Trustee Report
Phoenix Independent Scouts Association
This year has been one of both great progress and deep reflection for Phoenix Independent Scouts Association. We sadly lost of one of our founding trustees, Steve Elliott (he always had to remind me that it was two T’!), whose passing has been felt profoundly across our Association.
Steve was one of the very first people to put his hand up when no one else would. In his own humble way he would always insist he “didn’t really do anything”, but his presence alone was a constant source of strength. He always had something to say, always offered support, and always stood beside us during difficult moments. During the height of the Euro18 challenges, Steve was resolutely in the right corner. He was also one of the first to reach out to me personally when I began openly supporting Jay, Sarah, Graham, Lyn, Mark and the others. His kindness, his loyalty, and his quiet but unwavering commitment to Phoenix will never be forgotten. He is very deeply missed.
WFIS Participation and International Development
Our involvement with WFIS has continued to grow and strengthen.
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WFIS GA - Turkey A very wet but very memorable General Assembly, during which Phoenix was formally voted in as full members of WFIS. This marks an important milestone in our development and recognition internationally.
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WFIS Workshop - Rome Although I had to withdraw at the last minute, the workshop was reported to be an excellent event with impressively high attendance. The only consistent complaint I’ve heard is that if you weren’t a fan of pasta, you might have struggled!
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WFIS Rover Moot - Denmark 2026 Mortimer Rovers are planning to attend the Rover Moot in Denmark next August. If any other Rover Crew would like to join us, you are more than welcome. Please contact me and I will share the full details.
Membership and Growth
It has been an exceptionally busy year for membership.
We were disappointed to lose Blackwater Valley, who found that they could not maintain their own independent WFIS membership while remaining members of Phoenix. We continue to stay in close contact with Richard, and relations remain warm and positive. We often see them at WFIS events, Jay recently attended the opening of their new hut, and they are planning to join us at the Rover Moot.
On a brighter note, interest in Phoenix remains strong:
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We have two new groups to vote on during this AGM.
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A further two groups have already expressed interest in joining.
This demonstrates that Phoenix continues to grow, evolve, and move steadily forward.
Training
Although Phoenix does not directly provide formal training, we are very happy to facilitate shared learning workshops between Groups. If any Group has particular needs, challenges, or areas where they would benefit from collective support, please let us know—we are more than willing to coordinate opportunities for pooled learning, skills sessions, or leader development activities.
Many of our Groups already have leaders with valuable specialist skills that could be shared more widely. For example, Mortimer have leaders who are qualified Mountain Leaders, as well as others with Archery instruction qualifications and similar expertise. If you or your Group have a skill set that may be of interest to others, please feel free to advertise it on the Phoenix WhatsApp group , or forward the details to me and I will circulate them to all Groups by email. This kind of shared knowledge and peer-to-peer support is one of our greatest strengths.
It may also be the right time to revisit the original training plan concept, reframed as an Adult Leadership Development Programme rather than “training” in the formal sense. The earlier resistance was understood, but with ongoing growth in Phoenix, and with Groups increasingly asking for support, this could now be reshaped into something collaborative, flexible, and genuinely beneficial.
To support this discussion properly, I have added training as a specific item on the agenda for this AGM, so that trustees and Groups can explore needs, ideas and next steps formally.
Looking Ahead
I remain keen to explore the idea of organising a Phoenix Group Camp. I fully appreciate the challenges - coordinating multiple groups, budgets, distance and timing - but I am confident that when the moment is right, we will make it happen.
Looking further ahead, we are also preparing for a major milestone: Phoenix will be hosting the WFIS Workshop in 2027. We have already visited a potential venue, Scout Park in North London. It appears to be the ideal location, provided we are able to manage attendance numbers carefully. This is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase Phoenix, strengthen our WFIS relationships, and deliver a high-quality event here in the UK. If you would like to be involved—whether in planning, logistics, or offering an activity or session—please let me know. Your support would be very welcome.
Phoenix is built on resilience, collaboration, and mutual support. Despite the challenges of this year, we are continuing to expand, connect, and strengthen our presence both nationally and internationally. The legacy of those who helped build this organisation - especially Steve - continues to guide us.
Thank you to all trustees, leaders, volunteers, and supporters for your ongoing commitment. Phoenix remains strong because of the people within it.
Phoenix Independent Scouts Association
Annual Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] January 2025
Income
| Income | |
|---|---|
| Income Source | Amount(£) |
| MembershipFees | 272.00 |
| Total Income | 272.00 |
Expenditure
| Expenditure | |
|---|---|
| Expense | Amount(£) |
| Total Expenditure | 0.00 |
Net Surplus/Deficit
| Net Surplus/Defcit | |
|---|---|
| Category | Amount(£) |
| Surplus | 272.00 |
Balance Sheet as of 31st January 2024
| Assets | Amount(£) |
|---|---|
| Bank Account Balance(as of 1stFebruary2024) | 275.00 |
| Add: Net Surplus | 272.00 |
| Total Bank Balance(as of 31stJanuary2025) | 547.00 |
| Liabilities | Amount(£) |
|---|---|
| Total Liabilities | 180.00 |
Net Assets £367
Summary
Phoenix Independent Scouts Association has maintained a healthy financial position over the past year, ending with net assets of £367 . Our income this year has come solely from AGM food donations.
The outstanding £12 membership fees from previous years have now been written off, and we kindly ask all groups to ensure that invoices are settled promptly in 2025. As we anticipate becoming members of WFIS in 2025, membership invoices will be issued on or about 1st January 2025.
Our only current liability is the £180 WFIS membership fee for 2025. The 2026 membership will be due in Feb 2026.