THE 64[th] BIRMINGHAM SCOUT GROUP ANNUAL REPORT & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MONDAY 22[nd] NOVEMBER 2021
AGENDA
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1 Group Chair’s welcome
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2 Apologies
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3 Approval of minutes of the last Group AGM held on 15[th] September 2019
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4 Approval of Group Scout Leade r’s nomination of Group Chair
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5 Approval and Election of 2021 Group Executive members
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6 Appointment of Accounts Scrutineer
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7 Consideration of Annual Report & Accounts for the year ended 31/03/21
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8 Section Reports
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9 Group Scout Leader ’s Report
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11 Any Other Business, relative to the AGM (pre-notified only)
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12 Group Chair’s closing remark s
Charity number: 503482 TSA HQ Reg. No: 05684
64[TH] BIRMINGHAM SCOUT GROUP CHARITY STATEMENTS
The Purpose of 64[th] Birmingham Scout Group
The 64[th] Birmingham Scout Group provides a weekly Scouting provision across all Scouting Sections with volunteers actively engage & support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society through giving the young people we work with Skills For Life.
As Scouts we are guided by Scouting values
- Integrity
We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy & loyal.
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Respect We have self-respect & respect for others.
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Care We support others & take care of the world in which we live.
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Belief We explore our faiths, beliefs & attitudes.
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Co-operation Make a positive difference; co-operate with others & make friends.
The Scouting Method means that Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting & :-
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Enjoy what they are doing & have fun
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Take part in activities indoors & outdoors
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Learn by doing
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Share in spiritual reflection
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Take responsibility & make choices
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Undertake new & challenging activities
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Make & live by their Promise.
Public benefit statements
The 64[th] Birmingham Scout Group meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education & the advancement of citizenship or community development headings.
The Group has in place systems of risk & internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss, these include two signatories for all payments & a comprehensive insurance policy to ensure that insurable risks are covered.
Structure, governance & management
The Group is managed by the Group Executive Committee, the members of which are the ‘Charity Trustees’ of the Scout Group which is an educational charity. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation & Rules of The Scout Association. As charity trustees they are responsible for complying with legislation applicable to charities. This includes the registration, keeping proper accounts & making returns to the Charity Commission as appropriate.
The Committee consists of independent representatives, Chair, Treasurer & Secretary together with elected, nominated & co-opted representation & meets regularly through the year. The Group Executive exists to support the Group Scout Leader in meeting the responsibilities of the appointments & is responsible for:
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The maintenance of Group property
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The raising of funds & the administration of District finance
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The insurance of persons, property & equipment
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Group public occasions
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Assisting the recruitment of leaders & other adult support
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Appointing any sub committees that may be required
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Appointing District administrators / advisors other than those who are elected
The Group’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 & The Policy, Organisation & Rules of The Scout Association. The Scout Group is a trust established under its rules, which are common to all Scouts.
Reserves Policy
The Group’s policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the Group should income and fundraising activities fall short. The Group Executive Committee considers that the Group should hold a sum equivalent to 18 months running costs for the building and an £15k emergency building work fund, circa £35k.
The Group held reserves of approximately £79k against this at year-end. This is above the level required for operating expenses. However, this can be explained by on going building development projects, planned equipment purchases within the Group over the next 12 months and the Covid recovery plan.
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 15[th] SEPTEMBER 2019
Present
81 members & friends attended the AGM at Rhydd Covert campfire circle.
Welcome
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and recognised the apologies.
Minutes of last AGM
Copies of the minutes of the AGM in 2018 were distributed & were duly approved.
Nominations & Elections of Officers
Group Scout Leaders Nomination of Group Chair
Paul re-nominated the Group Chair Keith Hemmings. Keith was duly appointed. Election of Group Executive
The GSL indicated that only one nomination per seat on the Executive had been received. Therefore the following elected and nominated members were approved by mass by show of hands:
Ex-officio members:
Group Chair Keith Hemmings Group Secretary Louise White Group Scout Leader Paul Little Group Treasurer Celvon Binns Beaver Leader Claire Bakhshi Cub Leader Chas LeMaistre Scout Leader Stuart Granger Explorer Leader Jamie Burrell Elected members: GSL nominations: Beaver parent rep. Laverne Major AGSL Amy Keogh Cub parent rep. Debbie Oboh Young person rep. Any Explorer Scout parent rep. John Jones Network rep. Callum Peyton Explorer parent rep. Martin White GDPR Lead Emma Ray-Sharma
Appointment of Auditor
Lorna Pinches agreed to continue in the role of Group Auditor & was duly re-appointed.
