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North Hambleton District Scouts
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Annual Report
For the 12 months 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024
CONTENTS ~~pT~~
1. Trustees’ Annual Report
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a. Chair’s Report
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b. District Lead Volunteer’s Report
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c. Legal and Administrative Details
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d. Treasurer’s Report
2. Statement of Financial Activities
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT ~~pd~~
CHAIR’S REPORT
On behalf of the Board, I extend a sincere thank you to Mark and his team and all our volunteers across North Hambleton. Your dedication, energy, and commitment provide our young people with the opportunities to grow, explore, and ignite their sense of adventure. You are the reason the flame of Scouting continues to burn brightly in our district and all the groups within. I assure you that your work is invaluable.
Can I take this opportunity to give a very special mention to those who are retiring from their roles this year, which in reality is the entire Executive Committee as following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) we will be moving towards a Trustee Board as opposed to an Executive Committee in accordance with the directions from Scout headquarters. I’m certain that we will still see you in another role around the District. You have played a great part in the workings and intricacies of the Executive Committee, so thank you one and all. This move to a Trustee Board is one that the individual groups within the District are required to undertake.
I would like to thank Catherine, our District Secretary, who decided a while ago that this would be her last year ably assisting us. Thank you Catherine and you have our best wishes for the future.
A thank you to Paul our Treasurer who has ensured we remain in a strong position as a charity.
Simon Hickling
Chair North Hambleton District Scouts
DISTRICT LEAD VOLUNTEER’S REPORT
What an interesting year it has been on many fronts. Twelve months ago I volunteered to help the district prepare for the planned transformation which was advertised then as changing the way we volunteer.
Transformation: As we now know aside from project delays the major impact the results of the Great Orme inquest have thrown up a number of challenges focussing not only on how we deliver Scouting but on the management of training and the compliance with regards to training and renewals. Changes implemented affect not only our volunteers and their training, but now also activity permits and nights away events. This all requires a change in mindset from volunteers having a go and best efforts to meet the association’s rules and expectations, where now if the required criteria is not met then the event of activity cannot run. We all understand these requirements are for the safety of the young people in our sections but also to protect our adult volunteers too.
All this of course while trying to lead the adult volunteers of the district and encourage and support them as they deliver the many adventurous activities alongside regular weekly section meetings.
Census: The annual census this year identified a mix of results. You will see from the table below the younger sections are fairly static, the Cub section has seen a drop overall due but these since January are now picking up. As you can see the Scout and Explorer sections are increasing as numbers generally reach pre covid numbers. Generally Scout Network locally has been a holding place for those too old for Explorers to complete their top awards and certainly an active Network section is the aim alongside completing their awards. You will note the overall number of adult volunteers has dropped, and the regular comment from existing leaders is we need more leaders. This then feeds in to the growth in numbers conversation as without more leaders it is difficult to provide more safe Scouting.
Volunteer Support: We now have a number of WhatsApp groups for the different section leader teams, through using these we have enabled section support within the section leaders across the district. Of course, these are also far more fluid than a rigid diary of face-to-face meetings which would involve more time and travel. These groups are also much more flexible for information sharing with regards to badge and activity ideas along with detail of HQ initiatives or offers.
Alongside this with the Explorer Scout section we have a working group made up of leaders and Explorers working on joint events. Early days yet but there was agreement to share events to enable members of the different units access different activities.
Following the success of the skills day held previously at 1st Northallerton’s HQ we planned and delivered KickStart24 – a new type of event for our volunteers, providing information and updates, peer support and a chance to input and affect the way we support Scouting in our district. We heard from the County Transformation Lead about how the incoming changes will affect the way we work together, with the promise that it will enable the recruitment of adults to be a much easier process. We also had an overview on the new training format as there will no longer be a need for all section leaders to complete the full wood bead training. The new scheme has a number of training modules grouped as a learning tree. Growing Roots and Branching Out. Then we have a group of modules for all volunteers complimented by some optional ones dependant on role or responsibility. Effectively the new scheme will rather than rely on all volunteers completing wood bead training the idea is the team between them cover the various elements of administration, programme planning and so on. Certainly interesting times ahead.
