1[st] Welwyn Scout Group 2021. Report on Activity
A very difficult Covid Year
Covid
The year was dominated by problems arising from the need to protect all Group members from the risk of Covid infection
The Scout Association agreed with Government when meetings could take place, under what safety provisions and in what locations
The leadership team did a fantastic job, holding virtual or face to face meetings when ever they were allowed to do so
The hut was made Covid compliant in 2020, and those provisions also worked throughout 2021, with hand sanitizers, hands free door openers, extra wash stations and bins, signage about keeping your distance, one-way systems, and asking parents not to enter the hut, but drop and pick up youngsters outside the hut
All of these precautions meant that infections were kept to a minimum and all meetings that could take place did so
Camps/Harmer Green
Camps were held at Brownsea Island (Cubs), Hoddersdon (Scouts) and extensive use was made of the local County camp site at Harmer Green for all three sections. We felt that was essential as outdoor meetings were deemed much safer than within the confines of our small hut
Harmer Green was used almost every week by one section or another, despite Herts County Scouts banning the use of the access road and toilets due to defects with both unrelated to Covid. Leaders bought carts to pull equipment to site via footpaths or via adjoining owners tracks through their forest. It also meant that meetings lost 30-40 minutes of their time, due to the need to walk youngsters in from adjoining roads outside the site.
Offers by us to try to fix the defects were declined for some reason by County, very frustrating, and it appears clear that the site will be given up in 12-18 months’ time when a lease break falls due on the site. We will look for local land/woodland to replace HG if the lease is terminated by County in 2022/3.
Section numbers
Membership has increased during the year, almost certainly because parents saw the value of the creative way leaders kept meetings going, despite their own work and family commitments
Beavers (24), cubs (31) and scouts (36)
Finances
Virtually all parents kept paying their subs, despite the financial difficulties many were facing due to loosing their jobs or being laid off on 80% of full pay due to the Government requirement not to attend work at times during the year
No fund raising was possible during Welwyn Week in June, which was cancelled. Fortunately, we were invited by the Festival to run a Duck Race in September, which raised over £2,000, 50% of which we donated to Festival charities. The Festival also ran a Christmas Market, and due to a generous donation of books, jig saws and other things by an Executive Committee member, Mr Richard Tucker, over £600 was made in sales, with surplus stock still available for sale in 2022.
Maintenance
Work on the hut to comply with Covid cost £900, and work to make the electrical system compliant with a statutory 5 year certification and a decision to install LED lighting in the hall, cost another £1500. We need the electricity supplier to repair his installation, which we are chasing them to carry out
Our sewers backed up twice in the middle of the year. A survey found a break outside our boundary in Titus Yard and we are chasing Thames Water to carry out the necessary repair, enlisting the help of our MP if they do not respond
On the embankment between the hut and the Parish Centre, trees and bushes blocked gutters and caused water ingress leading to the £140k refit in 2013/4. We have established that to prevent a recurrence of those problems at some time in the remaining 125 years or so of our lease, the embankment should be planted with dense close low growing bushes. We will aim have this carried out in 2022.
Subs increase
Overall we made a loss of £138 in the year, excluding fund raising and hall hire, which are used for equipment replacement and hut renovations. This confirmed that our intention to raise subs to £20 per month per youngster from 1/1/2022 was justified. We will leave leader subs at £3 per month for their youngsters, to reflect the time spent on the Group by our leaders
7/11[th] WGC Group
This Group are struggling for leader numbers and to show support we are running joint activities during term time, and have invited their scout section to our 2022 scout camp in the Peak District in August 2022
Leaders/parent helpers
Our leader and Group Occasional Helper (GOH) numbers are falling, particularly when it comes time to renew DBS clearances. We recruited one retired ex scout to help in beavers, and will carry out a coordinated push to add to numbers in 2022 as all sections go to at least one camp, as those often prove a good opportunity to recruit volunteers that attend. Other options for recruitment e.g. volunteers that help in Welwyn Week fund raising events, will be also be tried
Executive member recruitment
We will seek at least one volunteer from beavers and cubs, so those sections are represented on the Committee
Reserves
Our reserves rose to £48k at the year end, a healthy position. However equipment valued at £25k needs renewal every 5-10 years, and a hut refurbishment may be needed in 15-20 year’s time, and in 2013/4 that cost £140k, so carrying on building up our reserves is a prudent thing to do, rather than starting to do so when the hut is falling into disrepair.
In 2022 it is hoped hut tenant rental will approach £5k per annum, and fund raising could achieve around £3k
Summary of the year
We had hoped Covid impact would recede in 2021, this unfortunately proved to be wrong, and the whole year was plagued with restrictions on meetings and camps. However, the team showed that they were prepared to solve all those problems, and provide meetings and camps throughout, of a high standard technically, and which above all were fun!
We hope 2021 will be less impacted by Covid, and that we can recruit replacement leaders and helpers. Also, that fundraising in Welwyn Week will be possible to further build up our strong financial position
As a Foundation Group, started in 1908 when Scouting started, the Group has been resilient and has met challenges of wars and now unprecedented infectious diseases, and I am confident will continue to grow and prosper with the strong leader team and GSL Tony Worsley and Executive team we have going into the 2022 year
Andy Trotter
Group Chairman
1[st] Welwyn Scout Group
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