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← 18th Darlington (1St Middleton St George) Scout Group

2025-03-31-accounts

18[th] Darlington (1[ST] Middleton St George) Scout Group Annual General Meeting 23 September 2025

Agenda

Discussion of differences between 2024 and 2025 lead by treasurer.

Gift aid question by attendee- will be claimed for moving forward. Linking up with OSM.

Rates enquired about and possible routes for the charity to look into too. Discussion on offsetting at cheap rates and times for the solar panels. Information from Richard to be shared.

Helen Cole proposed accepting the accounts, Richard Chambers seconded.

Appointed Trustees

Chairperson – Gary Micklethwaite Proposed by Ros M and seconded by

all.

Treasurer – Ian Groves- Proposed by Helen C and seconded by all.

Co-opted Trustees

Christopher Bright- Not re-elected Rob Thorn- Proposed by Richard Chambers and seconded by all. Helen Cole- Proposed by Carol Lloyd and seconded by Ann-Marie Manwaring.

Ex-officio Trustee

Group Lead Volunteer - Rosalyn Micklethwaite

Hurworth Groups - Potentially use the hall to meet over the winter months.

REPORTS

Group Lead Volunteer

Well, we have survived another eventful year in Scouting.

Lots of changes once again as the Group continues to evolve and adapts to its new home.

We opened the building in May 2024 being able to accommodate Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and within a very short period of time we find that we have a Squirrel Section for those aged 4 to 6 as well as offering a base for an Explorer Unit which gives those aged 14 ½ to 18 somewhere to meet on a Thursday evening.

The year has certainly brought a few challenges but ultimately, we have tried to introduce various activities which would be suitable for all ages of people. We have run a chess club, and this will restart in October, we currently host a weekly ‘Move More’ exercise class, we have tried to start a ‘Dance Fit’ class which had a very limited uptake so had to be cancelled, Cookery activity sessions took place during the Easter and Summer School holidays, and we have recently started a coffee morning cum bridge/card session on a Friday: so, a variety of social activities.

Some of these have proved more successful than others but they have all generated a small amount of additional income which contributes towards the running costs of our Scout building.

We also, held our 1[st] Birthday Celebrations to mark the official opening of our new building. Although, we could have used this event to be a fundraiser for the Group it was felt that it was more important to give something back to our young members and those who attended seemed to have had a brilliant time.

The last year has been a time to get the sections established and to make sure that financially the Group could sustain the new building. We now have Leaders in all of the Sections with their Night’s Away Permit and Wood Beads, which is fantastic and greatly appreciated as it enables us to offer our young people with a more varied programme of activities, and financially the Group is looking in a reasonably healthy position. All of these achievements has meant a lot of hard work and additional time commitment by certain individuals so ‘thank you’.

Therefore, moving forward this year will be a time to concentrate on getting our members out and about more:

A camp was held in July at Great Towers, and this was open to all ages, and it is anticipated that more camps will take place.

It is hoped to include more activity experiences like the fencing and air rifle target shooting that Cubs and Scouts have done. Kayaking has already been arranged for this month, and plans are being made for Scouts to have a trip to York.

On a final note, I should add that none of the above would be possible without the Groups dedicated Leaders and Helpers so a huge ‘thank you’ must go to them. They need not only our ‘thanks’ but also your ‘support’ if we want the Group to continue – we are desperately short on adult help/Leaders, particularly as we will be losing a number of them in the next 12 months for various reasons, so if you are able to assist then please do contact me because without these very important individuals your child could miss out on the joys that Scouting can offer them.

Ros Micklethwaite Group Lead Volunteer

Squirrel Drey

The Squirrel Drey has been going for just under a year and we have seen the Section grow from strength to strength.

They have completed an indoor camp as well as an outdoor camp at Great Tower Adventure Centre, where they got to conquer their fears.

They have also been out and about running us around and trying to keep us fit (lol).

They have completed lots of badges which includes:

First response (first aid) level 1. Let’s celebrate - where they looked at different festivals and what they mean. Space explorer - they looked at the different planets and let me tell you they knew more than me. They looked at which famous astronauts had also been scouts. Get creative - where they built junk modelling.

All about us, challenge - where they learnt about themselves and the community. All about me challenge - where they did lots of drawing and using their imagination. Cooking - where they got to make smorses and pancakes.

