ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS 2021
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
2[nd] North Watford Scout Group AGM Saturday 7[th] May 2022 at 5:00pm Held at Family Camp, Lees Wood
Agenda
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Welcome / Apologies 2. Approve minutes of previous AGM 3. Present 2021 Annual Reports 4. Present and adopt the 2021 Accounts
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Election of Group Chair 6. Election of Treasurer & Secretary 7. Election of Committee Members 8. Appoint independent examiner 9. District Representative 10. Presentation 11. Thanks / close
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
Minutes of the 2nd North Watford AGM 2021
Held on Tuesday 18[th] May 2021 @ 8:00pm via Zoom
Welcome / Apologies
Apologies: Andrew Reeves, Margaret Howard, Chris Gravestock
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Keith welcomed parents, leaders and young people (Cubs and Scouts) to the AGM and introduced Roger Sands (District President) and David Collette (District Commissioner)
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Minutes of previous AGM were proposed and seconded as a true record (Proposer Ian Leach, Seconder Brian Evans).
3. 2020 Annual report Ian provided Sections report and walked us the challenges met by the groups in this difficult year. Ian thanked all Leaders, Helpers, Young Leaders and Parents for their support in finding new ways for the Sections still to enjoy activities in a safe and socially distance manner. Reports were accepted and seconded.
4. 2020 Accounts - Damian walked the AGM through the obvious Covid impact in both Subs/Rental income and Activity Expenditure. However the net result is close to neutral thanks to a reduction in Kit expenditure and the Council Grant support (though it is important to note that even without the Council Grants the Group would have remained financially viable). Accounts were independently signed off on the 28[th] of April. Damian also wished to thank Di for the excellent support on Gift Aid.. There were no questions. Accounts were approved by Brian and seconded by Chad.
Keith stepped down as Chair.
- GSL’s nomination of Chair . Ian thanked Keith for his support over the past 12 months and asked him to continue as Chair. Keith agreed for another 12 months.
6. Group Treasurer - Keith thanked Damian for his effective management of Group’s money. Damian stood again as Treasurer acceptance proposed by Keith and seconded by Chad and Ian. Group Sec – Raffaella agreed to remain as Group Secretary for another 12 months. Proposed by Brian and seconded by John.
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Exec Members: Keith thanked the Exec members for their support of the past 12 months and everyone was prepared to stand for another 12 months. Chad McIntosh, Tim Moorton, John Savern, Ian and Chaz. Donna has been recommended as co-opted member to the committee, which will be confirmed and approved at the first committee meeting.
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Independent Examiner Paul Chambers has agreed to continue for another 12 months and has been reconfirmed
9. District Rep – See addendum
Meeting closed 20:30pm
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
Chair’s Report
In 2021 we, as a Scout Group, moved from on-line scouting to a blend of online and face to face activities. Using Zoom was a different way to deliver Scouting and also keep in touch with our Leaders and Young People. Not everyone enjoyed the experience of being online but we tried our best to ensure we kept scouting at the forefront of life.
As a volunteer-led organisation, we reply upon adult volunteers to help with our Scouting sections and also behind the scenes on our Executive Committee. I thank everyone one of our adult volunteers for helping over either past year and look forward to a continuation in 2022. I would also like to thank our Group Scout Leader, Ian Leach, for his tireless leadership and dedication in running Scouting at the 2nd to None’ .
I know all our Section Leaders (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts) rely upon help from our Young Leaders as well. Our Young Leaders are Scouts and Explorers who want to put something back into Scouting and help with running our Scout sections. So a big thank you to all of them.
I would also like to thank our committed Executive Committee who help behind the scenes with repairs and upkeep of equipment, finance management & Gift Aid, Safety audits and maintenance of our buildings and the site not forgetting all the paperwork that this generates.
I am confident that our Group will continue to grow in numbers of young people wanting to join the Scouting adventure therefore I would encourage and welcome our parents/carers to step forward and volunteer, whether you want to work with young people directly or help behind the scenes, there is something for everyone at Scouts. To find our more, please speak to either myself or Ian Leach.
