2024-03-31-accounts

-L&4.1:.: Dringhouses Scouts Annual Review 202312024 ;. Scouts Dringhouses York oRIN¢** GROUP

Contents

Contents
A Report from the Chair	3
Lead Volunteer’s Report	4
Meet the Team	5
The Trustee Board (core members)	5
The Management Team	6
The Team Leaders	8
Squirrel Scouts	8
Beaver Scouts	8
Cub Scouts	9
Scouts	10
Explorer Scouts	11
Vacancies	11
Roll of Honour	12
Group Awards	14
The Chairman’s Cup	14
Section Reports	15
Squirrels	16
Beavers	17
Cubs	18
Scouts	19
Explorers	20
Trustees’ Annual Report	22
Financial Summary	26

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A Report from the Chair

(including statement of Public Benefit)

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

This review outlines the major activities undertaken by the group in the past 12 months to fulfil that purpose. The Group Trustee Board works hard to ensure the group has the finances and infrastructure to enable leaders to deliver the highest standard of scouting possible.

The Scout Association is making far reaching changes to volunteering and the way we deliver Scouting and Dringhouses Scouts have risen to the challenges which change inevitably creates. Always with the aim of a better experience for our young people but also our volunteers this work will continue this year.

Great effort has been made to ensure we have robust policies in place and a constitution which remains relevant.

There is a strong emphasis on using Charity Commission guidance and tools to ensure a standard of Good Governance is constantly being improved. The board itself has looked to its effectiveness including attendance levels and action completion. Our attendance averages mostly over 60% throughout the year and while this compares favourably with national averages in the UK charity sector, and while we would aspire to 100%, we look to raise this from the current level to 80% in the coming year. Our completion of action points of 43%, (not all points are personally completed by the trustees). We intend to keep this list under 40 actions and seek to improve the completion rate significantly with the change in how the board operates.

Fundraising has been undertaken to ensure subscription levels have remained sensible and did not rise during what has been a challenging year for many. Our member support fund helps ensure cost is not a cause for exclusion. We have also funded two leaders through their minibus and trailer training to successful passes and continued our programme of upgrading equipment.

As always there is room for improvement to how the Board supports provision of Scouting in Dringhouses, and we will not be complacent. This year the group has had a total of 89 Volunteers and 17 Trustees working to support delivery of programmes to our nearly 300 young people. It is evident to any observer of the group’s activities that our young people grow in confidence, well-being, and skills for life quite apart from simply enjoying themselves.

The teams of volunteers on the front line and behind the scenes are incredibly hard-working and dedicated and cannot be praised highly enough. I offer them my personal thanks for their contribution.

Annie Bennett, Group Chair

Annie

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Lead Volunteer’s Report

The 2023/4 year has seen a lot of changes both at the Group and with The Scouts nationally as well. The Scouts are undergoing a series of changes to modernise, this is starting with the approach to volunteering. The transformation, which has started this year and continues for the next couple of years, will see the way volunteers are appointed and the structure of learning changing to be more accessible and flexible. The change will impact processes, systems and even what we call ourselves, (you’ll note my role is now Group lead Volunteer, not Group Scout Leader. Change is often intimidating and scary, but I see this as a great opportunity to make a difference, encourage new ideas, and make Scouting better for everyone. In the coming year we hope to adopt a new system and team structure as part of these changes.

Dringhouses Scouts is booming, the quality of the Scouting we provide is truly amazing and we are so lucky to have such a dedicated team of volunteers, this includes the front-line leaders, members of the trustee board, members of the programme and event support team (formerly active support) and even parents who occasionally volunteer support the activities we’re running. Thanks to all of you for providing fun and adventure to the children and young people of our community.

The group is the largest it has ever been, and we are now the largest group in the District and probably the County and this is testament to the quality of the service we provide. Size is not everything and we focus on delivering quality programmes in a safety driven culture with a focus on compliance with Scout Association and Charity Commission rules.

As well as all the adventures we have, it is also important that we serve our local community and it has been brilliant to be able to clear litter at Acomb Wood, improve paths and amenities at Chapman’s Pond and to visit Abbeyfields to help out with gardening and Christmas carols and other activities to support the residents there.

I was also proud of our Scouts and Leaders at the District Awards evening this year when we won the prize for the most Chief Scouts Awards in the City, and already this year it looks like we are going to exceed that number. The Chief Scout’s awards are the top awards for each age group and demonstrate that we are delivering Scouting in line with best practices defined by The Scouts nationally.

Group Camp continues to be a great success and last year was no exception. I am always amazed by the dedication of the volunteers who run this event, building kitchens, dining and sleeping areas for all of us is no mean feat and I cannot wait for it to come around again this year.

Looking back on last year I feel it is the first full year since the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic and I’m optimistic that, with each year we’re just getting stronger and stronger. Well done everyone!

David Thorne, Group Lead Volunteer

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Meet the Team

The Trustee Board (core members)

Members of the Trustee Board make decisions and carry out administrative tasks to ensure that the best quality Scouting can be delivered to all young people in the Group and that the Group is compliant with the relevant legislation and managed in line with Charity Commission regulations and the Policy Organisation and Rules of The Scouts.

