20th May 2026
Group Report for 2025
www.1stcheshuntscoutscoutgroup.org.uk Email: 1stcheshunt@gmail.com Facebook: 1[st] Cheshunt Scout Group Instagram: 1[st] _cheshunt_scout_group Registered Charity Number: 302524
Index
1. 2024 AGM minutes
2. Group manager report
3. Treasurer report
4. Balance sheet
5. Chair Report ( no chair for year 2025)
6. Beavers report
7. Cub – Badgers report
8. Cubs – Stags report
9. Scouts report
Wednesday 21[st] May 2025, 19:30hrs – 1[st] Cheshunt HQ Minutes
1. Attendance – Stacey (Chair), Paul Mills, Val, Millie (Minutes), Becca, Colin, Jon, Rob, Billy, Brad, Martin, Jamie, Caitlin,
2. Apologies for Absence – Brad, Bex, Paul Fletcher, Chris
Stacey welcomed all.
3. Governance Topics (named those in agreement):
3a. Approve Minutes of AGM held on 24[th] May 2024 – Approved by Group Scout Council members
3b. Group’s Financial Year – Group Scout Council members to note charity’s financial year is 1[st] January to 31st December inclusive
3c. Agree Number of Membership for Trustee Board – Charity Governance Code states that a Trustee Board should have a minimum of 5 and no more than 12 Trustees – Agreed by Group Scout Council members
4. Review of the previous year
4a. The Group Lead Volunteer’s review of Scouts during the past 12 months in 1st Cheshunt Scout – Section reports provided with tonight’s agenda documents.
4b. Comments from section leaders:
Millie (Stags) – Thank you to Leaders and Young Leaders for their continued support and commitment.
Val (Beavers) – Thank you to Parents. Rose will be leaving as Leader, and there is a possibility that a parent rota will need to be implemented to ensure sufficient cover on section nights.
Rob (Scouts)– Success in Silver Buckle. Competition included 13 teams across the District, with Scouts having 3 team. One of the teams won, this is 1[st] Cheshunt’s first win since 1991. Huge Congratulations!
4d. Receive and consider the Annual Report of the Group Trustee Board, including the annual Statement of the Accounts – Noted and considered by Group Scout Council members.
5. Making appointments
5a. Appoint the Group Chair – Stacey will be stepping down as Chair, however to remain in post until role is replaced. Open to all members to volunteer, and to speak with Section Leader if interested.
5b. Appoint the Group Treasurer: Val to remain as Treasurer – John seconded
5c. Appoint members of the Group Trustee Board: Chair opened membership up to all parents and advised if anyone interested to speak with Section Leader. Current Membership: Stacey, Val, Paul Mills, Rob, Billy, Stacey, Bex, Brad, Sam, Karen
5d. Appoint the Independent Examiner (IE): Ian Gibbon to remain as IE – Approved.
6. Presentation of Awards
Beavers
Young Cub – Congratulations Mia Beaver of the Year – Congratulations Shan
Cubs (Badgers)
Young Cub – Congratulations Dennis Cub of the Year – Congratulations Alex
Cubs (Stags)
Young Cub – Congratulations Callum Cub of the Year – Congratulations Beatrice
Scouts
Young Scout of the Year – Congratulations James and Frankie Scout of the Year – Congratulations Evie
Leader Awards
Wood Badge – Congratulations Billy Leader Investiture – Congratulations Caitlin
7. Closing Remarks
Paul Mills thanked Stacey for her commitment as Group Chair for the last 5 years and presented her with flowers. Thank you, Stacey!
Any Other Business – Nothing else discussed.
Group Manager’s Report
Youth Membership:
Following the submission of the annual census, our youth membership as of 1 January 2026
stands at 80 young people. We are also fortunate to have a strong team of young leaders who have progressed through the sections and chosen to stay on to support the group. Our healthy numbers are a direct result of the fantastic commitment shown by our leader team, and I would like to express my sincere thanks for everything they continue to do.
Urgent Need for Adult Volunteers – Beaver Section:
I want to pause here and speak openly and honestly about something that now needs our collective attention.
