2021-03-31-accounts

SOUTHEND ESTUARY DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 2020-1

District Commissioner's report

This year has been the most difficult year in my time as District Commissioner with face to face scouting only allowed for less than four months of the year and no actual camps or large District events permitted.

Early in the year quite a number of Groups and Units held on-line meetings for their members and Amber Sturgeon, our DYC aided by Tim Wakefield and Kieran Skeggs organized District on-line sessions for members of those Groups, whose leaders were unable to organize such meetings. They also made the arrangements for a virtual Renewal of Promise which was well supported by many young people making their promises on-line. District members took part in two virtual camps.

The resumption of face to face scouting outdoors came in May with significant restrictions on numbers. Quick out of the blocks were three Explorer Units, Columbus, Patriot and Nore as well as 2nd and 4[th] Thorpe Bay Scout troops getting risk assessments approved and successfully delivering a number of activities. More Groups followed gaining approval to run meetings outdoors and in some cases indoors later in the year. Some groups were unable to reopen at this stage as leaders were not comfortable to resume face to face scouting or were key workers,

More recently our young people have had the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of activities, details of some of which are set out in the section reports that follow. Also despite the difficulties we have experienced quite a number of young people gained the Chief Scouts Award for their section.

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The District Charity Shop in Shoeburyness is again running profitablv and now selling uniforms. and again it continues to provide valuable financial support to scouting in the District. My thanks go to our team of volunteers. However, please do not take the shop for granted. It needs items to sell and also some support in keeping the shop open particularly in the summer holidays.

The situation regarding training has improved during the past year but the determination of Scout HQ to ensure leader training is up to date will continue. I know it is an onerous task in addition to all the hard work you put into organizing meetings and camps etc. but it is vital to keep one’s training up to date.

My thanks go to Valerie Holman for her work in providing training to the District; to Sheila Fenner for administering the appointments system, to Tim Wakefield for distributing information as it was received from Gilwell, to Duncan Horner, Mark Chapman, Sarah Clarke, Lorna Skippon and Sue Smith as District Cub leaders, Claire Brown who have worked tirelessly to support their sections; also to Amber Sturgeon our District Youth Commissioner for her excellent contribution to the District, to the officers and members of the Executive for their support to scouting in the District.

Today is my last day in post as District Commissioner and as you know no successor has been found to take over from me despite three search attempts. Gary Brown, Deputy County

Commissioner, will take on the role and I wish him well but this will only be for a period of six months after which the District will either be merged with a nearby District or split between local Districts. This is particularly sad when it is considered that the merger between the old Districts of Southend and Maplin was accomplished smoothly twenty years ago without acrimony as is quite often the case with such mergers. It has been a really happy District and I sincerely hope that a way might be found to avoid such an occurrence.

Finally, on a more positive matter I am pleased to note that since the end of the last lockdown numbers have been growing steadily at quite a number of Groups and Units and more active scouting is now taking place. I can say without reservation I have greatly enjoyed watching young people in the District having a great time learning new skills and having fun. I particularly wish to thank wholeheartedly every leader who has contributed their time and energy to providing such excellent scouting during my time as District Commissioner and long may it continue. I hope to continue to serve the District as Chairman if appointed later in this meeting. Brian Dawbarn, District Commissioner .

BEAVER SECTION REPORT

The last year has been a strange one. Put into lockdown all the colonies had to find other ways of running. Each colony found their own way of running, some sent badge booklets out for the beavers to work on and e-mail the leaders the results. Some moved to Facebook to run weekly activities. Some moved to zoom to run virtual colony meetings with some groups sending out craft and activity packs for each week’s activities. We have had lots of Beavers gaining their Chief Scout Bronze Awards, well done to you all both as leaders and to the beavers for all their hard work.

Lots of Beavers took part in hike badges and nights away doing virtual sleepovers. The year 2021 will hopefully see everyone back face to face and celebrates 35 years of Beaver Scouts. They will be taking on 35 challenges and a badge was designed to be worn on their uniform for 1 year.

Some groups have found it hard during lockdown with issues with leaders, but we are trying to sort that out. Numbers will hopefully rise once we are all back face to face scouting and is the perfect time to look at parents that have been eager to help to maybe becoming occasional helpers or even leaders themselves.