Annie Bennett

Group Chair

Annie became involved with the Group as a parent. She began helping at Group Camp and when asked if she would Chair the executive committee (now the Board of Trustees), decided it was a post she could bring her organisational skills to and help the Group without being a uniformed member. Now retired and with grandchildren in scouting, she is able to give more time to support the great team of volunteers we have.

Jan Moor

Group Secretary

Jan was a Brownie and Guide when she was growing up and absolutely loved it. Jan was very keen her two children should have the same rewarding experiences and so both her children are in Scouting/Guiding and enjoying every moment. Jan has a child in the Group, who is now in Explorers, having started 10 years ago as a Beaver.

Jan joined the group as a Parent Rep on the Executive Committee (particularly helping with fundraising) and Active support in Summer 2017, as she wanted to contribute to the Group. She agreed to take on the Group Secretary role early in 2019, which gives her the ability to support the working of the Group a bit more, using her business skills, in between significant travelling for her job.

John Lucas

Group Treasurer

Having seen the pleasure and benefits in being involved with Scouting from a friend, I was very pleased to find an opening with Dringhouses Group on my return to York.

Having previously been a treasurer for a Coventry based charity whilst living and working in the Midlands until a few years ago, together with undertaking a range of finance related roles professionally, I joined to support the Group in 2021 to maintain robust financial records and to ensure the continued good work of Sections can continue to enrich and enhance the skills and experiences of our Members.

Wendy Hewitt

Group Co-Treasurer

Wendy started volunteering with the group at the 40th anniversary camp -with Debbie in the tea van. However, she has been involved since her eldest son was a Beaver Scout over 20 years ago. Wendy was the Group Secretary until 2019 when she agreed to start to take over the treasurer role. Wendy, who works in the church office, is also unofficial (and much valued) caretaker of the HQ .

Wendy enjoys the camaraderie of being part of a team and the ever-expanding Group. She also enjoys the challenge of the treasurer role and getting to grips with spreadsheets!

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The Management Team

The Management Team coordinates all Scouting activities within the Group. The Group Chair is also a part of the Management Team. The full team is listed below in alphabetical order.

Andrew White

Group Team Leader (Scouts)

Andrew has been in Scouting since being a Beaver Scout with 1st Herrington Scout Group in Sunderland where he grew-up. Soon after moving to York in 2015 to study Electronics at the University of York, he reached out to Dringhouses Scout Group to carry on his Scouting journey.

He has been with the Tuesday Scout section throughout where he has climbed the ranks to be Team Leader (Section Leader). He enjoys being in the great outdoors and = passing on his knowledge and skills to his Scouts. Andrew became the Lead Volunteer for Scouts in May 2022.

Andy Elliott

Group Team Leader (Explorers)

Andy was a youth member of the Yorvik Explorer Unit and after returning from University decided to become part of the volunteer team at Dringhouses Scouts. You probably will not see many photographs of Andy at events as he is usually the one taking them all!

Having been an Explorer leader for about six years, Andy agreed to take on the Group Team Leader role for Explorers in 2021 when the vacancy arose.

Andy’s daughter is in Beavers and son is in Squirrels.

Chris Rundle

Group Team Leader (Squirrels)

Chris first became involved with Dringhouses Scouts when his eldest son joined Beavers in 2020 (he’s now in Cubs). He joined the working group on Squirrels in 2021 to consider the options for starting this new section and then decided he should be part of launching Squirrels for real as a Section Leader. In November 2022 he also took on the role of Group Team Leader for Squirrels.

'I enjoyed helping out as a parent on the occasional evening at Beavers, so becoming a volunteer was on the horizon. The support from group leaders, parents and squirrels has been great and I look forward to settling into the regular rhythm of activities and challenges for our young people.

----- Start of picture text -----
David Thorne
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Group Lead Volunteer

Dave started his Scouting career as a Cub Scout with the 1st Epping Ash and later 1st Holtspur Scout Groups. ‘A few’ years later he returned as Assistant Beaver Scout Leader with Dringhouses, transferring to be Cub Leader a year later.

From January 2021 Dave was Acting Group Scout Leader responsible for leading the team managing the Group, finally accepting the inevitable and becoming the Lead Volunteer for the group in late 2022.

Dave is also District Appointments Secretary, administering the appointment of all leaders in the District and sits on the District Awards Panel.

Dave has had two children go through the Group, one of whom has returned as an adult volunteer.

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Justin Moss

Group Active Support Team Leader

Moving to York about ten years ago and having been an Air Scout in my youth, I eagerly signed up my son for Beavers (Squirrels weren't available at the time). After attending the first group camp as a parent, I was inspired to support the group and became the Cub parent representative around 2019. When my son advanced to Scouts, I joined the active support team in 2021 and took over leadership from Martin in 2022.

Since my involvement, the active support group has flourished, continually expanding its volunteer base. We are always seeking more volunteers who want to contribute but can't commit to regular meetings. Opportunities include assisting at events like the fair, helping leaders at the beginning and end of camps, and supporting our pinnacle event, the group camp, which requires a couple of days to set up. Volunteers can also participate in county events, such as Ignite last year, a weekend event for around 800 Scouts and Explorers, and Larkin this year, a week-long event with international Scouts in Yorkshire, attended by about 3,000 participants.

