Let's talk! Welcome to our AGM and celebration event 2025 scouts.org.uldjoin #SkillsForLife Scouts ts Blyth Iley ## BLYTH VALLEY SCOUT COUNCIL Annual General Meeting 2025 No 26 ## **14[th] November 2025** ## **Seaton Delaval Arts Centre** ## AGENDA ## **1. Introduction and welcome** ## **2. Apologies for absence** ## **3. Governance topics** - a. Approve the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 18[th] July 2024 - b. Adopt the model constitution from Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) - c. Note the District’s financial year - d. Agree the number of members that may be appointed to the Trustee Board - e. Agree the quorum for future meetings of the District Scout Council (excluding this AGM) and that of the trustee board ## 4. ## **Review of the previous year** - a. The District Lead Volunteer’s review of Scouts during the past 12 months in the Blyth Valley District - b. The County Lead Volunteer’s remarks - c. Receive and consider the Annual Report of the District Trustee Board, including the annual Statement of the Accounts ## **5.** ## **Making appointments** - a. Appoint the District Chair, following recommendation from the open selection process initiated by the District Trustee Board - b. Appoint the District Treasurer, following recommendation from the open selection process initiated by the District Trustee Board - c. Appoint members of the District Trustee Board, following recommendations from the open selection process initiated by the District Trustee Board - d. Appoint District President and/or Vice Presidents - e. Appoint the Independent Examiner / Auditor - f. Nominate representatives of the District Scout Council to represent the District on the County Scout Council ## **6. Closing remarks** ## **Chair of Trustees’ Report 2025** ## **Blyth Valley Scout Council** ## **Reporting Period: July 2024 – November 2025** ## **Introduction** The Trustees of Blyth Valley Scout Council are pleased to present this report outlining key developments, challenges, and reflections from the period July 2025 to date. This has been a time of significant transition and renewed optimism for the district. ## **Key Achievements** A major milestone during this period was the successful finalisation of the sale of Walker Hall in Blyth to Northumberland County Council. This decision, made in the best interests of the district, marks the end of a long and complex process. The Trustees wish to acknowledge the considerable delays experienced due to extended timeframes within the legal team overseeing the transaction. Despite these challenges, the sale was completed, and the district is now in a much stronger financial position. ## **Financial Outlook** The sale of Walker Hall has provided a substantial financial uplift for the district. In addition, the Trustees are deeply grateful for the generous bequest left to Blyth Valley Scout Council by the late Bill Hampson. His legacy will be honoured through the establishment of a dedicated fund, designed to generate regular income and support the enhancement of Scouting across the district. Details of this fund will be shared in due course, once the money has been placed in the most beneficial investment vehicle. ## **In Memoriam** It is with great sadness that the Trustees note the passing of Kevin Appleby, who died following a short but aggressive illness. Kevin was a cherished member of the Scouting community, known for his warmth, dedication, and unwavering commitment to young people. His loss is deeply felt by all who knew him, both personally and through his work in Scouting. The Trustees extend their heartfelt condolences to Kevin’s family and friends. ## **Chair’s Statement** As Chair of the Trustee Board, I wish to share that I will be stepping down from the role, having found myself unable to dedicate the time that the position truly deserves. It has been a genuine pleasure and privilege to support Blyth Valley Scout Council through a period of meaningful change. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Scouters across the district whose dedication and passion continue to inspire. Their commitment to young people and to the values of Scouting is the heartbeat of our movement. I also extend my gratitude to my fellow Trustees and board members for their support, wisdom, and teamwork throughout my tenure. This period has seen both sorrow and progress. The Trustees remain committed to ensuring that Blyth Valley Scout Council continues to thrive, honouring the contributions of those who have shaped its path and investing wisely in its future. We look forward to the opportunities ahead and to supporting the growth and development of Scouting in our district. ## **District lead volunteer report for Blyth valley scouts 2024/2025** This last year has been a fantastic year for scouting in the district with most sections showing a slight increase on the census figures on last year. some groups have declined in numbers, and some have increased sections have closed and new sections have reopened it just shows scouting in Blyth is reacting to the ebb and flow trends we are encountering in scouting at the moment. All sections and groups are still very much getting out and doing outdoor scouting everything from weeklong summer camps to day visits to some weird and wonderful places from offshore sea training to rock pooling, colour runs to aircraft museums. and of course, visits to our own district campsites Selby wood and Spylaw and lots of sleepovers in our 3 headquarters within the district 2[nd] Cramlington ,1[st] Seaton sluice and 8th Blyth. I this year had the great pleasure of bringing onboard a new member to the district