Important news . . . Our Scout Group is in the process of reviewing and agreeing a new 99 year lease with our Landlords (Watford Community Housing).
Keith Rogers (Group Chair, 2nd to None’ )
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
Group Scout Leader’s Report 2021
It is a pleasure to give this report once again and I am very pleased that you will receive this in person at our first group camp for 3 years. 2021 saw us eventually return to face-to-face Scouting and although it took some getting used to it was absolutely superb to hear the buzz of the voices of all sections as they returned, although I do think that all section leaders wished they still had access to the mute button at times.
The way in which the leadership teams across all sections have adapted throughout the pandemic makes me proud to be the group scout leader of the 2[nd] .Throughout the year as you will see elsewhere in the reports from the section’s they have continued to function in 2021 and have been able to achieve many chief scout’s awards.
We have held a limited number of maintenance work parties at the HQ which we were able to do thanks to all the parents and families who attended and assisted.
It has been an unwritten policy of the Group to reinvest the Gift Aid monies we receive directly to benefit the young people of the Group and I was pleased that the Group Exec endorsed my idea in 2021 to purchase every member of the Group a Polo Shirt with the new logo on.
In all of the cancellations of 2021 it was sad for one of our young leaders to be denied the opportunity to attend the European Scout Jamboree after much training and fund raising. Much of this fund raising was done by running a tuck shop at the end of each sections meeting which was supported fabulously by all sections. As the funds were not able to be used for the purpose for which they were raised it was an absolute delight that Leon the young leader in question donated this money back to the Group and I am pleased to announce that we have purchased a Defibulator with this money which will be installed within the Headquarters in the next few weeks.
Unfortunately, all of the usual group and district events were cancelled in 2021 but we were delighted to restart these with our Easter Egg Hunt in April 2022 with over 100 members and families attending. Our annual end of Scouting Year Family BBQ is booked and the date for this is Monday July 18[th] .
It is important that we take the opportunity of this AGM to say thank you – to the parents and members of the group who have adapted and endorsed our new ways of operating,
to keith and all of the executive committee who have supported the sections in 2021
and to all of our leaders and their families
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
I personally would like to take this public opportunity to thank each and every one of the section leadership teams including our young leaders whose dedication through 2021 kept scouting going at the 2[nd] north Watford. I am immensely proud to be Group Scout Leader at the 2[nd] and I look forward to later in this AGM when many leaders and supporters will be recognised by Scout Headquarters for their service with various awards. The dedication of all the Leaders within the Group is the main reason why our numbers held strong at the annual census and why this group continues to go from strength to strength and grow.
My thanks to you all Ian Leach Group Scout Leader
2021 - Beavers
Beavers had a lot going on in 2021. The team changed a little. We want to say a huge thank you to Jo Wilson (Maple) & Lily Jarvis (Willow) for all their help at Beavers. Both have decided to step back from their Section Assistant role in Beavers, but we hope they will consider coming back to the team in the future! We are delighted Liam Lynch (Banyan) has joined us and was invested as a Section Assistant this year. We welcomed Pippa Lynch as a Young Leader as well as Jessica Daniels who is volunteering towards her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award! As well as Stuart Moss (Redwood) & Donna Moss (Chestnut) we also still have Harry Moss & Isla Savern, plus Georgie Moss (Silver) & Charlie Moss when they are home from Uni.
Thank you all for your dedication, the giving of your time and help over the year. As well as all the support the Colony receives from the other section leaders and the executive team. We could not do what we do without the help of everyone. Especially the parents who join us each week on our parent rota. If anyone would like to help more, just let us know!
We had 2 Beavers complete their Chief Scout Bronze Award this year, with a further couple of young people who have crossed the river and almost completed theirs.
Beavers started the year on ZOOM! We had to think outside the box here as we had been on zoom for quite a while & needed new activities. The Leaders were definitely challenged, but we rose to it!!! As did the parents who helped us from home!
