## **DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL** ## **ANNUAL REPORT 1[ ST ] APRIL 2021 – 31[ ST ] MARCH 2022 including TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT and** ## **ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 March 2022 (accompanying document)** **Sevenoaks District Scout Council** **Charity registered in England No: 303435 Scout Association registered No: 12717** 1 ## **Annual report for the year ending 31 March, 2022** (Attached Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Accounts for the year ending 31 March, 2022) PRESIDENT: Richard Parry VICE-PRESIDENT: David Reburn ## **THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:** ## District Chairman Anthony Hitchings District Treasurer Samantha Devenney District Secretary Nicola Crawford District Commissioners Jo Brookbank and Michael Dreksler District Youth Commissioners Vacant District Network Comm'r Katie McCreadie District Explorer Scout Comm'r Mike Randall **Elected Members:** Michael Schwarz, Erik Barrow, Kelly Moore , Bertie Downard, Russell Porter, Nick Roberts **DCs Nominated Members** : Jennifer Baker-Hirst, David Martin, Nigel Rainey, and William Morrish **Co-opted Members** : None **SUB-COMMITTEES:** APPOINTMENTS: Chris Barrow (Appointments Chairman & Secretary), _Michael Schwarz, John Talbot, Jeanette Schwarz, Barry Sharp, Kelly Williams, Owen Compton, Tom McKeen, Hayley Bechervaise._ FINANCE: Samantha Devenney, Jennifer Baker-Hirst and DC-Team ESTATES: Michael Schwarz; William Morrish, Robert Downard and Nick Roberts **DISTRICT ROLES:** District Active Support Mgr Vacancy District Scout Shop Mgr Angie Davie (to Sept 2021) District Badge Secretary Jeanette Schwarz District Scout Quartermaster Vacancy Youth Representative Vacancy Local Training Manager Nigel Rainey ADC Activities Erik Barrow District Beaver Team Jan Padgett, Shelley Williams District Cub Team Nicholas Roberts, Phil Seabrook District Scout Team Vacancy Bankers Lloyds TSB, CAF Bank Ltd (closed during year) Other adviser: CCLA Investment Management Ltd Charity contact: Samantha Devenney, 35 Bradbourne Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN13 3PZ **Structure, governance and management** The Sevenoaks District Scout Council’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 Sevenoaks District Scout Council is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts. The Trustees, the District Executive Committee (DEC), are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association at the Annual GeneralMeeting (AGM), either by election or approval of their nomination; other trustees may be co-opted during the year to serve until the next AGM. The Sevenoaks District Scout Council, which is an educational charity, is managed by the District Executive Committee, the members of which are responsible for complying with legislation applicable to charities. The DEC exists to support the District Commissioner team in meeting their responsibilities and to provide support for the charity. ## **Risk and Internal Control** The Trustees have in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss, these include two authorised signatories for all payments and comprehensive insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered. ## **Objectives and Activities** The Purpose of Scouting - Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. The Values of Scouting - As Scouts we are guided by these values: - Integrity - We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal. - Respect - We have self-respect and respect for others. - Care - We support others and take care of the world in which we live. - Belief - We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes. - Co-operation - We make a positive difference; we cooperate with others and make friends. The Scout Method - Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting and: - enjoy what they are doing and have fun - take part in activities indoors and outdoors - learn by doing - - take responsibility and make choices - undertake new and challenging activities - make and live by their Promise. 