Annual Financial Report & Approval of Accounts
The Group Annual Accounts relating to the year ending 31[st] March 2019 were presented by the Group Treasurer (Celvon Binns). The Accounts were duly adopted.
Section Reports
Sections gave verbal reports on the activities & progress of their respective sections. All reports clearly showed that the Group has been extremely active at all levels.
Group Scout Leader ’ s Report
Paul welcomed everyone to our Group camp at Rhydd Covert and shared how fantastic it was to see every section present, he then reviewed the Group’s progress over the past 12 months. Highlighting the starting of our Early Years pilot section, Hedgehogs, and the success that had been. It was particular special as the 64[th] ’s hedgehogs were the first to open within the UK pilot and were invited to meet the Duchess of Cambridge in March. Paul thanked Amy and Claire for their work in getting this started, the Executive for supporting it and Saroj for all her work on supporting.
Paul thanked the parents for their support, all Group members for their hard work over the past year delivering fantastic programmes of activity and to all the youth members for their commitment and engagement in Scouting.
Paul made a special mention to the recent passing of Bill Askew, who had been a long standing and extremely devoted member of the 64[th] for over 50 years who at the time of his death was our Group President.
The Super Awards were also presented to a young person from each section.
Awards
Awards were presented to the following members of the Group or recognised in their absence;
Bronze CSA: Isabella Hayes, Jacob Jones, Kabir Singh & Stephanie Watton Gold CSA: Excellence Oboh
Bronze DofE: Jack Price
Gold DofE: Jamie Burrell
Queen’s Scout Award: Kris Simpson
Bill Askew Award: Nakeeta Lotay
Any Other Business
The District Commissioner (Geoff Shuttleworth) presented a number of long service awards and presented Excellence Oboh with the Commissioner’s Commendation .
Group Chair’s Closing Remarks
The Group ’s Chair (Keith Hemmings) presented a report in which thanked everyone for their efforts over the weekend’s camp and also paid special tribute to Bill Askew and the huge difference he had made to the Group over many years. Keith then declared the closure of the meeting & wished everyone a safe journey home.
2021 GROUP EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
Ex-Officio Members
Chairman Keith Hemmings Squirrel Leader Saroj Watton Secretary Louise White Beaver Leader Claire Bakhshi Treasurer Celvon Binns Cub Leader Chas LeMaistre GSL Paul Little Scout Leader Stuart Granger Deputy GSL Amy Keogh Explorer Leader Jamie Burrell
Elected Members from the Group Scout Council Squirrel parent Joan Hamilton Scout parent Debbie Oboh Beaver parent Elizabeth Agunbiade Explorer parent Sabra Saheed Cub parent Bal Madhar Group Scout Leader Nominations Youth rep. Callum Peyton GDPR Lead Emma Ray-Sharma GSL Nom. Martin White
2020 & 2021 YOUTH SCOUT AWARDS
Bronze Chief Scout ’s Award
Lesley Agunbiade, Jacob Davis, Mya Henry, Simran Malhi, Xavier McIntosh, Joshua McKenzie, Chanan Sandhu, Rudi Sandhu & Belina Shergill
Silver Chief Scout ’s Award
Harry Bakhshi, Alexander Enchev, Anjali Sehjal & Pheobe Sharma
Platinum Chief Scout ’s Award & Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Joel Crowe & Excellence Oboh
Diamond Chief Scout ’s Award & Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award Alice Boshell, Aaron Dyson & Jarnail Sehjal
Queen’s Scout Award & Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Michaela Cummings, Corbin Elliot, Callum Peyton & Callum White
Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Dalpreet Dhillon (Bronze), Reo Christopher (Bronze & Silver), Callum White (Silver) & Kris Simpson (Gold)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
We would also like to thank all our volunteers who work so hard, we would also like to give special congratulations to those who gained specific awards.
Saroj Watton ( Commissioner’s Comm endation), Jamie Burrell & Amy Burrell (Chief Scout Comm. For Good Service) & Graham Prottey (Award for Merit).
Jamie Burrell & Amy Keogh (5 years); Dan Bow, Michael Bushell, Martin White & Stuart Granger (10 years); Kevin Bow, Simon Farrelly & Paul Little (20 years); Keith Hemmings (30 years); Julie Lonsdale & Jane Phillips (40 years)
Gone Home
For many generations trail markers have been used to safely guide travellers in the right direction. There is one universal symbol, a dot surrounded by a larger circle. This trail marker means "End of Trail - Gone Home" Some feel life itself is best described as a trail, for it has a beginning, an end and many turns and bends along the way. We would like to reflect on three members of our Group who passed away since our last AGM.
Michael Richardson
Over the years Michael was a strong supporter of the Group holding roles within our fundraising teams and was our Group Chair for over 30 years.