Katie Harvey

Group Team Leader (Beavers)

Katie joined Dringhouses Scout Group in 2011 when her son joined Beavers. He is now an Explorer Scout. Katie started volunteering as an Assistant Beaver Leader and after a couple of years took up the role of Team Leader. Shortly after that Katie also became Group Team Leader for Beavers.

Sarah Selby

Group Team Leader (Cubs)

Sarah joined Dringhouses Scout Group in 2016 after seeing how much fun her children were having and wanting part of the action. She started as an Assistant Cub Leader and took on the role of Group Team Leader for Cubs in 2022.

Sarah is also self-appointed Badge Coordinator (not a real title) and can often be found hanging out with Friday Cubs’ mascot, Loki. Both her children are now Explorer Scouts.

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The Team Leaders

Team Leaders are responsible for coordinating the programme for their night and liaising with the sections before and after as appropriate.

Squirrel Scouts

Squirrels is for children aged four and five years old. We have three Squirrel Scout dreys in the Group.

Chris Rundle	Chris Rundle	Chris Rundle	Team Leader(Squirrel Scouts)- MondaySquirrels
rt		A)	See the Management Team section above
te	“a
Vacancy			Team Leader(Squirrel Scouts)- TuesdaySquirrels
			We look forward to welcoming Lisa Auckland to this role for the 2024/25 year and
			hopefully many future years
Vacancy			Team Leader(Squirrel Scouts)- Friday Squirrels
			We look forward to welcoming Ash Elliott to this role for the 2024/25 year and
			hopefully many future years

Beaver Scouts

Beavers is for children aged six to eight years old. We have three Beaver Scout colonies in the Group.

Nicola Silke	Team Leader(Beaver Scouts)- TuesdayBeavers
	Nicola joined Dringhouses Scouts in September 2018 as a Section Assistant, after
	being accosted on a "sunny" group camp to join Beavers. She quickly progressed to
	Assistant Leader in December 2018 and became Team Leader in September 2019.
	Nicola has been involved with the group since 2012 when her eldest daughter joined
	Cubs.
|“I joined on a trial basis and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. It's a great feeling
LN	seeing the Beavers take part and enjoy the activities and challenges set out for them. For me it's an amazing way to be able to give something back to the local community.”
Olga Iwaszkiewicz-	Team Leader (Beaver Scouts)- Wednesday Beavers
Bogdańska

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Olga started with the Group in February 2019, initially to help her daughter’s confidence when she joined. She became an Assistant Leader with Wednesday Beavers but, when the opportunity came, it took her about a minute to decide to move to the Section Leader role.

“The idea of teaching Beavers new skills during weekly meetings and camps and seeing how proud they are when they succeed or when they receive a badge puts the biggest smile on my face and pride in my heart. Week to week I can see how the Beavers grow in confidence”.

“Inspiration from other Scout Leaders motivates me every day and confirms to me that I want to stay in The Scouts for a long time.”

Katie Harvey

Team Leader (Beaver Scouts)- Friday Beavers

See the Management Team section above

Cub Scouts

The Cubs section is for children aged eight to ten and a half. We have three Cub Scout Packs in the Group.

Jane Wilson Team Leader (Cub Scouts)- Tuesday “Romans” Cubs

Jane has been with the group since joining as a Venture Scout in 1985, and in 1988 she was presented with an application form to be an Assistant Cub Scout Leader. Jane had a few years break from the Group to assist at Bishopthorpe Cub Section and was then asked to help Lidgett Grove Cub Section get back up on their feet.

Natasha Bayston

Team Leader (Cub Scouts)- Thursday “Saxons” Cubs

Natasha has been with the group since she joined as a scout in 2011. She stayed as a young leader for Cubs when she finished scouts in 2014. In 2018 she was given an application for assistant section leader and became the assistant section leader of Thursday Cubs. In 2019 she took over from Tina as the section leader for Thursday Cubs.

David Thorne

Team Leader (Cub Scouts)- Friday “Vikings” Cubs

See the Management Team section above

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Scouts

The Scout Section is for young people aged ten and a half to fourteen years old. We have three Scout Troops in the Group.

Janey Thorne Team Leader (Scouts)- Tuesday “Dringhouses PC” Scouts

Janey has been with the group since she joined as a Beaver in 2011. She progressed through all the sections and really enjoyed being a Young Leader, so it seemed natural to become an adult leader too.

When the role of Team Leader for Tuesday Scouts became available last Christmas, she thought she may as well give it a go, and definitely made the right decision. Janey has really enjoyed seeing the Scouts develop throughout the year both in terms of their skills and as people and she looks forward to all the future fun Scouting will bring!