3 ## **Annual Report 2021-2022** ## **CHAIRMAN'S REPORT** census numbers highlighted a dip in those attending the cub age range in particular which may have been down to a range of factors. The good news is that overall numbers are starting to see a pick up again now that Scouting has returned to face to face activities. The Exec has continued to meet regularly every 2 months throughout the year. Significant progress has been made on plans for the Seal Headquarters working with Tarmac on ideas for a new site that will involve redeveloping an existing barn for Scouting use. The Estates team has also been busy with a decision made to auction off land at Sundridge. The actual sale report will appear in next year’s accounts due to it taking place in the next financial year and I am pleased to report a good result. WSJ selection took place. Sevenoaks has been granted an additional 2 places since the initial selection weekend meaning 8 Scouts will attend the WSJ in South Korea. There was significant interest in selection shown with over 50 candidates attending and a good spread from across the district. Our efforts on leader training paid off with targets achieved for safety, safeguarding and first aid training. Many thanks to Nigel Rainey and Chris Barrow for all your excellent work coordinating both the training and appointments. Discussions on a minibus training policy have taken place and the plan is to circulate this to all groups whilst also centrally providing funding and training for 2 drivers from each group to be MIDAS trained. Erik Barrow conducted a consultation exercise for activities and training needs. This is helping Erik to develop a planned approach to training for activities. Funding was agreed for a new activity store and a shipping container is now in place for storing activity equipment. This is also being used to ensure regular access to uniform via the scout shop. In March, several grant applications were submitted to the Kent County Council Reconnect fund. This resulted in funding of some £8k for paddleboarding and a further £8k for an activity day. This funding is to be used by the end of August 2022 and is to help young people reconnect with their pre-pandemic lives. It should leave a legacy of equipment and in the case of paddleboarding trained volunteers so as to continue to offer some great activities to our young people. The detailed report for this should sit in the next annual report, for now I am pleased to report that both the activity day and paddleboarding has been a success. It was great to bring the district together over several sessions and in doing so leave a legacy in terms of both equipment and trained adults _Anthony Hitchings, District Chairman_ ## **DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT** We started the Scouting year in April 2021 with a fantastic online St George’s Day celebration, led by Kelly Willams and Tom Mckeen, our outgoing District Youth commissioners, with Erik Barrow supporting the technical wizardry in the background. We ran a series of challenges for young people to take part in in the lead up to the 4 broadcast on YouTube and organised a “build a wooden dragon” kit competition too. As brilliant as these remote celebrations were, we were delighted that by the end of the year the district was able to look forward to the return of a whole district outdoor parade, promise renewal and activities in the same format we had all last enjoyed in 2019. At the start of the year Scouting was online with additional district run sessions for all groups to join. We also launched our iScout in Sevenoaks Newsletter to support district communications. We then moved on quite rapidly with most groups and sections getting back to face-to-face scouting as fast as they could and a return to “normal” Scouting. several summer camps taking place. This was incredible given the challenges we still faced and involved the approval of many risk assessments as well as plenty of “covid safe” measures. One group also managed to reopen their Scout troop that had been dormant for several years and another group opened Scouting’s newest section for 4 and 5 year olds, a Squirrel Drey - joining nine others in Kent and 200 in the UK that launched this section. We have been overwhelmed by demand as well as the number of new parent supporters for this age range; this section is being run entirely by adults new to Scouting and we are making plans to build on this success and open two further Squirrel Dreys in other groups in the coming year. Although we were eager, many were reluctant to agree to larger gatherings during the year which meant that this year has been very much about support and planning for the future. We have all been very busy ensuring our Scouting members are fully trained to deliver Scouting safely as well as setting up and offering training for a variety of activities, such as fencing (with swords) and training to lead