Our Beaver section — the very start of the Scouting journey — is facing a critical shortage of adult volunteers. Beavers is where 6 and 7year olds first discover adventure, teamwork, confidence, and independence. It’s where they learn to try new things, to be brave, and to realise that they can do more than they ever imagined. Right now, that experience is under real pressure. Our Beaver leaders are giving everything they can, but they are stretched far too thin. Without more adults stepping forward, we will soon have to make difficult decisions about what we can offer. That could mean fewer activities, reduced places, or even turning children away — something none of us want.
The good news is that this is entirely preventable. What we need is simple: a few more adults willing to give a little bit of time. You don’t need Scouting experience. You don’t need specialist skills. What you do need is the willingness to show up, smile, and help create moments these children will remember for years to come. Every Beaver parent wants their child to have the best start. Right now, you can be the reason that happens. If you can help in any capacity — big or small — please speak to me or a member of the leader team. Your support would mean more than you know, not just to us, but to every young person who walks through that door full of excitement and possibility.
Group Chair Vacancy:
We have now completed a full year without a Group Chair, and we are very keen for someone to step forward. The role is not overly demanding: the trustee board meets only three or four times a year, and much of the work can be carried out remotely at a time that suits the Chair. The key responsibilities are to chair trustee board meetings and the AGM. If you would like more information, please speak to me or any member of the leader team.
My thanks also go to all members of the trustee board, whose work behind the scenes keeps the group and headquarters running smoothly.
Fundraising and Financial Support:
Over the past year we have continued our fundraising efforts, including the annual sleigh,
November Fayre, sponsored walk, and fireworks display. These events have enabled us to
continue subsidising activities, and each section has again received £500 to spend directly on their young people.
Fundraising has also supported the replacement and expansion of group equipment, subsidised the December camp, and contributed to staged badges for hikes, nights away, and time on the water. Although we currently have a healthy bank balance, it is important that we plan responsibly for the long term. We cannot assume that our existing fundraising events will always continue, and we also have ongoing building maintenance to consider. While hall hire helps with day to day running costs, it does not cover major expenses such as the flooring, which will need replacing in the coming years.
Trustee Board – Additional Support Needed:
To allow our leaders to focus on delivering high quality programmes for the young people, we do need additional parent support on the trustee board. Meetings take place around four times a year for just a few hours in the evening. If you are able to offer your time, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Finally, my thanks go to everyone who has supported the group over the past year — leaders,
parents, and volunteers. Without your help, the group simply could not continue.
Paul Mills
Group Lead Volunteer
TREASURER REPORT 2025:
As you can see, we still have healthy balances thanks to the fundraising that we did over the year. Thanks to the leaders, who are all volunteers but continue to give up their time, and to the few parents who help on the fundraising committee. After all expenses we raised: £ 757.53 Xmas Fayre
£14.542.04 Fire Works
£775.50 Sponsor walk
£1897.60 Santa Sleigh over 6 nights. Unfortunately, we used to do 8 nights spread over 2
weeks but as the leaders struggle to get enough support, we have had to ask !st Turnford Scout Group to cover 2 nights. I think everyone, including the children who helped on the Santa evenings, deserve a round of applause.
Fireworks and the Santa Sleigh are our biggest fund-raising activities but going forward, due to how often health and safety changes occur, we may not be able to do them for many more years so we are looking for fresh ideas and help.
This year, to save Leaders and trustees giving up even more weekends, we pre sold tickets via a website which also reduced the amount of cash we held (safety reasons). This way we knew in advance how many people to expect and cater for.
Fund raising gave each section £500 towards extra activities plus £1000 for the group Christmas camp and have proposed to contribute £2500 towards 2026 events including the group visit to Chessington, Cubs camp, and Scouts trips.
Headquarters income-on the accounts HQ income does not include the 12 x £160 the group transfers over as our contribution towards up keep.
As the HQ was built in 2016 and we could only afford cheaper options, there are going to be some large expenses over the coming years. In 2025 we spent £2500 improving the heating.
