CENTRAL NORFOLK DISTRICT SCOUTS ANNUAL REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS – AGM 17[TH] SEPTEMBER 2021
1
STATEMENT FROM THE DISTRICT CHAIRMAN
For the last two years, I am conscious that I have not been able to give the sufficient time and effort to my role to adequately support the District; this has been due to pressures from Covid-19, exponential growth in my business and personal issues. Therefore, I have decided to stand down as your Chairman and Simon has reluctantly accepted my resignation.
However, I have seen so much change for the good that I have decided to remain on the District Executive Committee to support this as we move forward.
Tom Dickerson
District Chairman
DISTRICT COMMISSIONER’S REPORT
It is so nice to now see Scouting returning to normal after the year we have had. We have sadly seen one group close due to lack of adults to run it, but all of the other groups have returned to post Covid strength and for some groups there is actually increased their numbers and we might soon see one group start a new section.
During the lockdowns, we did receive wonderful support from our local councils who provided grants to all groups that own their own buildings, this did feel slightly weird as not all groups got support but in the end of the day those with their own buildings do have greater overheads.
It was also very pleasing to be part of the team that provided activities and food over the summer holiday to those on Free School meals. This was true Scouting helping out the Community so a big thanks to all of the leaders who supported this.
It is exciting to look forward to returning to normal next year with things like our first St. George’s Day in two years.
We also plan on finishing the project to our District website so we can tell the public what great we are providing.
We do need to fill a number of District roles as the work strain on the myself and the other few District level members is very high and especially with my role. We have an urgent need for a Local Training Manager, a role I am covering at the moment, and if we could get some ADC’s for the sections would be brilliant. To be honest if I cannot recruit extra help, I am looking to review my role at Christmas to see if I can continue as DC.
Simon Lonsdale
District Commissioner
2
DISTRICT LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Scouting is known to help our young people thrive and achieve the best in life. We also see that it can support the wellbeing of these members as they struggle with life during Covid or a release from their day-to-day life. Most of our Groups are being held back by one thing: the support of dedicated adult volunteers.
We are not having the usual plea for adults to join us in uniform as leaders, but we would not stop anyone doing that. Instead, we are after adults to help in the other role to help us. The Executive Committees in every Group help fund and manage the Group to provide the equipment and buildings for the leaders to deliver the best possible scouting.
This could also include competent tradesmen and women. Our buildings need maintenance, so could you help out? We wouldn’t expect it to be done for free but an hour to two to replace or repair our buildings really makes a difference.
Do you have any practical skills that you could share with our young people? It’s not just fieldcraft for scouts, but it could be art or crafts skills. DIY skills to help build things; a Cub scout armed with a power drill always makes for an entertaining risk assessment! Or can you just commit to come down and help out when the leaders are short of number for our safety ratios and want to take their young people out into the community.
We will support you in this and make sure that you are happy with the level of commitment that you can offer us. It doesn’t have to be two hours every Tuesday. If you can only help for two hours on line every month, that’s fine.
You may be pleased to know that you will be on the top rate of pay for our leaders’ straightaway. The downside is that that rate is zero. All our leaders and other volunteers are exactly that: volunteers who give up their time to see your young people thrive. They enjoy their scouting, so why not join them?
Simon Lonsdale District Commissioner
3
¢.B5 É7Sf £67.C É47S(YJ fA7.6 U7. Tr&y rJlwlZ4 20 [7 E3AXOY ÉJ7 IV Gwrfal E47.04 CL1 £ L3W93 Tr JL77 ¢ 2U67, 42 CENTRAL
I rwt m the %¢L¥XbtsoIC•rtrnl Pxlol¢kwts forthe yeareThded31' 2021. whkhare set
tybton 2.
trustoes ir• FesponsibFeftf the preyr•in
TREASURER’S REPORT
Last year we started the year with £32,187 and ended with £47,239 although £9,023 are restricted funds leaving a total for use £38,216
Explorers £1,266 Cubs £568 North Elmham £696 Training £161 Beavers £402 Jamboree £550 Scouts £35 Building Fund £6,541 ASU £10 Activities £70
We received £15,865 from capitation and paid £16,198 to county Melton Magna owe £1034 Training We have paid out £139 District Income Gift aid £497 refund Euro camp £500 paid out £423 Cubs, Beavers and Scouts Nil Garvestone Grants £20,675 paid out £5,249 District Assets Garvestone Buildings £7000 Equipment £6000 Archery £3000 First Aid £54 Shooting Equipment £900 Axes £700 Geo's £550 Gas cylinders 30
Lew Pearson Treasurer
– GARVESTONE OUR PROGRESS SO FAR
During the last 12 months there has been very little use of Garvestone Campsite, However, this has not stopped the redevelopment of the site to make it fit for purpose and bring it in the 21[st] century.