water based activities. The World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) selection took place in the Autumn term and was our largest face to face District activity of 2022. It enabled over 50 young people, the largest number of applicants Sevenoaks has ever had, to come together for a weekend of team challenge activities, cooking a Korean meal in patrols and camping with new friends. We could have selected so many more if only we had more places to offer, the worst part is having to disappoint so many. However we know that new friendships were made and the event was really well received by all of our young people. As it followed the last two years of little face to face activity it gave us all a great boost for the future of Sevenoaks and Scouting. Our census count in January demonstrated we were almost back to pre-pandemic levels and explained the large number of WSJ applicants when we realised that the growth in the scout- and explorer-aged range had risen to be 44% of our overall total number of young people. In the Spring term we started to make use of some of the new paddleboards we had invested in, running several paddleboard sessions for interested adults as well as young people in the swimming pool at St Michael’s School in Otford. This then inspired us for one of our KCC Reconnect Grant applications, as you have read in the Chair’s report. We went on to use one application as a way of getting more adults involved in supporting our young people to get out on the water. We were successful in our application and we now have the start of a “paddling team” in the Summer 2022 thanks to recruiting new adult members which has enabled us to set up a new Active Support Unit for water activities. More news on that next year. Further grant applications were made to expand our collection of equipment for district activities, events and fundraising as well as creating additional training opportunities for leaders especially to encourage recruitment to become part of our support team. During the pandemic we postponed our four-yearly whole district camp, Mag7, in 2022 and we have started preparations in earnest to hold this event in 2023; 28th April to 1st 5 May. We have booked a site and made initial steps to book a series of activities incLuding the infamous Kent Climbing team and jump bag. The next steps are to organise infrastnjcbjre and activwty Leaders. Jo Brookbank and Michael Dreksler, Distrirt Commissioners FINANCIAL REVIEW Financialyear End The Financial Ststements for the year ended 31st March 2022 relate to a 12 month accounting period and are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis. Cash and Investmerf At the end of the year. total cash funds amounted to £124.58912021 £105.5261. The District adopts a risk averse approach to investment of its funds and aLL funds are held with mainstream banks with the exception of units held in COSF The Charities and Investment Fund - these units were vaLued at £60.544 in March 2021 loriginaL purchase price £19,783. Reserves policy It is the poliry of Sevenoaks District Scout Council to hold a reasonabLe Level of reserves in order tr) provide a sound financial basis for the development and running of Scouting within the Distrirt and to varythat level through annuaL budgeting according to perceived future needs and risks. In particular. the funds are there to provide financial supportto ScoLrt Groups in the event of financial difficuLties to continue operation orto estsblish or improve their faciLities. to supplementthe cost of training leaders. to subsidise the annual membership subscriptions, to supportthe prepayment of fees for young peopLe attending Jamborees. to up-date and purchase acbvity equipmert and to cover possibLe unforeseen costs and emergencies. At the end of the financiaL year 21122 we have allocated £25,000 as a reserve. Sam Devenney. Distrirt Treasurer APPROVAL The Trustees decLare that they have approved the Trustees Report on: l 0191 zo I Signed on behalf of the Charty's Trustees: A Hitchi . District Chair nL District Commissioner **DISTRICT ESTATES TEAM REPORT** The Estates Sub-Committee has been working on various projects over the year. This has principally focused on issues relating to the existing headquarters of the Seal Scout Group. The building in Jubilee Rise in Seal is also used by Sevenoaks District Scouts and will be known to many as it was the base for the Scout Shop for many years. After analysis of the options for retaining scouting in Jubilee Rise by either