2021-12-31-accounts

Be Prepared – The Story of Scouting Museum Trust (Registered Charity No: 1070181)

Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2021

Distribution (by email wherever possible)

The Guide Association Chief Guide The Scout Association Chief Scout County Commissioner Deputy County Commissioners County Chairman Deputy County Chairman County Secretary Waddecar Management Committee Chairman Waddecar Scout Activity Centre Manager Independent Examiner Webmaster Duty Curators Trustees

Trustees

Pat Brandwood Rev Keith Fenton Mike Glover Keith Jamieson. Michael Loomes Elaine McGougan Jack McGrath Cheryl Sadler David Thornton

Architect Roy Fisher M.B.E. 1921 - 2016 Founder Chairman Samuel George Lee 1939 - 2003 Independent Examiner Alyson Mahon Webmaster Peter Sturgess Duty Curators

Barrie Bevan Peter Bird Pat Brandwood Keith Jamieson Bill King Colin Knightley Michael Loomes Elaine McGougan Jack McGrath Cheryl Sadler David Thornton Phil Wheatley

Be Prepared – The Story of Scouting Museum Trust

(Registered Charity No: 1070181) incorporating

The Story of Guiding

Twenty-third Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2021

To advance the education of the public in the history of the Scout and Guide Movements

Trustees: Pat Brandwood, Rev Keith Fenton, Mike Glover, Keith Jamieson, Michael Loomes, Elaine McGougan, Jack McGrath, Cheryl Sadler and David Thornton.

Chairman’s Report:

This is the twenty-third annual report of the Trustees and my seventeenth as its chairman.

2021 can only be described as ‘frustrating’. I said this in my 2020 report with the ‘Little Gem’ being only open for five months of the year. In 2021, we were not allowed to be open to the public for the first six months of the year. During this period either the Museum was totally closed or severe restrictions on numbers and other conditions were imposed due the continuing COVID pandemic.

The only benefit of this prolonged closure of the Museum was that essential maintenance was able to be done as well as filing and cataloguing of the various artefacts which we had gifted. Between 9[th] January and 6[th] June, Michael Loomes spent 17 days at Waddecar doing this maintenance plus internal and external checks as one condition on the insurance of the building requires that the ‘ Little Gem’ be visited at least every week. On the weeks Michael was not able to attend, Andy Neville covered two times, Mick Brooks covered twice and both Keith Jamieson and Jack McGrath each covered once. Therefore, we fulfilled this requirement and I want to place on record my thanks to all these people who made the effort to attend Waddecar to inspect the ‘ Little Gem’ inside and outside to ensure the safety and security of our wonderful building.

Our ‘Friends Day’ was able to go ahead on Sunday 6[th] June when the Open Day was held at the museum under strict COVID restrictions. 29 Friends and their guests attended and many acquaintances were renewed. This was followed on 29[th] June by a private visit of the Blackpool Palatine Rotary Club which was hosted by Michael Loomes and Keith Jamieson.

Finally on Saturday 3[rd] July, the Museum was open to the public but with restricted numbers and conditions. Groups were strongly advised to book their visit in advance so we had control of the numbers in the building at any one time. Our opening coincided with a County Presentation Awards Day at Waddecar for adult volunteers. Two of our own Trustees received awards – Michael Loomes his 60 (yes sixty) years Long Service Award and Jack McGrath his Silver Acorn Award. I am sure you would join with me in congratulating both of them – well done.

For the rest of year, the Museum was open to the public every Saturday and two duty curators were on duty. On 18[th] September, the ‘ Go Iceland ’ Contingent visited the Museum when Michael Loomes and myself were duty curators. Shortly afterwards one member tested positive for COVID so Michael and I each had a PCR test which thankfully, in both cases, proved negative.

Due to COVID, no progress has been made on getting nationally approved accreditation but with the end of COVID in sight (unless another strain of the virus is detected), we hope to be

able to report progress in 2022. Similarly, little progress has been made on computer imputing of our 10,000 plus records using ‘ Modes Complete’. This year we are determined that nothing shall delay our progress.

However , work is actively undergoing on upgrading our museum website and hopefully in 2022 it will be launched and will bring us into the 21[st] century. Thanks are expressed to Jack McGrath who with the assistance of Pete Sturgess will be fulfilling this initiative.

Alongside this, we are being proactive in extending our appeal to a wider audience particularly younger people who are our future. With the assistance of Matt Hornby, the Assistant County Commissioner for Media, access has been gained to various social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tok-tok and WhatsApp and we have advertised the Museum on the Scout Counties YouTube channel. Updated literature has been produced and again Jack McGrath has been the lead behind this initiative and with the contact of Pat Brandwood, our treasurer, advertising material consisting of excellent quality leaflets and cards were printed and will be widely circulated. They are available at Waddecar now and Pat plans to take them when she visits Guide venues. We are confident that this initiative will produce results.