The shelter that was put up before the pandemic started has been turned into a fully waterproof kitchen area and was moved by 90 degrees on the concrete plinth. Electric has been restored to the site and lighting put into the hut, toilets and the two garages. There is also flood lighting for the field. The old garage doors have finally been replaced with more modern metal doors and roller shutter front doors which means everything is a lot more secure.
There are further plans to keep developing the site and the committee are looking at the possibility of a replacement toilet block, a purpose-built shooting range to cater for air rifles, archery and axe throwing. The fire pit circle will also be revamped to improve the experience and make the area more attractive for users.
If you have booked a session at the site, I would highly recommend you do so at your earliest opportunity.
Lee Anderton
Group Scout Leader, 1[st] Beetley Scout Group, and District Quartermaster
6
– WELLS SCOUT ACTIVITY CENTRE OUR VISION
Wells bookings have returned to post Covid levels but with trying to provide remote support to the property from the Dereham area has been quite hard on the District Treasurer, Lew Pearson and myself. We have both have had to do extra journeys to help maintain the building.
We have now identified a volunteer to take on a Property Managers role and this should be a big help as the property is now starting to look very tired. We now have to review on how to best spend the Covid Grant to keep the building in a rentable condition.
We do still have Brownies using the hall but I would love to see Scouting return there one day as that would help breathe life back into a lovely building.
Simon Lonsdale District Commissioner
DISTRICT CONSTITUTION
This year at District Executive Committee meetings, we have discussed the need to have our own District Constitution. District Constitution will document how the District will manage and govern itself along with details of its financial standing orders. This will clearly demonstrate to all members the core processes that we follow.
When drafting this Constitution, I have taken elements from other similar documents at Group, District and County level from throughout the country. I have tried to mould this to meet our needs and having sought the counsel of your Executive, I am happy to present the attached final draft for approval.
This document will be reviewed during the coming year and brought to next year's AGM as its first formal review. If during the coming year, any members have comments to improve and strengthen our constitution they should be sent to the District Secretary for discussion by the Executive committee. Therefore, I commend the new constitution to District for approval.
Richard Green
District Active Support Unit
7
AGENDA OF CENTRAL NORFOLK DISTRICT SCOUTS 19[TH] ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be held at 1[st] Beetley Scout HQ on Friday 17 September 2021 at 1900hrs for 1930hrs
| Item | Owner | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome and to receive apologies for absence | District Vice President |
| 2 | To approve the Minutes of the 18thAnnual General Meeting held on 19 September 2020 |
District Vice President |
| 3 | To approve the District Commissioner’s nomination of the District Chairman |
District Commissioner |
| 4 | To receive and approve the District Accounts | District Chairman |
| 5 | To elect the following officers of the Executive Committee: • District Treasurer • District Secretary • District Auditor |
District Chairman |
| 6 | To approve the District Commissioner’s nominations to the District Executive Committee. (To include one GSL and 18-25 year old) |
District Commissioner |
| 7 | To elect and equivalent number of members to the District Executive Committee |
District Chairman |
| 8 | To elect two nominations to the County Scout Council | District Chairman |
| 9 | To receive the District Annual Report • Section Reports – District Commissioner • Leadership Requirements – District Explorer Scout Commissioner • Garvestone Website – District Quartermaster • Wells Activity Centre-District Commissionner |
District Chairman |
| 10 | To approve the District Constitution | District Chairman |
| 11 | Any other business as previously notified to the District Secretary | District Secretary |
| 12 | Presentation of Awards | District Commissioner |
| 13 | Guest Speaker • How we redeveloped our headquarters – Hannah Ponder (Group Scout Leader, 2ndDereham) |
District Chairman |
| 14 | Closing comments from the County Commissioner’s Representative | Deputy County Commissioner |
The 20[th] Annual General Meeting will be held at Garvestone on 2 July 2022.
8