Stockport District Scout Council 2024 Annual Report LEAD VOLUNTEERS REPORT
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Review of Operations
Stockport District is the largest district in Greater Manchester East. Our Charitable Purpose is to actively engage and support young people in their personal
development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. We achieve this through a combination of adventures and fun activities both indoors and out, learning by doing and reflection. All of which is underpinned by our scouting values of Integrity, Care, Cooperation, Belief and Respect.
During 2024 Gareth Williams was formally appointed to the Lead Volunteer position of the District and along side a Core Team of Andy Arnold (Deputy) Helen Berry (Volunteer Development Lead) and Dave Brooke (Program Lead) the significant challenge of preparing for a new Volunteer Experience and membership system, to be rolled out by HQ later in the year, against the back drop of the inquest into the sad death of an Explorer Scout from the District some years early could take place.
It is fair to say that 2024 was a year of significant challenge and change in the ways in which Groups and Units across the district would operate especially given the scrutiny under which we were placed. It is true to say that the systems for nights away and activities away from the hut that we had already implemented in the previous years came into their own and helped us to continue to operate during this time. I would like to thank all of our members who provided additional information, reviewed their risk assessments and took the opportunity to review their practices during this time, showing our commitment to keeping Scouts safe.
Stockport Scouts
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Stockport is a District that is Growing!
Stockport District, over the course of 2024, has continued to grow, and at a faster rate than the previous year. Overall there was a 2.6% increase in membership, whereas the previous year only increased by 0.3%. One of the stated was that we needed to increase adult membership, which pleasingly saw a 5.7% growth.
| Section | Numbers | % change on previousyear |
|---|---|---|
| Squirrels | 28 | -24.3 |
| Beavers | 441 | 2.8 |
| Cubs | 508 | 2.6 |
| Scouts | 425 | 1.4 |
| Explorers | 179 | 11.9 |
| Network | ||
| Total YP | 1581 | 1.9 |
| Adults | 405 | 5.7 |
| Total | 1986 | 2.6 |
Some points to note:
Squirrel numbers changed by only 9 but as there are only 2 units the percentage change appears alarming. This change can be accounted for by those members moving up and new members not yet starting, our waiting lists for squirrels are still healthy. I anticipate that we will have at least 2 new units to report on next year.
Network Membership is only reporting members with no other role. At the time of the census all of our Network members had additional team member roles.
Scouts and Explorers have seen membership grow to the same levels that they were at prior to the outbreak of Covid.
Historically, Explorer membership usually dips the year following a Jamboree, but here we have seen significant growth reversing this trend.
Stockport is a District that is Active
For the first time, in a number of years, the District embarked on an international adventure during 2024 with 2 coach loads of Cubs and Scouts heading to Disneyland Paris for a weekend of Adventure. Disney is billed as the Happiest Place on Earth and the Cubs and Scouts who attended did indeed have a great time.
Stockport Scouts
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Closer to home our Section teams provided a menu of Residential, Activities and Experiences to supplement the great programs put in place by the groups. Dave Brooke (Program Lead) would like to thank the team for their efforts and the many successful activities they ran some of which are highlighted below:
Camps/Residentials: Beavers District Olympics Camp Cubs Adventure Camp Scouts David Slater Trophy Scouts District Camp Scouts Deep Heat
Activity Days Beavers You Shape award Beavers Crocky Trail Cubs Clip and Climb
Cubs Snow adventures at the Chill Factor-e Cubs Roller Disco
Scouts Climbing day Scouts Water fun day Explorers Activity day
Confidence
Resilience
Adventure
Stockport Scouts
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Stockport Recognises the Service of its volunteers.
Scouting happens because of the many volunteers that support it, both at district and group level. During 2024 it was great to be able to recognise commitment to their service in a number of ways.
