2022-12-31-accounts - 1st Whitton Scout Group

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- 1[st] Whitton Report (2022 23)

The Aim of 1st Whitton Scout Group is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities. We provide exciting and adventurous activities alongside a progressive training and award scheme. All are encouraged to participate to the best of their ability. Leadership and mentoring are provided by our dedicated team of Volunteers.

People:

Trustee Board: Chairman – Steve Jones, Group Scout Leader - Steve Miles, Assistant GSL.

Treasurer - vacancy, Secretary – Alex Thompson.

Board members: Michael Boncey, Sarah Dale, Lucy Smith, Dean Smith,

Leadership team: Group Scout Leader – Steve Miles, Assistant Group Scout Leader - George Young Beaver Leader - Mikey Boncey, Cub Leader -Tabby Young. Assistant Cub Leader – James McAlpine Assistant Scout Leaders - Alex Clarke.

Group Administrator – Deborah Miles

Web Site – Mark Croucher

Young Leaders - Josh Rizzo-Loveland, Charlie Boncey. Andrew Bott.

Occasional Helpers (DBS’d) – David Ellington, Diana Marsh, Karina Deade, Tej Johal, Chris Brown. Vanda Pathak, Grant Young, Mark Phillps.

Young people as of January 2023: Beavers – 10, Cubs – 23, Scouts – 22,

Nicci Carter – our treasurer since 2016 sadly passed away in October last year. Nicci had supported the Group long before getting involved in the finances and was always a kind and steadying member of the committee.

Sheila Joy, (one of our Cub parents) took on the role of treasurer and was pulling together the a financial report, a difficult task in the circumstances. Unfortunately for us, Sheila has now moved out of the area, and we find ourselves urgently looking for another volunteer or two to help with the financial records.

György Straub who assisted with the Beavers and Mark Phillips who assisted with Cubs also stepped down due to work commitments. Whilst James has joined the Cub team we are still in need of Beaver leaders.

On behalf of all the youngsters we are very grateful to the above wonderful volunteers who keep the group running, either in the background as members of the trustee team or face to face as part of the Leadership team.

Group Scout Leader: Stephen Miles Email: 1stwhittongsl@gmail.com mobile: 07882762166 Deputy GSL: George Young Email: george.ey@outlook.com mobile: 07931845741 Group Chairman: Steve Jones Email: steve@tphs-ltd.co.uk Group Treasurer: Nicci Carter. Email: nicci_carter@hotmail.co.uk District Commissioner: Phil Hunt.

More now than ever we are also looking for volunteers to help with some of the behind-thescenes activities. This could be as part of the executive committee, helping on a rota with one of the sections or offering to take on some of the never-ending maintenance issues.

Group Scout Leader report:

As GSL, my primary role continues to be offering support to the Leadership team ensuring that they have opportunities for training and giving them the right facilities to carry out their roles. It is also my responsibility to ensure that the youngsters are kept safe while they are in our care. Our Leaders continue to attend the necessary training for their roles.

Our youth numbers at the beginning of the year were static compared to 2022 however we have seen a steady growth during the summer term. We now also have Magellan Explorer unit under the umbrella of 1[st] Whitton which is great news as the older Scouts can progress without leaving the Group entirely.

Over the last 12 months the leaders and helpers have been very busy. They have offered seven different camping opportunities giving 18 nights away to those who fully participated. The sections have attended badge days, the water rocket challenge, cooking competition, air rifle competitions, Remembrance & St Georges parades. We helped with fund raising and we went to the Panto, not forgetting rowing up the river in the Jubilant. This all-in addition to the weekly sessions.

I am proud that we were able to present 3 Chief Scouts Silver and one Chief Scouts Gold award.

Josh got his Young Leader Belt which means that he completed all his training and missions.

Andrew Bott was selected by the district team to attend the World Jamboree in Korea, which required him to attend multiple training camps and fund-raising activities through the year leading up to the main event. The Jamboree itself made the news due to the unfortunate weather events but he still had an amazing experience, and he will be telling the Scouts all about it very soon.