Jonny Fry

Team Leader (Scouts)- Thursday “St Edward’s” Scouts

Jonny started at Dringhouses as a Beaver and, despite being away from York at different points in time has always maintained a connection with the group. As a Dringhouses member, he cycled from lands end to John O’Groats, attended the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden in 2011, completed his Queen’s Scout Award, and earned his Explorer Belt in Morroco. In 2017 Jonny was a member of the Colour Party at the National Scout Day of Celebration and Achievement at Windsor Castle and has since returned to help as a Team Leader to celebrate the achievements of Queen’s and King’s Scouts and others who have received Scouting awards. Jonny was awarded his Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service in 2021 and is Team Leader at Thursday Scouts.

Charlotte McCarthy Team Leader (Scouts)- Friday “St Helen’s” Scouts

Charlotte began Scouting in 1997 as an Assistant Beaver Scout Leader at St Chad’s Greys Scouts where she had been a Young Leader, Venture Scout and Band Member. She moved to Holgate Scouts as an Assistant Beaver Leader in 2001 but a year later moved to the Scouts Section as an Assistant Leader to support Andy, the Section Leader, who unbeknownst to her at the time, would become her husband. Charlotte is part of a large Scouting family who then married into another large scouting family!

“I love working with the older age ranges so applied and was honoured to represent North Yorkshire in the UK at the 21st World Scout Jamboree in 2007 as an Assistant Unit Leader working with Explorers. I had a short stint as the Ebor District Explorer Scout Commissioner but felt this was too much with a young family, so took a break.

When my eldest, Georgia, joined Beavers in 2015 (Now an Explorer) and Katie was looking for leaders and running a parent helper rota, I did my rostered nights and found I had really missed Scouting, so I was lured back and Joined Friday Beavers”

I am really lucky to have a very supportive family who are all involved in the group in one way or another! “

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Explorer Scouts

The Explorer Scout section is for young people aged fourteen to seventeen. We are partnered with two District Explorer Scout Units (ESU). Young Leaders are also Explorer Scouts, they assist other sections within the Group. Young Leaders need not be a member of an Explorer Scout Unit and they may also be volunteering with the Group as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Vacancy District Team Leader (Explorer Scouts)- Monday “Nordic” ESU

Andy Elliott

District Team Leader (Explorer Scouts)- Wednesday “Yorvik” ESU

See the management team section above

Iain McIntyre

Group Team Leader (Explorer Scout Young Leaders)

Iain's Scouting journey began in Cumbria where he was a Cub, a Scout and then a Venture Scout circa the mid-90’s. He only returned to Scouting in 2016 as a Section Assistant with St Edwards Troop at Dringhouses, moving in 2019 to be a Team Member at Monday Explorers. In December 2018 Iain was asked to help with the running of the Young Leaders part of Dringhouses Explorer Scout section and coordinate their volunteering with the other sections (Beavers, Cubs and Scouts) and to manage their training needs.

Iain also holds the York Ebor District role of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Coordinator. His eldest child is at present in Beavers with Dringhouses.

Iain has a daughter at Beavers and Cubs

Vacancies

Vacancies

We are currently recruiting for the following uniformed positions:

• Team Members, all Squirrels nights

• Team Member, Wednesday Beavers

• Team Members, Tuesday Cubs

• Team Member, Wednesday Beavers

• Team Leader, Monday Explorers

• Team Leader, Tuesday Scouts

• Team Members, Tuesday Scouts

• Team Members, both Explorer sections

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Roll of Honour

Congratulations to all the adult volunteers that have been recognised for their service to Scouting this year:

Chief Scouts Commendation for Good Service

Scouting this year:
	Chief Scouts Commendation for Good Service The Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service is given in respect of not less than 5 years good service, which stands out. It should be regarded as the Chief Scout's recognition of the very real contribution made to the Association by the individual concerned. ● Alex Finch, Team Member, Group Active Support ● Andrew White, Group Team Leader (Scouts) ● Frances Delamere, Team Member, Nordic ESU ● Jan Moor, Group Secretary ● James Homan, Team Member, Group Active Support ● Mike Laing, Team Member, Nordic ESU
	Ebor Star The Ebor Star is an award that can be gained by all youth members of York Ebor District by demonstrating a commitment or undertaking a task that exceeds normal expectations and as such deserves to be recognised. The award sits below the national awards for merit and is only awarded in York Ebor District ● Rae Elliott ● Sophia Liebenberg

Length of service awards are available to Members and Associate Members of the Association with eligible roles that accrue service, uniformed or not:

	eligible roles that accrue service, uniformed or not:gible roles that accrue service, uniformed or not:ible roles that accrue service, uniformed or not:
	Chief Scout’s 5 Years Service Award ● Alex Finch, Team Member, Group Active Support ● Freya Sellers, Team Member, Yorvik ESU ● James Kitchen, Team Member, Tuesday Beavers ● Mike Laing, Team Member, Nordic ESU ● Natasha Bayston, Team Leader, Saxons Cubs ● Nicola Silke, Team Leader, Tuesday Beavers ● Olga Iwaszkiewicz- Bogdańska, Team Leader, Wednesday Beavers ● Matt Evans, Team Member, Vikings Cubs, St Helen’s Scouts
	Chief Scout’s 10 Years Service Award ● Jonny Fry, Team Leader, St Edwards Scouts ● Rachel Turner, Group Skills Instructor ● Rob Atkin, Team Member, Group Active Support
	Chief Scout’s 15 Years Service Award ● Annie Bennett, Group Chair
	Chief Scout’s 20 Years Service Award ● Liz Atkin, Team Member, Group Active Support ● Phil Bennet, Transport Manager
ES	Chief Scout’s 25 Years Service Award ● Mike Hewitt, Group Safety Officer

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Training is an important part of the Group’s activities which often goes unseen. All adult members of the Group (except occasional helpers) are required to complete the adult training scheme, with Group Managers, Team Leaders and Team Members being awarded a wood badge after successfully completing all the required training modules. Because of its

importance we also like to recognise training success in this part of the report. Leaders have three years from when they start to complete their training.