The 1[st] term of 2021 was full of new activities! We tried stone decorating, cooking marshmallows over a tea light and made egg and ham bites (they were delicious!) We completed a Beaver’s virtual pirate adventure too. Then came tin can lanterns. We were not sure if Beavers would be able to do this, but they didn’t disappoint! That was a really good evening. We played games, looked at puzzles & illusions plus problem solving missions. We competed in Beavers got talent & 2 truths, 1 lie. Who knew Harry’s Great Grandma worked with Harry Houdini or Charlie auditioned for the Peter Pan film, Silver was nearly in EastEnders, or that Redwoods Mum was a ballerina or that Chestnut is related to Georgie Clooney?
By April we tentatively came back to face to face scouting, albeit outside and socially distanced. Keeping 15 six and seven year olds 2 metres apart was certainly challenging, but the young people were so very good and really tried their best. We ensured the activities were set up to make it as easy as possible keeping their distance. With many of them in the same school and not social distancing there, the challenge was a little bit hard, but we came through. We
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
got to meet some of our Beavers for the first time which was fantastic! We had fires, bug hunts, learnt to read a map and tried a laid trail. We completed the cyclist badge, learnt fire safety and earnt our Experiment badge.
By September we were back in the HQ, well ventilated and lots of antibac being used! But we started outside with a sing song around the fire at Lees Wood & tried the pedal racers at Phasels Wood for the 1[st] time! Then we had visits from Watford Rugby Club and a past parent, Inspector Gibb, who talked to us about stranger danger and what the Police do for the local community. We got to go in a police van too!
We made bird apple feeders, carved pumpkins, made giant poppies whilst learning about remembrance. Completed the international badge, learnt knots, fired crossbows and had a mad Christmas games night! We had a great night at the panto with all the groups from Watford North and many of our Beavers attended.
Overall Beavers had a ball! We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and learnt a lot!
Throughout 2021 we presented 138 badges to the beavers including 2 Bronze Awards
Stuart Moss (Redwood) and Donna Moss (Chestnut)
CUB REPORT 2021
Normally my reports are quite lengthy but due to the disruption caused by Covid this year's will be quite brief.
During the early months of the year the Cubs were meeting on line. Big thanks to Brian, Judy, Chloe and our young leaders for running these evenings and all the Cubs who joined in.
Sone evenings were spent at Lees Wood fire lighting, making food parcels and playing some wide games.
On another evening outside we went on a hike with parents and other family members invited to join us.
Evenings at the hq were spent working on the personal challenge award and the International and Disability Awareness activity badges.
On Sunday 14th November 15 Cubs were at the Town Hall for the annual Remembrance Service. Erin Hill had the honour of carrying the flag.
One November evening was spent at Watford Rugby Club. Many thanks to the club for an excellent evening.
The year ended on Friday 17th December by going to the pantomime at St Albans
Well it has been a strange year and we are now looking forward to a bit of normality in 2022.
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
As always a big thankyou to all the other Cub leaders, young leaders, GSL, leaders from other sections, parents and anyone else who helped us at Cubs in 2021.
Chris Gravestock Cub Scout Leader.
Scout troop report for 2021
It is always interesting to write an agm report for the section and reflect on what has been achieved over the past year.
2021 was again a different year for Scouting and one through which all those connected with the Troop continued to develop and get back to what we now know as the new normal.
Although not able to actually camp during 2021 we held a very successful easter backwood cooking day at Leeswood and spent many other evenings there honing our skills for when we can dust off the tents and get back to what we love doing the most.
Another fantastic day event that took place was a hike from Rickmansworth to the HQ where on their return to the grounds the scouts pitched tents and cooked hike food before the end of a fun and rewarding day, this also enabled the older scouts to complete their expedition challenge.
2022 will hopefully see us do something similar and we are hopeful we may even get to sleep in the tents.
Throughout 2021 the troop has continued to grow in strength and follow the Associations lead of developing the Scouts with #Skills For Life be this learning to cook, harness their artistic side, develop scouting skills, learn about the world
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
around us or just having fun which after the past 2 years is as vital as all the other skills.
Many of the scouts completed numerous badges during 2021 and it was an absolute delight in January of this year to have the District Commissioner and Assistant District Commissioner for Scouts attend a troop evening and present 5 gold chief scout’s award to Emily, Leah, Ruby, Lucy and Morgan.
