# **5th Christchurch (Highcliffe) Scout Group Scout Council**
**Trustees’ Annual Reports and Statements of Accounts Year Ending 31 December 2023**
1
## **Trustee’s Annual Report**
## **For period of 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023**
## **Reference and Administration Details**
|Charity Name|5thChristchurch (Highcliffe) Scout Group|
|---|---|
|Registered Charity Number|302216|
|Charity Registered address|Scout Hit, Chewton Common Road,|
||Highcliffe, Dorset, BH23 5LZ|
## Trustee(s)
|rustee(s)|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Name**|**Role**||**Date of appointment**||
||||||
|Charlotte Smith|Trustee||30 October 2023||
||||||
|Andrew James Hewitt|Trustee||16 July 2023||
||||||
|Stephanie Tomkinson|Trustee||27 May 2023||
||||||
|Graham Budd|Trustee||01 November 2022||
||||||
|Keryn Hallett|Trustee||01 September 2022||
||||||
|Courtney Fereday|Trustee||01 January 2020||
||||||
|Jamie Grant|Trustee||01 January 2020||
2
## **Structure, governance, and management**
Highcliffe Scout group is 1 of 8 groups that belong to the district of Christchurch, the Group's governing documents are those of The Scout Association. They consist of a Royal Charter, which in turn gives authority to the Bye Laws of the Association and The Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
The Group has adopted the constitution set out in the Scouts Policy, Organisation and Rules and is managed by the Trustee Board, members of which are Trustees of the Charity. Trustee selection methods - The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
The Trustee Board exists so that the Trustees work together to make sure Scouting is run safely and legally within the Group. The Trustee Board supports the other volunteers run the Scout Programme that gives young people skills for life.
The 5th Christchurch {Highcliffe) Scout Group provides Scouting to young people aged between 4 and 14 ½ years of age and through a Partnership agreement with Christchurch District also provide scouting to young people aged between 13 ½ and 18 years of age. Activities takes place from the headquarters in Chewton Common Road Highcliffe. Young people take part in activities based on the section they belong to and their age. The Group currently have 4 sections within the Group 1 Squirrel Drey, 1 Beaver Colony, 1 Cub Pack, 1 Scout Troop. The group are also in partnership with the District Explorer unit {Nyeri).
## **Objectives**
Our objective is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities
3
The section reports at the end of this Annual Report shows some of the activities undertaken by the young people involved in scouting in Highcliffe.
## **Achievements**
2023 has seen a wide range of activities with all sections fully returning to offering nights away to the young people in their sections.
Squirrels took their first trip to Brownsea Island.
In Beavers 9 youngsters completed their Bronze Chief Scouts Award
Cubs competed in the District swimming competition and 5-a-side football, ending the year with an amazing production to earn their Entertainer’s badge.
Scouts took place in the annual Emlyn (scout skills) competition and District night hike competition.
Explorers
Further details of the section activities are appended to the Report
## **Finance**
As per the groups accounts (attached) Highcliffe scout group are in a good financial position. Income has outstripped expenditure mostly due to an excellent plant sale result over the previous year. Subscription income is down on 2022 as the Explorer subscriptions are now administered by District in accordance with POR. The group are in a fortunate position to have sufficient funds in reserves to continue scouting even if the current economic environment deteriorates and at a time when we are forecasting expenditure to rise quicker than income. Subscription rates have not risen for a number of years and will need to be reviewed in 2025. The Trustee Board have taken the decision to draw down on some of these reserves in 2023 rather than add further financial pressure to our families and have continued to hold our subscriptions as they were prior to the Covid Pandemic.
