2nd Ifield (St Margaret's) Scout Group Report for the year ending 31 December 2024
Trustees: officers and nominees
Group Scout Leader Craig Edwards Deputy Group Scout Leader. Mark Eastman President Brian Eastman Chairman David Clipperton Secretary Vacant Treasurer Scott Wheeler Sponsoring Authority Nominee Lisa Hull
Trustees: Nominated or Elected
Shona Graves (Leader) Michael Glasse (Leader) Russell Howard (Leader) Maja Jasko Phil Kelly (Parent rep) Diana Parisi (SASU Manager) Karen Pitt (Leader) Sim Sidhu (Parent rep) Tom Wood (Leader)
Unless otherwise stated all trustees and officers were appointed for the whole of the period 1st January 2024 to 31st Dec 2024
Bankers Lloyds TSB Bank, Crawley Branch Independent Financial Inspector Darren Crouch. 6 Honeysuckle Close, Hailsham, E Sussex, BN27 3TP Treasurer Scott Wheeler. 24 Hazelwood, Crawley, W Sussex. RH11 8DX
Group Registration Number with the Scout Association 32491 Charity Registration Number 305879
Major activities and achievements during the 12-month period to 31[st] December 2024
The Trustee meeting, met five times during the year. The Group meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings. The Group was led by Craig Edwards as Group Scout Leader for the period but stepped down from GSL on 31[st] Dec 2024.
The number of members in the Group on 31st January 2024 was Beaver Scouts 44, Cub Scouts 58, Scouts 60, Active Support, 85 (53 also hold another role, Inc. leaders.) TOTAL 226. In addition, there are 21 members and 4 Leaders in the Drake Explorer Scout Unit, who are registered with Crawley District and linked by a Partnership Agreement to the Group. Youth sections have a reasonable balance of girls and boys. In January 2024 We started Squirrels (Aged 4-6) to grow the group and provide scouting opportunities to those currently on our waiting list. Two Dreys officially started in February 2024 and has been a great success.
The year started with every section having a winter camp. In the summer again every section went on their summer camps, with the Squirrels having their first sleepover. We also had a Group Sleepover at Airhop for all members of the Group. The Group attended St Margaret’s Church for services on Mothering Sunday, Harvest Thanksgiving & Remembrance Sunday. The Group also held a Christmas Carol Service there. The Group has supported the community at the Ifield May Fayre and creating a poppy field at St Margaret’s for Remembrance as well as litter picks. The Group also attended the District St Georges day celebration. In addition to the regular meetings the Group has run Climbing, Shooting and Paddle sports sessions throughout the year.
In Feb following a brilliant response from existing Leaders and parents we managed to get a new Team of adults (Jacqui Gurd, Sarah Smith, Fran Clarkson, Linda Edwards, Claire Fyffe, Claire Johnson, Becky Kilcoyne, Jenny Evans, Craig Edwards, Diana Parisi and Laura Mackeen. Plus, Young Leaders Robert Nicols, Tilly Hallam, Lauren Gusterson, Alfie Staples) together which allowed us to open two squirrel Dreys (Red Drey and Grey Drey) with initially 12 Squirrels in each. Both Dreys run the same program and have taken part in all the groups joint meetings. They had their first sleepover in Sept and we already have a number of the Squirrels achieving the highest award of Chief Scout Acorn Award.
Both Sycamore and Chestnut Beaver Colonies met throughout term time. Sycamore Leaders are Karen Pitt, Ruth Glasse, Alan Seymour and Sarah Smith. Chestnut Leaders are Shona Graves, Marianne Corney, Toby Russell-O'Reilly (until July), Millie Corney and Megan Whitfield. Both Colonies were assisted by Young Leaders, Tilly Pelham-Wheeler, Harry Everley and Summer Clarkson-Taylor, Emily Hamshaw and Abigail Stevens and Charlotte Whitfield (until September). Both Colonies took part in the County event, GoBeavers24. Sycamore held their winter camp at Burstow Scout HQ and Chestnut held their camp at Copthorne Scout Hut, Summer camp was help at Boidier Hurst for both sections. Sycamore finished the year with 21 Beavers and attained 6 Chief Scout Bronze Awards and Chestnut Colony finished with 20 Beavers and attained 7 Chief Scout Bronze Awards.
The Cub Scouts meet on Mondays (Tiger Pack) and Wednesdays (Lion Pack) in term time. Tiger Cubs leaders are Nicole Le Monnier Steve Corney, Richard Oram and Alan Seymour with parent helpers on occasions. We have two young leaders Nathan Head and Isibeal Oram. Tiger Cubs as always have a traditional scouting programme with their main camp for all and a Senior camp (for the older cubs) learning how to survive by maintaining their own fire, cooking on it as well as using tools to prepare wood for the fire and learning to whittle. We have a busy programme with outdoor activities in the summer months and indoor programme for the colder darker months including our well attended Chippie Hike. We worked on Cubs attaining their Challenge badges, Activity and Staged badges working towards their Silver Awards before they move on to Scouts through a varied programme and events we plan with them.
