## **WYMONDLEY WOOD SCOUT AND GUIDE CENTRE Charity No. 277746** ## **CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT 2024** I can hardly believe it is a year since I officially took over this position from Bob Williams but with non-stop visits and activities up here at the Centre it really has flown by. We seem to say the same every year that the centre seems busier than the previous year, but with the number of bookings and the lack of spare capacity for bookings I am sure it is not physically possible. As ever our brilliant team of Wardens has supported every visit and provided a warm welcome and advice to our visiting Groups, whether they be regulars of first timers, having someone on hand and always available helps the visitors feel more comfortable and makes their time here that bit more relaxed. We have said a fond farewell to some of our Wardens who decided it was time for them to step away but we have been fortunate to recruit replacements from within the Scouts and Guides so we have managed to maintain a good pool of resources. The Management Committee have been hard at work as they always are looking after every aspect of the operations required to keep us up and running, safely, efficiently and with an eye on the future. As mentioned at the last AGM our buildings up here are now in excess of 20 years old and given that they are basically of wooden construction they really are in need of constant attention to ensure we pre-empt issues which, if left, could land us with huge costs. Huge thanks to Ian Buck and Alistair Pollard, who take the lead on the maintenance issues and have no doubt saved us a good amount of our funds by nipping issues in the bud. This year following on from a suggestion from users we looked at extending our ablution block to include Assisted facilities so we could provide for every need of people using the field. We were fortunate that a parent of a former user was an architect and offered to draw up plans at no cost which he did. As with everything these days we had to apply and pay for permission from The Heritage to extend and also for Planning Permission, having obtained these we approached Builders for quotes. Unfortunately, the costs for these works were, the committee decided, way beyond anything we could raise and so we have shelved that plan and had to write off the money spent. We are now looking at providing facilities within the current footprint of the block by adapting the internal layout and are progressing possible sources of funding. We have provided hammock mounting posts and bases for fire pits at the south end of the field as requested by the Scout Section and these are starting to be used. We have replaced our main cooker with an electric one and have now removed all the old gas pipe and the storage tank from the car park so we are now fully electric and are even having a smart meter installed. We have gradually replaced light fittings with LED units, installed a bigger sink in the Assisted W.C and improved extraction from the Leader Room showers, the work never stops. Overall, we are in a good position with all the elements of operations and are, as ever, looking to the future with anniversaries, renewal of our lease and who knows, maybe even Solar Panels, there is never a time to stand still with this sort of facility. I will finish, as ever, with huge thankyou to everyone who participates in the running of the Centre and support of our visitors and extend the usual plea for volunteers to take on the Warden role or help on the Management Committee. All offers are gratefully accepted. ## _Chris King_ ## **Wymondley Wood Scout & Guide Centre Chairman** ## **BOOKING SECRETARY’S ANNUAL REPORT** **JANUARY – DECEMBER 2024** Last year the following groups were at Wymondley Wood in various capacities. ## **Groups In Residence - between 1 and 6 nights** |Scouts|8| |---|---| |Guides|4| |Cubs|5| |Brownies|15| |Beavers|6| |Schools
|10| |Other|7| ## **Camping – between 1 and 5 nights** |Scouts
|11| |---|---| |Cubs