Val Greyson (Treasurer)
1[st] CHESHUNT INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS 2025:
| 2024 | For The Year ending31stDecember | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| INCOME | ||
| 10181.21 | Membershipfee’s includingsubs | 10615.05 |
| 11151,00 | Activities(includingcamps) | 10138.50 |
| 21964.24 | Fund Raising | 25277.65 |
| 1121.91 | Interest Income | 1419.53 |
| 7282.50 | Hut Hire | 9087.50 |
| 0 | Gift Aid | 2173.20 |
| 0 | Adjustments | 0 |
| 51700.86 | Total Income | 58711.43 |
| EXPENSES | ||
| 4687.00 | Membershipfees | 5785.50 |
| 4409.06 | General Section Expenses | 5829.09 |
| 12591.76 | Activities(includingcamps) | 10094.96 |
| 7542.90 | Fund Raising | 6783.59 |
| 1098.17 | Insurance | 1344.76 |
| 4948.75 | Utilities(Light, power,water,electric) | 4239.18 |
| 2287.52 | Cleaning | 2177.92 |
| 2151.98 | Repairs | 75.00 |
| 798.43 | Equipment(group) | 0 |
| 10516.80 | Equipment(HQ) | 2558.75 |
| 918.33 | Go Cardless fee | 964.05 |
| 0 | Bank charges | |
| 51950.70 | TOTAL EXPENSES | 39852.80 |
| (249.84) | Surplus(deficit for theyear) | 18858.63 |
| ACCOUNT BALANCES | ||
| 11711.91 | GroupAccount | 13045.06 |
| 7761.65 | HQ | 8714.29 |
| 4204.40 | HQ35 days notice | 4307.02 |
| 5719.10 | Fund raising | 6655.41 |
| 20696.78 | FundraisingSavings a/c | 20143.34 |
| 30600.38 | Fundraising95 days notice | 46687.73 |
| 80694.22 | TOTAL FUNDS | 99552.85 |
HQ income does not include monthly 12 x £160 that group pays towards upkeep.
Membership fees: Subs - £ 10752.50 Investitures £137.45 (stock of badges, t shirts and badges0 Total - £10615.05
Interest:
£ 229.56 £1087.35 £ 102.62 Total - £1419.53
Equipment expendicture: £340.75 & £2218 = £2558.75
Fundraising contributed £4 X £500 for each section + £1000 Towards Xmas camp Camp Income & expenses include scouts hill walking for 2025 & 2026
BEAVERS REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2025
What a fantastic year we have had.
Every week we try to have a varied programme, having fun, learning new things and working towards badges. We had fun at Tolmers scout campsite burning off energy on the trampolines and revolving wall. Over the year we helped 7 beavers obtain their Bronze challenge awards, 3 of which were presented at the Imperial War Museum. We held a sleepover where the Beavers cooked
their dinner, prepared their breakfast, learnt kitchen safety and earnt their cook’s badge. In March, much to mum’s delight, we held a Mother’s Day tea where the children prepared and served the food. A few tears were shed.
In March, as a thank you for helping on the Santa sleigh and do the Mother’s Day tea, we also took the beavers to Jump City.
In June we had our annual parent and child camp (pictures on the notice board).
We finished the summer term with a water fight. It was sad to see some beavers leave for cubs but we made sure they remembered their last wet day!
During the year we also joined other Beavers within East Herts, going to the Imperial War Museum, going on an Easter Egg hunt and going to the local panto. As District Beaver Leader it is a pleasure to see so many of our Beavers taking part in these events.
In December the group held a Christmas Camp, and Beavers joined them for a fun filled day. They had a good explore off the site, made craft, had Christmas dinner, saw Santa and danced to a disco.
As you can see, we have had another busy year ending the year with 2 fund raising events. In November, after the Remembrance Day parade, we held our quiet night where we raised £28.71 for the British Legion and the last 2 weeks of term we helped on the Santa Sleigh. We would like to thank Beavers and parents who helped at all our fundraising events during 2025.
We have had invaluable help from our young Leaders Willow and Kaleo. Jon and Tracy were looking to retire summer 2025 but have decided to stay for another 2 years although they may not be able to attend each week. After 38 years, over the next few years, I will also be looking to take a step back. Bearing this in mind, we desperately need volunteers to replace us. Jon, Tracy and I will stay until they are confident to take over. Sadley, although Hayleigh stepped in to help, she left at Easter 2026 when her son went to Cubs. Nick has kindly agreed to help for the next 3 years and Rose who used to be a regular
helper has agreed to step in when we are desperately short. To help cover any shortness we therefore may need to start a parent rota and as such are trying to get as many parents as possible through the DBS system.