29 Leaders have completed their Wood Badge Training meaning they have gone beyond the basics and demonstrated their abilities as a leader. Nationally volunteers tend to spend only 2 to 3 years volunteering with Scouts. It is very pleasing then that during 2024 we could recognise the long service of:
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24 Leaders for 5 years
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13 Leaders for 10 years
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7 Leaders for 15 years
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4 Leaders for 20 years
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2 Leaders for 25 years
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2 Leader for 30 years
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2 Leaders for 40 years
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1 Leaders for 50 years
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1 Leader for 60 years
In addition to the length of service, the District made recommendations of 28 Good Service awards ranging from commendations to Silver Wolfs. All of these awards demonstrate that there is strong and stable leadership across much of the groups in Stockport District. .
Stockport Scouts
August 2025
Dear All
As Chairman I have continued to meet as many of you as I can throughout the year by visiting overnight camps and attending various meetings
A huge thank you to Gareth Williams who has been support for me and the teams.
We always have challenges to overcome in the daily routine of scouting but we all work together as a strong team to overcome any difficulties that may arise.
Numbers are still growing in all the sections which is brilliant and a testament to the fantastic work that is being done by all our volunteers .
St Georges day this year was a successful occasion at St Georg’s Church. The parade down the A6 was so good to see and so many of our young people were in attendance and taking part in the activities organised by leaders.
A tremendous amount of work goes into the organising and delivery of all the events and a special thank you goes out from me to all sections and teams for the time given to local scouting and to our young people.
We have undertaken the changes from the National Scout Movement and hopefully this is now becoming embedded in our daily routines of scouting
The unoccupied scout buildings have been put up for sale and this is continuing along with legal services .
Thank you to the members of the Trustee Board for all the hard work they have done this year with so many changes coming in.
Special thanks to Gareth Williams who has guided us with all the changes and given so much of his time and his support to us all.
Linda Weekes-Holt Chair Stockport Scouts.
Stockport & District Scout Council Financial Operating Report
For the Year Ended 31 December 2024
Stockport #SkillsForLife
ee 2023 pe 2024 New Opening Balances New 57,824.59 Co-Op Current Account 149,316.08 - 14,092.36 District Sectional & Explorer Accounts 14,224.88 35,719.55 CCLA Charities Deposit Fund 37,284.96 - Cash - 107,636.50 200,825.92 Income 79,825.00 Capitation 82,390.00 3,277.22 Badges 1,288.77 - - Adult, Explorer & Young Leader Training - - First Aid Training 42,580.65 District Activities & Operational Income 6,639.89 - Other Income 20.00 735.67 Loans - Activities & Groups Income 9,434.06 7,790.00 Beaver Account 6,401.00 15,484.50 Cub Account 13,175.00 4,860.50 Scout Account 3,593.70 15,089.15 Explorer Accounts 31,126.65 26,467.53 Jamboree/Other Activities - - - St. Georges Day & Rememberance Day 121,131.87 Managed Properties 90,892.70 1,565.41 Bank Interest 1,910.30 800.00 Donations - Ephraim Hallam 800.00 - Donations & Grants - other - - - Miscellaneous Deposits - 1,591.58 District Group Bank Accounts Closed - Cash income for Events - - - Fundraising 321,199.08 247,672.07 321,199.08 247,672.07
Stockport & District Scout Council Financial Operating Report
For the Year Ended 31 December 2024
Stockport #SkillsForLife
ee 2023 pe 2024
Expenses
| 72,075.00 | Capitation | 74,690.00 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,825.31 | Badges | 1,257.01 | ||
| - | Adult, Explorer & Young Leader Training | - | ||
| - | First Aid Training | - | ||
| 41,057.55 | District Activities Expenses | 6,149.73 | ||
| 6,164.21 | Operational Expenses | 2,265.30 | ||
| 7,455.18 | Beaver Account | 6,275.08 | ||
| 14,490.08 | Cub Account | 12,867.10 | ||
| 4,376.98 | Scout Account | 1,396.62 | ||
| 13,462.68 | Explorer Accounts | 33,274.02 | ||
| 39,374.75 | Jamboree/Other Activities Account | - | ||
