Buntingford Scout Group
2024 Group Section Summaries
Taurus Scout Troop
2024 was an excellent year for the Taurus Scout Troop, with up to thirty-six Scouts making up Taurus Troop.
We did a lot of camping this year in conjunction with Phoenix. The year kicked off with the Fire and Ice Camp at Tolmers in January. Some Scouts even spent the previous week sleeping with their windows open to acclimatise to the very wintery conditions. The camp was a huge success, and was quickly followed by a hike and indoor camp at Cottered in March. Group Camp was next in June, and then the hugely successful and very adventurous ASAP camp at Phasels Wood in September.
Fire and Ice and ASAP are camps where the full facilities of Hertfordshire Scouts Activity Centres are made available, including shooting, climbing, archery and caving. On the Saturday evening, fireworks and a big party are held for the Scouts that attend from right across the County, and the Scouts had a great time.
Across the rest of the year, highlights were visiting the RAF Museum at Hendon, climbing at Clip n Climb in Cambridge, cooking curries on altar fires at the Scout Hut and the annual district-run ESSA water sports day.
In addition to all this adventurous activity, we awarded four Chief Scouts Gold Awards last year, as Taurus Troop continues to thrive.
Ian Ballentyne Taurus Scout Leader
Griffins Cub Pack
This past year has been a busy and rewarding time for the Griffins Cub Pack as we have engaged in a variety of events and activities that have contributed to the growth and enjoyment of our young scouts. Notably, we held the District Night Hike and sleepover, which provided an opportunity for the cubs to bond while enjoying the great outdoors. The year also featured several adventurous outings, such as Go Karting and participation in the Oxley Shield, both of which were fairly well-received.
At Oxley shield we came a respectable 11[th] which was our 1[st] time back there for a few years. The cubs really enjoyed this competition, and we look forward to this year’s one.
Throughout the year, the cubs participated in many events that allowed them to develop new skills and have fun. Our calendar was packed with activities that included the World Challenge badge, group camp, water sports, and several festive gatherings. Significant events included the District Hike and sleepover, where the scouts had the chance to experience camping skills in a supportive environment. Various cooking sessions and the Christingle service fostered a sense of community within the group, while events such as the Remembrance Day parade and St George's Day parade helped instil a sense of respect and honour.
During the past year, we were pleased to recognise the dedication of our cubs with the presentation of seven Chief Scout Awards. This not only showcases their hard work but reflects the commitment shown by leaders and supporters alike in guiding them through their scouting journeys.
A warm thank you goes to all our leaders—Debbie Hardcastle, Karen Eastman, Daisy Plummer, Chloe Smith, and Stuart Smith—for their unwavering dedication and support. They have each played a significant role in making this year successful and enjoyable for all involved. We would like to thank all of those parents who have helped when asked to each session and we welcome more parents to come and experience the fun, which we have.
Looking forward, the cubs can anticipate another exciting year ahead with an upcoming Cub Camp which is planned. Such events will encourage teamwork and personal growth, while providing fun and engaging experiences.
As we wrap up this report, I would like to extend my appreciation to the children for their enthusiasm and spirit, making Scouting a joy for all of us. A heartfelt thank you also goes to the parents for their ongoing support and to all the volunteers behind the scenes who help to ensure that our group runs smoothly. Together, we look forward to many more adventures in the year to come.
Mel Hudd Griffins Cub Leader
Ignis Explorers
Firstly, I'd like to say a massive thank you to all of our young leaders who give up their spare time to train and help the other sections in Buntingford.
This last year we have seen regular support from the familiar and experienced Young leaders month in month out. (Toby) Tash Elliott, Freya, Charlie, Dan, Bertie and Emily and more recently Anakin Have all helped out at the monthly meet through the year.
Freya Jack and Dan have also continued to assist Quinn Beavers through the year and I have had lovely feedback on their leadership skills as the colony changed hands from Murray to Dan Alexander when Murray moved on to Hawks.
Hawks started as a new cub pack and have been ably assisted by two new young leaders - Ash and Kundi who seized the opportunity to embed themselves with a new section, helping Murray and the other Hawks leaders provide a fun programme.