4
## **5th Christchurch (Highcliffe) Scout Group Payments for year ending 31st December 2023**
|**Payments**
**Premises**
Rent
Rates
Utilities
Waste Collections
Broadband
Insurance
Contents insurance
Occasional helper Insurance
CCTV Cameras
Venue Maintenance
**Activities**
Events
Events - Beavers
Events - Cubs
Events - Explorers
Events - Scouts
Events - Squirrels
Meetings
Meetings - Beavers
Meetings - Cubs
Meetings - Explorers
Meetings - Scouts
Meetings - Squirrels
Car Project
**Fundraising**
Plant Sale
**Administration Expenses**
Bank Fees
Go Cardless / Paypal fees
Hardship fund
OSM Fees
Admin|**2023**
**2022**
0.00
0.00
73.72
107.92
2,742.94
1,786.05
555.57
477.00
387.36
374.21
1,912.86
2,177.70
475.60
121.85
640.40
0.00
119.76
119.76
1,282.95
1,365.51|
|---|---|
||**8,191.16**
**6,530.00**|
||1,209.47
535.00
431.22
285.02
576.65
1,543.14
0.00
46.50
2,721.12
3,750.66
816.50
282.06
10.40
55.00
662.41
952.91
777.63
640.39
6.78
602.08
1,105.77
620.71
819.20
0.00
0.00
1,355.54|
||**9,137.15**
**10,669.01**|
||9,562.16
7,184.04|
||**9,562.16**
**7,184.04**|
||470.69
625.20
680.15
800.76
0.00
0.00
297.77
297.47
153.75
0.00|
5
|Website
Capitation Highcliffe
Capitation Nyeri
**5th Christchurch (Highclife) Scout Group**
**Receipts for year ending**
**31st December 2023**
**Receipts**
Membership Fees
Membership Fees - Nyeri
**Bank Interest**
**Income**
Hall Hire
Nyeri Rent
**Grants and donations**
Government Covid Grants
Donation
Gift Aid
**Activities**
Events
Events Squirrels
Events - Beavers
Events - Cubs
Events - Explorers
Events - Scouts
**Fundraising**
Plant Sale
Fundraising other
**Other Income**
Corrections
Car Project|110.00
673.40
3,408.00
2,863.50
390.50
759.00|
|---|---|
||**5,510.86**
**6,019.33**|
||**2023**
**2022**
14,820.00
13,635.00
803.00
4,590.00|
||**15,623.00**
**18,225.00**|
||67.92
31.38|
||**67.92**
**31.38**|
||0.00
150.00
0.00
0.00
**0.00**
**150.00**
0.00
0.00
413.80
1,299.49
2,956.89
0.00|
||**3,370.69**
**1,299.49**|
||217.90
0.00
581.00
0.00
400.00
240.00
560.00
1,055.00
135.00
82.00
2,385.00
2,920.84|
||**3,480.00**
**4,297.84**|
||15,571.80
12,288.65
0.00
0.00|
||**15,571.80**
**12,288.65**|
||9,635.16
0.00
1,285.06
0|
6
|Brand Uniform
**Total receipts for year**
**5th Christchurch (Highcliffe) Scout Group**
**Payments for year ending**
**31st December 2023**
**Equipment**
Equipment
Camping Equipment
**Other Expenses**
Training
Motor Cost
Gifts
Sundry
Corrections
Refreshments
Trophies and engraving
**Badges & Unifiorm**
Badges
Activity Wear
Leaders Uniform
**Payments for the year**
**5th Christchurch (Highcliffe) Scout Group**
**Summary for year ending**
**31st December 2023**
**Summary**
Account balance brought forward
Total income|18.50|327.80
**327.80**
**36,620.16**
**2023**
**2022**
249.76
1,699.79
0.00
798.60|
|---|---|---|
||**10,938.72**||
||||
||**49,851.03**||
||||
|||**249.76**
**2,498.39**|
|||0.00
0.00
884.68
1,604.73
1,130.79
261.55
7.76
308.18
9,260.16
0.00
107.79
417.82
333.50
253.95|
|||**11,724.6**
**8**
**2,846.23**|
|||1,003.35
576.85
605.49
250.25
77.09
197.76|
|||**1,685.93**
**1,024.86**|
||||
|||**46,061.7**
**0**
**38,793.8**
**6**|
|||**2023**
**2022**
33,643.3
0
33,795.0
0
49,851.5
3
36,620.1
6|
7
|Total expenditure
Net income
**Account balance carried forward**|46,061.7
0
36,771.8
6
3,789.83
-151.70|
|---|---|
||37,433.1
3
**33,643.3**
**0**|
5th Christchurch (Highcliffe) Scout Group Statement of Assets & Liabilities as at 31st December 2023
|**Current Assets (Bank)**
SCOUTS CAF 244
PAYPAL
BEAVERS CAF 245
CUBS CAF 243
GROUP CAF 242
NYERI CAF 32
LLOYDS BANK GROUP ACCOUNT
FUNDRAISING CAF 246
Cash in hand (Petty C ash)
GROUP Petty cash
Scouts Petty Cash
**Total Cash Assets**
**Fixed Assets**|**2023**
**2022**
574.13
280.84
5,026.60
84.60
310.32
0.06
791.03
558.95
5,594.06
2,754.12
-
2,407.27
500.00
-|
|---|---|
||**12,796.14**
**6,085.84**|
||24,216.71
27,177.18|
||**24,216.71**
**27,177.18**|
||359.58
359.58
60.70
20.70|
||**420.28**
**380.28**|
|||
||**37,433.13**
**33,643.30**|
|||
8
Van FG11 XBE 3,015.00 3,015.00 Equipment for insurance purpose 31,132.00 31,132.00 **34,147.00 34,147.00 Total Assets 71,580.13 67,790.30**
The above Accounts were approved by the Trustees on: 31/05/2024
And signed on their behalf by:
9
Indep exane$ report tothe trustee5 of 5th Chri5trhurth (Highclrffel
S¢outGroup
I reF¥lrtto thetrustees on my examinkn.on ofthe accounts ofthe 5th Christchurch
IH*Jhclffel ScoutGroup forthe year ended 31 Dmber 2023.