leadership team. I have recently appointed Alex Marnock as District Youth Lead, I’m sure you will all join me in wishing him well in his new role. I will be working closely with him in the next few months giving him some projects to be working on for the future development of the district. I would like to thank all the leaders that have helped run the many district events that have run for the sections stem fest events. trail jam canoeing triathlon etc these events take a lot of personal time and commitment to run as well as running their own groups and sections. I would like to thank the district trustees for all their effort throughout the year with lots of things going on in the background to ensure that the district complies with all the compulsory safety and safeguarding requirements their buildings and assets are safe and compliant withal regulations and also ensuring the financial assets of the district are kept safe and used to there best potential . we have now finally gone through with the sale of walker hall to Northumberland County council after a considerable period and a lot of effort from the trustees. This puts the district in a better financial position not just from the sale but now not having the ongoing running costs of a building we were not using. Also, this year we were bequeathed a financial donation form the late professor Bil Hampsons estate our previous district president. This money is to be used for the development of scouting within the district that could be at district group section or individual level. The fund which will be known as the professor bill Hampson fund will be maintained by the district trustees and will be used for one off projects or personal development not to by equipment or pay ongoing running costs etc. It could be for example to subsidise a person going to a jamboree or a group international adventure or a leader taking a NGB recognised training course that would benefit scouting within the district. As we were given quite a large sum of money initially as part of the conditions of the donation the fund will build year on year as we are only allowed to spend the interest of the capital donation per year as part of the fund so some years the available may be more than others depending on interest rate and how much is used per year or reinvested . If anyone would like more details of the professor Bill Hampson Fund, please contact myself or the district chair. I would like to also pay tribute to two scouters that sadly passed this year ## Kevin Appleby Kevin was a very active member of the trustee board helping set up the new trustee board system within the district brining his experience from other national charities ensuring we have the correct skills needed within the trustee board to manage the district to its best potential. Kevin started his scouting career as a cub scout in 1[st] Cramlington many years ago then progressed through scouts and ventures becoming Scout Leader at 10[th] Blyth for many years and Assistant District Commissioner Scouts in Blyth District he led on many international camps for both the county and district and latterly Kevin served as a District trustee. ## The other being Margret Cox Margret started her scouting career as cub mistress at 1[st] Seghill scout group holding many roles within scouting ADC cubs for Seaton valley and Blyth Districts and eventually ACC cub scouts for Northumberland scouts a role she had for many years Margret also served for many years on the District Executive for Blyth District where she would often debate on what events the district should put on or not and her general stance was if it was to benefit one young person or one hundred in her opinion it must be run. If we could just spare a short thought for them both as they both may gone but never forgotten and will live on in the many happy memories of the thousands of adults and young people, they have worked with in scouting. I would like to finally thank all the leaders’ helpers, trustees and tea makers within the district that makes the wheels of scouting in Blyth Valley turn without you all we could not do what we do for the hundreds of young people in the Blyth Valley scouting family Heers to the everchanging world of scouting Neil District Lead Volunteer ## BLYTH VALLEY DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL ## Annual General Meeting 2024 ## _18[th] July 2024_ ## _Seaton Delaval Arts Centre_ ## AGENDA ## 1. Introduction and welcome – (those present Appendix 1.1) Simon Miller (Chair) welcomed all group scout council members to the AGM, thanked all of the trustee board, for all their efforts thus far and welcomed Neil Robinson district lead volunteer and the guest’s county lead volunteer Peter Thorpe ## 2. Apologies for absence (Appendix 1.2) 3. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 16[th] January 2024 Accepted by the group Scout Council ## 4. **Governance topics** - f. In line with Scout Association guidelines, to adopt the model constitution from Policy, Organisation and Rules. Accepted by the group Scout Council - g. Note that the District’s financial year runs from the 1[st] April to 31[st] March. Accepted by the group Scout Council - h. Agree the quorum for each of the District Scout Council (including this AGM) should be 15 and meetings of the District Trustee Board, meetings of any sub-committees, should be half the membership plus one. Accepted by the group Scout Council ## 5. ## **Review of the previous year** - d. The District Commissioner’s review of Scouting in the District. Neil Robinson gave a brief overview of the district’s year so far (Appendix 1.3) - e. To receive and consider the Annual Report of the District Trustee Board including the annual Statement of the Accounts. (Appendix1.4) ## **6.