We hope to be able to celebrate our birthday later in the year when restrictions allow us to. Due to COVID we have had no annual district activities such as art attack, carol concert, winter party, district sleepovers, wake up weekend, annual summer day out and sports night but fingers crossed for the coming year we will try and get something planned.

Thank you to all the leaders for your hard work during a very tough year, working from home, keyworkers and home schooling as well as running your weekly Beaver activities. THANK YOU. Thank you to the beavers for attending each week even though you had been home schooled but still attended and joined in your weekly colony activities. Thank you to Brian who steps down as DC, you will be missed. Claire Brown ADC (Beavers)

CUB SECTION REPORT

During the last year Southend Estuary Cub Packs have been meeting on Zoom, sending out activity packs or using Facebook to communicate with their young people.

County have been very good at sending out different badge activities and this has helped leaders plan their programmes. All the hard work of leaders & cubs has resulted in potentially about 20 Chief Scout Silver Awards that have been awarded or are in the process of being awarded.

Many of us have had visitors on Zoom such as birds of prey, author Conrad Burdekin creating a story for us, illustrator Liz Million helping us draw an amazing creature & even a CSI/Forensic evening which taught us all about fingerprints!

We’ve also taken part in Hike to the Moon, Situation Skreens activity challenges & the District Remembrance display. Some groups were able to meet face to face shortly last year and it’s great that we are now able to meet up once again whether that’s indoors or outdoors.

I don’t know about anyone else but I’ve definitely missed seeing my cubs & leaders.

Thank you to all cub leaders, assistants, young leaders, cubs & parents for all their hard work over this difficult period. Lorna Skippon District Cub Scout Leader

SCOUT SECTION REPORT

This year has been very hard for Scouting in general, March saw us locked down, a lot of groups met online and this was great for the Scouts to keep in touch but I know was hard for leaders and numbers were low.

We had a brief spell where we could meet again outside but with strong restrictions this saw a lot of groups meeting where they could as we had to be outside and weather wasn’t always in our favour.

We then went into a second lockdown and all face to face meetings had to stop again once more. Thank you to our DYC who did fortnightly zoom meetings for the district and it was great for those whose groups couldn’t hold online meetings still had chance to meet with Scouts.

As a District we have been unable to hold any events but we are hoping to run District Indoor Badge Weekend in October, we will have to see what the restrictions are nearer the time but if we are unable to stay then the idea is we will do 2 days and Scouts will need to go home at night.

I do feel it is important to stay safe but also to carry on as best we can. The census figures for the year looked good especially considering the hard time we had all had, it seemed a lot of children didn’t want to meet online but when groups went back they flocked in.

I would like to thank all the leaders for their hard work during these difficult times, their perseverance and willingness to adapt has really shone through. I am sure we would all like to thank Brian for all his hard work during his time as District Commissioner he will be greatly missed although rumour has it he won’t be far away.

Sarah Clarke ADC (Scouts)

EXPLORER SECTION REPORT

2020-21 was another successful, enjoyable but very challenging year having to deal with Covid, however we still managed with many active explorer events, even if some were remote. Columbus, Nore and Patriot switched to Zoom/Web meetings, which proved to be the ‘new norm’ - Virtual camps, garden campfires, scavenger hunts, home cooking, lip reading, ballet training, drawing games, fitness workout, were all ‘remote’. When restrictions permitted participation significantly increased where units performed Kite flying, crazy golf, Halloween film in the woods, fireworks night, fire cooking, hammocks, sailing, kayaking & paddle boarding, land yachting, training hikes, biking, and a canoeing trip on River Chelmer. In recent months all units managed at least one camp – Nore at Kite Park, Patriot HoBo Thriftwood camp (watching England win European QF).

All units are supporting Young Leaders, even via Zoom calls. Patriot members have volunteered at the Fairhavens Charity shops helped with food collection, helped at Belchamps and chatted to older folk who were self isolating. All units performed beach cleaning, some regular as part of DoE Award services. Nore and Columbus very successfully provided opportunities for 16 explorers to complete their Silver and Bronze DoE awards hikes (due to covid, explorers returned home to sleep), yet still arrived back early to cook early breakfasts and continue their hike! Nore are planning a summer offshore training trip and a traditional activity camp. Links with feeder troops has steadily improved. Mariners was temporarily in hibernation but great to share has restarted again in summer 2021. Mercator continued to be a significant struggle with lack of leadership and thus it was decided to close until new leaders are found. The Young Leader Unit, reinvigorated under new leadership & guidance of Jes Phillips, will restart as soon as Covid restrictions permit.