refurbishment or redevelopment of the existing building it was agreed that a new location for the Group was the best alternative. Potential alternatives in Seal were identified and discussed with the Parish Council. A preferred location has been identified and heads of terms for the acquisition of the building have been agreed with the current owner. In order to progress with this acquisition the existing site in Seal will be sold. Steps are being taken to secure the maximum value for the existing site. It is hoped that the transaction to acquire the new facility will progress by the end of 2022. At this stage further steps can be taken to move forward with the provision of the new HQ for the Seal Group. It will also provide the opportunity to create a significant facility that would serve scouting in Sevenoaks more broadly. Another project has involved the sale of a parcel of land in Sundridge. This has been owned by The Scout Association Trust Corporation (SATC) for a number of years and never been used for scouting purposes. Agreement was reached with the SATC that the land could be sold and the proceeds retained by Sevenoaks District. The sale has been completed at auction. This was completed post year end and will be in the accounts for the year 2022/23 The District Estates Sub-Committee is a resource available to all Groups in the District to assist with property related matters. _Nick Roberts , Estates Team Chair_ ## **DISTRICT YOUTH COMMISSIONERS REPORT** The Youth Commissioner role has remained vacant this year and the search for youth representation on the executive committee is ongoing. This is an opportunity for somebody aged 18-25 to gain management experience that would reflect well on any CV. Mentoring and guidance will be provided. If you are interested or know anybody who is interested please let us know, _Chairman_ ## **EX PLORER SCOUT SECTION** This year has been another excellent year for the Explorer Scout section in the district. We were finally able to resume many activities that were just not possible during the pandemic, and throughout the year each unit has been able to run a wide ranging programme that combines traditional scouting activities along with some more challenging and unusual activities. There have been scavenger hunts aplenty, backwoods cooking, night hikes, movie nights, tubing and tobogganing, ice skating, foot golf and murder mystery evenings. Our 2022 Census indicated we have 103 Explorers / Young Leaders in the district and throughout the year, each unit has seen good attendance. Beaufighters had an average of 10 on a weekly basis, Holmesdale’s average was 20 and Puxty saw an average of 30 young people attending on a weekly basis. 7 During the year, 3 Young Leader Module A training sessions were held for the Young Leader Section and for those Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, in total 27 people received the training preparing them for their roles in the District. All of the above could not have been possible without the time, dedication and support of the team in the District. So a huge thank you goes out to all of the leaders and anyone else who has helped out behind the scenes. We could not do this without you !!! _Mike Randall (District Explorer Scout Commissioner)_ ## **NETWORK SECTION** Katie coordinates the network section and helps them to be as self-organising as possible _Kate McCreadie (District Network Commissioner)_ ## **DISTRICT ACTIVE SUPPORT REVIEW** During the reporting period for the annual report, the district active support team had not been meeting. More recently though, there has been a social event with another meeting planned in October. _David and Rosalind Hitchings, Active Support_ ## **ACTIVITIES REPORT** many activities since the COVID-19 lockdowns in the previous year along with COVID-19 precautions that made running activities difficult. In the past year we have successfully run some new activity training courses such as fencing (swords) and have started the process of renewing activity permits for those who expired over the lockdown periods (ongoing). In the year ahead we hope to fully restart running badge activity days for scouts, and provide even more training for new leaders to take on running adventurous activities. We have plans for stand up paddle boarding instructor training before the summer holidays and further fencing and archery courses to be held in the Autumn. This period also saw the selection of 8 young people for the World Scout Jamboree in Korea for 