Rob Johnson District Commissioner Boston Email:- dc@bostonscouts.org.uk
DC REPORT
DISTRICT AGM 21st MARCH 2024
The last 12 months in Boston district has been as id expect. Exciting and full of fun, adventures and activity.
Each section has taken part in many amazing opportunities. The annual St Georges day parade was well attended as always from all 10 scout groups. With awards presented to young people and adults. In March Patrol leaders and assistant patrol leaders attended the county PL & APL camp at Sudbrooke park for weekend activity camp. In December Scouts took part in the first Boston Monopoly run which saw scouts and leaders dressed up finding locations all over town. This An included two volunteers dressed as a christmas tree and a dinosaur. May saw the annual district scout camp at Woodhall spa with 68 scouts in UO attendance, with a team of Explorer scouts helping us as always. Squirrel scouts now have two small drays. One at 5[th] Boston and the other at 2[nd] Boston. The squirrels have been learning a lot and we have now presented our first chief scouts acorn awards. 5[th] Boston Squirrels have a new leader. Their first district event is this weekend. scouts Beaver Scouts had an Easter fun day in April, they made smores, played games and did Easter crafts. In July they enjoyed district camp at Woodhall. They also enjoyed the annual highlight, Santas sleepover and was visited by the big man himself! Boston District Cub Scouts have had a varied district program with Jayne and her team. March was the Stump clues hike around town. In May the cubs had a new adventure, when district cub camp was held inside the stump. In June bostonscouts.org.uk Cubs attended Lincub, county cub camp and in October had their campfire challenge. These are just a few highlights.
Explorer scouts gave out record numbers of Diamond and Platinum awards this year. Enjoyed a summer camp in Scotland. We now have three unit’s with Wyberton being the newest. In February Tash got her nights away permit and they have new volunteers.
Network is now meeting regularly with 6 members, and are designing a new necker to mark their reforming.
www.bostonscouts.org.uk Registered Charity number 508364
The district sections are remarkable and not only take part in the district events but also many of their own section events. We are an incredibly busy district with remarkable volunteers.
We simply could not operate without them. Which brings me to the team that backs us and hidden in the background often overlooked. Boston has some remarkable trustee teams who are always working hard for the groups they represent so thank you to all of you.
This year as always the team of trustees on the district team have worked remarkably hard to support the running of the district. Woodhall Spa Scout campsite has been a big focus and we will be investing in securing the campsite further with gates and fences following recent issues with dog walkers. Sadly however all good things come to an end and this is the last year we will have Steve as our chair. He has been in this role for 14 years this year. His decision to make this his final year leaves a huge hole at the chair position and he will be greatly missed, Steve your dedication and support has been amazing and id personally like to thank you for all you do and will no doubt do in your final year. Sadly we will also be losing Lesley our treasurer. Lesley has only been An with us a short time but has had a huge impact on the running of the finances and we are incredibly grateful to you. Thank you UO But the news does not stop. Our secretary Beth is also looking to retire after many many years in the role. Beth has been a wonderful secretary and will be greatly missed when a new secretary is found. I am always incredibly grateful for the support the trustees give to me and will always be. Thankfully I have them for a while longer and I know in handing over these roles they will ensure the smoothest transition scouts happens. The remaining members of the trustee committee I know will continue to support the district and for this I thank you all. Boston has been my home in Scouting for 25 years now and I have never Boston District been prouder of what we all achieve. Our annual census was down on the previous year but I am not upset or disappointed, because I am aware of the current hardships people are facing and I also know all of our groups are providing the best possible experiences for our young people. So bostonscouts.org.uk thank you all.
As 2024 roles on we have a lot more to look forward too with camps and activities. But we are also in the midst of change in Scouting. Transformation is being rolled out. There will be new names and new projects and eventually a new online system to replace Compass. Scouting has been in the news a lot lately following the case of the Scout who tragically lost his life. Here in Boston we pride ourselves in offering the safest and most enjoyable adventures and have only our dedicated
www.bostonscouts.org.uk Registered Charity number 508364
volunteers to thank for this. These volunteers work tirelessly to ensure safety is priority and everything happens is a controlled and enjoyable way.
We are introducing new teams into Boston, working along the new transformation guidance and will be working with all the groups to encourage them to begin the transformation journey with us. The first changes will be our role title.