Wood Badge

Since September 1919 adult volunteers in the Scouts have been awarded the Wood Badge on the completion of their leader training. The basic badge is made up of two wooden beads worn at the end of a leather lace.

• Andrew White, Group Team Leader (Scouts)

• Jonny Fry, Team Leader, St Edward’s Scouts

• Scott Franklin, Team Member, St Helen’s Scouts

• Tara Stephenson, Team Member, St Edward’s Scouts

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Group Awards

Congratulations to all of our young people receiving awards this year, all recipients will also receive a £10 voucher to spend in Go Outdoors:

Monday Tuesday Friday Squirrels	Squirrel of the year:
Tuesday Wednesday Friday BEAVERS,	Beaver of the year:
Romans (Tuesday) Saxons (Thursday) Vikings(Friday) cubs	Cub of the year:
Dringhouses PC Troop (Tuesday) St Edward’s Troop (Thursday) St Helen’s Troop(Friday) SCOUTS	Scout of the year:
Nordic Explorers (Monday) Jorvik Explorers (Wednesday) Young Leaders EXPLORERS	Explorer Scout of the year:

The Chairman’s Cup

The Chairman’s Cups are awarded every year to an adult and a youth member of the Group who have made significant effort over and above what is normally expected. They also receive a £20 voucher to spend at Go Outdoors.

Chairman’s Cup – Adult Volunteers:

Chairman’s Cup – Youth Members:

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Section Reports

First, a few pictures:

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Squirrels

This is the second full year of Squirrels at Dringhouses and we continue to grow in experience and numbers. Our original two dreys have worked together to plan the programme, building the experience of leaders and the activities to support our lively and energetic young people. It is always a great sight when the dreys occasionally meet on the same night for a joint activity or session, which this year included the Coronation, summer sports evening and Christmas.

The year finished with the last of our original Squirrels moving up to Beavers after 23 months with Squirrels. It was a proud dad who watched Joshua Rundle gain his Chief Scouts Acorn badge and then just before he moved he became the first to have earned all the Squirrel activity and challenge awards.

The number of young people on our waiting list increased through the year, and so in February we launched Tuesday Squirrels, our third Drey, and we now have over 40 squirrels in the group across the three nights.

In another first for the group, Squirrels joined Group Camp for the Saturday afternoon at the appropriately named Squirrel Wood. This was the first time all sections across the group were present on camp with Squirrels and parents all learning something about the activities and camp food that they can look forward to in future years – hot dogs and hot chocolate were the main memories!

The weekly programme has continued to build on the framework of badges and calendar of activities covering a range of indoor and outdoor ideas. Local walks around the Railway pond and the woods off Tadcaster Road provide an abundance of local nature to explore, identify and learn about our neighbourhood. The support from parents on the rota is vital in enabling these outdoor activities and greatly appreciated by leaders.

During this year we completed activities across the final set of badges in the Squirrel plan which we had yet to complete. This has supported an increasing number of squirrels gaining their Acorn badge, but also learning something new. The badges cover a range of activities, but also skills like leading or helping others in the drey as they join or learn a new game. Well done and thank you Squirrels for another great year!

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Beavers have had another fun and exciting year with a variety of opportunities to learn new skills, make friends and go on adventures. As well as experiencing a varied programme that primarily focuses on achieving badges, new skills are nurtured and developed. By completing many challenge and interest badges, Beavers have continued to achieve their Bronze Scout Award before moving on to Cubs. Such badges have included taking care of their own planting, celebrating festivals and special days, sharing hobbies, learning knots, working together in teams, trying new outdoor games like archery,

putting up tents, tracking, cycling, learning about their local area, nature walks, exciting experiments, building, singing and toasting marshmallows.

Group camp, sleepovers with and without Cubs have all contributed to the Beavers’ experience of Nights Away (badge) from home and a great opportunity for outdoor activities at various sites near and far. Beyond weekly meetings Beavers have enjoyed visiting the animals at Askham Bryan Wildlife Centre, witnessing some amazing magic on York Wizard Walk and learning about Disability from Leeds Rhinos and England's

Rugby League World Cup-winning captain, Scott Gobin. A Christmas District party and our own Christmas Group bounce party were enjoyed by all.

Beavers have also been active in their local community helping to litter pick, clear and create new paths in a local public area. They have celebrated St George’s Day by participating in a local treasure trail in the Woods and continue to visit a local residential home providing company and sharing activities. They enjoyed preparing things to sell at the Spring Fair and donating clothes for the charity collection.

