Group Lead Volunteer
I took over as GLV in November last year from our previous GSL Mike Billin and took over a thriving group with all our sections growing. Squirrels having started the previous year have settled in well and are a happy, busy section. They also work well with Beavers on some activities. Tiger Pack have settled in well and became part of the 38th/40th giving us two busy Cub packs. Scouts and Explorers have done lots of activities both on and off the water with Young Leaders assisting with section meetings, hopefully going on to be adult leaders with sections. Our maintenance team led by Andy Cooper and Andy Munn are improving our grounds, cladding the front of the hut, covering the rifle range amongst many other jobs. We completed the year with over 100 young people and are one of the largest groups in the district. We are always looking for assistance in meetings either as helpers or even Leaders, if you are interested just let a leader know. Thank you to all our leaders, helpers and other volunteers who have made 2023 to 2024 another successful year for the 38th / 40th.
Chair Report
Maintaining the hall and refreshing our camping and water sports equipment is always on going. This year’s largest project has been applying for a new storage building which has included tree surveys, drawings, and the planning application. Currently we are waiting for a response from the planning committee. We have a team of retired leaders and helpers who cut the grass and keep the premises tidy each Tuesday morning. If you have any handy maintenance skills or can spare a few hours helping to keep the hall tidy, please let your section leader know. Tea and coffee are always supplied. One of the challenges of the Trustee Board is fundraising, we are always looking for ideas and volunteers, if anyone can assist, please speak with your section leader. The leaders themselves have submitted applications and written letters to raise funds, without this it would be difficult to maintain our equipment. All of the leaders, helpers and trustee members volunteer their time. Every penny from subs and fundraising is used to maintain the hall, equipment, provide activities and to pay the bills. As you may know, I’m stepping down from my role as Chair of the group at this AGM. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the leadership team and volunteers for the comradeship and many happy times we’ve had over the last seven years. I wish all of the young people and young adults of our group a successful and fun scouting future.
Squirrel section:
The Squirrels have continued to be very busy this year. Everything we do is literacy based and each week we focus on the themes of a story to earn our badges. We have had lots of visitors like the Royal Mail’s Lenny the Letter and Larry the Labrador to show us how to be safe around dogs. River brought his rodents and reptiles, and the Squirrels were very brave holding some enormous snakes. The Squirrels have been out and about doing litter picks and spreading some smiles by hiding miniSquirrels for people to find in the community. We visited the local bakery to learn about the community project and to decorate biscuits. We earned our Archelogy badge and visited Rochester Castle. The Squirrels attended the district teddy bear’s picnic with over 100 other Squirrels as well as going to the second county Go Nuts Day. The Beavers and Squirrels attended the Christmas Trail and visited with Father Christmas. We dressed as pirates to learn about maps and find hidden treasure to earn our Navigator level 1 badge. Together we have continued the trend of having our Squirrels earn their Acorn Awards before moving onto Beavers. All of our original Squirrels have now moved on from the group, but our wait list continues to be busy, so our numbers are never low.
Beaver section :
What an exciting year this has been. We started off the year with a Group funday at Buckmore where the beavers had a sleepover at Buckmore park. We had all sorts of fun such as low ropes, foam swords and even cooked on fires. We had an incredible summer fun day which the 1st and the 41st Strood beaver and squirrel scout groups attended. Mixing and learning all sorts of new skills! The beavers even had the dogs' trust come down and do an engaging session with them. Our summer survival camp included den building, wide games and smores making. September kicked off with a den night adventure in which the squirrels and beavers built their own dens and had an online session including a quiz. We had a storyteller come down and do a session with an interactive story. We attended the golden box challenge through district where the beavers had to test their abilities through challenges around Buckmore. We had a circus themed Halloween funday with an escape room inside. The beavers got to learn how to do different circus acts including diablo, devil sticks and juggling. Lots of fun was had playing carnival games and they even took part in the puzzle room. In November we had an Indiana Jones themed sleepover! The beavers had to complete challenges to find the treasure, also using compasses navigating around Broomhill Park to find the hidden code, fun puzzles and crafts including making treasure boxes. We even used invisible ink to crack codes. To kick off January we went on a hike around Capstone Park where the beavers had fun playing in the park and finished off with fun feeding the ducks.
Wolf Cub Pack
Wolf Cubs have maintained numbers in the upper twenties throughout the year with a steady intake from outside of the group as well as those coming up from Beavers. It has been a busy year with two camping weekends and a one-night sleepover. There were also a number of events (12) away from the hut including skiing at Capstone Park, a tour of RAF Hendon, Climbing at Lower Grange Farm, Sailing Evening, and a Tour of Fort Amhurst amongst a number of others. We arranged some Saturday Air Rifle Training for the District competition in June, which we have won in the past. We did not retain the shield, but it was close! Badge Work over the year has been extensive and varied resulting in the award of 168 badges in total. We also awarded a further large number of badges in April 2024, most of which were earnt during this period. Three cubs achieved their Silver Awards in this period with as further six being given theirs in April 2024. Well, done to those cubs. Finally, ‘Thank You’ to all the volunteers in the Wolf Cub Pack, young and old, for their support and hard work.
