## **Wistaston Scout Group (35[th] South West Cheshire) Registered Charity No: 520281 www.wistastonscoutgroup.org.uk**
## **ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31[st] 2023**
I reported last year that our youth numbers, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, had returned to pre pandemic level. I am pleased to say that trend has continued and we now have in excess of 100 young persons in the group. Although we don’t have anybody waiting to join a section (who is of age to join that section) we do have a substantial number of youngsters waiting to join beavers once they are of the age to do so. So the future looks very good. At the same time the number of leaders has shown a small increase but some of these are at university so are only available when down from Uni. One or two sections could definitely benefit from extra help, so if anyone can spare that mythical hour a week then please let me know. Just to set the myth right it as much as you want to give but it is about 90 minutes per week (the length of a section meeting).
The Scout Association, now to be known as The Scouts, is coming to the end of their latest five year plan (ending at the end of 2025) and there are challenging times ahead. For example:
- There is a new digital membership tool on the horizon. It is currently being tested in a number of areas. It is claimed that it will make leader’s lives easier with everything under one programme, it will replace the discredited Compass system. It does mean that we will need reliable Wi-Fi in this building. Parents will, as with Compass, have access to their child’s records .
- Training is changing and future leaders will have the choice whether or not to complete the wood badge. Some modules will continue to be mandatory, The
Safeguarding and Safety modules are being strengthened and made more robust. Some of this was planned but the tragic events five years ago on the Great Orme resulting in an explorer losing his life and the resulting inquest has placed training in the spotlight.
- Risk Assessments now drive everything we do, it would be very foolish of me to say that we are fully compliant at all times but what I can say is that everything we do is risk assessed and that assessment is recorded and available for scrutiny. For example when we go to summer camp everything we do during that week is risk assessed from the moment they step on the mini buses in Nantwich to the moment they get back to Crewe a week later. The same applies to Beavers for example on a nature walk in Bluebell Woods on a section evening or cubs at Forest camp site for a weekend camp.
- You may have seen some name changes of roles in scouting. We are all volunteers but the powers that be think that this should be reinforced so I should be referred to as a Group lead volunteer others are Beaver lead volunteer etc or section volunteers. This has not been greeted with universal acclaim.
- A big change which is just under way in which the group is administered. A few years ago we had a parents committee to do this, that was changed to a group executive that has now become the Group Trustees Board with the emphasis on governance. The changes have come as a result of comments by the Charity Commission and the size of the Board has been reduced to between 8 and 12 in number. Wistaston Scouts has always had a strong and active team unlike a number of groups in the district who struggle to recruit adults to their boards. Having said that we would welcome one or two more adults willing to help with the governance of the group.
- One more point worth noting is that there is (another) uniform review under way,what that will result in is anyone’s guess at the moment.
I have previously spoken about our young leader programme where youth members aged 14 to 18 years assist with one of the sections as well as having the option of attending Explorers. This programme which is administered by Di Blurton from District continues to pay dividends. Once they reach 18 years of age, they can apply to become adult leaders, most of our young leaders do go on to become adult leaders. So the young leader
programme continues to provide new leaders for the group.
Scouting within the group has, as ever, been great fun with a lot of our youngster achieving the top awards in their sections with:
20 Chief Scouts Bronze Awards (Beavers)
1 Chief Scouts Silver Award (Cubs)
8 Chief Scouts Gold Awards (Scouts) Being awarded in 2023
In addition and totally out of the blue I was awarded the MBE in the 2023 Kings Birthday Honours. I was amazed, dumbstruck and very, very humbled by this. I mention it in this report because having read the citation this is as much a tribute to the leaders past and present who I have worked with over the last 17 years as it is for me. I was invested into the order at Windsor Castle in February 2024 by HRH Prince of Wales (more of that in the 2024 report). So like Emily Edge who as a Cub met the future Queen a couple of years ago on behalf of scouting and this group, I have now met and shaken hands with the future King what next for the Group?
We are one of only a few groups in the District who can lay claim to holding traditional camps under canvas. That means that once they reach scouts they do everything as a patrol; they pitch their own tents sort their own fires and cook their own meals truly gaining skills for life. There is always a leader in the background monitoring progress and giving guidance where necessary. Added to that scouts have a week long summer camp and have done so for many years (missing out during the pandemic). 2023 saw them using a new (to us) site on Anglesey and a great time was had by all. The highlight for most was a trip to RAF Valley which had been arranged by Phil Spencer who was group chair at the time and had one or two connections in the RAF. The youngsters got to see the working base, sit in a helicopter and generally have a great time. Sadly there was no fixed wing flying whilst they were there so I guess we will have to go back again in 2027.
