## 7th Ballymena (ALL SAINTS) SCOUT GROUP CHARITY REG NUMBER: NIC103861 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 1st APRIL 2023 - 31st MARCH 2024 

• Our organisation is based at: 

All Saints Parish Centre, Cushendall Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT43 6HA 

- Our current charity trustees are: 

- 1.Marcus Cooper (Treasurer) 

2. Mari O'Hagan (Secretary) 

3. Caitrin Kincaid (Chairperson) 

- Our governing document is: 

The Royal Charter of the Scout Association 4th 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. 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 



2. This benefit is demonstrated through Scouting making a positive impact in our communities; preparing young people to be ac tive 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: (Leader’s Report) 

Group Scout Leader’s Report 

See full report below 

- Review of our charity’s financial position as at March 31st 2024: 

Our funds are in a healthy state and we do not have any debts or funds in material deficit. 

We do not currently have a reserves policy but collect subscriptions on a regular basis in order to satisfy contingencies andanticipated regular expenses. 

_Eugene Neeson_ - Group Scout Leader Marcus Cooper - Treasurer DATE: 11/09/2024 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 



## 7[th] Ballymena Scout Group – All Saints 

## **BEAVER COLONY REPORT** 

#SkillsForLife 


_A very active year_ 

- At maximum numbers (18) 

- District Easter Hike 

- Visit to Fire Station 

- Canoeing with the Cubs 

- Waterfowl Park Clean-up 

- Trip to Rose Park Farm 

- Pantomime with entire Scout Group 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 



## 7[th] Ballymena Scout Group – All Saints #SkillsForLife 

## **CUB PACK REPORT** 


_A very active year_ 

- At maximum numbers (24) the full year, 8 Cubs moved to Scouts 

- Participation in all District events – Quiz, District Hike,  Football, Archery, Unihockey, Orienteering, District Flag (Scout Skills Competition) 

- We won the Orienteering and District Quiz for 2[nd] year in a row!!!  

- Trips by train (Cubs favourite transport!) to SSE Arena for Ice Hockey 

- BIG Catch-up on badges, still making up for lost Covid time 

- Priority to get everyone the Chief Scout’s Silver Award whilst moving to Scouts 

- District Cub Camp at Crawfordsburn 

- Pantomime with the entire Scout Group 

- We won District Pack of the Year!!!! 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 



## 7[th] Ballymena Scout Group – All Saints 

## **SCOUT TROOP REPORT** 

#SkillsForLife 


New section leader, record numbers of young people 

- Pioneering  - knots and lashings 

- Static canoe camp 

- Outdoor cooking 

- Hiking and orienteering 

- Train trip to Ulster Museum 

- Mournes weekend trip 

- Crebilly environmental project 

- Surf night Portstewart 

- Canoe expedition - Newferry - Portglenone-Portna- Movanagher 

- Slemish hike 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 



## 7[th] Ballymena Scout Group – All Saints 

## **EXPLORER SCOUT REPORT** 

#SkillsForLife 


Massive Growth! 

- 23 Explorer Scouts – largest ever, biggest in the District 

- Running a distinct separate section from the Scout section 

- Summer Camp – jointly with Scouts was a great success 

- Continue to offer the President’s Award / Duke of Edinburgh Programme 

- First Silver DofE  

- Ballyhornan weekend – Warm weekend in September 

- Lots of preparation for France 2024 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 



## 7[th] Ballymena Scout Group – All Saints 

## **GROUP SCOUT LEADER REPORT** 

## #SkillsForLife 


## Another year of maximum numbers (April 2023 –March 2024) 

- Very high retention rate, hardly anyone leaving 

- All sections running engaging and varied programmes 

- Continued success with grant applications 

- Despite limited Fundraising, Finances in a healthy state 

- Continued support from Parish & Parish Centre 

- Continued Support from Slemish District 

- We bought a minibus! 

## Points for improvement 

- 22 Children 6yo+ on the waiting list to join, 7 under 6’s “booking” their place 

- Demands put on some leaders are still excessive - Several leaders still double/triple jobbing – contributing to leader burn-out 

- Focus on ensuring young people get the badges they’ve earned 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 



7[th] Ballymena Scout Group – All Saints #SkillsForLife 

## **GROUP SCOUT LEADER REPORT** 


Group Scout Leader Eugene Neeson Beaver Section Cub Section Scout Section Explorer Section Leader Leader Leader Leader Danuta Smolinska Eugene Neeson Frances Gribben Marcus Cooper Assistant Leaders Assistant Leaders Assistant Leaders Elizabeth Savory Claire Hau Assistant Leaders Rita Shannon Lisa Doherty Aedan Loughran Rita Shannon Martin McNeill Cormac Butler Aleksandra Baczkowska Paul Westwood Ryan Goodier Liam Shannon Aedan Loughran Cormac Butler Parent Helpers Maria Cooper Aedan Loughran Bartek Delas 

Assistant Leaders Claire Hau Aedan Loughran Cormac Butler Parent Helpers Stephanie Vajda 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 



## 7[th] Ballymena Scout Group – All Saints 

## #SkillsForLife 

## **RUNNING THE GROUP - OCCASIONAL HELPERS** 


We are not a youth club – nobody gets paid, everything we do is voluntary 25 Occasional Helpers registered on Compass 

- Can help with any activities, or just be in the hall to achieve adult/yp ratios 

- Registered on Compass, mandatory AccessNI check 

- Online training Modules – Safety & Safeguarding 

- WhatsApp Group for our pool of helpers 

## Points for improvement 

- 22 Children 6yo+ on the waiting list to join, 7 under 6’s “booking” their place 

- Starting a Squirrel section? 

- Demands put on some leaders are still excessive - Several leaders still double/triple jobbing 

- Focus on ensuring young people get the badges they’ve earned 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 



## 7[th] Ballymena Scout Group – All Saints 

## #SkillsForLife 

## **GROUP SCOUT LEADER REPORT** 


## My Wish List 

- Find a person with management, organisational & communication skills to take over as Group Scout Leader 

- Recruit assistant leaders for all sections so leaders don’t have to double job 

- Recruit more young leaders (Duke of Ed / President’s Award) 

- Add more parents to the list of Occasional helpers 

- Be able to offer scouting to every young person who wants to join All Saints Scout Group 

REMEMBER – All leaders are volunteers, giving up their time freely 

THANKS TO ALL PARENTS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT 

Caterpillar: Confidential Green