| 600.90 | St. Georges Day & Rememberance Service | 338.46 | ||
| - | Charity Donation | - | ||
| 9,677.06 | Loans - Activites & Groups | - | ||
| 20.00 | Licence | 20.00 | ||
| - | General Expenses | - | ||
| 15,207.01 | Managed Properties | 11,039.59 | ||
| 729.00 | Miscellaneous Expenses | - | ||
| - | Fundraising Expenses | - | ||
| - | 1,493.95 | District Accounts Closed / Removed to Partnerships | - | |
| - | Cash Expenses for Events | - | ||
| - | Cash deposited into account | - | ||
| 226,515.71 | 228,009.66 200,825.92 |
District Funds | 149,572.91 | 149,572.91 298,925.08 |
| 149,316.08 14,224.88 37,284.96 200,825.92 |
Closing Balances Co-Op Current Account District Sectional & Explorer Accounts CCLA Charities Deposit Fund |
247,667.23 12,062.59 39,195.26 298,925.08 |
||
| 200,825.92 | 298,925.08 |
Stockport & District Scout Council
Statement of Assets
For the Year Ended 31 December 2024
Stockport #SkillsForLife
| 2023 ee |
Cash Funds | 2024 pe |
|---|---|---|
| 149,316.08 | Co-Op Current Account | 247,667.23 |
| 14,224.88 | District Sectional & Explorer Accounts | 12,062.59 |
| 37,284.96 | CCLA Charities Deposit Fund | 39,195.26 |
| - | Cash | - |
| 200,825.92 300,000.00 50,000.00 40,000.00 50,000.00 440,000.00 |
Property Assets 1st Romiley - Heyes Avenue Rowarth Land 1st Bredbury & Woodley Adswood Land Investment Assets Non-monetary assets for District Use This still needs to be completed |
298,925.08 300,000.00 - 40,000.00 - 340,000.00 |
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Treasurers report to the members of Stockport District Scout Council
The Financial Operating Report and Statements are attached for the year ending 31[st] December 2024 and have been independently examined by Paul Masters, ACMA and his report is attached.
We continue to prepare our accounts as in previous years on a Receipts and Payments basis, consolidating the activities carried on in the name of Stockport District Scout Council.
The majority of our Explorer Units have partnered up with their groups and I will hope to ensure the remaining Explorer Unit Accounts are represented in the District Accounts accordingly. Unfortunately, not all Explorer Accounts were made available in time and figures for those units have remained at the last position they were recorded. These omissions are not considered material in the overall context of the position of the District, but as the next financial year will be my last year as treasurer, my aim will be to ensure any loose ends on these accounts will be tidied up.
In cash terms our funds are showing a £98,000 increase from last year, this was due to the District successfully selling two pieces of land.
I aim to continue to improve the procedures implemented from the previous year’s accounts and will continue to do so in my last year. I am also hoping to introduce new savings accounts in the coming year and add more Trustees to the bank account to enable more flexibility for authorisation.
Mrs Jayne Talbot-Smith Hon. Treasurer
Independent auditors report to the members of Stockport District Scout Council
I have audited the financial statements of Stockport District Scout Council for the year ended 31st December 2024 comprising Financial Operating Report and Statement of Assets. The District Treasurer provided comprehensive documentation and reconciliations for the financial year in question and a professional valuation of the Property Assets was undertaken in September 2023 and is still considered reasonable. In my opinion the financial statements have been diligently prepared and give a true and fair view of the state of the organisation’s affairs and its financial position.
It should be noted that, while not material in value terms, as with last year, the Investment Assets section of the Statement of Assets is still to be completed. As I understand it, the treasurer has limited visibility on whether some of the investment assets still exist within the organisation.
The Treasurer has also not been supplied with information relating to some of the Explorer units accounts. Again, while not large values, in order to maintain the required standard of income and expenditure analysis , the importance of ensuring that all members keep detailed records and receipts of all transactions, and ensuring all documents and records are sent to the District Treasurer in time for the Accounts to be prepared should be reiterated. A general inventory of the Investment Assets should be undertaken to create an accurate schedule of those assets that can be identified.
VE. Paul Masters ACMA