We have also had the pleasure of presenting 6 acorn awards which is the highest award a Squirrel can achieve in this Section.

We have lots more coming up this term so more badges to give out.

Carol Lloyde Squirrel Team Leader

Beaver Colony

Current leadership : Lead Volunteer- Rebecca Dargan Assistant Volunteer - Anne Marie Manwearing Assistant Volunteer - Helen Cole Assistant Volunteer – Tracy Everrett Assistant Volunteer – Chris Holden

Overview -

The Section currently has 20 members, with a waiting list of 5. Majority of potential beavers on the waiting are already 6, so are just waiting for a place to come available. The Section has a makeup of 25% individuals with additional needs and about 50% who are in their second year of the programme.

The Colony currently requires a minimum of 5 adults to run effectively and not all volunteers are able to attend each week. A parent rota has been established with some parents volunteering more than others.

Badges:

Over the past 12-months- 230 badges have been awarded

Challenge Badges : Adventure-7 Outdoor-1 Personnel-10 Skills-1 World-8 Teamwork- 20

Activity Badges :

Animal Friend- 14 Book reader-4 Builder-14 Camp craft- 2 Communicator-13 Cook-1 Creative-18 Cyclist-14 Experiment-18 Explore-15 Gardener- 2 International-16 Safety-15 Navigator-17 Nights away-8 Snowsports-1 Swimmer-3

Peer leadership- 2 Joining In-6

Bronze Chief Scout Awards - 3. This is the highest award a Beaver can achieve in this Section.

We currently have a small but growing cohort of beavers that are eager to compete badges at home alongside their parents. Parents are keen to send evidence to the lead volunteer. Beavers sharing badges they have completed at home has encouraged others to do so as well.

The Colony is an active Section which includes a mixture of both boys and girls. There is an emphasis on teamwork, having fun and taking risks in a controlled way to ensure all beavers try new activities, stretch themselves and begin to develop leadership aspects. Some of the activities the beavers enjoyed the most has been fire lighting, creating marble runs, hikes and going on camps. The Group camp to Great Towers was a highlight for the beavers who attended.

The Lead Volunteer completed nights away (indoor) permit and wood beads in September 2024.

Over the coming year the Colony plans to offer further opportunities to camp and sleepover as a section. We would love to increase opportunities for beavers to meet away from the meeting place to complete more adventurous activities, such as archery. It would be great if we could also join in with a District event in the coming year, as unfortunately due to family commitments of leaders this has been difficult this year.

The Colony will be looking to appoint a new Beaver Team Leader within the next year, due to the current Lead Volunteer needing to step away from the role due to relocation.

Becky Dargan Beaver Team Leader

Cub Pack

The Cub Pack experienced a few changes prior to the end of the Summer 2024 term, however since then it has grown from strength to strength.

Since then, the Cubs have been busy working towards their badges and doing really.

They have done both indoor and outdoor camps. The camp at Great Towers Adventure Centre saw them grow in confidence particularly as some of them hadn’t been away from home before.

During this time, they have completed the following badges:

Emergency aid 1 and 2. Science - where they got to build volcanos.

Cooking - they made pancakes and looked at how to chop and prepare different vegetables.

Our adventure challenge.

Our skills challenge - where they did lots of different skills like rope tying and how to make you mums and dad a cuppa and iron simple items. Disability awareness Pioneering

Outdoor adventure where they played games and developed teamwork skills. Road and rail safety.

We have also presented 5 Chief Scout Silver Awards to the children that have completed all their challenge badges. This is the highest award a Cub can achieve in this section and therefore, as you may be aware, the new term has started with homework which forms an important part of a Cubs learning and assists in them completing their challenge badges.

The Cubs also had the opportunity to take part in fencing, although real swords weren’t used, as well as to attend the Remembrance Parade at the War Memorial.

The objective is for our young people to have a wonderful time at Cubs however it takes a lot of planning and hard work to put a program together so that they get though their badges so, like the other Sections, we need adult Leaders/helpers so any assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Carol Lloyd Cub Team Leader

Scout Troop

In my time helping at Scouts there have been a few changes in leadership, and while the long-term remains uncertain, we have a steady ship for now.

