2024-03-31-annual-report

5[th ] ANTRIM (ALL SAINTS) SCOUT GROUP CHARITY REG NUMBER: NIC103768

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 1[st ] APRIL 2023 -31[st ] MARCH 2024

Our organisation is based at:

All Saints Parish Centre, Railway St, Antrim, Co. Antrim, BT41 4AE

• Our current charity trustees since 18[th ] August 2015 are:

1. Kristy Melissa Robinson (Group Scout Leader)

2. Venerable Dr Stephen Richard McBride (Assistant Group Scout Leader)

3. Fiona Patricia Simpson (Group Treasurer)

4. Amanda Jayne McClelland (Hon Sec) (since 1[st ] May 2018)

5. Raymond McCune (Chairman (since 2[nd] May 2023)

• Our governing document is:

The Royal Charter of the Scout Association 4[th ] January 1912, as amended by supplemental charters dated 28/03/1949, 18/02/1959, 05/05/1967 and 19/07/1991

• Purposes of our charity: Promoting the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities

• Public and Private Benefit of our charity:

❖ THE TRUSTEES HAVE HAD REGARD TO THE CHARITY COMMISSION’S PUBLIC BENEFIT REQUIREMENT STATUTORY GUIDANCE

1. The benefit which flows from our purpose is that young people are empowered to make a positive contribution to society through being engaged and supported in their personal development, including physically, intellectually, socially and spiritually.

2. This benefit is demonstrated through Scouting making a positive impact in our communities; preparing young people to be active citizens; embracing and contributing to social change; being as diverse as the communities in which we operate. These are evidenced by feedback from our beneficiaries and the wider community.

3. There is no harm arising from our purposes. Scouting operates within a framework of safety to enable young people to take part in adventurous activities safely.

4. Scouting’s beneficiaries are children and young people.

5. The only private benefit from this purpose is that Adult Volunteers are trained to deliver the programme, but this is incidental and necessary because it is needed to operate in today’s society, when working with young people.

• Main activities to further purposes for public benefit:

Scouting actively engages and supports young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

• Main achievements in the year: (Group Scout Leader’s Report)

In the past year, 5[th] Antrim membership has increased slightly. As of April 2024, Scouting enrolment stands at 37 young people over 4 sections; 9 Explorer Scouts, 12 Scouts, 11 Cubs and 5 Beavers. This is up by a total of 5 members since this time last year.

Our current leadership team consists of Abbie, Catherine and parent Brittany in Beavers with Young Leaders Jordan and Lauren assisting. In the Cub Section we have Claire and Amanda with Young Leaders Kai and Daniel helping. Daniel began volunteering as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award, and we are delighted to say that he has expressed a desire to continue in this role. In Scouts there are currently 3 uniformed leaders, Stephen, Joe and Nick, supported by Peter and Ian. We have no Explorer leaders at present and are currently very eager to recruit volunteers for this role.

We have been struggling to recruit new leaders over the past few years, and as a result, we often have to ask leaders to supervise multiple sections on the same night. On occasion, this has resulted in Beavers and Cubs having to merge together for the evening, which is not ideal, but ensures supervisory ratios are at a safe level. We encourage anyone who would like to volunteer to come forward so that we can provide a better experience for all our young members and for those who do volunteer to lead them.

On a more positive note, our bank balance is in good health. The decision to charge fees on a term-by-term basis has made a great difference to account administration and has freed up around 10 minutes per night per section as we are no longer spending time collecting and counting money. This time is now put to good use delivering the nightly programme. I would like to thank Group Treasurer Fiona Simpson for her continual commitment to ensuring our accounts are kept to the highest standards and for completing countless funding applications and Gift Aid documentation.

Badgework continues to be the main focus for most sections. Beavers have been awarded 79 badges in past 12 months. These include, 22 Challenge badges and 45 Activity badges including Builder, Experiment, Book Reader, Global Issues, Faith and many others. Beavers earned badges in Emergency Aid, a real skill for life that they

will build upon as they journey through the older sections. We were delighted to award the Chief Scout’s Bronze Award to two of our young Beaver members. Beavers took part in Beaver Rally Day late last May in Crawfordsburn and more recently a District wide St George’s Day Hike

The Cub section earned 160 badges including 18 Challenge badges, and over 80 activity badges such as, Astronomer, Air Activities, Backwoods Cooking, Home Help, International, Personal Safety, Scientist and more. Three of our Cubs achieved the Chief Scout’s Silver Award which is the top award in the section.

Cubs attended District camp in Crawfordsburn and an indoor weekend camp at the Dunluce Guide Centre.

The Scout section also had a busy year of badgework with 62 badges being awarded over the course of the year. Challenge badges earned included, Creative, Outdoors, Expedition, Teamwork, Team Leader, and World. Activity badges included Air Researcher, Model Maker, Scientist, Chef, and Athletics.

The Explorer section is based on life skills rather than earning badges. On a weekly basis, our Explorers join in with Scout activities and a few of them are going through Young Leader Training. Two of our Explorers completed all of Module One of the Young Leader Training Programme through their attendance at Dunluce Cub Camp.

We have another two Explorers currently going through Expedition Training to attend a canoeing trip to the Dordogne later this year. Unfortunately, the District Explorer camp in April was cancelled due to dangerous weather conditions.

Cubs, Scouts and Explorers enjoyed an evening visiting the Ulster Aviation Society Museum near Lisburn. Everyone who attended earned their Air Activities staged badges and it is safe to say that the leaders enjoyed it every bit as much as the Scouts. As a group, we celebrated the King’s Coronation with a celebratory lunch for all the Parishioners of All Saints Church, served by our Scouts and Explorers. In April 2024, the Group held a Beetle Drive to raise funds for the local Foodbank.

We mentioned last year about upcoming changes to the structure of Scouting throughout the UK. However, to date, there has been no clear guidance from The Scout Association as to how best to progress, so these changes have not yet been implemented within 5[th] Antrim Scout Group.

I would like to thank all those who volunteer as leaders for their commitment over the past year, and you, the parents for supporting your children to attend Scouts and take part in Scouting activities throughout the year.

7[th] May 2024

Kristy Robinson Group Scout Leader

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REVIEW OF OUR CHARITY’S FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF 31[st] MARCH 2024 5[th] ANTRIM (ALL SAINTS) SCOUT GROUP TREASURERS REPORT FOR AGM 07/05/2024

Our accounts show a strong recovery in the post Covid period.

We received a total of £3530 in various grants, including £900 from ANBC for a coronation event, and were able to claim back £548.63 in Gift Aid.

We gave £200 to Antrim and Newtownabbey foodbank in December 2023 and the further £369 raised through our recent Beetle Drive is due to be soon paid to the foodbank and will be included in 2024-5

accounts.

We had £3777.68 in the bank on 31[st] March but that amount was soon lowered to less than £3000, as invoices cleared over Easter. It is anticipated that summer camps will consume a good deal of our funds but that we shall still be in good financial health, when the new Scouting year starts in September.

I wish once again to thank Alex Chestnutt, who audits our accounts pro bono.

Fiona Simpson

Hon. Treasurer 7[th] May 2024

AGREED BY ALL TRUSTEES

SIGNED BY TRUSTEE FIONA SIMPSON (5[th] ANTRIM SCOUT GROUP TREASURER) Fiona Simpson 07/05/2024