Respmsibiiilies and basis of report
As the charty tJustees of the 5th Christchurth (Highclrffel Scout Group. you are
sponsible for the preparation gf the ac¢ouTrts in accordance with the requirements
ofthe Charrbe5 Act 2011 Ithe Art'l.
I rewrt in spect0f my examiftabon of, the 5th Christchurch IHighclrffel Scout
Group accounts Carr out under secbon 145 of the 20LI Act and in carrying out
my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity
C(rfnmi55ion uThJer 5ecti¢yh 14515llbl of the Act
I have cornpleted my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to
my attenb'on in connertion wrth the examination gwing me cause to believe that in
any rnatsrial res
accounty.ng records were not kept in respect of the 5th Christchurch
IHi9hclrffel ScoutGroup as required by sertion 130 of the ACL. or
2. the xcounts do notattord with those records.
I have no concerns and have corne across no other rnatters in connection with the
examinatK)n to whith attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Namw. Susan DwaLi
A(*Jress.' 82. ExLkn)4 Manof. 37 Christchufch Road, Boumemouth, BH13NX
Date.. 10106r24
io
## **5[th ] Christchurch (Highcliffe) Scout Group**
**Annual General Meeting (AGM) (for year end 2023)**
**14[th] June 2024 @ 18.30 Highcliffe Scout Hut Chewton Common Road Highcliffe**
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Highcliffe’s Squirrels Drey originally opened in October 2022 with just 12 Squirrels, and we increased to 14 at the start of 2023. By the end of the year, we had settled on 18 as a nice number that gives the opportunity to many in our community, while also being sustainable with our leadership team. During 2023 we welcomed both new Squirrels and new Leaders and now have a great team from a mixture of parents and those who have already been involved in Scouting. We have been supported by some wonderful Young Leaders and we’re happy to see two of them move into adult Scouting roles during the year as they turned 18. The Squirrels themselves are amazing. Between them they have earned a massive 240 badges during the year, including our first presentations of the top award in Squirrels. During the year we presented 7 Chief Scout’s Acorn Awards and sent the recipients on to Beavers to continue their Scouting journey.
As well as lots of badge work, we’ve also been out and about. We’ve visited the grounds of Highcliffe Castle to follow a trail, built dens at Braggers Wood, and ended the year with a visit to Longdown Activity Farm where we fed lambs, collected eggs, held baby chicks, played in the outdoor play area and, of course, chatted to Santa. The year also gave us an opportunity to meet Squirrels from the rest of Christchurch District with a Squirrels Scurry trip to Brownsea Island in May, and a morning of Squirrels Go Nuts at Braggers Wood in September. We joined the rest of Christchurch District at the annual St George’s Day parade and our flag was blessed at The Priory.
Finding a highlight is next to impossible and as difficult as selecting a single Squirrel of the Year. However, 2023 paved the way for us to venture into the excitement of a sleepover in 2024. More on that at next year’s AGM but it does show not only how fantastic the Squirrels are, but, as importantly, how amazing the Leadership team is. For many of us it’s impossible to attend each week so knowing that we have a strong team that commit their time and energy makes it possible to deliver an exciting programme and undertake the ultimate adventure of a residential event. The highlight therefore has to be the constant flexibility and enthusiasm of the team of Leaders.
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Sadly, we said a fond farewell to Vince (Kookaburra) at the end of 2022, however we kicked off the New Year with a new leader Gail (Owl) joining the team in January. We celebrated the Chinese New Year, did some team building, we had an evening of creativity to seek out any budding Picasso’s, which lead to Arthur and Rowan representing Highcliffe in the District painting competition in March. We also celebrated World Book Day and got dressed up as book Characters, and each Beaver bought in their favourite book for the group to share. Also in March, ten of our older Beavers took part in the District Beaver Adventure Day at Braggers Wood where they had lots of fun. We finished the term with a traditional Easter Egg hunt.