2023, along with 1 Unit leader from Sevenoaks (Rob Francis), and 3 members of the International Service Team (Erik, Felix, and Max). Our jamboree subsite can be used to find out more… jamboree.sevenoaksscouts.org.uk/ The 2022 Kilimanjaro expedition is going ahead as planned and will have been concluded by the time the AGM is run this year. A total of 11 adult scouters are taking part from across Sevenoaks, Kent, and the UK. COVID 19 made this an interesting experience to plan and we hope the team will have the experience of a lifetime. See more here… kilimanjaro.sevenoaksscouts.org.uk/ _Erik Barrow (Assistant District Commissioner Activities)_ 8 ## **APPOINTMENTS SUB-COMMITTEE** Since April 2021 the Appointments team have interviewed 37 leaders and reviewed 22 leaders who have changed roles or taken on additional roles. We are currently seeing all new appointments normally within about 2 weeks of them being added to Compass. Meetings are all virtual, however when appropriate we will add a few face to face meetings, but will continue with virtual as well. All new adults who are added to Compass with the exception of Occasional helpers receive a welcome email within a few days with information on appointments process, a link to their Job role, information and links for training and if relevant to their role, an invite to meet with the District Appointments team. The Welcome email also provides useful contact information and useful links to Scouting websites. We are currently without an Appointments Secretary and I am covering a joint Chair/Secretary role while we search for the right person to take on the role. The focus continues to reduce the number of appointments that are either Pre Provisional, or Provisional. Pre Provisional roles are those that have not completed the appointments process and Provisional are those that have, but have not completed their Getting started training. The other areas of focus will be to review the status of Adult reviews across the District. I would like to thank the appointments committee team members for the many hours that they give to ensure that adults appointed within the District are suitable for a role in Scouting, working with children, young people and being part of a Leadership team. This year John Gandon stepped down from the team and I would like to thank him for the valuable contribution he has made over the years. ## **Disclosures as of 8th May 2022** We have no leaders with expired Disclosures and 11 Adult roles needing to be renewed in the next 30 days. |**Number**|**Status**|**Notes**| |---|---|---| |8|Disclosure requested|Applications requested - Not started| |1|Pending applicant
information|Application in progress| |3|Dispatched to DBS|Processing| ## **Role Status** Number of roles in brackets: |**Number**|**Status**|**Notes**| |---|---|---| |14 Leader roles
(- 11 on last
year)|Pre Provisional|These are roles that have not been
approved and are a mix of Exec members,
additional roles and leaders awaiting| 9 |||DBS/References prior to
DC/Appointments Approval| |---|---|---| |39 Leader roles
(-7 on last year)|Provisional|These are roles that have been approved
but have not completed the required
training for the role.| |440 (+54) roles|Full|These are all full roles held by Adults in
the District, this is not the number of
Adults (Excludes Occasional helpers).
Note: a lot of extra roles were added by
Activities team| ## **Compliance** There has been very good progress in clearing the backlog of Safety and Safeguarding which is very positive and shows the work put in by everyone to achieve this. |**Number**|**Training module**|**Notes**| |---|---|---| |5 (-29 on
last year)|Safeguarding|Adult roles that need to complete
safeguarding| |0 (-37 on
last year)|Safety|Adult roles that need to complete their
Safety| _Chris Barrow, Appointments Advisory Committee Chairman and Secretary_ ## **TRAINING REPORT** We have had a challenging year with the requirement from Headquarters for all leaders and executive members to complete their “Getting Started” and First Aid Training. I am happy to say that after starting the process with 28% of our leadership needing to complete these and a target of 4% by end of March 22 we were able to meet that target. There has been a huge task to get all leaders in Kent County to revalidate their First Aid Training which Headquarters now says should be kept up to date at all times. The county unfortunately had one of the worst positions in the country but we are now one of the best. I would like to