TIGER CUB PACK
Tiger Pack have had a very busy & successful year. Our Wednesday night meetings provide the Cubs with a balance of games, learning new skills, working towards badges & award, making new friends, having lots of fun & making special memories. The pack has remained full all year with 30 Cubs & a good split of boys & girls. PACK ACTIVITIES : During the year the Cubs have enjoyed craft nights, hikes, learnt about healthy eating & trying new foods, sailing, rifle shooting & sausage sizzle, archery, sausage sizzles, teambuilding, Paracord crafts, Chinese New Year, Diwali, cooked pancakes & carved pumpkins. We have worked towards various activity badges including Astronomer, International, Global Issues, Gardener & Emergency Aid. We have had visits from Red Cross (Emergency Aid Badge), Medway Spaceman (to help towards Astronomer Badge) & Medway Council (Learning about Recycling). CAMPS, OUTINGS & VISITS: Tiger Cubs have enjoyed visits to St Francis Church (My Faith Badge), Gravesend Temple (World Faith Badge), Rochester Skate Park & Shorne Country Park
(Navigator Badge). We have enjoyed camps at Hamlet Wood, Frylands Wood, Skreens Park, Buckmore Park & Sleepover at Slough Fort. GROUP ACTIVITIES: Tiger Cubs have taken part in a Remembrance Parade & Christingle Service at St Francis Church. We all had fun at the District/Group Georgeree camp at Buckmore Park. 11 cubs have gained their Chief Scout Silver Award – well done!!
Scout Section:
The Scouts making good progress in their development towards their Chiefs Scouts Award and activity badges. With 4 Scouts completing their Chief Scouts Gold Award prior to going up to Explorers. We have had a programme of Frosted / day camps throughout year, along with the annual group camp, which was held at Buckmore Park. We also attended the District Tolmers activity camp later in the year. On the water, we have had a range of kayaking, and sailing sessions throughout the summer in conjunction with the Explorers. We have also been helped by the Yalding scouts, with easier access to the river There were a few District events, to which we attended. Conker bash, rifle shooting and troop night But for the Scouts, the highlight was the Arrowhead event (multi activity bases), which the team achieved 1st place, despite not having a full team. Scout section numbers have risen, as both cub packs are now feeding the section at regular intervals, I would like to say a big thankyou to all the leaders/support staff, and parents for giving up their time to support the Scouts throughout the year.
Explorer Sea Scout Unit
During Friday meeting the unit continued to explore Diversity and inclusion, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the World Organization of Scout Movements Dialogue for Peace programme and much more as well as looking at more traditional Scout training. We have had a full and active sailing programme with increasing numbers of explorer Scout and Scout participants. We now have a suitable base for kayaking on Friday nights and for weekends. As well as other camps we continued to maintain H14 at Buckmore Scout Campsite with regular camps and working weekends. Summer Camp involved walking the Gower Peninsula from a Scout campsite near Swansea Airport and we had some great walking days and reasonably kind weather. The Explorers Scouts able to join both the virtual Cotswold Marathon, over local paths, and the main event in the Cotswolds in February 2024. As well as a wide range of events the explorer Scouts have continued to work with international scout faith groups and maintained the Buddhist Sala, the mosque, the Anglican openair space, the RC Chapel, the synagogue and have supported initial work on the Sikh shrine. In summary the unit has continued with an active and engaging programme.
40th Strood Sea Scouts
| Receipts for year ending 31st March 2024 Memership subscriptions Stripe Donations / Grants Fund Rasing Uniform Hall Hire Camps Misc Outings Events Interest Total Receipts for the year |
This year £ £26,046.50 £26,046.50 £514.29 £13,390.73 £13,905.02 £278.88 £278.88 £0.00 £600.00 £600.00 £5,329.91 £5,329.91 £493.67 £493.67 £6,202.44 £6,202.44 £558.02 £53,414.44 |
Previous Year £ 26,897.90 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26,897.90 £10,801.00 16,739.04 |
||||
| 27,540.04 £191.60 |
||||
| £191.60 £148.00 |
||||
| £148.00 £1,400.00 |
||||
| £1,400.00 £5,769.30 |
||||
| £5,769.30 £82.95 |
||||
| £82.95 £542.02 |
||||
| £542.02 | ||||
| £74.75 | ||||
| £62,646.56 |
Page 1
40th Strood Sea Scouts
| Payments for year ending 31st March 2024 Premises Minibus Wilsoins Costs Rates - Water Light & Heat Insurances Building Insurances Boats Repairs & Renewals Activerities Camps Outings / section iteams Fund raising Expenses Fund raising Expenses Admin/ Establishment Expenses Admin/ Establishment Expenses Other Exspenses Courses / Training Boat Repairs Boat Licences Membership fee Badges Uniform Helpers Ins Group Support YIF Building Capitol Purchases Capitol Camping Capitol Boating Capitol Group Toatl Payment for year |
|
|---|---|
Page 2
40th Strood Sea Scouts
| Receipts & Payments for year ending 31st March 2024 Total Receipts for the year Total payments for the year Net receipts( payments ) for the year Bank/ Cash/ Fund brought forward Statement of Assets & liabilities Monetary assets Bank Current account Bank Deposit Account Cash in hand |
This year £ £53,414.44 £42,547.25 £10,867.19 £32,900.44 £43,767.63 £431.26 £43,336.37 £0.00 £43,767.63 |
Previous Year £ £62,646.56 £81,116.06 -£18,469.50 £51,369.94 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| £32,900.44 £8,972.36 £23,928.08 £0.00 |
|||
| £32,900.44 |
Page 3
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of 40TH STROOD SEA SCOUT GROUP On accounts for the year ended 3110312024 Charity no (if any) 1033637 Set out on pages 1T03 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 31103 12024. Responslbllltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are sponsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (°the Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting CordS Independent examiner's statsment I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 3010412024 Name: DENNIS SCUDDER Relevant professlonal qualification{s) or body (if any): Address: 32 NEwfoN ABBOT ROAD NORTHFLEET KENT DA117DT IER October 2018