In the Summer term we took advantage of the lighter evenings and went out and about in our area covering local knowledge. We did a Litter pick on the cliff top, and a trail at Steamer point. We had a tour of Highcliffe Castle, and the Priory in Christchurch. We also celebrated the Kings coronation with a party and had a visit from a Special Police Officer who explained her job, and the Beavers got to have a look and try on some uniform. We did some badge work, tent building and finished the term with water games and fun.
We started the Autumn term with the introduction of Matt (Baloo) to our Leader team, and welcomed our 1st set of Squirrels moving on up to Beavers. We did a Green Cross Code Walk around the local area. We visited Christchurch Fire Station, along with Mudeford RNLI Lifeboat station and learnt about the important work they do. We did Fire lighting, Knots, and the International Badge, where the Beavers tried food from around the world. They completed their Space Badge with a visit from our own Group Lead Volunteer (GLV) Woody teaching the Beavers all they needed to know. We continued the fun with a Halloween Camp at Braggers Wood with spooky fun and activities. To end the year, we had lots of celebrations with a night at Snowtrax with all the Beavers and Leaders enjoying the Ringo’s. Christmas craft, and of course a Christmas party with lots of games and party food. Most important to mention our Beavers Max, Monty, Arthur, Harry, Libby, Ferdinand, JJ, Alex S, and Raphael all completed and were rewarded with their Chief Scout Bronze awards in this year.
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2023 has been an adventure packed year for Highcliffe Cubs. We started off in the Spring term with a visit from Kat, one of the district youth commissioners who introduced the You Shape badge to us. Following on from this each Six planned and ran (with support!) a section meeting of their choice! These included science experiments, artist badge, games and food challenges and fire lighting with s’mores! We also ran our annual pancake making meeting, this year using an egg free recipe with much success due to the thicker consistency of the mixture. The term was concluded with a trip out to play a round of crazy golf, in the rain! In March we ran a successful skills camp incorporating the district hike from Anderwood to Bolderwood and back. This camp signed off many outstanding elements of the challenge badges.
The warmer weather and lighter evenings of the summer term meant more time outside with local hikes, shelter building, and a visit from the Christchurch Scout and Guide Band. The term was concluded with an evening of water sports - rafting and canoeing at Hengistbury Head. During the Autumn term we worked on our pioneering skills - knots and lashings and each made a mini catapult. We cooked toad in the hole on billy cans over open fires, made hedgehog houses with SAS and had a Halloween party. In the run up to Christmas we made puppets, instruments and performed puppet shows and singing an audience as part of the Entertainer badge.
During the year we also took part in district events including The Horrible Histories themed district camp, Swimming badge gala, 5 a side football tournament, scrap store challenge, quiz night and hikes.
We are looking forward to more adventures next year.
14
Highcliffe Scouts section has 28 active members, who are led by a team of 5 volunteers, supported by two Young Leaders. They have had a few Scouts move on up to Nyeri, and other Christchurch District Explorer Units in the last 12mths and have welcomed some cubs and other young people who are new to scouting. Highcliffe Scouts have attended/arranged several camps over the last 12mths, including a residential Winter Camp, and District Camp, both at Braggers Wood. The Scouts also competed in the District Night Hike Competition where well after midnight, we found out that the Patrol representing Highcliffe came in 6th place overall. The Scouts also put on a sterling display at the District Football competition coming fourth.
The Scout section also attended Remembrance Day Service/parade at St Marks. It was great to see so many smartly turned-out young people attending and representing Scouting. Similarly, we had a good turnout at St Georges Day, where the section paraded through Christchurch with all other district scout groups (and sections), and youth groups.
They also supported the local community, with beach cleans (litter picking), and helping Highcliffe Art Festival set up their displays at the Methodist Hall. Some scouts also volunteered to man a water station at the New Forest Marathon. The Scouts also helped to deliver order forms and plants to customers for the plant sale.
We very much hope to be able to ensure that as many scouts as possible move on up to Explorers having had the opportunity to attain the Gold level award – the pinnacle of awards for the scout age young people.
15
Another fun and action-packed year at Nyeri Explorers!
Christchurch Explorers (Nyeri) has 18 active members, who are led by team of volunteers including Rob Neal, Phil Stevens, and Debbie Gomme. Dan Fawcett supported the team during the year also.
We have had the pleasure to welcome a handful of young people who have moved on up from Scouts (filtering from Highcliffe and also from other Christchurch district troops) and have also welcomed a couple of young people from outside of the district/scouts.
