Wandsworth District Scout Council
Annual Report 2022-2023
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WANDSWORTH DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
Annual General Meeting
9[th] September 2023 at 13:00
The Romany, 22a Lyford Road, London, SW18 3LG (and on Zoom)
AGENDA
- Introduction and welcome
2. Apologies for absence
3.
4.
To approve the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 7[th] July 2022
Governance topics
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a. Adopt the model constitution from Policy, Organisation and Rules
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b. Note the District’s financial year
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c. Agree the number of members that may be elected to the Trustee Board
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d. Agree the quorum for each of the District Scout Council (including this AGM), and meetings of the District Trustee Board.
5.
Review of the previous year
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a. The Lead Volunteer for Wandsworth District’s review of Scouting in Wandsworth
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b. To receive and consider the Annual Report of the Wandsworth District Scout Council Trustee Board including the annual Statement of the Accounts
6.
Making appointments
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a. There have been no nominations received for a District President or Vice President.
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b. There are currently no additional members to be admitted who may be admitted to membership of the Wandsworth District Scout Council.
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c. To approve the Lead Volunteer for Wandsworth District’s nomination of the District Chair
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d. Election of the District Secretary
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e. Election of the District Treasurer
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f. Elections of members to the Wandsworth District Trustee Board
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g. To approve the Lead Volunteer for Wandsworth District’s nominations to the District Trustee Board
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h. To appoint the Scrutineer
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Closing Remarks by the Chair
District Treasurers Report
Report on activities
During financial year 2022-23, the District recorded a surplus of £10,547. Once we remove the effect of the management of cash for the Jamboree payments, this is reduced to £7,097.
The expenses for activities totalled £10694, against an income from those activities (fees paid by participants) of £4,608. Grants from the Alexander fund and the Southside Trust however provided the necessary support to the financing of activities, with total grants of £15,370, of which £5,800 were paid out to support Scouts participating in the World Jamboree.
Through the census, the district raised £34,938 and paid out a levy to the South London County Council of 31,380, meaning a surplus of 3,559 that went to support the general expenses and the activities.
The minibus hire to Scout groups provided an income of £1,380, against a cost of various expenses for the running and maintenance excluding insurance of £841. Insurance was paid later than the cutoff date for the accounts and it totalled £949.
Income from sale of badges was for £771.05 while the cost of purchasing totalled £1063. This does not mean a loss, as the district has now adopted a system of prepayment with the Epsom Scout shop and therefore the difference is purely a prepayment of future purchases.
The general expenses for the District were 386, of which £276 for the movies umbrella licence allowing all groups within the district to project movies during the activities and £110 for the website hosting.
No write-offs have been to be necessary, however the District closed the financial year with credits towards Scout groups of the district for unpaid invoices of £1076 and, among others, an additional £6,765 remain payable for census fees of the 12[th] -14[th] Westside scout group.
The District closed the year in a healthy financial situation with £ £31,284.88 in the bank and no liabilities.
Francesco Marasco-Rinieri
Addendum:
As reported in last year’s Annual Financial Report:
In May 2022, the District became aware of the ownership of a plot of land. The District had become legal owner of the land following the closure of 6th Balham and Tooting, however this had not been communicated to the District until May 2022. This plot of land is now an asset of the District and has been recorded as such in the balance sheet for an estimated value of £16,000.
| Net Profit | 2022 - 2023 |
|---|---|
| Balance | |
| 10547 | |
| Income | 71638 |
| Gross Profit Operating Income 400000 census 400100 income from activities 400101 Jamboree 400200 Minibus hire income 400300 Badges Total Operating Income Cost of Revenue Total Gross Profit Other Income 493000 Grants Total Other Income Total Income Expenses |
62067 62067 34938 4608 20370 1380 771.05 62067 62067 9570.6 9570.6 9570.6 71638 61090 |
| Expenses 500000 General expense 500100 Levy 500101 Jamboree payments 500200 Expenses for activities 500300 badges (purchase) 500400 training 730100 Car fuel 730200 Car maintenance 730300 car tax 751300 Other admin expenses Total Expenses Depreciation Total Expenses |
61090 386.42 31380 16920 10694 1063.2 95 64.52 258.57 215 13.99 61090 61090 |
District Commissioner’s Report
We are delighted to report that the Young People of Wandsworth have been able to experience Scouting across the Borough, with many embarking on residential activities and experiencing new activities and adventures. Last September, 160 Young People across all Sections joined the first Wandsworth District Activity Day at Walton Firs. Supported by a team of Adult Volunteers, they were all able to enjoy a variety of activities across the day, culminating in a renewal of Promise which for some was the first time promising to do their duty to the new King. Following it’s success, we are now only a couple of weeks away from the second District Activity Day. January saw a return of the Beaver Panto, with 50 Beavers coming together to enjoy a panto and hot dogs. This also proved to be a great networking event, with adults from different groups using the opportunity to meet each other and share ideas. In March, 8[th] Wandsworth hosted ‘Let’s Do Lunch’, which was enjoyed by all who attended and we are very much looking forward to our lunch today which our hosts 1[st] Wandsworth have kindly put together for us.