We've also had a brilliant first year as Ignis Explorer Scout Unit, meeting on a Monday night. Most of our Young Leaders make up the unit and have really thrown themselves into the action. Already we have been competing at County level Explorer Scout events such as Peak Assault and have a busy programme of activities planned right up to the summer holidays.
Being a Young Leader is a huge commitment not only in time but in responsibility and it's not lost on any of us that many of them are preparing for exams at the same time. We are all rightly proud of them and are so grateful for everything they do.
Thomas Hardy
Explorers Leader
Rib Beavers
The Rib Beavers have had a fruitful year, filled with engaging activities and meaningful experiences for our young members. A key highlight was the Halloween Sleepover, where the children not only enjoyed spooky fun but also engaged in science experiments that sparked their curiosity. The visit to the Science Museum enhanced this scientific exploration, making learning interactive and exciting. Another significant moment was when the group participated in the Beaver Tug O War, where our Beavers emerged victorious, showcasing their teamwork and enthusiasm.
Throughout the year, we gathered for several meetings that aimed to enrich the children's understanding of different themes such as "Space" and "My Faith." These meetings provided wonderful opportunities for the Beavers to learn and grow together, fostering a sense of community among the group.
Our events calendar was busy, with numerous meetings and outings that kept the Beavers engaged. We kicked off with the Family Camp in June, where families came together to create lasting memories. The May Beaver Meet led into several monthly gatherings, which included holiday celebrations like our Christingle event, the Santa Run, and various themed meets. One of the standout experiences was the Hertfordshire Zoo Beaver Day, where the children not only learned about wildlife but also had fun interacting with the animals.
As 2025 unfolds, we are looking forward to the upcoming Christmas Camp, which promises to be a delightful experience that will further strengthen friendships and create joyous memories.
This year, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our leaders. A special thank you goes to Matt Hudson, affectionately known as Ratty, for his commitment and dedication as Beaver leader. While he moves on to assist with the older sections, his impact will be remembered by all. Our gratitude extends to Squirrel, Badger, and Hedgehog for their unwavering support each week, and a warm welcome goes to Jo, who has temporarily stepped into the Beaver leader role.
Finally, I would like to thank our Beavers, whose energy and spirit make our activities enjoyable and extend my appreciation to the parents and all volunteers who have contributed to the smooth running of the group. Your support is invaluable, and we look forward to another wonderful year ahead in Scouting.
Quin Beavers
The Quinn beavers have developed individually and as a group throughout this year
They have grown in terms of self-awareness and teamwork
As a new leader it has been a pleasure to step in and work with this amazing young people
There have been a number of beaver that have achieved their chief scout award, which is very impressive and demonstrates the hard work and dedication
I look forward to growing the group as we have had a number of children move up to cub
Dan Alexander
Beaver Leader
Phoenix Scouts
Phoenix started off the year with attending the amazing Fire and Ice camp, despite the coldness the scouts had an enjoyable weekend participating in a range of activities and enjoyed the fireworks and disco on the Saturday evening. This is quite a unique experience camping when the weather is so cold but they really showed their resilience and made sure the fire was kept alight for that extra warmth.
Our weekly meetings over the year continue to focus on supporting the Scouts to achieve their Gold Award, the highest award for Scouts. Weekly there is a mixture of fun enjoyable activities, alongside learning some vital “scouting” skills. We have enjoyed during 2024 developing the map reading skills of the troop, spending evenings our on walks in the local area as well as some map-based activities at the HQ.
We also enjoyed attending the District ESSA day in June 2024. The children enjoyed a range of activities, including dragon boat racing, paddle boarding, canoeing and kayaking.
Toward the end of the year we welcomed a group of cubs from weekend meetings who settled in well and embraced their scouting lives moving into our older sections. Cooking evenings have been a highlight, while the outcome is not always as a successful as planned, they always appear to enjoy these evenings.
We have been grateful to see so many scouts attend external events; this has included both Gt Georges Day and Remembrance parades. They are always so impeccability turned out for these and represent our movement with pride and respect.
We look forward to what 2025 holds, there will be many of our older scouts moving to Explorers later in the year having achieved their Gold Awards and we hope to see many new faces as new cubs join our troop.
Andy Miller
Phoenix Scout Troop Leader
Group Lead Volunteer
As can be seen from above, the Scout Group continues to thrive and offer excellent opportunities for all of the children to participate in.