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Cubs has been great fun this year and we’ve even learned some skills for life along the way. It’s brilliant to be able to celebrate achievements and so many Cubs have gained their Chief Scouts Silver award this year it’s amazing. And well done to Sophia on being awarded the Ebor star too!

So, we started (well nearly) the year with a joint camp with Elvington Cubs at Birch Hall, just outside Dalby Forest. It was great to be able to Camp with another group, learn new things together and make new friends!

Th trip to Mission out was very damp, not just because lots of the Cubs jumped in the water, sorry that was not allowed, they all accidentally fell in, but it really didn’t stop raining, But the Cubs rose to the challenge (literally) and them jumped!!

No rain for the summer hike around Aysgarth, the falls were great and it was fun to splash about In the river and then have a BBQ. This was in stark contrast to the winter hike around Skipwith Common where the rain returned, but happily stopped over lunch!

Winter camp, litter picking, group camp, a joint camp with Beavers, the district activity day, the : A SA oo Hergarth challenge, the big bounce, the district quiz, Another camp a birch Hall, marred only by a stomach bug and a trip to the Panto. How did we fit it all in?

Finally, Sarah Selby has stood down as Group Team Leader for Cubs, thanks Sarah for all you’ve done. And we also say goodbye to Jane Wilson who is retiring from Tuesday Cubs after 38 years, a truly amazing length of service, well done and thanks Jane!

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It’s been an adventurous year for Scouts. The scouts participated in activities such as Kayaking, raft-building and an air trail at last August’s summer camp.

Following this was an action-packed weekend at Ignite in the grounds of Castle Howard along with groups from around North Yorkshire. The Scouts then braved the cold at the Winter camp in January along with the Explorer Scouts.

Scouts this year have worked on a variety of badges, including Expedition, Outdoor and Teamwork challenge badges and the Chef, Athletics and Artist activity badges. Happily, we’re going to have a record-breaking year with the most Scouts ever receiving the Chief

Scouts Gold award, which is awarded when a scout completes all of the challenge badges.

We also participated in some of the District events this year. These included a monopoly run where teams of scouts travelled around York visiting a variety of “Monopoly” locations. We also put our engineering hats on at the engineering team challenge event at the University of York, where teams competed to make a battery powered car to travel the furthest distance. One of our teams won the award for the “best aesthetics” for their car. Well done to them. The final District events, the distinct night hike, saw Scouts navigate in the dark around Stape and Levisham.

We’re really enjoyed this year and we look forward to more adventures in the next year.

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This year Dringhouses Explorers have been up to the usual Explorer activities. We’ve been paddling on the water, climbing great heights and even travelling on a ferry to Northern Ireland.

Once in Northern Ireland, there was lots of culture with a city day in Belfast, we climbed the tallest mountain in Northern Ireland, and the Explorers loved the amazing, purpose built, caving experience, archery and other activities.

September and we attended the North Yorkshire Scouts Ignite camp which included a challenge on the Sunday that saw the Explorers working together to complete a course around Castle Howard.

Escape was a fantastic event (again) with Dringhouses entering 3 teams of Escapers, one catcher team and many volunteers to

help run the event! One of our teams came second, well done!!

We joined up with our Scouts for a winter camp which had some back to basic fire lighting skills, axe and saw skills, backwoods cooking skills, compass and bearing skills and other bases during the day. In the evening we had a night navigation skills exercise building on the what was learnt Pe during the day.

This St George’s Day Dringhouses Explorers were roaming the Lake District with a hike climbing 1000m and somewhere between 5 & 8 Wainwrights, depending on whom you ask!

Naturally we did lots of cooking throughout the year, some cultural sessions with guest visitors, a visit to the Nuclear bunker in Acomb and lots more! It has been a pleasure for the Explorer volunteer team to help the Explorers learn skills for life, have fantastic experiences and explore other cultures.

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Trustees’ Annual Report

From 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

Reference and administration details

Registered charity name: Registered charity number: Registered number with Scout Association: Charity's contact address:

Dringhouses (Parish Church) Scout Group 1064151 37243

Scout HQ, St Edward The Confessor Church, Tadcaster Road, Dringhouses, YORK, YO24 1QG

Trustees

Group executive committee for the above period

Group Lead Volunteer	David Thorne
Chairperson	Ann Bennett
Treasurer	John Lucas Wendy Hewitt
Group Secretary	Jan Moor
Group Team Leader(Scouts)	Andrew White
Group Team Leader(Cubs)	Sarah Selby
Group Team Leader(Squirrels)	Chris Rundle
Group Team Leader(Beavers)	Katie Harvey
Group Team Leader(Explorers)	Andy Elliott
Active Support Coordinator	Justin Moss
Beaver Section Leader	Nicola Silke
Cub Section Leader	Jane Wilson
Safety Officer	Mike Hewitt
Training Manager	Tina Brill
Section Beavers	Catherine Bell
Section Rep Cubs	Susan Rundle

Structure, governance and management

The Group is registered with The Scout Association’s under their Royal Charter which gives authority to the Bye Laws of the Association. The Group is run according to Policy Organisation and Rules (POR) which contains guidance from The Scout Association. We have a constitution which is based on the model outlined in POR but adapted to our specific needs. Management of the Scouting provision is outlined in the Group Development Plan.