Last Autumn, our Chair, Jason Dass, found an excellent opportunity to work overseas teaching, which was great news for him and less so for us. Whilst he offered to maintain his support to the District remotely, this was less feasible due to the time difference between the two countries. That left us with the task of recruiting another Chair. Thankfully, Ben Ensom kindly took up the mantle and is our current Chair.
We are delighted that after some lengthy discussions and due process, 11[th] Wandsworth has been opened with a pool of volunteers who all completed the required training ahead of the Group opening. They meet in Burntwood School and currently have a full Beaver Colony and a full Cub Pack. There is the prospect of a Scout section opening in the new year. Particular thanks goes to Sophia and Ammaarah Amej0ee who have been the pioneers behind this project.
Wandsworth District was once again fortunate to be represented at the World Scout Jamboree in Korea this Summer. There were six Young People who attended as part of the Greater London South contingent. I am sure many of you would have seen the news reports about the challenges that were being faced by many of the Jamboree attendees. UK Scouting acted promptly and moved all UK attendees (Young People) into the city once difficulties were raised and a plan was developed. This allowed all the Young People to continue their overseas experience in a safe environment.
We are pleased to see that Groups are already embracing the changes that are being brought in and using the new titles for roles. We are looking forward to helping develop the Team under the new guidance to lead Wandsworth.
As we come to the end of our report, it is time to say Thank You. We would especially like to thank our Treasurer Francesco for his patience with the many requests to spend money and his guidance in ensuring that we do so wisely. We would also like to thank Sammy our District Secretary for her continued support and special ability to pick out all the right information from the discussions at District Meetings and to form these into accurate minutes. Finally, we would like to thank our many volunteers on whom the District depends to keep things running and therefore enabling so many Young People to experience Scouting in Wandsworth.
Peter and Christine
Chairperson’s Report
Firstly, I would like to thank all our volunteers across the District and our Groups for the role you play in making Scouting possible for the children, young people and young adults who participate in their Section, Group and District events and activities. Without your care, dedication, commitment, skill and time we would not be able to offer programmes that give our young people spaces and groups where they can feel safe and a sense of belonging so that they can explore who they are and who they want to be. In an age of digital technology, global pandemics, and increased pressures on young people’s educational and social development and emotional wellbeing; and in a time of serious pressures on families around the cost of living, the role our movement is playing in society is as important as it has ever been. Every volunteer is playing an essential role in helping us to deliver Scouting in Wandsworth from the Lead Volunteers and leaders in our Sections and Groups to the Group Trustees and occasional helpers and the parents and carers who lend a hand behind the scenes. Thank you all.
Thank you to all the young people and their families and carers who have participated in Scouting this year in Wandsworth. It has been a pleasure to hear about some of your achievements including our Jack Petchey Award winners this year.
I would also like to extend a thank you to all the leaders and volunteers from Groups across the District who have given their time to facilitate District events and make sure that the minibus and resources we have are available to support the Groups. One of my highlights since taking on the role of Chair during this year was lending a hand with traffic control and climbing at the District Fun Day in September. It was great to see so many people taking part and enjoying the activities, trying and learning new skills, and meeting new friends through Scouting. It was also great to see some of our younger members making some noise and enjoying the Beaver’s Pantomime where I was also struck by the way that our parents, carers and volunteers were taking the opportunity to network about the challenges and opportunities in their local Groups.
A big thank you to our own District Treasurer, Francesco (and all the Group Treasurers across the District too). They have given their time to making sure that our finances are in good order so that we can invest in the resources we need for Scouting across the District. The additional requirements of charities from our banking colleagues add an additional pressure in those roles and I am grateful to them and to all our Trustees across the District and Groups for their co-operation in complying with additional vetting and checks that are now needed in a digital charity world. Francesco’s eye for detail and sound judgement is invaluable to us as a District Trustee Board. I am grateful for the interest, wisdom, care and thought that the District Trustees have invested in discussions about Scouting in Wandsworth throughout the year, and on a personal note I am thankful for their welcome to me on taking on the role of Chair. Our thanks also go to Jason Dass for his support to the District as Chair and assistance to me in handing over when he moved abroad for work and could no longer continue as Chair. Particular thanks are also due to Sammy who has continued to keep us organised as a Trustee Board and has provided comprehensive and clear notes of our meetings.
As we focus on changing the way we work as Trustee Boards, Districts and Groups I am also grateful to our County Development Officer, Matt, and the team at County who are assisting with this process whilst continuing to support our Group and District functions, training and developing our leaders, and providing opportunities for national and international activities for some of our young people involved in events including the Jamborees.
Thank you also to Christine and Peter who continue to generously share their time, energy and experience in their joint role as our District Lead Volunteers. Their commitment to the District has an impact in the events that we have been able to offer, their support to new leaders and groups.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has attended our Annual General Meeting of the District Scout Council this year to hold the Trustee Board and District Leadership Team to account in our work. Thank you also to the 1[st] Wandsworth who have kindly hosted the AGM alongside a “Let’s Do Lunch”.