Scouts Parkhall Group PARKHALL SCOUT GROUP TRUSTEES REPORT 2022-2023 Charity Number NIC103794 Main Contact for Group Sharon Smith 45b Belfast Road, Antrim, BT41 IPB parkhallscoutgroup@gmail.com Parkhall Group Trustee Board 2022-2023 Chairperson - Mr Chris Robinson Secretary- Mrs Anne Shannon Treasurer- Mrs Margretta Mccullough Mrs Sharon Smith - Group Scout Leader Mrs Erin Macmillan Sharkey (Squirrel Leader) Mr Aaron Scott (Beaver Leader) Mr William Mccullough (Cub Leader) Mr David Mcconkey (Scout Leader) Mr Stephen Patterson (Explorer Leader) Mrs Patrick McQuillan (Parent) Mrs Helen Patterson (Parent) Mrs Ariel Ilardi (parent) Mrs Rachel Sharkey (parent) Parkhall Scout Group Background Information The Scout Group is open to all youth in the surrounding communities, irrespettive of faith or belief or ability, between the ages of 4 and 18. Girls and Boys can join Fn each of the four Sections. All sections meet on a Thursday night in High Street Presbyterian Church halls, Steeple Road, Antrim between 5.30pm and 9.30pm. Northem Ireland Charity Number: NIC103794
Squirrel Scouts: Contact- Erin Sharkey We have run a Squirrel Drey attached to Parkhall since April 2019. This Section is for boys and girls aged 4 to 6 years old. The Squirrel Association Northern Ireland offictally merged with the Scout Association in September 2021. The Squirrel Section runs a balanced programme to encourage personal development of our young people. Activities include storytime, crafts, games, outdoor activities and making friends. There are 12 activity badges and 4 challenge badges that Squirrel Scouts can work towards, culminating in the Chief Scout Acorn Award, the highest achievement a Squirrel Scout can achieve. Beaver Scouts: Contact- Aaron Scott Beaver Scouts are for ages 6 to 8. Their programme includes games, crafts and badge work to build self-confidence, independence and team work. Beaver Scouts have 6 Challenge Awards and 19 Activity Badges they work through in their two years in Beavers. The Chief Scout's Bronze Award is the highest Award they can achieve. Cub Scouts: Contact - Bill Mccullough Cub Scouts are ages 8 to 10 /2. Their programme includes games, crafts and badge work to build self-confidence, independence and team work. They take part in District games like football, hockey and quizzes. Taking part in many outdoor Scouting Activities, such as: hiking, tracking and camping. Cubs Scouts have 7 Challenge Awards and 36 Activity Badges they work towards achieving during their thirty months in the Cub Pack. The Chief's Scout Silver Award is highest Award a Cub which can achieved. Scouts: Contact- David Mcconkey Scouts are for ages 10 /12 to 14. Their programme advances on from Cub Scouts this includes; games, crafts and badge work to build self-confidence and team work. Taking part in many outdoor Scouting attivities, but their hiking and camping is usually for longer periods of time. Scouts have 9 Challenge Awards and 59 Activity Badges, which they work towards achieving during their three and a half years in the Scout Troup. The Chief's Scout Gold Award is highest Award a Scout can achieve. The Scout Section Leaders are undergoing training to be able to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme to interested members of the Group. Northern Ireland Charity Number: NIC103794
Explorer Scouts: Contact - Steven Patterson This age group is between 14 and 18. This older age group are part the District Explorer Unit and as such will sometimes meet as a district unit in other halls. They have 27 Activities Badges, D of E Awards, Explorer Belt, Young Leaders Scheme, Chief's Scouts Platinum and Diamond Awards. The top Award is the Queen's Scout Award. January 2023 Scout Association Census Youth Numbers: Male (percentage change from previous year) Female (change from previous year) Self-identify (% (change from Prefer not to say (change from (y. previous year) previous year) o(0) o(0) o(0) o{0) Squirrels Beavers 9(0) i(0) 10 (43) 4 (33) 15 (7) 3 (_40) 10 (250) 6 (200) Recorded on district census o(0) o(0) o(0) o (_ioo) Cubs Scouts Explorers Leaders / Adult Helpers: Gender Grou Scout Leaderfs Re ort Sharon Smith thanked all the leaders and parent helpers for their support over the year, for the time they dedicate to Scouting and the development of the young people. The group has seen grovrth of 26% from 2021-2022 with 58 young people recorded in the 2023 annual census. The group is still predominately male with a split of approximately 75%/25%. Thts most likely explained by the concurrent running of a Girl Guide Group in the Church. The Group continues to run excellent sectional programmes but also runs joint Group events to foster links between the sections that improves retention when young people move from section to section. Most notably are the annual sleepover in the Church Hall and the Residential Experience at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre in Sept 2022. We have been able to heavily subsidise these activities through generous grants from the Education Authority. The grants have also allowed us to replenish camping Northern Ireland Charity Number: NIC103794
equipment, sports equipment and craft supplies.we currently are operating a small waiting list for Squirrels and Beavers, all other sections are able to accept new members. Treasurerfs Re ort The accounts were reviewed and accepted at the 2022-2023 AGM. They have been audited by an Independent Auditor who was appointed at the 2021-2022 AGM. Annual General Meetin The 2022-2023 AGM was held on 4th December 2023. Changes were made to the Trustees / Group Executive in line with Scouting UK POR. The Group accounts were read and agreed. No changes to the constitution were required. No safeguarding concerns to be addressed. Note was made of the change in titles for adult volunteers and they will be used by the Group from January 2024. I confirm that the information presented in this report on behalf of the Parkhall Scout Group Trustees is true and accurate. Signed: Sharon Smith Chris Robinson (Group Scout Leader) (Group Chairman) DATE: Northern Ireland Charity Number: NIC103794