Meeting held in 2024, covers the broad spread of training, opportunities and experiences offered to all Sections, appropriate to the age group.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: -

Sarah Oliphant, District Chair Jane Weller, District Secretary

Annual Report 2024 Page 67 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

TREASURER’S REPORT

The Accounts ended 31 March 2024 have been prepared on the same basis as last year, to show the clear separation of the three designated funds. This allows us to appreciate the significant contribution that both the Shop and the Support Team (EEDST) have made to the financial health of the overall District.

ACCOUNT
2023-24
District
EEDST
Shop
TOTAL
£k		 ACCOUNT
2023-24
District
EEDST
Shop
TOTAL
£k		 ACCOUNT
2023-24
District
EEDST
Shop
TOTAL
£k		 ACCOUNT
2023-24
District
EEDST
Shop
TOTAL
£k		 ACCOUNT
2023-24
District
EEDST
Shop
TOTAL
£k
Income
Capitation and
Event Income
7.3
Fireworks
& Other Events
3.4
Shop Sales
92.1
102.8
Expenses
Boidier Hurst &
District Youth
20.9
Equipment
and Event Costs
4.8
Shop Purchases
and Costs
75.1
100.8
Transfers
+14.0
-14.0
Net Income
0.4
-1.4
3.0
2.0
Prev Balance
86.2
30.1
98.4
214.7
Balance
31/03/2023		 Including
Int'l Fund
86.6		 Including
tangible assets
28.7		 Including shop
stock
101.4		 216.7

Overall, the District has a closing fund value of £216,769 on 31 March 2024, which is £2,034 greater than the opening value of £214,735 on 31 March 2023. Income from Group capitation has allowed us to provide funding to Boidier Hurst, provide District Training, and cover other general support costs to the Groups. This includes £14,000 investment in the 1[st] Ruxley re-development.

The Scout Shop has made a very significant contribution generating £16,971 of income to the District. This has allowed the Shop to transfer £14,000 into the District general fund. Within the Shop, I thank Joyce and her team for their work to provide this generous income stream for the District.

Our thanks also go to Clare Peckitt and the Support Team for raising income from events such as the Epsom Fireworks.

Costs include both the equipment insurance, as well as the rental for the equipment storage provided by 2[nd] Cuddington. The capital invested in the aerial runway is shown depreciated from £4,600 to £2,300.

Finally, I would like to thank Kevin Mallett for his generous support as the independent examiner, as well as his wife Jane for her help in handling our VAT returns.

Peter Harvey District Treasurer.

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

to the Trustees of Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

I report on the accounts of the District for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 70 to 73.

Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and the Examiner

The District's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act, 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention,

18 THE BROADWAY, STONELEIGH, EPSOM, KT17 2HU.

KEVIN A. MALLETT F.C.A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

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Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

For the year ended 31 March 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted Funds|Total|Total| |General|Designated|Designated|Funds|Funds| |District|EEDST|Shop|2023-24|2022-23| |Note|£|£|£|£|£| |Incoming Resources| |Donations and Legacies|1a|4,720|2,850|-|7,570|9,554| |Charitable Activity Income|1b|1,072|155|-|1,227|3,486| |Grants|-|-|-|-|-| |Fundraising (gross)|-|-|91,083|91,083|92,762| |Investment Income|1,543|416|975|2,934|674| |Total Income Resources|7,335|3,421|92,058|102,814|106,475| |Resources Expended| |Charitable Activity Expenses|2a|798|298|-|1,096|5,884| |Youth Programme|2b|18,928|1,155|-|20,083|11,910| |Equipment Expenses|2c|-|3,328|358|3,686|6,843| |Fundraising Expenses|2d|-|-|74,593|74,593|80,136| |AGM, Trustee and Admin|2e|1,125|60|138|1,323|806| |Total Resources Used|20,851|4,841|75,088|100,781|105,579| |Net Resources before other|(13,517)|(1,419)|16,969|2,033|896| |Adjustments| |Opening Adjustments|3a|-|-|-|-|-| |Transfers between Funds|3b|14,000|-|(14,000)|-|-| |Net Income Resources|483|(1,419)|2,969|2,033|896| |Balance Brought Forward|86,191|30,172|98,372|214,735|213,839| |Balance Carried Forward|86,675|28,753|101,341|216,769|214,735|