In 2024 Lion Cubs completed their Money Skills, Road Safety, Fire Safety, Global Issues, Cyclist (demonstrated by our Chairman David Clipperton) and Disability Awareness Activity badges. We had visits from Wateraid and Guide Dogs for the Blind and have subsequently sponsored 4 new puppies for training. During the summer term the Cubs raised £715.40 for the RNLI in Hastings which we presented to them on our summer camp. Tiger Cubs have also taken on for their Community Impact Staged badge and towards their World Challenge, looking after the Chapel at Stanford campsite, where we spent a couple of evenings tiding the area and planting new plants in the borders. The Cubs visited Broadfield Mosque and won the District Conker Competition. They also climbed at the acorn, litter picked, made kites and pancakes; enjoyed an Easter Egg Hunt and their beloved Chippie Hike. We had 4 Cubs achieve their Silver Awards.
Lion Pack lead by Dominic Smith, Michael Glasse, Tim Gusterson, Claire Fyffe, Liz Peyton, Sarah Loveland, Selina Parris, Phil Agar with Young Leaders, Ben Chapman and Katka Kasicka. Lion Cubs ran a varied programme awarding many badges, had trips to the cricket club, the library and Crawley Mosque. Lion Cubs also completed their local knowledge badge, had a giant party and had southern water come in to teach about water conservation. We made a Dragon for Chinese New Year, learnt to read maps and built shelters. Both packs took part in the district craft day and conker competition and the district hike. Lion Cubs ran their biggest ever winter camp, a senior Cub camp and a three-night summer camp which involved our first ever day trip and awarded 5 Chief Scout Silver Awards.
Atlantic troop meet every Tuesday in term time. The leadership team consists of James Wright, Tom Wood, Sinead Madden, Laura Flannigan, Ben Carter, and Russ Howard ably supported by our two young leaders Lauren Parisi and Rebecca Hull (until September) Charlotte Whitfield (from September). We continued to run a diverse program focusing on completing a number of the challenge badges, working towards the Gold Award. We included multiple other activities including climbing, water sports and many others. We have once again run a varied selection of camps including Theme Park Camp, Log Cabin Camp, Survival Camp and of course Summer Camp which was held on the Isle of Wight. We run the same program as Pacific troop, and all of our camps are joint camps. We occasionally have joint meetings with Pacific. Moving forward we continue to deliver an interesting program working towards achieving awards for the Scouts.
Pacific Scouts met every Friday evening in term time apart from an occasional joint meeting with Atlantic Scouts on a Tuesday. There are now 7 regular adult volunteers Russ Howard, Ben Carter, Lauren Head, Simon Kilkoyne, Yvonne Seetayah (from September), Rebecca Hull (from September) Chloe Mayhew (from September) and supported by our two YL’s Amelia Head and Scarlett Kennedy with occasional help from the Atlantic troop. The programme, which is planned in conjunction with the Atlantic troop, has focused on a good mix of activity types aimed at helping the Scouts achieving a challenge badge per term. As far as camps there has also been a good mix from Survival Camp to Summer Camp on the Isle of Wight, Log Cabin camp to Theme Park camp.
The leadership team for Drake Explorers consists of Mark Haymes, Luke Winstanley, Kyle Holman, Damien Scott, Ali Manuku (from July), Kumara Samaraweera and Katie Sexton. As of year-end 2024 we have 29 Explorers in our membership. The main activity for last year was an expedition to Sweden jointly with Shackleton ESU. It was an enjoyable trip, and our young people participated in several adventurous activities, including cycling, canoeing, and hiking. We also spent a few days on an island full of Scouts from around Sweden and beyond, and finished with some time in Stockholm. In October we took a minibus full of Explorers and older Scouts to North Wales for a few days climbing and hill walking in Eryri (Snowdonia). The young people have gained several Duke of Edinburgh’s and Chief Scout’s Awards, and will shortly have some King’s Scouts, the first in the Unit since the Coronation. Explorer Scout financial accounts are incorporated into the District Accounts and are not represented at 2nd Ifield. At the end of 2024, we are in good financial health for the coming year.
The Scout Active Support Unit (SASU) is managed by Diana Parisi. There are 85 members of which 53 also hold another scouting role. 2024 saw the unit supporting a large variety of activities for the group District and County. During these activities SASU members managed to meet socially and to plan future events including a trip to Worth Abbey and the Monopoly Run. SASU members supported or arranged the following events 3 Fundraising BBQ's at Our Lady’s and St Margaret’s Schools, church services, Water camp, Group camp, Downsman Hike, AGM, Airhop sleepover, May fayre set up and parade, working parties, GoBeavers, Explorers Sweden expedition, Gillwell reunion, Remembrance Sunday, quiz night, supporting section meetings and our annual Christmas Dinner. Although we did not meet as a unit as regularly as we would have liked, a lot of support was given to the young people’s sections. We also provided a full summer paddle sport season, the weekly Group’s shooting and monthly climbing and shooting sessions.