As a leader team we would like to thank all the scouts and their parents for bearing with us during the past year and for the support given to enable us to continue scouting. Special thanks to our young leaders Leon and Josh without whom we would struggle each week.
Ian, Sharon, Aaron and Damian
Treasurer’s Report 2021
Once again a year significantly impacted by Covid.
Unsurprisingly, income and expenditure on Scouting activity itself did not return to pre-pandemic levels, although we continued to pay HQ Membership Fees and the usual fixed utility and other costs incurred in running and insuring the HQ and our equipment.
As the HQ is subject to the National Non-Domestic Rates regime, though, the Group did receive Covid-related Grant support from HM Government, via Watford Borough Council. In 2021 that amounted to £18,851 (2020 £10,000). At AGMs pre-Covid I had been known to comment unfavourably on the fact that, even though we are a Registered Charity, we were still liable for this cost and to suggest that we could have put those funds to better use ourselves. Fair to say that my view of that today is a little different!
Excluding those Grants, income totalled £8,047. Expenditure totalled £6,660. Comparisons with 2020, which was of course also materially impacted by Covid, add little value. Looking back to 2019, income was £19,744 and expenditure £16,964 so the scale of the impact is evident, although this is of course only on one very limited measure: no one is suggesting that this is the true scale.
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
Overall, the Group remains in satisfactory financial health and has continued to claim Gift Aid on subscription payments. Once again, my thanks to Diane for her great work on this - in the last four years she has successfully claimed back over £6,700 for us, which has been invested in new tentage, cooking and other equipment. If you are a UK taxpayer and haven’t yet signed a Gift Aid declaration, do please talk to your child’s Section Leader about doing so at the earliest opportunity. Thank you.
We do aim to deliver a long-term tangible benefit from the grant monies that we are now holding (once the long-awaited new lease is finalised) but do recognise a need to balance that aspiration with more widely felt shorter-term pressures too so, despite those anticipated increased day-to day costs, we will not be increasing subscriptions this year; we will use some of that additional liquidity we are holding to absorb those for now.
Thank you all for keeping those subscription payments coming and for being so good at getting the referencing on the direct payments right – it makes my job (and the Section Leaders’) a whole lot easier!
Damian Walsh Group Treasurer
2[nd] North Watford, Harebreaks, Herts, WD24 6HU Incorporated by Royal Charter, Charity No. 308235
2nd North Watford Scout Group Receipts and Payments Account
Year start date
For the Year From
01/01/2021
To
Receipts
2021
Designated Unrestricted Restricted Property Funds Funds Improvement Fund
----- Start of picture text -----
£ £ £
Donations, Legacies and Similar
Income
Membership Subscriptions 7,080 -
Less: Membership Subscriptions Paid On
(National / County / District)
- 4,200 -
Net Membership Subscriptions Retained
2,880 - -
Donations
- - 1,140
Legacies - - -
Gift Aid 1,207 - -
Activities 2,816 - -
Sub Total 6,903 - 1,140
Grants
Maintenance Grant - - -
Other Grants
18,851 - -
Sub Total 18,851 - -
Fundraising (Gross)
Fun Run Waterbase - -
Other - - -
Sub Total - - -
Investment Income
Bank Interest 4 - -
The Scout Association Short Term
Investment Service - -
Property Rent Income - - -
Other Investment Income - - -
Sub Total 4 - -
Total Gross Income [ 25,758 ] - 1,140
Asset and Investment Sales, etc. - - -
Total Receipts [ 25,758 ] - 1,140
----- End of picture text -----
2nd North Watford Scout Group Receipts and Payments Account
Year start date
For the Year From
01/01/2021 To
Payments
2021
Designated Unrestricted Restricted Property Funds Funds Improvement Fund
----- Start of picture text -----
£ £ £
Charitable Payments
Youth Programme and Activities 3,833 - -
Adult Support and Training - - -
Rent and Rates
165 - -
Water and Sewerage
133 - -
Electricity and Gas
515 - -
Insurance
822 - -