In the past year we have arranged many events and activities, including camping (residential), visiting the New Forest Water Park. Many of the Explorers are also working towards their DoE and Chief Scout awards, and as part of this they volunteer as Young Leaders and support many other sections within Highcliffe. It is always a pleasure to see them helping younger sections, and getting positive feedback about how helpful they are. The Explorers have also supported District events, including District Camp, the Night Hike Competition and Emlyn.
The Explorer also attended Remembrance Day Service/and St Georges Day parade/services at St Marks and Christchurch Priory respectively. As ever the Explorers did us proud setting a great example for the younger sections.
We have also been doing a small part to support the local community, with beach cleans (litter picking), and helping Highcliffe Art Festival set up their displays at the Methodist Hall. Some explorers also volunteered to man a water station at the New Forest Marathon. The Explorers also helped to deliver order forms and plants to customers to support Highcliffe Scout Group plant sale.
Unlike younger scouting sections, Explorers are actively encouraged to come up with their own programme of activities and events, and where possible (and in most cases where feasible!) the leadership team does our best to bring these ideas to life. In the last 12mths we have sought to offer and provide a balanced, fun, adventurous but importantly youthshaped programme. We have:
- Night Hike
- Backwoods Cooking
- Pioneering
- Scavenger Hunt
- Crabbing
- Widegames
- Sandcastle Building Competition
16
- New Forest Waterpark
- Firelighting
- Nyeri - super scout
- Monopoly wide game
- knots/camp gadgets
- £10 backwoods cooking challenge
- Halloween evening
- casino night
- wood craft
- platinum Chief Scout award evening
- Hunted wide game
- Christmas party making gingerbread houses
- light painting photos
- Chinese
- Pancakes
- influencer evening
- Litter pick
- Shelter
- Paintballing
- Forging
- Chill Camp
In summary, the last 12mths have been action packed. The partnership agreement with Highcliffe continues to support many young people who are able to filter up from the scout section. Many thanks to the team of volunteers who support Nyeri including the wider District support team, who contribute so much of their time, skills, and knowledge to enable and provide such a wide and varied programme of activities and events.
Looking forward to next year – we have a number of Explorers and leaders who will be attending the District Camp to Germany – so the next 12mths or so will certainly continue to be fun and adventurous.
So, we know the next 12mths are going to be busier – and even more fun!
17
In summary, the last 12mths have been extremely busy, enjoyable, and rewarding for all four sections. The section teams are running extremely well, and I feel honoured to lead such a committed and amazing team. The teams continue to recruit exceptional individuals who provide our youngsters with the widest range of opportunities. The committee has completed its transition to a small, focussed Trustee Board. Financially, the Group remains stable with an eye to the future where a new build hut should one day appear.
We also said a very fond farewell to Debbie Gomme who stepped down as GSL in the Spring. Debbie took over for a short spell of joint working with the former longstanding GSL, Julie Langdown. We are all grateful for all the time Debbie spent at the helm and now she has moved on to a training role in District we wish her well. After Debbie stepped down, she was ably covered by Fran, until I took the reins in July. We said goodbye to our Chair, Phil Stevens, at the end of July. Phil had been Chair for 4years, having been on the committee for 2 years prior to that, and had worked tirelessly to place the Group in a financially stable position and ensure the facilities were suitable for our young people. We are massively appreciative of the work Phil did as Chair and are pleased to say he is still involved in scouting as one of the Nyeri explorer leaders.
The new Squirrel section has gone from strength to strength, and we’ve added new leaders, Ben, Geoff and Sam to the team. The Beaver section has welcomed Dylan to the team; cubs have welcomed Matt, Vicki, Kevin, Claire and Debbie, and also seen the return of Jane (Lucky). Scout section has added Robin, Kerry and Chris. The Explorer section has seen some churn with leaders coming and going. Rob remains along, with Phil, but we’ve said goodbye to Dan as he seeks new adventures in Canada and Debbie who is concentrating on
18
District training. All the sections have wonderful young leaders supporting the adults in looking after your youngsters. There are opportunities for young leaders on all sections at this time.
We ran the Plant Sale again this year and raised a significant sum thanks to the efforts of Emma and her team. The support of parents in this way and others is invaluable. I’d like to end by thanking all the volunteer leaders and young leaders, parent volunteers, and Trustees for the many, many hours you give to enable scouting in Highcliffe. You are all amazing.
Andy Hewitt (Woody)
Group Lead Volunteer 2023
19