----- End of picture text -----

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2024

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|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |District|EEDST|Shop|31-Mar-24|31-Mar-23| |Note|£|£|£|£| |Assets| |Cash in UK Bank Accounts|4a|91,959|26,404|80,236|198,599|192,010| |Tangible Assets|4b|-|2,300|30,617|32,917|31,939| |Other Assets and Debtors|4c|4,741|49|305|5,095|521| |Liabilities| |Creditors due within 1 year|4d|(10,025)|-|(9,817)|(19,843)|(9,734)| |Net Current Assets|86,675|28,753|101,341|216,769|214,735|

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Approved by the Board of Trustees of the District Executive Committee on 10 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by

Sarah Oliphant – District Chair

Karl Nicholas – District Commissioner

Annual Report 2024 Page 70 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

Notes to the Accounts (1 of 3)

Unrestricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total Total
General Designated Designated Funds Funds
District EEDST Shop 2023-24 2022-23
Note £ £ £ £ £
1a Donations and legacies
Capitation from Groups (excl. refunds) 58,705 - - 58,705 54,196
Capitation paid to County (inc. refunds) (53,985) - - (53,985) (49,608)
Support Team Fireworks etc. - 2,850 - 2,850 4,899
Legacy Richard Shortman - - - - -
Jamboree from participants 6,090 - - 6,090 14,580
Jamboree paid to County (6,090) - - (6,090) (14,580)
Other donations
Total Donation and legacies		 -
4,720		 -
2,850		 -
-		 -
7,570		 67
9,554
1b Charitable Activity Income
Beaver Challenge 35 570 - - 570 1,223
Challenge Hike - 155 - 155 180
Night Hike 192 - - 192 392
Emergency Aid 310 - - 310 363
Scoutabout - - - - 181
Swimming Gala
TOTAL		 -
1,072		 -
155		 -
-		 -
1,227		 1,148
3,486
2a Charitable Activity Payments
Beer Festival - 50 - 50 -
Beaver Challenge 35 372 - 372 2,730
Bentley - - - - 73
Canoeing - 42 - 42 -
Challenge Hike - 206 - 206 284
Night Hike 170 - - 170 309
Emergency Aid 229 - - 229 10
Scoutabout - - - 1,703
Swimming Gala
TOTAL		 27
798		 -
298		 -
-		 27
1,096		 775
5,884
2b Youth Programme Expenditure
Boidier Hurst Payments 2,500 - - 2,500 2,000
Insurance 1,156 1,052 - 2,208 2,007
Adult Training (First Response) - - - - 1,986
Young Leader support and Training 507 - - 507 432
Group Support (MPLC, Wreaths) 461 103 - 564 1,300
District Purchased from Shop 304 - - 304 1,636
District Development (1st Ruxley) 14,000 - - 14,000 750
International Grants - - - - 1,800
Total Youth Programme Expenditure 18,928 1,155 - 20,083 11,910

Annual Report 2024 Page 71 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

Notes to the Accounts (2 of 3)

Notes to the Accounts (2 of 3) Notes to the Accounts (2 of 3) Notes to the Accounts (2 of 3) Notes to the Accounts (2 of 3) Notes to the Accounts (2 of 3)
Unrestricted Funds Total Total
General Designated Designated Funds Funds
District EEDST Shop 2023-24 2022-23
Note £ £ £ £
2c Equipment Expenses
Fixed Assets Net Book Value
Opening Book Value at 1 April - 4,600 - 4,600 6,900
Equipment Purchase (Runway) - - - - -
Closing Book Value at 31 March - (2,300) - (2,300) (4,600)
Fixed Asset Depreciation - 2,300 - 2,300 2,300
Equipment Store Hire - 723 - 723 1,213
Bouldering Wall - 96 - 96 -
Shop Computer - - 358 358 -
Other Equipment (Distro Board) - 209 - 209 3,329
Total Equipment Expenses - 3,328 358 3,686 6,843
2d Fundraising Expenses
Cost of Stock Sold
Opening Stock @ 1 April - - 27,339 27,339 23,149
Purchase into Stock - - 65,240 65,240 74,226
Closing Stock @ 31 March - - (30,617) (30,617) (27,339)
Total cost of Stock Sold - - 61,961 61,961 70,036
Shop Costs (Rent, Utilities, Till) - - 12,632 12,632 10,100
Total Fundraising Expenses - - 74,593 74,593 80,136
2e AGM and Trustee
AGM. Admin, Stationery & Printing 1,065 - 78 1,143 590
Bank Charges 60 60 60 180 216
Total AGM and Trustee 1,125 60 138 1,323 806
3a Opening Adjustments
Capitation for 2019/20 - - - - -
Other Adjustments - - - - -
Total Opening Adjustment - - - - -
3b Transfers between Funds
Transfer between Funds 14,000 - (14,000) - -
VAT Paid on Purchases - - (7,829) (7,829) (9,133)
VAT Taken on Sales - - 9,125 9,125 9,518
HMRC Settlements cleared - - (962) (962) 152
HMRC Settlement after 31 March - - (334) (334) (537)
International Fund (R Shortman) - - - - (1,000)
General Fund (ex R Shortman) - - - - 1,000
Total Transfers between funds 14,000 - (14,000) - -