To close, these are incredibly difficult times operationally, but the leaders (and explorers) have exceeded all expectations and continue to run scouting, even if that means multisanitising and keeping distances being the new normal. This is an incredible list of activities and achievements, encouraged by a team of very dedicated versatile leaders, assistants and supporters for which we are all extremely appreciative and thankful. As colder nights return outdoor led activities will create some new challenges, but I am confident that 2022 will be different but it will be equally adventurous. The OUT will be stronger in ScOUTing!

As a section, we share a massive shout out and thank you to our DC Brian Dawbarn for his amazing work for Scouts in this area over so many years and his dedicated support for our section, his leadership will be sadly missed. We hope Brian will find some extra time to play Bowls and spend time with family and in the garden! Thank you. Mark Chapman District Explorer Scout Commissioner

SYNERGY NETWORK REPORT

There is not much to report this year, contact has been kept through the pandemic via social media.

There have been a few joint Network Zoom meetings where among other themes, cookery and handcraft have been undertaken. We have lost a couple of members who are now working on the other side of London, but will stay in contact and hopefully see them when they come back to visit Southend.

There are a few Explorers who should be moving up soon so hopefully numbers will recover. By the time of the A.G.M. we hope to have restarted face to face meetings, including a joint local Network meet at Ark Lane pioneering. We would like to say a big thank you to Brian who over the years has been very supportive and helpful during his post as D.C. We wish him every success in his new role. Duncan Horner District Network Scout Commissioner

DIDTRICT YOUTH COMMISSIONER REPORT

Scouting has thrown many curveballs throughout the pandemic, but through determination, adaptation, and passion, our leaders have given every young person the opportunity to learn #skillsforlife.

As DYC it has been great to see young people from across Southend Estuary completing challenges, taking part in Zoom events, and now being able to attend F2F meetings. It has given me the opportunity to try many new things too; although I’d be quite happy to give up the online university side of things!

What have the DMT, and I, been up to this year?

• We have run over 30 Zoom meetings for all young people across the District, supporting more than 200 individuals. These included: a visit to the Zoo, a District Talent competition, cooking, a visit from birds of prey, and many more.

• We have hosted 8 Youth Forums

• We have hosted a leader’s only quiz

• We have created a website full of #scoutingathome ideas

• We have arranged and created a huge remembrance display

• We have arranged and created 2 renewal of promise events

• With the help of our young people, we held a virtual camp

• Francesca and I appeared on a promotional TV interview for ITV Anglia

• We hosted a campfire (in the rain)!

• We hasted a virtual District Christmas Party

• Supported other leaders in the District with Zoom

• Ensured the scout charity shop was covid secure

• We have all achieved our wood beads!

I would like to say a very special thank you to Tim and Kieran, who I would not be without! They bring enthusiasm, new ideas, smiley faces, and most importantly determination, to all the events we put on. I couldn’t do it without them! Amber Sturgeon District Youth Commissioner

Southend Estuary District Scout Council District Assets

Year ended 31st March 2021

Unrestricted Note £ Fixed Assets Tangible Assets District Headquarters 578,737 Marine Assets inc trailers (as insured) 18,793 Minibus (as insured) 5,000 Contents of Buildings (as insured) 58,310 660,840 Curent Assets Stock of badges & scarves 1,000 Cash at bank and in hand Scout investment service 19,312 District Main Account 13,065 Shop Account 9,533 HQ Building Acount 0 District Leaders Account 0 Badge Account 0 Explorers Accounts (7) 36,532 Loan to Belchamps 17.3.20 5,000 Total at bank and cash in hand 83,442 Total Current Assets 84,442 Current Liabilities - Net Assets 745,282

Restricted Total £ £ 578,737 18,793 5,000 58,310 660,840 1,000 19,312 13,065 9,533 0 0 0 36,532 5,000 83,442 0 84,442 - 0 745,282

Other Scout organisations in which the District has a Notional Percentage Ownership

Belchamps Scout Centre

There is an interest in the centre which is jointly owned by Castle Point, Crouch Valley, Southend Estuary and Southend West Scout Districts.

Southend Scout & Guide Gang Show

There is an interest in the show