Wistaston Scout Group (35[th] South West Cheshire) Registered Charity No: 520281 www.wistastonscoutgroup.org.uk
ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31[st] 2022
At the end of 2021 Face to Face Scouting restarted, during lockdown in common with Scouting nationally we had lost over 20% of our youth membership, however unlike many other groups, we retained the majority of our leaders.
Our young leader programme where youth members aged 14 to 18 years continues to pay dividends. Once they reach 18 years of age, they can apply to become adult leaders. So although some of our adult leaders did leave during the pandemic the young leader programme provided new leaders for the group.
As things started to settle down after the easing of restrictions so our number began to build up to pre pandemic levels and by the end of 2022 our annual census shows having regained most to the lost ground.
We were able to resume camping activities for all sections in 2022. Camping for scouts was very important as we had a summer camp planned for July and for the majority of our scouts this would be their first weeklong camp. We managed to get in a number of weekend camps to get in some vital training for summer camp. In addition our beavers and cubs were able to enjoy weekend camps for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Camping is a vital part of the scout programme with all training geared towards the highlight of the year, Summer Camp.
This year we returned to a familiar camp site (to us) in Criccieth. We use a farmer’s field
which is known in Scouting as a “Green Field Site”. The only amenities on site are a water supply, and plenty of fallen timber. Both are vital, water for obvious reasons, timber is needed as all cooking is done over open altar fires, these consist of half a steel drum mounted on legs Unlike fire pits Altar fires do not require a patch of earth to be dug out and do little or no damage to the round on which they are mounted.
We had a new management team for this camp and they provided a week long experience which was a huge success. We took over 50 youngsters to the camp, the numbers were boosted by Explorer Scouts from Drake ESU who meet in our scout centre. Plans are now underway for the 2023 Summer Camp which will be on Anglesey.
I had stated my intention to stand down as GSL once a replacement could be found. Alex Smith volunteered to be Deputy GSL an offer that was gladly accepted. He was the 2022 Summer Camp leader for the first time and made an excellent job of that. A couple of weeks later I was admitted to hospital which turned out to be an 18 week incarceration followed by a lengthy recovery period. During that time Smithy was at the helm and did a fantastic job for which I and the group are very grateful. With him on board as my deputy I will delay my retirement “Once a scout always a scout”
Despite the challenges resulting from lockdown where most of the weekly meetings were on Zoom we were still able to award in 2022 a total of 10 Chief Scouts Bronze Awards (Beavers), and 3 Chief Scouts Gold Awards (Scouts)
Once again, the group is grateful for the continued support from the Parish Council. As ever they made the offer of funding towards equipment. For once we declined that offer, mainly because the lack of outdoor activities in 2020 and 2021 meant that we did not have any major items of equipment needing replacement, I suspect that will not be the case for the 2024/5 budget!
Finally I must pay a huge thankyou to our leaders (including our young leaders) for the amazing work they have done to provide scouting during the pandemic and helping the group to recover from the effects of the pandemic. When thanking the adult leaders I must include their wives, husbands, partners, girlfriends and boyfriends (I believe in sporting circles they are known as WAGS and HABS) for their continued support. Without their
assistance we could not provide the quality scouting to our young people which they receive.
John Bennett
Group Scout Leader 07825 091114, gsl@wistastonscoutgroup.co.uk
SURPLUS AND LOSS ACCOUNT - 2022 Year To Date
| INCOME Subs Current Year - 2022 12,600.00 £ Previous Year - 2021 48.00 £ |
12,648.00 £ 2,937.29 £ 11,282.30 £ - £ 26,867.59 £ 26,867.59 £ |
EXPENDITURE Utilities Electricity 598.00 £ Water 388.82 £ Gas 551.80 £ Phone/Broadband 172.51 £ |
1,711.13 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundraising Etc. Fundraising 706.85 £ Donations 2,230.44 £ Grants - £ |
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| General Training 360.00 £ Insurance 1,429.97 £ Capitation 4,929.00 £ Subs Expenditure 156.80 £ Hygiene services 384.95 £ HQExpenditure 3,693.33 £ |
10,954.05 £ |
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| Miscellaneous Gift Aid - £ Camps & Activities 10,429.80 £ Floats/Cashing Cheques - £ Interest - £ Explorer Rent 112.50 £ Centre Hire Income 240.00 £ Other 500.00 £ |
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| Equipment Scout & Guide Shop 773.52 £ Camping Gas 129.00 £ General 410.41 £ |
1,312.93 £ |
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| New HQ Funding | |||
| Transfers between accounts (Excluded from Income/expenditure) Moving from Natwest Main Account 10000.00 Natwest Activities account 0.00 OSM Payment Cards 0.00 Moving To Natwest Main Account 0 Natwest Activities account 0 OSM Payment Cards 10000 Transfer balance 0.00 TOTAL Income Opening Balances 01/01/2021 Cash - £ Natwest Main Account 36,964.36 £ Natwest Activities account 1,023.58 £ OSM Payment Cards - £ Unbanked Cheques - £ Assets Liabilities - £ Total 37,987.94 £ |
Sectional Expenses Floats/Cashing Cheques Fundraising Expenditure Camp & Activity Expenditure Gifts Other New Equipment Expenditure |
804.66 £ - £ 254.06 £ 11,894.35 £ 50.79 £ 705.40 £ 999.95 £ 28,687.32 £ |
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| Net Surplus Current Balance Cash - £ Natwest Main Account 26,215.50 £ Natwest Activities account 4,838.44 £ OSM Payment Cards 5,114.27 £ Unbanked Cheques - £ Assets - £ Liabilities - £ Total 36,168.21 £ |
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| 1,819.73 -£ |
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| 26,867.59 £ |
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