Nineteen of our Cubs, Scouts and Explorers joined hundreds of others from around the district for their own Jamboree experience at Paccar camp site. With the options of staying for four or seven nights everyone enjoyed the abundance of activities and came home exhausted. This was a major logistical event for all the adults involved and I am grateful to the leadership team, and parent volunteers who helped make it possible.

We are grateful to the district team who continue to support the Group through their guidance, training opportunities and the generation of District based activities.

Assets and Premises.

Improvements to the car park were carried out over the Christmas holidays and we have seen the benefit of reduced the amount of mud that was being transferred into the hall and inside visitors’ cars. At the same time the fence between the car park and field was moved in preparation for a future project to install gates to the field. There is an ongoing need to control the weeds that will inevitably self-seed but generally the maintenance of the car park should be greatly reduced.

An agreement was reached with Frejo that the Group Purchase a new floor cleaning machine and their staff would clean the hall floor weekly. This is now in place and working well.

Within the hall there has only been minor maintenance needs, such as toilet seats and door locks.

To keep ourselves compliant and energy efficient we had the Kitchen Boiler replaced. All our utilities are now remotely metered.

The Minibus has had some works carried out on the brakes and wheels and the trailer had new tyres and jockey wheels.

A raised patio incorporating a slope has been built at the side of the hall with the intention of giving easier access to those with mobility challenges. It also improves egress from the hall in the event of an emergency. To one side there will be a raised flower bed which is to be filled with sensory plants. We are seeking advice on what to plant but hope that it will be completed this year. The materials for the project were funded through Heathrow’s community grant scheme.

The double trunked Poplar tree has been pollarded to take some of the height and spread off it, therefore reducing the risk during high winds. The company recommended that we should be carrying that out every three to four years. We will also be doing similar for two other trees before the end of year.

Heathrow volunteers have supplied and replaced the two hand dryers in the toilets, reducing energy and improving their performance. The same volunteers have carried out field maintenance around the archery range; clearing brambles and weeds and then covering with chippings left by the tree works. The volunteers have also installed some CCTV cameras that the group had previously purchased, and they have refurbished the two round garden seat tables that are now on the new patio. We hope that we continue to be their choice for their “giving back to the community day”.

The camping equipment has also been under a lot of pressure over the last few years and we have had to replace several of the 6-man tents.

Finances

Funding.

Richmond District paid 25% of the car park renovation costs £7877.53.

The rugby parking run by George has been popular again this year and is used for activity subsidies and minibus maintenance – see attached breakdown.

By assisting with the NPL rocket challenge the Group received a donation of £2363.98 which has been used to discount the summer camp for Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.

Aidan Rizzo-Loveland was awarded £300 through the Jack Petchey foundation, and this was used towards taking 10 youngsters to Go Ape.

Heathrow Community fund donated £4500 towards the patio project.

Gift Aid We are registered and will be claiming this year’s imminently.

The group receives income from Frejo after school club, Kerswell Kids Day nursery and Twickenham District Model railway club. This income is used for utility payments, insurance, and general upkeep of the facilities.

Termly Subscriptions from parents are split between National Scouting headquarters, Greater London Southwest Scout County and Richmond upon Thames Scout District through capitation at the beginning of the year. The surplus is used directly by the group for badges, Scarves and some craft materials.

Most of the 1[st] Whitton Camps and activities are subsidised through fund raising and donations.

Future :

With a busier and growing group, the wear and tear on the field is more evident. Grass loss and soil erosion rectification will need to be addressed by this year’s committee.

We will be looking at purchasing more two/three-man tents to accommodate more overnight expeditions for the older youngsters.

Mikey our Beaver leader will be stepping down at Christmas, so the search is on for someone to continue his good work.

mmary of Anand•l A¢thltles *767 1.7¥7 771 SU 7AJ¥ IWJ 35. 17.us n]Ai .111 Balance Sheet 3/i•/z

Independent examiner’s Report to the Trustees of

1st Whitton Scout Group

Registered Charity: 1172762

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31[st] December 2022, which are attached

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5((b) of the 2011 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of the independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is give as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair” view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011Act: and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act:

have not been met

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Name:

Patrick L Ducker BSc ACIS Twickenham, Date: 23rd October 2023