** ## **Making appointments** - g. Appoint the District Chair, following recommendation from the open selection process initiated by the District Trustee Board Accepted by the group Scout Council that Simon Miller would continue in the role - h. Appoint the District Treasurer, following recommendation from the open selection process initiated by the District Trustee Board Accepted by the group Scout Council that Lynn Horrocks would take on this role this year replacing Allen Ricalton - i. Appoint members of the District Trustee Board, following recommendations from the open selection process initiated by the District Trustee Board The chair explained that as the trustee board had only been in place for a short period there will be no change to the board this year and all will remain in place and it will be a closed selection process this year this was accepted by the group Scout Council - j. (Re-)appoint District President and/or Vice Presidents The chair stated that this was still a work in progress to get the right person for the role and would be reviewed next year accepted by the group Scout Council - k. Appoint the Scrutineer / Independent Examiner / Auditor Nominated was John Alexander Lawson accepted by the group Scout Council - l. Nominate representatives of the District Scout Council to represent the District on the County Scout Council Carol Warfell was nominated accepted by the group Scout Council 7. County Lead Volunteer gave an overview of the county and transformation and thanked all the leaders and helpers within the district 8. Presentation of Awards 9. Simon Miller (chair) gave closing remarks and thanks. Independent examiner's reportto the trustees of Blyth Valley District Scout Council I reportto the trustees on my examination of the accounts ot the Blyth Valley District Scout Council (the Council) for the year ended 31" March 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charitytrustees of the Council, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Council's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have foLlowed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)Ibl of the Act. Independent examiner's 3taternent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting records were not kept in respect of the Council as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or In carrying out my examination I have noted that there are some deficiencies in the manner in which the various accounting records have been maintained and the consistency of the records between different areas of the Council. I have also noted that keyfinancial controls have not been working effectively throughout the financial period. including the setting of budget5 to effectively control expenditure. the use of cash receipts from activities to pay out of pocket expenses and the recognition of income as opposed to cash movements. These deficiencies have previously been highlighted to the board of trustees and the new board of trustees appear to be taking action to address the concerns raised, howeverthe change in treasurer and disposal of the Walker Hall property has meant that other priorities have taken precedent and therefore the board will look to address these deficiencies in the coming year. Signed: Name: John Alexander Lawson Relevant professional quaLitication or membership of professional bodies {rf any): FCA member of ICAEW Address: 6 Annfield Road, Cramlington. NE23 3GY Date: 8" November 2025 BLYfH VALLEY DISTRICT scour COUNCIL Chwrty No: 1116322 Accounts for the ￿ar 1st Ayil 2024 to 31st March 2025 Expenses Capitst -22.240 25.250 3.010 Seghll walk￿ Hal Selby Wo(Ml sp￿a￿ Expkwers Actriities 66 .2,309 .3.835 .2.986 .5.(￿3 .262 3.035 3.504 5,698 1.588 519 634 1.326 General Bank Inlere Bad9es Garage Rert Insurarte miscel1anec￿S cons0lidatKJn adNstwit Surp￿5 fcff year .587 101 100 -590 -52 .146 2.313 .1.858 -36,962 -2.313 36.962 Balarre Sl*ei as at 3151 Mwch 2025 Bank Accounts Disiritt Depos Distrlci Cwreni EXpl￿er5 Selby Wocxl 6,889 8.755 21.618 Lèss Currerrt Liabilities Selby Wixxl Cteditijrs .2.070 -2.070 19.548 Expl￿er5 Broughi forward Add SurKAus 833 634 1.467 by Broughi forward Less Dèlk 6.541 5,740 Dlsknct Broughi forward Transfer fr(Kn Gary Sh( Add sUr￿￿s 8.347 12.340 19.548 BLYfH VALLEY DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL Chartty No: 1116322 Pu(A#*s lor the )*ar 1st Aw'l 2024 to 31st March 2025 Analysis of premise5. ￿0uPS and activities ExwKliture EleC￿*Y ExwKliture InSurar￿e {pakl by District) Gas Electrtiy Wai c￿a[arte costs Def￿1 ￿ar .706 -175 -531 .618 .280 E -2.309 Surpkns f￿ Jear Expenth'ture Donation to Farm Road￿￿ Timbef sleepers Mowef repabs and I￿1 Fire eXtsnguiSh￿ lest arnl f¥Kement G85 bcth cage Gravel Insurance (pald by District} Ott￿[ Running EXp￿seS ExpeThliture Giant spend Insurarte {paMI by DtsIr￿) Wa￿{ filef and samph'NJ Ck¥mrey sweep Fwe e￿INjU Fuel Reni -763 .1.605 .613 .255 -140 -117 .107 .150 -194 -298 -122 -110 -101 -944 -644 £ .3.835 .2.986 Income Sile Fees 3.035 Grant Srte Fees 2.250 1,254 E 3.035 3.504 519 Delicil yo8r rpkns f(* Jtaf lorers ExwKliture Bad9es (inc Bett pald by District) Camp & Events Capltalk)n Reni Tert Repak Activities ExpwKliture Wheel repairs Sway decks .100 -162 -1.535 -2,313 -650 40 E .5.(￿3 .262 lrtome Subs Camp & Events 3,466 2.232 Canoeng Triatt*)n Arcr 1.380 128 80 £ 5.698 634 1.588 1.326 Surpkns Je8r rF￿S fc* Jtar They make all the difference. So could you. Help young people in Blyth Valley step up and dream big. scouts.org.uklVolunteer #SkillsForLife Scouts Blyth Valley