Once again, the group is grateful for the continued support from the Parish Council. As ever they made the offer of funding towards equipment. In 2023/24 they met half of the cost of a heavy duty Gazebo replacing the old one which has given 15 years service.
Finally I must pay a huge thankyou to our leaders (including our young leaders) and group trustees for the amazing work they have done to provide scouting during 2023. 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 in Wistaston Scouts.
August 2024 John Bennett MBE Group Lead Volunteer (Group Scout Leader) 07825 091114, gsl@wistastonscoutgroup.co.uk
## **SURPLUS AND LOSS ACCOUNT - 2023 Year To Date**
|**INCOME**
**Subs**
Current Year - 2023
12,528.00
£
Previous Year - 2022
-
£
**12,528.00**
**£**
**Fundraising Etc.**
Fundraising
3,524.23
£
Donations
950.00
£
Grants
-
£
**4,474.23**
**£**
**Miscellaneous**
Gift Aid
-
£
Camps & Activities
11776.24
Floats/Cashing Cheques
-
£
Interest
-
£
Explorer Rent
-
£
Centre Hire Income
940.00
£
Other
814.33
£
**13,530.57**
**£**
**New HQ Funding**
**-**
**£**
30,532.80
£
**Transfers between accounts (Excluded from Income/expenditure)**
**Moving from**
Natwest Main Account
130.00
Natwest Activities account
2500.00
OSM Payment Cards
0.00
**Moving To**
Natwest Main Account
0
Natwest Activities account
130.00
OSM Payment Cards
2500.00
Transfer balance
0.00
**TOTAL Income**
**30,532.80**
**£**
**Opening Balances 01/01/2023**
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**
**£**|**EXPENDITURE**
**Utilities**
Electricity
894.00
£
Water
373.70
£
Gas
696.40
£
Phone/Broadband
480.00
£|**2,444.10**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
||**General**
Training
-
£
Insurance
1,586.79
£
Capitation
5,605.50
£
Subs Expenditure
146.61
£
Hygiene services
101.40
£
HQExpenditure
1,386.18
£|**8,826.48**
**£**|
||**Equipment**
Scout & Guide Shop
673.79
£
Camping Gas
-
£
General
306.00
£|**979.79**
**£**|
||**Sectional Expenses**
**Floats/Cashing Cheques**
**Fundraising Expenditure**
**Camp & Activity Expenditure**
**Gifts**
**Other**
**New Equipment Expenditure**|875.23
£
-
£
495.98
£
13,169.93
£
-
£
130.00
£
-
£|
||Net Surplus
**Current Balance**
Cash
-
£
Natwest Main Account
30,791.37
£
Natwest Activities account
6,454.29
£
OSM Payment Cards
2,533.84
£
Unbanked Cheques
-
£
Assets
-
£
Liabilities
-
£
Total
**39,779.50**
**£**|26,921.51
£|
|||3,611.29
£|
||||
|||**30,532.80**
**£**|
||||
1
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the
..SCOUT GROUPI
NCIL
I report on the accounts of the GrOuplDi9trOf the year ended ..........
which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and relaled notes set out on pages.........
This report is made solely to the trustees in accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has
been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's trustees those matters l am required to state to them in an
Independent Examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or
assume responsibilFty to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees for my examination work.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Group'slDistrict's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is
not required for this year (under Section 144 of the Charities A 2011 (the Charities Ad)) and that an independent
examinalion is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
Exarnlne the accounts (under Section 145 of the Charities Act):
To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under
Section 145(5Xb) of the Charities Act); and
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basls of Independent Examinerfs report
My examination was carried out in accordan with the General Directions given by the Charlty Commissioners. An
examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the GrouplDistrict and a comparison of the
accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures In the
accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures underlaken
do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to
whether the accounts present a ttrue and fairf view and the report 15 limited to those matters set out in the statement
below.
Independent Examiner's statement
In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my atlention (other than that disclosed below '):
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act 'and
to prepare accounts which aOrd with the accounting records and comply with the accounting
requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met. or
2. to which, in my 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 if they do not apply
r)r-i
Qualification-
Address: .....
IsryA£rDTrJ
i fj /. £ l J.o.2.4L......................................................
LT900006