We would not be able to do this without our volunteers who work tirelessly to make sure that an exciting programme is offered across all sections. I am really pleased that there have been new leaders join our Group, strengthening our leadership team. I have personally enjoyed being able to be part of many of the activities and seeing the enjoyment and fun that the children get from these. I also attended Fire and Ice, the first time ever for me also camping at this time of year- it was amazing, and I cannot wait to be able to do this again!
Planning throughout the year has led to all sections now having a weekly and monthly option, increasing membership across our Group. We are continuing to have discussions around squirrels being established locally, but it is recognised that due to the ages of these children that monthly meetings may not be suitable so it is hoped that in 2025 we can look at opening a weekly squirrel section.
Behind the scenes we have an incredible group of Trustees that continue to support the Group and ensure that we are complying with all requirements as a registered charity. Unfortunately, some of our members are not able to stand again this forthcoming year but we are excited to see new people join our Trustees and ensuring Scouting in Buntingford remains sustainable.
Thank you to everyone, there are far too many people to mention everyone but I really could not be prouder of the fantastic team around me that all support our wonderful scout group.
Jo McNamara
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Buntingford Scout Group 2759294
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 01/01/2024 31/12/2024
To
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations 4,856 - - 4,856 4,163
Events 1,382 - - 1,382 5,655
Hut Lettings 9,028 - - 9,028 15,997
Subscriptions 22,278 - - 22,278 22,723
Interest - - - - -
Fair value adjustment on investment 5,068 - - 5,068 1,639
- - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
AR) [ 42,611 ] - - 42,611 50,177
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 42,611 - - 42,611 50,177
A3 Payments
AGM 607 - - 607 429
Annual member camp 1,435 - - 1,435 -
Capitation 7,906 - - 7,906 6,688
Donations 375 - - 375 -
Electric 1,628 - - 1,628 617
Troop Expenses 1,043 - - 1,043 13,216
Badges and uniform 1,813 - - 1,813 2,329
Subscriptions 1,185 - - 1,185 1,867
Advertising/ Promotional 182 182
Printing, postage and stationery - - - - -
Accountancy 300 - - 300 300
Hut costs 7,657 - - 7,657 4,754
Insurance 1,622 - - 1,622 1,420
School Meal Supplies - - - - -
OSM Expense Cards 1,595 1,595
Other expenses 849 849
Waste 1,237 - - 1,237 2,049
Water 1,339 - - 1,339 391
Sub total [ 30,773 ] - - 30,773 34,060
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 30,773 - - 30,773 34,060
Net of receipts/(payments) 11,839 - - 11,839 16,117
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 58,597 - - 58,597 42,480
Cash funds this year end 70,436 - - 70,436 58,597
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
22/04/2025
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Current Account Subs Account Petty Cash Details Cash Portfolio Investment Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 8,456 - 28,700 - 33,280 - - - 70,436 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - |
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
22/04/2025
2
F.A.O Trustees of Buntingford Scout Group Bowling Green Lane Buntingford Hertfordshire SG9 9AW
22 April 2025
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Buntingford Scout Group Council
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Buntingford Scout Group for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees of the Buntingford Scout Group you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Buntingford Scout Group accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I confirm I have reviewed the accounts in full and in doing so flagged a query regarding the lack of annual member camp income and expenditure detailed within the accounts. Following conversation with Claire Daly and seeing documentation to satisfy the explanation, I was able to see that the figures for this event were coded to general group expenses. My recommendation moving forward is that these costs are split out like the other events just for ongoing consistency. I am happy however that the original surplus/deficit figures were correct and
Kind Regards,
Farren Brooker
For and on behalf of Bracey’s Accountants (Ware) Limited
Tel: 01920 454 888 braceys-accountants.co.uk mail@braceys-accountants.co.uk
Bracey’s Accountants (Ware Limited). Unit 2, High Oak Business Centre, Westmill Road, Ware SG12 0EF
Bracey's Accountants (Ware) Limited. Members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Bracey’s Accountants is a trading name of Bracey’s Accountants (Ware) Limited. Registered in England and Wales. Registered Office: Unit 2, High Oaks Business Centre, Westmill Road, Ware SG12 0EF. Company Registration No. 14375433