Following this AGM my role will no longer be District Commissioner. I will now be known as District Lead Volunteer.
All team members have been asked now to begin transformation and will also start using new titles. Group Scout leaders will now be Lead volunteer followed by the group name. as an example Lead volunteer 1[st] Boston Scout group. I know we face challenges as we move forward but I also know every volunteer in the district will be giving 100% to their roles 100% of the time. An
Thank you all and here is to a great year ahead. Rob Johnson UO District Lead Volunteer. scouts
www.bostonscouts.org.uk Registered Charity number 508364
Receipts to 31st December2023
| MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions Received INVESTMENT INCOME RECEIVED Bank Interest Scout Assoc'n Short Term Investment Service OTHER INCOME Woodhall Campsite SECTION INCOME Squirrels Beavers Cubs Scouts Explorers Network SUNDRY RECEIPTS Unknow Receipt Loan Repayments 1st Boston 2nd Boston MiniBus repayments Section Grants Received Contra 5th Boston payment Badges 10th Boston Bequest OTHER RECEIPTS HSBC Income SA Charity Deposit Account TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR |
Current Year 24522.00 24522.00 176.83 21.28 198.11 1746.50 1746.50 0.00 1460.00 55.00 1987.00 5030.00 0.00 8532.00 368.25 252.00 1050.00 500.00 725.00 232.70 5000.00 8127.95 27.62 500.00 43654.18 |
|---|---|
Previous Year
25200.00 25200.00
0.00 0.00 0.00
2826.90 2826.90
0.00 190.00 1576.00 2736.00 0.00 0.00 4502.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 136.50 0.00 136.50 0.00 0.00 32665.40
Payments up to 31st December 2023
| BUDGET 2024 MEMBERSHIP FEES PAID WOODHALL EXPENSES 100.00 Rent 52.00 Rates 300.00 Light, Heat & Water 2500.00 Insurance 2500.00 Repairs & Renewals 5452.00 SECTION EXPENSES 200.00 Squirrels 200.00 Beavers 200.00 Cubs 200.00 Scouts 200.00 Explorers Network 1000.00 500.00 TRAINING 2500.00 TRUSTEES/ADMIN CHARGES OTHER EXPENSES 600.00 Badges Scout Equipment & Renewals Bequest Tfr to 10th Boston 500.00 Development 448.00 Sundry Expenses 1548.00 Equal Cards Payments OTHER EXPENDITURE - Minibus 11000.00 TOTAL PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR |
This Year 2023 22231.00 100.00 42.57 192.04 0.00 2329.44 2664.05 72.00 502.99 542.36 422.16 2600.90 0.00 4140.41 640.00 640.00 2559.78 398.44 0.00 5000.00 0.00 156.00 5554.44 5742.01 3000.00 46531.69 |
|
|---|---|---|
Last Year 2022
23037.40
100.00 53.12 27.83 0.00 8055.46 8236.41 237.45 190.00 2331.75 0.00 90.00 0.00 2849.20 143.50 143.50 0.00
576.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 4027.82 4604.60 0.00 0.00 0.00 38871.11
Boston District Scout Association
Charity No: 508364
| Receipts & Payments Account Summary up to 31st December 2023 Total receipts to date Total payments to date Net receipts to 31st December2023 £ Cash, bank and similar funds brought forward £ Cash, bank and similar funds carried forward £ Lloyds Bank Account Virgin Money CharitySavings Account £ HSBC Bank TOTAL Equal Debit Cards Account Total £ Total Funds at 31st December 2023 £ |
Current Year £ 43654.18 46531.69 -2877.51 £ 30571.52 £ 27694.01 £ 27517.18 21506.21 0.00 49023.39 836.06 49859.45 |
|---|---|
Previous Year
£ 32665.40 38871.11 -6205.71 36777.23 30571.52 30000.00 21329.38 571.52 51900.90 0.000 51900.90
Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of Boston Distrlct Scout Association Scout Council I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Boston District Scout Association for the year ended 31" December 2023. Responsibllities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Boston District Scout Association you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Boston District Scout Association accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515){b) of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material rnatters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting records were not kept in respect of the Boston District Scout Association as required by section 130 of the Act. or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other Matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name., James Justln Holland Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): FCCA Address: CIO Dexter & Sharpe, The Old Vicarage, Church Close, Boston, Llncolnshire, PE216NA •2*