|4| |Beavers|| |Guides|4| |Schools|8| |Other|1| |**Day Visits**|| |Schools & others|12| |**Evening Visits**|| |Scout /Guide|67| There were very few weekends when no one was in residence. We were particularly busy over New Year, hosting a Youth club from St Albans. We have had 16 schools visit us, from all over Hertfordshire and beyond. Mostly however they were local schools. These are a welcome addition during the summer months. Some were in residence, others camped or were day visitors. Our own Guide and Scout groups continue to book the house whilst the field is so much in demand that the grass hasn’t time to grow. Thousands of feet have tramped over every inch of the site, especially in the summer months, although some have braved wind and rain when inclement weather has been doing its best to thwart us. A huge thank you to our 30 wardens who go to the Centre without complaint in all weathers and at all times of the day and night to welcome everyone and to ensure that all runs safely and smoothly. ## _Maureen Kell_ ## **Wymondley Wood Scout & Guide Centre Booking Secretary** **Wymondley Wood Scout and Guide Activity Centre Income And Expenditure Account for Year Ending 31st December 2024** |**Income**
Accommodation
Shop Sales
Archery
**Expenditure**
Rent
Insurance
Electricity
Gas
Water
Sewage & Waste
Maintenance & Repairs
Equipment
Postage and Stationery
Shop Purchases
Sundry
**Surplus for the Year**|28,065.30
£
1,216.50
£
452.50
£
29,734.30
£| |---|---| ||3,795.00
£
885.88
£
5,091.01
£
225.44
£
510.51
£
1,776.96
£
9,164.36
£
2,798.14
£
195.40
£
1,194.31
£
3,850.88
£
29,487.85
£| ||246.45
£| **Wymondley Wood Scout and Guide Activity Centre Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2024** |**Current Assets**||| |---|---|---| |Shop Stock|£|903.58
| |Cash at Bank|£|29,049.66
| |Total Assets|£|29,953.24
| |**Current Liabilities**||| |Sundry Creditors|£|2,000.00
| |Accommodation Deposits|£|1,150.00
| |Total Liabilities|£|3,150.00
| |Capital Account|£|26,803.24
| |C. King|D.|Kell| |Chairman|Treasurer|| INDEPENDEIYT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES of WYMONDLEY WOOD SCOUF & GUIDE CENfRE I report on the accounts of the Wymondley Wood Scout & Guide Centre for the yeaT ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages l & 2. Respective responsiTrJilities of trustees and examiner. A8 the charity'* In￿teel you are Te4M)nsible for the preparation of the accounts. you consider that the audit requiremenl of Section 43(2) of the Clwities Act 1993 (the Act) does not apply. It ts my responsibility to state. on the basis of procedures specified in the General Direction given by the Charity Commissioners under Section 43(b) of the ACL whether particular matters have come to my attenth'on. Basis of examiner's report My exaniination was carried out in atcordance with the General DiTections given by the Charities Commisgion¢rs. AD examination includes a review of the accounting records kepf by" the charity and a comparison of the accoiints presenfed with those records. If also includes considerntion of any unusual items or disclosu￿S in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the eviden¢e that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given in the accounts. Independent Examiner's ststement Ih éorthr¢CioA *lth my ex&min&tion, no ttiatter hai cotne th ffly auefflio l. which 8iy#$ ￿ r¢asonabk to ￿li￿ve in any nytsrial respe£L tIK• requirement - to keep accounting records in aceordao¢e with 84 1 of the Act and - to prep8re accounts which accord with the accounting records and conwly with the accounting requirements of the ACL have not been met or 2. to which, in opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper underytsnding of the accounts to b¢ reached. Sisned Ken Needham 68 Btoadwater Avenu¢ hworth Garden City SG63HJ mondl Wood Scout and Guide Artivi Centre IncL)mÈ And Ex enditure Account for Year Endi 31st Decern￿r 2024 Income Accommodation Shop Sales Archery 28065. 30 1216. 50 452. 50 9734. 3 enditure Rent Insurance Electricity Gas Water Sewage & Waste maintenan￿ & Repairs Equipment Posts8e and Stadonery Shop Purthases Sundry 3795. 885. 88 5091. 01 225.44 510. 51 1776. 96 9164. 36 2798. 14 195. 40 1194. 31 3850. 88 9487. 85 Surplus for the Year 246. 45 mondle Wood Scout and Guide Activi Balance SheÈt as at 31st December 2024 Current Assets Shop Stock Cash at Bank 903. 58 2W9. 66 fotal Assets Current Liabilitles Sundry Creditors Accommodation Deposits 20Ch). Total Llabilities Capital Account 26803. 24 C Klng Chairm•n D. Kell Tr*•sur•r