Our recent focus has been on basic Scouting skills and the pursuit of top awards; this will continue over the coming period.

We took part in the Great Tower camp, along with the 7th which was a great experience and have also registered an interest in the upcoming District Expedition. There are plans underway for a camp in October along with a day trip to York in November, all of these will be self-funded.

Longer term we do require adult volunteers on a more permanent basis; however, Parents have been assisting, and this has been very much appreciated.

Let's see what the next year has in store!

Richard Chambers Scout Team Leader

18th Darlington (1st Middleton Saint George) Scout Group Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2025

Fixed Assets
Freehold
Furniture & Equipment
Current Assets
Prepaid Capitation
Cash & Bank Balances -General Fund
Bank Balances -Restrcted & Designated
Total
Current Liabilities
District
WI: Hall Rent
Creditors
Retention on building
Total
Net Current Assets
Total Net Assets
RESERVES
General Reserve
Brought Forward
Movement in Year
Carried Forward
Restricted & Designated Reserves
Fixed Asset Reserve - Restricted
Brought Forward
Movement in Year
Carried Forward
Designated Funds
Brought Forward
Movement in Year
Carried Forward
Total Reserves		 £
£
393,853.77
22,595.00
416,448.77
2,466.00
4,136.89
30,128.25
36,731.14
0.00
0.00
0.00
-9,975.24
-9,975.24
26,755.90
443,204.67
-5,088.30
-846.73
-5,935.03
-427,341.32
11,211.29
-416,130.03
-13,007.27
-8,132.34
-21,139.61
-443,204.67
2025
Balance Sheet		 £
£
£
£
£
General
Restricted &
Designated
Total
Income
379,200.52
Subscriptions
-7,146.33
-7,146.33
9,799.24
Gift Aid
0.00
0.00
388,999.76
Fundraising
-1,198.68
-1,198.68
Restricted Fund Fundraising
0.00
0.00
Activity Income
-912.00
-912.00
3,125.00
Training
0.00
0.00
2,122.87
Donations
-265.25
0.00
-265.25
70,354.56
Use of Building
-1,229.00
-1,229.00
75,602.43
Interest Received
-136.80
-405.93
-542.73
Grants
-19,970.72
-19,970.72
0.00
0.00
Total
-10,888.06
-20,376.65
-31,264.71
0.00
-19,165.30
Expenditure
-19,165.30
Capitation
3,125.00
3,125.00
Rates, Utilities, Insurance etc
0.00
8,733.16
8,733.16
56,437.13
Activity Expenses & Equipment
10,558.81
10,558.81
Fundraising Expenses
152.50
152.50
445,436.89
Scout Database Costs
0.00
0.00
Uniform Costs
1,507.16
1,507.16
Stationery
72.97
72.97
Training
0.00
0.00
-5,434.20
Bank & Card Charges
210.81
210.81
345.90
Professional Fees & Opening Costs
9,136.52
9,136.52
-5,088.30
Depreciation
0.00
0.00
Total
15,627.25
17,869.68
33,496.93
-40,908.32
-386,433.00
Surplus of Income over Expenditure
4,739.19
-2,506.97
2,232.22
-427,341.32
Transfers Between Reserves
-5,585.92
5,585.92
0.00
-500.00
-12,507.27
Movement in Year
-846.73
3,078.95
2,232.22
-13,007.27
-445,436.89
Income & Expenditure Account
2024
2025		 2024
£
Total
-6,319.00
-655.50
-413.68
0.00
0.00
0.00
-5,748.70
-2,556.33
-396,121.26
-411,814.47
2,460.00
0.00
933.82
0.00
147.00
1,111.90
45.59
79.99
180.91
7,100.00
0.00
12,059.21
-399,755.26
0.00
-399,755.26

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of 18[th] Darlington (1[st] Middleton Saint George) Scout Group

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 18[th] Darlington (1[st] Middleton Saint George) Scout Group for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the 18[th] Darlington (1[st] Middleton Saint George) Scout Group you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the 18[th] Darlington (1[st] Middleton Saint George) Scout Group 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 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the 18[th] Darlington (1[st] Middleton Saint George) Scout Group as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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: Laura Wilkinson

Address: 14 Woodcrest Road, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 8EF

Date: 19 September 2025