The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the POR. The Group is managed by the Group Lead Volunteer, supported by the Group Management team and the Group Trustee Board.

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The Group Trustee Board:

• Maintains Group Property

• Administers the Group’s finances, including fundraising

• Is responsible for risk assessments and Insurance

• Runs Group public occasions

• Assists with recruitment of leaders and other adult support

• Appoints any sub-groups that may be required.

Risk and internal control

The risks associated with running a scout group are taken seriously by The Trustee Board and we are currently developing a Risk Register.

We also have a Safety Officer in place who is a Trustee. The most serious risks to the group

have been identified as:

Damage to the building, property, and equipment . The Group would seek accommodation and equipment from the Church, neighbouring organisations, and other scout groups. Adequate insurance is in place and regularly reviewed. We would undertake immediate action to rectify any damage.

Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters, and members . Risk assessments are undertaken, in line with POR, before all activities and are approved as outlined therein. The Group takes risk to the person very seriously and regularly reviews all continuing risk assessments. The Group is Insured through The Scout Association’s national accident insurance policy (paid annually through capitation fees and additionally takes out insurance to cover occasional helpers).

Reduced income from fundraising . The Group is reliant upon income from subscriptions and fundraising. In the absence of fund-raising income, the Committee would raise the level of subscriptions and institute cost-cutting measures.

Reduction or loss of leaders . The group is totally reliant on volunteers. We are constantly seeking and recruiting new leaders. However, if there was a reduction in the number of leaders to an unacceptable level and recruitment was unsuccessful, we would appeal to the District Lead Volunteer for assistance but ultimately the number of sections would have to be reduced.

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document.

As stated in POR:

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

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

• enjoy what they are doing and have fun

• take part in activities indoors and outdoors

• learn by doing

• share in spiritual reflection

• take responsibility and make choices

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• undertake new and challenging activities

• make and live by their Promise.

In planning our activities to meet The Scout Association’s objectives, we also keep in mind the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.

Achievements and performance.

The Group has now expanded to 14 sections meeting during term time. There is a small waiting list which is operated in line with the published formal policy.

The annual census return submitted to The Scout Association in February 2024 puts the group in the category of one of the largest in the District and County and while this is an excellent group trustees and leadership are very aware that the quality of the programme we provide is equally important.

Community activities have continued and are comprehensively covered in the Lead Volunteers Report as are camps, events, and award (Badge) achievement.

The number of Explorer Scouts who remain in the group as adult volunteers when they turn 18 is very encouraging and shows a commitment to the ethos of Scouting.

The Group continues to lead the way in training compliance with all members being up to date with The Scout Associations mandatory ongoing training which includes safeguarding, safety, data protection and first aid.

The group youth membership on the 31[st] March 2024 was 290.

Financial review

The Members’ Subscriptions have again held up well and having reviewed our forecast for the year, we took the decision to maintain the rate at £13pm (for 11 months of the year) for a further period.

In addition, as reported last year, we received the benefit of a gift aid claim of £8,271 covering the period of our last financial year, 2022-23. We will continue making annual claims going forward. The remainder of our income came from continued strong fundraising (£4,600), together with hiring of the minibuses to other Groups and hire of the Scout Hall. No grants were received during the year.

Our largest expenditure was on Camps and Activities, with an even greater number taking place, which continue to be very well received.

The majority of our running costs e.g. premises and minibus have continued to rise. However, we have experienced significant additional expenditure as the result of a minibus breakdown and essential repairs, which have also negatively impacted the income we usually generate. Coupled with this, we have invested in safety and training through trailer training to ensure the continued delivery of Camps and Activities. Likewise, premises costs have been impacted by essential electrical checks and the associated remedial work to ensure safety. There were no other large items of expenditure in the year.

Reserves policy

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The Group’s policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the Group should income and fundraising activities fall short. The Board of Trustees considers that the Group should hold a sum of £500 in reserve as well as the two sinking funds described below.

At the end of March 2024, the minibus fund was £24,130 (2023; £19,130) and the premises fund was £15,600 (2023; £4,200). Each year, we will set aside: £2,000 for premises expenses, and £5,000 for the minibus fund so that we have sufficient cash balances to replace the buses when they are deemed too old to be used. This year we additionally increased the premises fund in anticipation of significant work required to the roof during 2024/25. The Reserves Policy is reviewed annually.

We have fully utilised grant funding received in the previous financial year which has been used towards membership hardship cases and refurbishment of the mess tent. At the end of the year, this totalled £0 (2023; £1,068). Our year-end cash balance is £63,847 (2023; £58,631) which is greater than the sinking funds, meaning that the Group is operating within its reserves. A savings account continues to hold monies not needed for the day to day running of the Group, in particular the sinking funds, to earn interest in the meantime, however no other investments have been made or are planned.