Sections Programme: having visited a number of sections over the last year the weekly meetings continue to deliver activities and adventure. Most sections have been out and about on hikes either locally or in the case of Scouts and Explorers further afield. We have had members from Beaver through to Explorer sections involved at the activity days provided by our County Scouts Activity Team. These range from basic kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, target sports such as archery or air rifles, to climbing and mountain biking days. Aside from these activities many of our sections have held camps as far away as Wales to more locally at Commondale.
Development:
With the various different support elements now in place we can look at formalising the operational teams who will coordinate managing our people, more district events for our young people alongside ensuring programmes in sections meet the expectations of the Scout Association and our young people. Our Trustee board can then focus on governance, risk, safety and financial security. We can then work on filling Lead roles in groups and decisions on dormant groups and sections.
Summary: As we navigate the changes transformation will bring, let’s continue to support each other and embrace the opportunities for growth and improvement. Together, we can ensure a safe and enriching Scouting experience for all. Here’s to another year of adventure and collaboration! Mark Turner District Lead Volunteer (District Commissioner)
Mark Turner District Lead Volunteer (District Commissioner) North Hambleton District Scouts
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
North Hambleton District Scouts is a registered charity in England and Wales, with charity number 1120424.
The registered address is:
Mudfields Farm Burill Bedale North Yorkshire DL8 1RU
Trustees in Office during the period April 2023 to March 2024
Simon Hickling (Chair) Mark Turner (District Lead Volunteer) Paul Chaytor (Treasurer) Paul Clarke Sheila Donaldson Oliver Goss Juliet Moor Marie Wilson
TREASURER’S REPORT
Income has increased from £33,243 to £48,307 (up £15,063 or 45%). Most of this increase is from Capitation. This is primarily a timing issue. Capitation fees are paid both before and after the end of the financial year, so we had some “late” payments for 2023 and we were more effective at gathering 2024 payments before the end of March. There was a significant increase in Camp and Activity fees received (up by £2,148 or 27%) reflecting a return to more activities post Covid.
Expenditure has increased from £38,396 to £43,893 (up £5,496 or 14%). Two thirds of this increase is from Capitation. This is the same timing issue as described above. There was a significant increase in Camp and Activity expenditure (up by £3,997 or 47%) reflecting a return to more activities post Covid. There was a significant drop in event expenses at District level (down £4,520 or 94%) which can be linked to the reduction in District level fundraising income.
The overall position was that Income exceeded Expenditure by £4,414 (last year this was negative £5,152). This means our total funds have increased to £93,191, representing 23 months of coverage (based on 2023-2024 income). £76,369 or 82% of total funds are without any designation or restriction, up 40% from last year as the designation period for the Brompton Fund has now ended, so these funds are now unrestricted.
Bankers for this financial period are:
HSBC 77 Market Place Thirsk North Yorkshire YO7 1EU
Paul Chaytor Treasurer North Hambleton District Scouts
Scouts North Hambleton STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES North Hambleton District Scouts Statement of Financial Affairs For the period year ended 31st March 2023 Consolidated District CSO11dated District Incoming ReS(r Capitation G"rft Aid Account Balances 27,151 727 Current Account 39,672 53,390 129 Deposrt Account Cash Float Bank Interest 935 Badge Account Grants 2,740 93.191 Funds General Funds Camp & Activity Fees Fundraising other 10,129 5,586 39 39,495 36,874 Brompton Group 48,307 Camp Fund Alf Nicholls Fund 11,51XI 3,738 1,274 310 Resourtes Expanded Capitstion Rent 20,711 1.524 1,199 285 BETS Fund Bob Hampson Funeral Fund Equipment Events 93,191 Donkn"ons 3,025 3.035 12,482 1,315 138 Badges Camp & Acttvity Costs Expenses & Other Bank Charges Insurance 179 43.893 Summary Total Incoming Resources Net Income (Expenditure) Surplus Funds brought forward Funds carried forward 48,307 43.893 4,414 88,777 93.191