My thanks, as usual goes to Tracy and Jon, who make our section one of the best in East Herts. As I write this report we have already started on a fun, busy start to 2026 Val
1st Cheshunt Annual Cub (Badgers) Report January - December 2025:
Before I share all the exciting things we’ve done over the past year, I want to take a moment to thank our incredible leaders, both new and longstanding, for everything they bring to the group. Their hard work, dedication, energy, and constant sense of fun are what make our Cub Pack so special, we truly are one big team. Jamie, Nathan, Mia, and Emily go above and beyond to create unforgettable experiences for our Cubs, and the group simply wouldn’t be the same without them.
Since our last AGM in April 2025, our Cub Pack has been on an absolute whirlwind of adventure, laughter, and unforgettable experiences. We kicked things off May with an action-packed trip to Thriftwood Camp, where we dived into thrilling activities like kayaking across the water, scaling the heights on the rockclimbing wall, and testing our teamwork with the ever-wobbly crate stacking challenge. The excitement was quickly followed by a rather unexpected visit to the hospital — thankfully everyone was okay, and it’s safe to say it gave us a story we won’t be forgetting anytime soon!
In June, we had the incredible honour of welcoming Annarella Prime, the great-granddaughter of Robert Baden-Powell, bringing a real sense of Scouting history to life for our Cubs. July turned up the energy as 1st Turnford joined us for a thrilling head-to-head activities night, full of friendly competition, teamwork, and plenty of cheering. After all that excitement, August gave everyone a well-deserved chance to recharge.
By September, we were back in full swing, and very messy with a brilliant painting night, followed by an action-filled visit to Tolmers where Cubs tackled a rolling rock climbing wall and crawled their way through a challenging tunnel maze.
October continued the momentum with a visit from Jonathan Coggan, who delivered an inspiring Paralympics themed session. He shared the story of his journey to becoming an Olympian, speaking honestly about the challenges he faced along the way. What stood out most was his determination and passion for basketball, showing us that with resilience and a positive mindset, anything is possible.
November lit up the sky as we proudly hosted our own fireworks night, where the Cubs even had their own sparklers, followed by a thoughtful and respectful Remembrance Day talk and parade. December was bursting with festive cheer, from an adventurous Christmas camp packed with archery and creative crafts, to spotting Santa’s sleigh and enjoying a magical trip to see Beauty and the Beast at the pantomime.
The new year started strong in January with Cubs earning their astronomy badge, exploring the wonders of planets and space, alongside cooking up meals of their own choice (with some surprisingly tasty results!). February brought high-energy laser tag battles and a flipping fantastic pancake night. In March, we also had an exciting visit to the fire station, where Cubs got a behind-the-scenes look at the fire engines, tried on real firefighting gear.
Alongside all the fun, they worked towards their first aid badge, learning important, life- saving skills that could one day help them make a real difference.
Finally, in April, we embraced the spring spirit with Easter basket weaving and fun team-building challenges that brought everyone closer together. It’s been an incredible year full of adventure, new skills, laughter, and memories our Cubs will carry with them for years to come.
1 st Cheshunt “Stags” Cub Pack Annual Report 2025
The Stags Cub Pack has had a fun-filled and busy year packed with learning, adventure, and plenty of memorable moments. We kicked things off by developing essential first aid skills, earning our Emergency Aid Badge. To celebrate World Hedgehog Day, the Cubs got creative making their own hedgehog pom-poms.
As part of working towards the International Badge, the Cubs explored Jewish and Muslim celebrations, broadening their understanding of different cultures and traditions. One of the highlights of the year was our annual camp at Tolmers, where the Cubs enjoyed a wooded expedition, kayaking, archery, and shooting, alongside learning key survival skills such as fire lighting.
Later in the year, curiosity took over as t1 st Cheshunt “Stags” Cub Pack Annual Report 2025
The Stags Cub Pack has had a fun-filled and busy year packed with learning, adventure, and plenty of memorable moments. We kicked things off by developing essential first aid skills, earning our Emergency Aid Badge. To celebrate World Hedgehog Day, the Cubs got creative making their own hedgehog pom-poms.
As part of working towards the International Badge, the Cubs explored Jewish and Muslim celebrations, broadening their understanding of different cultures and traditions. One of the highlights of the year was our annual camp at Tolmers, where the Cubs enjoyed a wooded expedition, kayaking, archery, an he Cubs became “mad scientists,” carrying out
exciting experiments and even creating their own wormeries—though there were very few volunteers willing to take them home! We also enjoyed a fantastic sleepover at HQ, complete with sing-a-long K-Pop Demon Hunters, snacks, and a surprisingly good night’s sleep despite the sugar rush.