In line with the advice received from our Independent Examiner, we are showing the value of our other assets for the first time, which consist of our two minibuses and trailer.

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Annie Bennett, Group Chair John Lucas, Group Treasurer

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Financial Summary

For the Period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023

Receipts and Payments

Receipts and Payments
Receipts
All amounts shown in GBP	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Total funds	Last year
	2023/24	2023/24	2023/24	2022/23
Receipts	£	£	£	£
Donations, legacies and similar income
Membership subscriptions	37,271		37,271	34,607
less: membership subscriptions paid to National/County/Area and District	-16,020		-16,020	-15,456
Net membership subscriptions retained	21,251	0	21,251	19,151
Gift aid	8,271		8,271	19,504
Sub total	29,522	0	29,522	38,655
Grants and donations
Grants received		-412	-412	1,068
Sub total	0	-412	-412	1,068
Fundraising(gross)
Fundraising activities	5,012		5,012	2,882
Sub total	5,012		5,012	2,882
Activities
Camps and activities	46,232		46,232	35,001
Minibus hirings	1,087		1,087	2,114
Badges and neckers
Sub total	47,320	0	47,320	37,114
Interest	575		575	0
Property rent income	1,204		1,204	1,125
Sub total	1,778	0	1,778	1,125
Miscellaneous	8		8	0
Total receipts	83,640	-412	83,228	80,844

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Payments	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Total funds	Last Year
	2023/24	2023/24	2023/24	2022/23
Camps	-42,232		-42,232	-31,605
Section activities	-4,251		-4,251	-3,238
Ground rent, fuel, insurance, repairs and renewals	-10,457	0	-10,457	-5,848
Equipment	-1,684	-188	-1,872	-1,292
Minibus expenses	-13,020	0	-13,020	-4,600
Badges, neckers and uniform	-2,620		-2,620	-3,236
Administration	-3,540		-3,540	-2,340
Sub total	-77,803	-188	-77,991	-52,440
Fundraising expenses	-6		-6	-175
Sub total	-6	0	-6	-175
Miscellaneous	-15		-15	-1,200
Total payments	-77,824	-188	-78,012	-53,815
Net of receipts/(payments)	5,816	-600	5,216	27,029
Transfers between funds	468	-468
Cash funds last year end	57,563	1,068	58,631	21,602
Cash funds this year end	63,847	0.00	63,847	58,631

Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

	Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds		Total		Total 31/03/2023 £ 33,631 25,000
	31/03/2024		31/03/2024		31/03/2024
	£		£		£
Cash funds
Current account	38,847				38,847
Virgin Money	25,000				25,000
Total	63,847		0		63,847		58,631
							31/03/2023 £ - -
Other assets	Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds		Total
	31/03/2024		31/03/2024		31/03/2024
	£		£
Motor vehicles	39,500		-		39,500
Equipment etc	-		-		-

The above receipts and payments accounts and statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by

Annie Bennett, Group Chair

John Lucas, Group Treasurer

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THE TRUSTEES OF DRINGHOUSES pc sco￿ GROUP INDEpENDETr￿ EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF DRINGHOUSES pc SCOUT GROUP I report lo the trustees on my eyamination of the a(>)Junts of ￿1n9hC￿eS (PCI Group for the year ended 31" March 2024 Responsibilities and basis of report As the tharity trLFStees of thè Trust you are ￿spOnSible for Ihe Weparat￿ of the aouunts in a¢￿)rdan￿ with the requirements of the Charthes Act 2011 rrhe A(). I report In resped of my eXam1r￿tI)n of the Trustee's ao)Junts carried out under se¢lion 145 of the 2011 and in carrying cMJt my examinatitin I have follcmed all the appfKabb Dire(ons gNen by the tharity Commissioner ur¥ler sectp)n 1445){b} of the 2011 Act. Independent examln•ffs stateme I have compkteil my examinatbjn. I confimi that no material matters have come to ry attent•Jn in Jnneclion with the examinatp)n gr¥ing me cause to befwe Ihat in arby material respett (11 accounb.ng re¢(ds were rb)t kept in resped of the Trust as required ty se(on 130 of the Ad.. or 121 the accounts do not a¢wrd with those re(xJrds.' or 131 the accounts do not compty with the applK3ble requirements cOr￿eming the form and content of of the accounts set ou¢ tn the CharIt￿S (Accouftts and Reports) ReguLatKn$ 2(M)8 other than any requlrements that the accounts give a Irue and fair whK 15 not a matter u)nsKJered as part of an irthtndent examinatm. I have no Ixjncems and have come a(xoss no other matters in (x)nneciion Vlilh the examination lo which attent)n should be drawn in this report in order to enable a urbkntanding ofthe al￿))Unts to be reached. Jam Puliein FCA Hunter Gee Holfoyd Chartered Accountants Club Chamber5 Museum Street York Y017DN 281 Page

© 2024 Dringhouses (Parish Church) Scout Group The Scout Hut, St. Edward The Confessor Church, Tadcaster Road, York YO24 1QG Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail] Web: dringhousesscouts.org.uk Registered Charity Number: 1064151 (England & Wales)

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