## **Swanley District Scouts** 

## **Trustees’ Report** 

For the year ending 30 April 2025 

The last year has been very busy with further changes to POR and the introduction of the Digital Tools and the closing down of Compass. These all helped to cause confusion along with the new Safety and Safeguarding training. However, I am pleased to report that Swanley District managed 100% compliance within the allotted time. 

The District and Groups still need more Trustees to volunteer. As some of you know I am standing down as Chair as of this meeting, we do need someone to take over the position of Chair of the Trustee Board. I am also pleased to announce that Perry Cole has agreed to stand as a Trustee. Welcome Perry! 

Probably the highlight of the year was the opening of a new group in Swanley District, namely the 7[th] Swanley, based at the Elim Church. This is an area that has been crying out for Scouting for several years. Already we have Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs. Would be very nice to get Scouts up and running this year. 

All groups and sections have been busy with camps, it was nice to see some of our groups taking advantage of Kent International Jamboree. We also had leaders on the Kent International Support Team giving their time to build, support and takedown the small town that was KIJ. 

A lot of work is going on regarding the building of a new HQ building in Swanley Park. A big thank you to Swanley Town Council, who are supporting us in this effort. Also, a big thank you to the team who are working very hard to get this initiative to fruition. 

Finally, a massive thank you to all the leaders, helpers and volunteers who work so hard to provide an active, exciting and informative program for all the young people in Swanley District. 

Clive Taylor, 

Chairperson, Swanley Scouts Trustees’ Board 



## **- - Swanley District Scouts Annual Review 2024 August 2025** 

We have ended the year with a number of areas of progress, compared to where we started, even if we were not aware at the outset just how much would be required from us. 

If we thought that last year had been one of never-ending changes to rules and procedures, then this year has been the same – only on steroids. The introduction of the new Scouts’ record system came, much later than promised, at the end of November, 2024 and the old order changed overnight. There had been a lot of preparation work adapting our records to make the transition smooth and Swanley District was way ahead of the other districts in Kent on achieving that. This stood us in very good stead. 

The timescale allowed for the district and group leadership to make adjustments to roles, once the system was up and running, was unrealistic and the system was unable to cope with the huge numbers logging in and using it all at the same time. The Scouts fell short of delivering what was promised, needed and expected and there has been a lot of mission creep in what tasks were expected and the information required, leading to a lot more administration. We have had to do remedial work, such as getting references for people who have been on our teams for years in roles that did not need references, but for whom the rules have changed and references have had to be provided. 

Our volunteers stepped up enormously and we are much better at using a system still very much in the development stage. It has taken hundreds, probably thousands, of extra hours between us and an enormous amount of adapting for everyone who volunteers in any way with Scouts, but some have born much more of the brunt than others. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone, but particularly all those in management, who have trodden the long and winding road since last November and are still on the journey. 

Every volunteer in Scouts has completed the new Safety learning since the introduction of the system. When the deadline was reached, we had 100% compliance. Compliance is a big issue, with HQ doubling down on those who don’t complete it in a timely matter and my thanks go to everyone for doing the training and to those who have been managing the learning for others. HQ expects district to suspend anyone who is 4 weeks overdue with any of Safety or Safeguarding training and DBS checks. If district does not suspend them, county or HQ will. 

Districts are now responsible for First Response training, another big change. We are getting the processes in place, but we could use more first response trainers. My thanks to those who set up and run courses for us. 

The new way of working in teams is being consolidated and we are getting to grips with the flexibility that it offers. Non-members with particular skills are welcome to swell our ranks in non-leader support roles. 

Our district has a full set of teams: Leadership, Programme, Support, Volunteering Development, 14-24 and a Trustee Board. We are continuing to work out the correct division of tasks. More members would mean that we could do the tasks better and provide improved activities for and support to everyone. Kent County is looking at changing the areas for districts and amalgamating some, so we await their deliberations with considerable interest. Earlier in the year, they asked for interested parties to submit their views, which we did. 

Our leaders continue to gain impressive lengths of Long Service Awards and awards for Good Service. Peter Fancote was presented with his Silver Acorn award by the county chairman at the St George’s Funday. Congratulations to everyone for gaining the awards. If you know someone who deserves a Good Service Award, you can nominate them via the online system. (Log in - Awards (left column) – Nominate someone.) 

A new Scout group in the heart of Swanley, 7[th] Swanley, has commenced with Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs. It is very popular and the places were snapped up. The considerable challenge is to strengthen it and get a Scout section. It needs a dedicated GLV of its own, so we are on the look out. Keeping groups and sections going is as challenging as ever. 