thank all The Leaders that have taken the time to catch up with their training and look forward to helping them meet their targets in the future. _Nigel Rainey, Local Training Manager_ 10 ## **ADULT AWARDS** The following awards have been made in the District this year ## **Award** ## **Full Name** The Cornwell Scout Badge Jacob Hare Commissioners Commendation Chris Barrow Erik Barrow Angie Davie Helen Davies Sam Devenney Tabs Duce Malcolm Fisher Anthony Hitchings Steve Kelley Andy King Tina Lane Julie Madden Kevin Mcdonnell Tom Mckeen Lucy Morgan Jan Padgett Matt Podd Nigel Rainey Nicholas Roberts Philip Seabrook Kelly Williams Award for Merit Mark Whittock Chief Scout's 60 years Service Award John Spurway Chief Scout's 40 years Service Award Rosalind Hitchings Chief Scout's 30 years Service Award Jeanette Schwarz Chief Scout's 25 years Service Award Andrew Holland Caroline O'Mahony Chief Scout's 20 years Service Award Stephanie Bailey Chris Barrow Helen Davies Andy King Mary Martin Ali Miller Michael Schwarz Chief Scout's 15 years Service Award Richard Everest Michael Laver-Smith Ian Manuel Mark Reynolds Chief Scout's 10 years Service Award Erik Barrow Jo Brookbank 11 **Award** ## **Full Name** Chief Scout's 10 years Service Award Chief Scout's 5 years Service Award Paul Dacey David Galloway Russell Porter Matthew Prentice Richard Townsley Simon Wood Richard Arnold Geoffrey Barnes Nicola Blain Ben Brownless Mark Craig Lizzie Dreksler Josefine Follett Jason Harvey Scott Henderson James Hugill Scott Jenkins Richard Jepson Richard Lindsay Martin Maystone Kevin Mcdonnell Andy Mcewen Tom Mckeen Kyra McParland Helen Moffett Trevor Norsworthy Charlotte Parkinson Matt Podd Philip Seabrook James Sharp Christine Skeels Rik Snook Kirsten South Riana Taylor Fiona Thompson Callum Tomlinson-Corbey Joanne Toogood Kelly Williams ## **CENSUS** As has been said previously, this year has been one of recovery after the year inside. Cub Scout numbers have been impacted most, with the section returning to numbers last seen over five years ago. 12 _Michael_ Dreksler ## **DISTRICT SCOUT SHOP** This year our longstanding shop manager, Angie Davie, stepped down and since September 2021 the shop has been run by Jo Brookbank supported by Helen Davies. Angie however kindly continued to support by completing the accounts and in the background too. The shop has however had a very successful year, probably partly due to the fact that local scout shops and Scout HQ are the only places now to purchase uniform at the correct retail price. This has also been despite the uniform supply chain issues resulting in a wait of 6 months for some items. Towards the end of the year stock levels returned almost back to normal. A new team is being recruited for the coming year and the shop stock will be held going forward at the 4th Scout Hut, Mill Lane. _Scout Shop Manager_ 13 SEVENOAKS DisfRicr scout COUNCIL RegittredCh¢ntyt4umbtr3a3¢35 ¥J2fyzs 18.359 3.402 39,146 L72D 13S,C631 JbxrotionsVxer*dfv 14.146) ttyandE¥ErtExpertses ExplorerJUnitS {145PI li.Y8) {l5641 Lknline Scout 6251 IL7231 11.62S1 IL72• 17J31 5uTrn¢È {5311 Utiliti*$¥d￿•I KIE￿+ tions GfftAvJ ryd prtnUngandCtyrwuf4 13YI 13341 16W7J I3￿￿7 omoi 11338) 437 endllureonSto(k Cash FuDd$c￿l￿1 For**d SEverK￿KsEMSThCrXOUT￿￿IKJL SEVENOAKS DISTRicf SCOUT COUNCIL Pathwnt rAstrkt FundSnE OthErfunthi5W 26XK) 10.750 IS( ershboftheSeaiHead QL*fw5 2023 of (45,1251 SEVENOAKS DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL Ifegistered CharityNumber303435 osrtAssodatlon Registered No. 12717 Cash Fund 8ank Current Accovrt Restricted Funds 61A54 61136 68J116 36.slo Total Bank Acc4wrt Bank Dep051t Account TOTAL CASH FUNDS lo5￿26 In¥tstmentAs*¥s Units COIF Charibes 1n￿$tmentTrY$t FyrKI 55.714 YOTALINVESTMENT A55Ets 60y4 55.714 Non MonetaryAssets Forcharity Use Badge and Shop Stor Land and Buildings 3274 3.274 TOTAL NON MOP4EfARY As￿[5 FOR OIARrrY u IOM8 92 195,751 170520 AWUTIES Gift repayment 4260 TOTAL UABIUTI 4.2EiI 195,751 166260 Notes: l. Re￿liCted funds W 8rown ths year to •SJitional Ctyd 6rants. Asat 31.03.2022 SDSC has rece(ved a totrl of £31k in Cowd GrdJ)ts. and increase in fiA)ds held due to partiapant in5tallrnents f￿the Kilimanjaro trip 2. Post Balance Sheet E*rt- Induded in thi5 totsl is land owned in Sundrty that has 5ubsequendy been sold with Sale prtKeeds totalling £75.363 3. The liability Lwed in FY21 to HMRC in relabon to Grft ￿"d has been fully repaid The above FIna￿la[staternents have been ap￿￿d bythe Trustees (Ln A HItchI￿. Istrktchair 2f