The HQ is owned by the Group, on land in Friston Walk, Ifield, leased from Crawley Borough Council. The Group is a trust established under its rules that are common to all Scout Groups. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation & Rules of the Scout Association. The accounts have been drawn up on a receipts and payments basis consistent with previous years.
Approved by the trustees on 28[th] April 2024 and signed on their behalf by David Clipperton (Chairman)
| 2ND IFIELD (ST MARGARET'S) RCN305879 SCOUT GROUP ee |
2ND IFIELD (ST MARGARET'S) RCN305879 SCOUT GROUP ee |
|---|---|
| Receipts and Payments Accounts | Receipts and Payments Accounts |
| For the period from 01/01/2024 to |
31/12/2024 |
Section A Receipts and Payments
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Restricted | Total funds | Last year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | ||||
| Receipts | ||||||||
| Donations, legacies and grants | 1,430 | 2,500 | 3,930 | 8,820 | ||||
| Gift Aid on donations | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Fundraising events | 4,374 | - | 4,374 | 8,599 | ||||
| Interest on deposit account | 1,371 | - | 1,371 | 277 | ||||
| Membership subscriptions | 26,122 | - | 26,122 | 20,947 | ||||
| Gift Aid on subscriptions | - | - | - | 5,441 | ||||
| Section activities/events | 3,269 | 3,269 | 1,100 | |||||
| Group activities/events | 5,802 | 5,802 | 5,280 | |||||
| Camps | 19,668 | 2,829 | 22,497 | 20,628 | ||||
| Hire of HQ | 2,084 | - | 2,084 | 1,190 | ||||
| Leader Training | - | - | - | 270 | ||||
| Hire of equipment | - | - | - | 108 | ||||
| Miscellaneous | 26 | - | 26 | - | ||||
| HQ Running Expenses | 558 | - | 558 | 494 | ||||
| Equipment sales | 1,399 | - | 1,399 | 1,232 | ||||
| Total Receipts | 66,103 5,329 |
De |
71,432 |
Section A Receipts and Payments (continued)
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Restricted | Total funds | Last year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | ||||
| Payments | ||||||||
| Grants and donations paid | 2,037 | 2,037 | 15,681 | |||||
| Fundraising events | 2,441 | - | 2,441 | 8,172 | ||||
| Section activities/events | 5,048 | - | 5,048 | 4,942 | ||||
| Group activities/events | 4,593 | - | 4,593 | 5,542 | ||||
| Camps | 25,513 | - | 25,513 | 18,417 | ||||
| Capitation | 9,447 | - | 9,447 | 8,579 | ||||
| Electricity | 1,968 | - | 1,968 | 1,621 | ||||
| Gas | 570 | - | 570 | 1,030 |
----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted
Total funds Total funds
funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
Lease 573 - 573 573
Water rates 176 - 176 164
-
HQ Running Expenses 2,570 2,570 2,570
Membership subscriptions 13 - 13
Insurance 4,715 - 4,715 4,599
Equipment purchases 2,625 2,500 5,125 4,793
Bank charges 7 - 7 -
HQ Hire 200 - 200 -
Miscellaneous - - 26
Leadership expenditure 935 - 935 1,047
Total Payments 63,429 2,500 65,929 77,756
Net of receipts/(payments) 2,674 2,829 5,503 (3,370)
Transfers between funds
Cash funds last year end 77,422 77,422 80,793
Cash funds this year end 80,096 2,829 82,925 77,423
----- End of picture text -----
Section B Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the end of the period
| Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Bank 82,044.46 £ 77,831 Cash 879.41 £ 879 78,710 Total Cash Funds Cash Funds Scott Wheeler Signature Name David Clipperton |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 4,213 - 4,213 Date of Approval |
|---|---|
Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of 2- lfield Scout Group On accounts for the year ended 31112r2024 Charity no (if any) 305879 Set out on pages Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in Ihe general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145{5)(b) of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordan wth general Directions given examinerfs statement by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a VIeW of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also indudes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees cOnming any such Matters. The [OCedU undertaken do not provide all the eviden that would be qUired in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ttrue and fairf view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention examiner's statement (other than that disdosed below ") 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in. any material respect. the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordan with section 130 of the Charities Act" and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met. or 2. to which. in rny opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Signed: 0110512025 Name: Darren Crouch Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): ACCA- Assoaation of Chartered Certified Accountants IER March 2023
Address: 6 Honeysuckle Close, Hailsham East Sussex. BN27 3TP Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material problems. IER March 2023
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER March 2023