I am pleased that Squirrel dreys in the district are growing, with new dreys at Crockenhill and Eynsford and Farningham, bringing the district number to five – half of our groups. I would encourage all groups to aim to introduce a drey, as soon as possible. Squirrel sections have been proven to energise the rest of the group and provide a source of new leaders. At the other end of the age range, we are pleased that Speedwell Explorers reopened. 



We have held some successful district events, including the (now) annual St George’s Fun Day, Cubs on the Water, Scouts Mechanics Badge Day, Beaver Mole Trophy competition, Beaver Sleepover and an all-section Camp Fire. Groups also attended county and national events, on top of their weekly activities. 

Most young people have had the opportunity to spend at least one night away at events ranging from the week-long Explorer Peak District trip and the Winter Survival challenge, via Scout expedition hikes and camps and Cub camps to our very first Squirrel Sleepover. These all take hours and hours of organising by our dedicated leaders, about which the parents and young people have no comprehension. These are on top of planning weekly meetings and activities. 

All the activities and experiences mean that we have top award achievers in all sections. Well done everyone. 

Looking forwards, we have a district camp for all sections from Beavers upwards and with day visits for Squirrels, from 1-4 May, 2026, at Lower Grange Farm.  We are about to choose our participants for the World Scout Jamboree in Poland in Summer 2027. 

Service is fundamental to our Scouting ethics and most groups from the district enthusiastically joined the Porchlight Sleepout in October. Our young people and leaders, their friends and relatives took the cause to heart and we raised a fantastic £8,940.69, including some gift aid, which was almost a quarter of the Kent County total. Three groups were in the Porchlight top 4 earners for the whole event and another came in at 8th. Just a month later, the district camp fire raised £366.24 for Children in Need. Throughout the year, groups have held their own charity and community activities, which provide practical services, such as providing refreshments at events, litter-picking, etc. These support good community relationships and teach young people to value what they have, while thinking of others. 

Swanley, unlike many other districts, does not have a district building and store, which is very disadvantageous to us. We have no suitable premises for a group to meet in the centre of Swanley and nowhere to put our property, which inevitably leads to things going missing as they get dispersed around the district. This lack is a barrier to applying for equipment, when grants etc could be available. We are now at the start of a process to remedy this and get a new Scout building and district HQ in Swanley Park. Heads of Terms are being agreed with Swanley Town Council for a long lease at a peppercorn rent. Once they are signed, we will need to get planning permission and then apply for funding and help from wherever we can get it. If anyone has any ideas or is willing to help in any way, we would love to have your suggestions and for you to join us. It is very exciting, but we will need to be realistic about how difficult it might be. 

We have said a sad “Goodbye” to some of our long-standing, and more recent adult members, but we have said “Welcome” to a lot more. 

The most important thing is for me, on behalf of all our young members, to say a HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE who has helped in any of our teams over the year, whether they have made enormous contributions of hours and skills or helped once. Every little bit adds up to a successful whole. Sometimes an adult giving up just one hour is critical and means that a memorable section meeting can go ahead without having to be cancelled, whilst the regular, dedicated devotion of our leaders produces fun, friendship and skills for life that equip our young people, in this ever more-frightening world, to face life with resilience and fortitude. THANK YOU. 

Frances Wallace, District Lead Volunteer, September 2025. 



LT700005- Suutln*s R•purt to th• Tnths Uuly
Template for the scrutineer's report
to the trustees
Scrutineer's Report to the Trustees of Swanley Distrirt Scout Council
I report on the accounts ofthe GrouplDistrirt for the year ended 30th April 2025
As the Group'slDistrict's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.. you considerthat neither
the audrt nor independent examination requirements of the Charrbes Act 2011 apply. It is my responsibility vAthout
carrying out an audit or independent examinalion to 5crutinise the accounts and to report to Y￿j.
In accordance wrth the directions given in the Group'siDistrict's tonstitirtion. I have scrutiniwj the retords and the
accounts Set out on the summary sheet as evidenced by file ref LScouLDistricL2024-2025pages.
In my opinion the accounts are in accordan￿ with the record5 prcduc&J to me and comply with the constrtution.
Name..
Address..
Alan Ci¢sby
41 Pincroft Wo¢xl
New Barn
Longfield
Kent
DA3 7HB
Date.. 27th August 2025

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