Finally, I said last year that I would let you know in this year’s report the people who were the recipients of the Silver Challenge Cup. In 2019, it was the turn of East Lancashire County Scouts who had selected two people to receive the Award but this had been delayed due to COVID. The information was not in the public arena but on 7[th] October, 2021, I attended St Thomas Church Hall at Helmshore and presented the Cup (and a small monetary award) to a surprised John and Jill Cooper who between them had 84 years of active service were and are strong advocates of international scouting providing hundreds of young people many opportunities and skills for life.

The recipient(s) of the 2020 Award are in the hands of the County Commissioner for West Lancashire and next year I will be able to tell you who they are.

I would like to thank my fellow Trustees for all their continued support and particularly those Duty Curators (which include many of the Trustees) for their forbearance and willingness to wait until COVID restrictions were lifted. I know that they had been anxious to resume being a duty curator on a Saturday keeping Michael company and learning so much from him. That leads me onto Michael Loomes himself. He is our driving force and although his report, which follows is shorter than usual because of COVID, makes extremely interesting reading. What many of you will not be aware of is how much work he has done from home working on the museum virtually full time. ‘Normal service’ was resumed in June 2021. Let us hope that a further COVID virus does not raise its’ head and that the whole team can move forward in 2022.

As ever, we all say THANK YOU Michael once again for all that you have done much of it behind the scenes and what we know you will continue to do . Please now read his superb report which now follows.

David

David Thornton. Chairman of the Trustees. [e-mail]

Secretary/Curator's Report

This has been another challenging year for our Trust and its Trustees with the ongoing problems caused by COVID-19 and its restrictions. With better health but increased unsteadiness I have been as active as possible at Waddecar and home on the needs of the Trust. I am most grateful for the active help of our Trustees, Duty Curators and

other friends. I am also mindful of the additional roles taken on by our Trustees especially Keith who is also our Safety Officer.

David, our Chair of Trustees, deserves a special mention for his leadership of the Trust.

We are also grateful for the help and support of members of the County Executive Committee, Waddecar Management Committee (aka ‘Places’), County Staff, members of the Waddecar Service Crew and other volunteers who have helped the Trust to achieve its aims.

I had been allowed to visit the museum for essential maintenance but in 2021 it was changed from Tuesdays to Saturdays commencing on 9[th] January. Keith had been allowed to visit for his regular fire safety checks.

There was some light at the end of the tunnel when we were able to hold our Friends’ Day on Sunday 6[th] June with our first full opening on Saturday 3[rd] July. Since then our Trustees and Duty Curators have looked after our visitors on Saturdays and five additional openings in 2021.

Since 5[th] August 2000 Be Prepared – The Story of Scouting at Waddecar Scout Activity Centre,

the first purpose-built Scout Museum in the Country, has been open every Saturday except when matters beyond our control prevented it. This continued when Be Prepared – The Story of Guiding was added in 2006 as we continue to inspire young and not so young visitors on the development and influence of the Scout and Guide Movements.

The following entries in the Visitors' Book represent the comments of some of the many enthusiastic visitors the Little Gem has welcomed in 2021.

‘Beautifully curated museum, really interesting both for the Leaders & the Kids, thank you.’ Caleb Carhill, 15[th] Fairfield, Liverpool‘

‘Have had a brilliant time looking at your wonderful collection. Thank you’ Caroline Bunce, 3[rd] Poulton Brownies. 3[rd] Poulton Guides.

‘Great Place I was amazed.’ Terry Harrison, Palatine Rotary (Blackpool)

‘A lot was learned by the Scouts. Thanks to Jack for showing us round’ Stewart Swan, 7[th] Blackpool

‘Thank you for a brilliant visit.’ 2[nd] Longridge Brownies

‘A fantastic collection and great to learn about the story behind it all.’ Lily Ogden, 14[th] Keighley (Haworth)

Throughout the year preparation has been going on in the best ‘Be Prepared’ tradition for our Computerization Project in 2021.

Significant events (in chronological order) in this, our twenty-first full year of operating the Little Gem include –

9[th] Jan First Saturday visit permitted from 09.00 to 13.00.

12[th] Feb Keith attended for Walker Fire Ltd to inspect, service and upgrade our extinguishers.

13[th] Apr Keith and Stewart Swan solved and rectified the major problem with the main security shutter saving considerable expense.

1[st] June Keith and Michael fitted our entrance hand sanitiser.

6[th] June Friends’ Day attended by 29 Friends and their guests with Covid-19 precautions.

29[th] June Visit by Blackpool Palatine Rotary Club was hosted by Keith and Michael.

3[rd] July First full opening for Waddecar visitors including those attending two County presentations organised by Jack and Joan Swan. Jack received his Silver Acorn and Michael received his 60 Years Long Service Award. Afterwards the County Commissioner Craig Dewar-Willox with Carl Hankinson now UK Chief Commissioner visited the Little Gem .

15[th] July Visit by 1[st] Broughton Cub Scouts; 26 Cubs and 4 leaders hosted by Keith and Judith. 5[th] Aug Visit by 7[th] Blackpool Scouts, Stewart Swan, 3 leaders and 10 Scouts hosted by Jack. 18[th] Sept Iceland contingent visited; later one tested positive for COVID so David and Michael

had to take COVID tests - fortunately they were both negative.