Annual Report 2024 Page 72 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

Notes to the Accounts (3 of 3)

District EEDST Shop 31-Mar-24 31-Mar-23
£ £ £ £ £
Note
4a Cash in UK Bank Accounts
EEDST CAF Main - 3,482 - 3,482 2,012
EEDST CAF Gold - 10,519 - 10,519 11,281
EEDST Scottish Widows - 12,403 - 12,403 12,258
Shop Petty Cash - - 83 83 72
Shop CAF Main - - 26,618 26,618 62,447
Shop CAF Gold - - 53,535 53,535 2,618
Shop Natwest - - - - 10,839
District CAF Gold 11,617 - - 11,617 1,575
District Build Society 55,510 - - 55,510 54,069
District CAF Main 24,833 - - 24,833 34,838
Net Current Assets 91,959 26,404 80,236 198,599 192,010
4b Tangible Assets (Equipment and Stock)
Shop Stock (Current Assets) - - 30,617 30,617 27,339
Scouting Equipment - 2,300 - 2,300 4,600
Shop Equipment - - - - -
Total Tangible Assets - 2,300 30,617 32,917 31,939
4c Other monetary assets (Inc. Tax Claim and Debtors)
Debtors (Received after 31 Mar)
Uncleared District <> Shop 4,000 - 25 4,025 250
Uncleared County Receipt 741 - - 741 -
S. Widows Accrued Interest - 49 - 49 21
Debtors of Shop (Badge A/C) - - 280 280 251
Total Other Assets and Debtors 4,741 49 305 5,095 521
4d Liabilities (Creditors)
Lodgments paid after 31 March
Uncleared Shop <> District (25) - (4,000) (4,025) -
Uncleared VAT (HMRC)) - - (334) (334) (537)
Uncleared to 1stRuxley (10,000) - - (10,000) (4,290)
Creditors of Shop (Badge A/C) - - (5,483) (5,483) (4,907)
Total Liabilities and Creditors (10,025) - (9,817) (19,843) (9,734)
FUND BALANCES FUND BALANCES
General 52,675 - - 52,675 52,191
International (R Shortman) 34,000 - - 34,000 34,000
Support Team - 28,753 - 28,753 30,172
Shop - - 101,341 101,341 98,372
Total Fund balances 86,675 28,753 101,341 216,769 214,735

Annual Report 2024 Page 73 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

THE DISTRICT SCOUT SHOP

Our District Scout Shop at 22 The Broadway, Stoneleigh, KT17 2HU supplies uniform, and Scouting and Guiding accessories for young people throughout Epsom and Ewell and neighbouring Districts. In addition, the Shop also stocks an extensive range of camping equipment, badges, books, craft materials, trophies, and gifts. The Shop can supply or order all the items available at Scout Store, with a significant share of the profit being reinvested back into local Scout Groups and the District.

The Shop is open at the following times: Monday 2-5 pm; Wednesday 2-7 pm and Saturday 9.30-12 noon.

A team of volunteers led by Joyce Nicholas runs the Shop. You can contact Joyce and the team by calling 020 8001 6856. You can also place orders directly by emailing epsomandewellscoutshop@aol.com.

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Our District Scout Shop in
Stoneleigh Broadway
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Annual Report 2024 Page 74 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

Annual Report 2024 Page 75 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

Annual Report 2024 Page 76 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

Annual Report 2024 Page 77 Registered Charity 1031708

Epsom and Ewell District Scout Council

Annual Report 2024 Page 78 Registered Charity 1031708