Michael showed a true Scouting spirit and was a key figure in giving the Group it’s strong governance and financial security that we enjoy today as well as supporting our move to the Clem Dench Scouting Centre.
Michael passed away in January 2021 and will be greatly missed by family, friends and all who knew him.
Jane Phillips
With her father Bill being the 64[th] ’s Group Scout Leader Jane grew up within the Scout Group and so it was no surprise that she became a Cub Leader at the 64[th] as soon – as she could, a role that she then held for the next 44 years always being the happy and enthusiastic face that greeted the Cubs every week and ensured they not only had fun but that their records were up to date and they each had every badge they’d earned.
Jane was also a keen cook and loved sharing her passion for camp cooking and food hygiene knowledge with anyone willing to learn, running evenings for all sections, the kitchen tent on Cub and Scout camps (where Jane always managing the catering).
Jane was an exemplary example of true Scouting spirit, a friend to all and made a huge difference to the lives of many. Jane passed away March 2021 and will be sorely missed by friends, family and Scouting colleagues.
Kip Freshwater
Kip was one of our Hedgehogs who mainly knew Scouting via zoom, but whilst online sessions presented a barrier to some it provided a window of opportunity to Kip. Kip spent much of his life battling against leukaemia but, as tough and rubbish as that often was, Kip seemed to always have a smile on his face and an amazing sense of resilience.
Kip was truly one of the bravest and most inspiring little man many of us have ever known who truly epitomised the best Scouting spirit, fully engaged with our zoom sessions whether he was home or in hospital with a smile on his face and was awarded The Chief Scout's Medal for Meritorious Conduct hours before he passed.
Kip passed away in July 2021 and will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him and whose lives he touched.
64th Birmingham Scout Group Annual Accounts
Receipts and Payments Account For the year from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021
| 64th Birmingham Scout Group Annual Accounts | 64th Birmingham Scout Group Annual Accounts | 64th Birmingham Scout Group Annual Accounts | 64th Birmingham Scout Group Annual Accounts | 64th Birmingham Scout Group Annual Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and Payments Account | ||||
| For the year from 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021 | ||||
| Income | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | ||
| £ | £ | |||
| Donations and similar income | ||||
| Membership subscriptions | 2,820.08 | 5,677.50 | ||
| Gift Aid | 1,005.00 | |||
| Group income | 765.36 | |||
| Utility refund | 308.80 | 154.88 | ||
| Clem Dench letting income | 1,960.00 | 9,629.00 | ||
| Sub Total | 5,088.88 | 17,231.74 | ||
| Fundraising & Activities | ||||
| Covid Recovery Grants | 21,737.07 | |||
| Camp & activity income | 910.00 | 3,690.00 | ||
| Sub Total | 22,647.07 | 3,690.00 | ||
| Investment Income | ||||
| Bank interest | 36.23 | 219.07 | ||
| Sub Total | 36.23 | 219.07 | ||
| Total Gross Income | 27,772.18 | 21,140.81 | ||
| Expenditure | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | ||
| £ | £ | |||
| Charitable Payments | ||||
| Utilities | 1,534.57 | 2,689.79 | ||
| Insurances | 986.41 | 928.97 | ||
| Building maintenance | 678.00 | 466.69 | ||
| Building cleaning | ||||
| Capitation (members subs paid on) | 1,824.50 | 3,000.00 | ||
| Youth Programme & activities | 169.40 | 4,073.13 | ||
| Other | ||||
| Group expenses | 270.27 | 2,015.24 | ||
| Sub Total | 5,463.15 | 13,173.82 | ||
| Activities & Donations | ||||
| Camp expenditure | 906.83 | |||
| Equipment purchases | ||||
| Sub total | 0.00 | 906.83 | ||
| Total gross expenditure | 5,463.15 | 14,080.65 | ||
| Difference between annual income & expenditure |
22,309.03 | 7,060.16 |
64th Birmingham Scout Group
Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year
| 31-Mar-21 | 31-Mar-20 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Cash funds | |||||
| Bank current account | 27,948.97 | 15,676.17 | |||
| Bank deposit account | 20,632.06 | 10,628.87 | |||
| Investment account | 30,372.44 | 30,339.40 | |||
| Total cash funds in bank | 78,953.47 | 56,644.44 | |||
| Totalgroup assets (note 1) | 78,953.47 | 56,644.44 | |||
| Note 1: Ring Fenced amounts | |||||
| Refundable deposit Kumon | 200.00 200.00 |
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| Refundable deposit Crossroads Care | |||||
| Total | 400.00 | ||||
| Note 2: Contra payments | |||||