27[th] Nov Due to Storm Arwen blocking 3 routes with large trees Michael did not arrive until 10.00.

Carl Hankinson, UK Chief Commissioner visited at 10. 35 with some donated items.

18[th] Dec Mask wearing compulsory when Scouting indoors

Our Duty Curators have supervised the building when it has been open to visitors. The Trustees are most grateful to Barrie Bevan, Peter Bird, Pat Brandwood, Keith Jamieson, Bill King, Colin Knightley, Michael Loomes, Elaine McGougan, Jack McGrath, Cheryl Sadler, David Thornton and Phil Wheatley for their support. David King is much valued for providing cleaning and other support.

Denise Nelson has continued with her valued archive support with modes and preparation for our Computerization Project.

Donations of notable items had been received from Peter Bird, Peter Ford, Mary Guest, Colin Knightley, Ann Lloyd, Brian Long, Michael Loomes, Judith Rowntree, Graham Taylor and Phil Wheatley.

Many most welcome financial donations have been received to help the Trust’s Funds. They include the following -

Russell Catlow £136, Ruth Griffith DL £25, Rotary Club of Blackpool Palatine £50 and Michael Loomes £2,000. The Trust also received a legacy of £5,000 from the Estate

of Bernice Harby. Bernice had been a member of our Friends’ Group. Other valued financial contributions have been made in the Donations Box in the building.

New items purchased have cost £43 but the value of donated items was £1,059.

There have been 12 requests for information during the year in addition to the countless ones

from visitors. These are mainly by email and answering some of them has increased our knowledge.

The development initiated by the late Colin Ovenden in 2002 was the establishment of The Friends of Be Prepared – The Story of Scouting. The Friends of Be Prepared – The

Story of Guiding was introduced in 2010. This year we sadly lost Roy Masini and Steve Williamson. We currently have a total of 73 Friends .

In return for an annual subscription of £4 or more Friends receive a specially commissioned badge showing Roy Fisher's logo; an Annual Review and an invitation to a special Friends' Day when the building is only open to Friends and their guests. The Trustees have now combined the groups as The Friends of Be Prepared – The Story of Scouting and Guiding. New Friends can select which badge they prefer.

I take this opportunity to record my grateful thanks to my fellow Trustees and Duty Curators for the splendid commitment they have given for the benefit of the Trust. I should also like to record my personal thanks to the many other people referred to throughout this Annual Report who have contributed in many different ways to the objects of the Trust to advance the education of the public in the history of the Scout and Guide Movements.

Michael Loomes

61 Bryning Avenue, Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY2 9LZ. [e-mail]

Treasurer's Report

(See attached Receipts and Payments Account)

The assets of the Trust are shown on the attached Statement of Assets. The Trustees place

on record their appreciation for the work undertaken again this year by Alyson Mahon, our Independent Examiner.

Pat Brandwood

Treasurer

				The story of Scouting Museum Trust
				REGISTERED CHARITY NO.
				1070181
				RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
				ACCOUNT
				YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER
				2021
RECEIPT					202
S			2021		0
			£
Donation			4,50
s			5		543
Gift Aid			186		589
			5,00
Legacy	Harby		0		0
			1,38		1,38
Bank Interest		Skipton	4		4
		Furness
		BS	625		0
Badge
Sales			110		0

Friends Subscriptions 379 32,7 Covid Grants 50

283

0

2,7 99

PAYMEN TS Fixtures & Fittings 0 Acquisitio ns 43 Display Materials & Stationery 51 Postage & Printing 243 Ground Rent 0 Insurance 2,63 4 Electricit y 0 Gas/ Elec. 0 Maintenance & Cleaning 621 Rates 47 Miscellaneous Expenses 29 Treasurers Expenses 34 Repairs & Renewals 828 Clothing 0 Computer Costs 892 Training 0 T/f to Skipton 10,0 00 . Net receipts over payments Cash Funds last year Cash Funds this year	44,938	99 190 463 19 85 1 3,25 3 386 1,34 2 68 0 841 23 944 0 1,17 1 0 0 15,422 8,786 29,516 -5,987 198,359 198,359 221,932

BE PREPARED - THE STORY OF SCOUTING MUSEUM TRUST

REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1070181

STATEMENT OF ASSETS YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER

2021

Cash Funds

	£
HSBC	76,897
Skipton BS	75,000
Furness BS A/c
619237902	10,918
Furness BS A/c
614768306	59,117
	221,932
Assets retained for Charities	Own Use
	2021	2020
Current Value	190,320	190,320
Exhibits	139,301	131,941
5% appreciation	6,965	6,597
2020 Acquisitions	43	0
Donated Items 2019	0	0
Donated Items 2020	0	463
Donated Items 2021	1,059	0
	147,368	139,001
Furniture & Fittings	30,392	30,202
2019 Purchases		0
2020 Purchases		190
2021 Purchases	0
	30,392	30,392
The current value of exhibits is based on what might be obtained at
Note 1 auction and is
subject to an annual re-evaluation of 5% or infation for the year, whichever is
the greater