December brought festive cheer with the Group Christmas Camp, where we spent time with the Beavers, Badgers, and Scouts, and welcomed special visits from Father Christmas and Frosty the Snowman. The celebrations continued as we helped spread Christmas spirit around Cheshunt with the Santa Sleigh.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the leaders for their continued support and dedication, as well as the parents who encourage their children to be part of our wonderful Cub Pack. Thank you all so very much.
– 1st Cheshunt Scout Section Yearly Report: January December 2025
2025 has been another fantastic year for 1st Cheshunt Scouts, full of activities, camps, and opportunities for learning, teamwork, and fun. Our Scouts have grown in confidence and skill throughout the year, thanks to the dedication of our leaders, young leaders, helpers, parents, and, of course, the Scouts themselves.
January
We started the year with some fun games and practical learning sessions focused on map reading and navigation — key skills for the adventures ahead.
February
Our first major event was a weekend camp of hillwalking in the Peak District, Derbyshire, joining other groups from our district. The Scouts enjoyed some fantastic walks with stunning views across the countryside.
March
In March we ran a night hike from Cuffley through the countryside and back to HQ, where the Scouts demonstrated their map-reading skills by leading parts of the route. The evening ended with food, a movie, and a sleepover at HQ, followed by a delicious cooked breakfast made by Scouts and leaders.
April
April saw our expedition hike from HQ to Gilwell Park in Chingford. Scouts planned their routes and menus themselves, carrying all their own kit and cooking equipment to prepare their meals — a great experience in independence and teamwork.
May
Our second big camp of the year took place at Thriftwood Scout Camp in Brentwood, attended by both Scouts and Cubs. They took part in exciting activities such as the zip wire, postman’s walk, kayaking, and the leap of faith — all handled with enthusiasm and courage.
June
We made the most of the summer weather with a trip to Tolmers Scout Camp for rafting, shooting, and archery in preparation for the District Raft Race and Silver Buckle Camp. The Scouts did brilliantly building and racing their own rafts — even if some didn’t survive the race intact!
July
Our third major camp, Silver Buckle, was a highlight once again. This competitive camp puts Scout groups head-to-head in challenges that test brain, skill, and teamwork. Our Scouts excelled — winning the event for the second consecutive year and proudly bringing home the trophy.
September
After the summer break, we got back into the swing of things with creative evenings at HQ, including making our Remembrance Day display and promoting our upcoming fireworks display.
We also held our annual fishing competition at Southend Farm, where several Scouts tried fishing for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
October
October saw our group sponsored walk across the Lea Valley, with a fantastic turnout from Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, parents, helpers, and leaders. The event raised vital funds to support group activities and equipment.
November
We began the month with our popular fireworks display, another great success. Later in the month, we were proud to see all sections of 1st Cheshunt smartly representing the group in the Remembrance Day Parade.
December
December was a busy and festive end to the year.
Our Scouts played a big role in the Santa Sleigh fundraiser, raising money and spreading cheer throughout the community.
We ended the year with our Christmas Camp (sorry Paul Mills) at Tolmers. On Friday evening we decorated the hall and played bingo with prizes for both Scouts and Cubs. Saturday was packed with excitement — we went ice skating at The Queen’s House rink in London, visited the Observatory with stunning views over the city, and treated everyone to a well-earned McDonald’s before returning to Tolmers for a wonderful Christmas dinner cooked by our leaders and helpers.
Wednesday Night Activities
Throughout the year, our weekly meetings have continued to provide variety, fun, and valuable learning. Highlights included cooking, fire lighting, tent pitching, knot tying, crafts with hand tools, woggle and bracelet making, learning about different cultures, and
celebrating St George’s Day and Remembrance Day. Most importantly, there’s always been plenty of laughter, friendship, and teamwork.
A Final Thank You
None of this would be possible without the commitment and support of our amazing team of leaders, young leaders, helpers, parents, and Scouts who make 1st Cheshunt such a special group.
Thank you all for another brilliant year!
From your leader team:
Paul, Brad, Billy, Martin, Vas, and Mia