Repairs and Renewals
- - -
Materials and Equipment
175 - -
Printing and Photocopying
- - -
Contribution to Camps and Activities
- - -
Uniforms and Group T-Shirts
762 - -
AGM and Trustee Expenses
17 - -
Grounds Maintainance
239 - -
Web Hosting
- - -
Bank Charges
- - -
Legal Fees
- - -
Sub Total
6,660 - -
Fundraising expenses
Fun Run Waterbase - -
Other
- - -
Sub Total
- - -
Total Gross Expenditure [ 6,660 ] - -
Asset and Investment
Purchases, etc. - - -
Total Payments 6,660 - -
Net of Receipts / (Payments) 19,098 - 1,140
----- End of picture text -----
| Net Transfers Between Funds Cash Funds Last Year End Cash Funds This Year End |
339 | - 339 | - | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,124 | 4,200 | 9,316 | |||
| 34,561 | 3,861 | 10,456 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the End of the Year
12/31/2021
Unrestricted Restricted Designated Funds Funds Property Improvement Fund
----- Start of picture text -----
£ £ £
Cash Funds
Bank Current Account
878
Bank Deposit Account 37,544 10,456
Cash / Floats - - -
Total Cash Funds 38,422 - 10,456
Other Monetary Assets
Tax Claim - - -
Debts Due from County / Area / District - - -
Insurance Claim - - -
Total - - -
Investment Assets
Investment Property - - -
Quoted Investments - - -
Other Investments - - -
Total - - -
Non-monetary Assets for the
Charity's Own Use
Badge Stock - - -
Shop Stock - - -
Other Stock - - -
Land and Buildings - - -
Motor Vehicles - - -
Scouting Equipment, Furniture etc. (based
on Insurance reinstatement cover held) 40,000 - -
Other - - -
Total 40,000 - -
Liabilities
Accounts Not Yet Paid - - -
Expenses Incurred But Not Invoiced - - -
Subscriptions Not Yet Paid - - -
Loan - - -
Other Liabilities
- - -
Total - - -
----- End of picture text -----
Contingent Liabilities and Future Obligations
The above receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities we 22 February 2022 and signed on their behalf by
Signature Print N
t
Year end date
12/31/2021
2020
Total Funds
Total Funds
----- Start of picture text -----
£ £
7,080 5,331
- 4,200 - 4,463
2,880 868
1,140 1,108
- -
1,207 1,508
2,816 134
8,043 3,618
- -
18,851 10,000
18,851 10,000
- -
- -
- -
4 15
- -
- -
- -
4 15
26,898 13,633
- -
26,898 13,633
----- End of picture text -----
t
Year end date
12/31/2021
2020
----- Start of picture text -----
Total Funds Total Funds
£ £
3,833 986
- -
165 -
133 -
515 1,393
822 801
- 580
175 108
- -
- -
762 -
17 -
239 -
- -
- -
- -
6,660 3,868
- -
- -
- -
6,660 3,868
- -
6,660 3,868
20,238 9,765
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
- -
28,640 18,875
48,878 28,640
----- End of picture text -----
12/31/2020 Total Funds Total Funds
----- Start of picture text -----
£ £
878 640
48,000 28,000
- -
48,878 28,640
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
40,000 40,000
- -
40,000 40,000
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
----- End of picture text -----
ere approved by the Trustees on
Name
Keith Rogers (Chair) Damian Walsh (Treasurer)
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of the 2nd North Watlord Scout Group I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 2nd North Watford Scout Group for the year ended 31 sl Dec8mber 2021 Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the 2nd North Watford Scout Group you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requir8ments of the Charities Act 20111'the Act,). I r8port in r8spect of my 8xamination of the 2nd North Watford Scout Group accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying Out my examination I have follow8d all the applicable Dir8Ctions giv8n by the Charity Commission under section 145151(bl of th6 Act. Independent 6xamin*8 8tstement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no mat8rial matt8rs have come to my attention in connection with th8 examination giving me cause to believe that in any material r8SP8Ct'. 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the 2nd North Watford Scout Group as requirad by s8Ction 130 of th8 Act,. or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have com8 across no other matters in connection with the examinalion to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed.. Paul Chambers 4 Mandeville Close Watford Hertfordshir8 WD17 4SF