# **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT For the Period 2023/24** # **1st Ballymacash Scout Group Charity Reg number: NIC 103867** # **Trustees Annual Report 1[st] April 2023 – 31[st] March 2024** ## **1[st] Ballymacash Scout Group–based at:** St Marks Church, Ballymacash Road, Lisburn, BT28 3EZ ## **Current charity trustees, acting for the whole year** : Margaret Irwin (Group Scout Leader) Jonny Farmer (Chairperson) Linda Walker (Treasurer) Emma Moriarity (Secretary) Noel Irwin (Assistant Group Scout Leader and Cub Scout Leader) Victoria McMahon (Squirrel Scout Leader) Sharon McKnight (Beaver Scout Leader) Michael Conn (Scout Leader) John G Clarke (Explorer Scout Leader) ## **Governing Document** Scout Association Royal Charter and supplemental Charters ## **Our purpose** The purpose of Scouting is to actively engage and support young people in their personal development as individuals and as responsible citizens, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. 1[st] Ballymacash Scout Group Page | 1 **Public and private beneficiaries** ## _**Public Benefit Statement**_ _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 working with young people_ ## **Public benefit arising from activities** Throughout the year each section has enjoyed taking part in various activities that concentrate on the overall development of each member ## **Summary of activities and achievements** ## **Squirrels** Squirrels had a busy programme in 2023/24 with an average of XXXXX children attending each week. Some of the programme highlights include; pea shoots growing, superhero night, animal day, promise night, Christmas Gruffalo walk, worms and compost, Aviation society night, challenge award, world space and games nights. A huge thank you to all the Squirrels leaders XXXX for helping deliver the programme to all Squirrels. ## **Beavers** Beavers had a full programme in 2023/24 with an average of 24 children each week with five leaders. We completed a range of activities to achieve a range of badges; Emergency Aid stage 1 badge, International, space, experiment, money skills, hobbies and personal safety activity badges. We worked towards the My world, my skills and teamwork challenge awards. We enjoyed visits from Scottish dancers and Harry Ferguson Memorial Pipe Band who helped us celebrate Burns night as part of international badge. Our visit to Lisburn Fire Station and the Library were very enjoyable. In April this year many of our beavers took part in their first St Georges Parade. In May we had a great day out at Beaver Rally Day in Crawsfordburn Scout Centre where the theme was Our World. In August we held our summer day camp at Lisburn District Woodland where we spent the day practising our woodwork skills and putting up tents before a campfire and home. Thanks to our ever committed Beaver leaders Gillian, Natalie, Erin, Michael and Katie for their support and help in planning and delivering the programme throughout the year. ## **Cubs** 1[st] Ballymacash Scout Group Page | 2 The Cub Scouts had a busy 2023/24 with an average weekly attendance of over 23 children and 3 leaders during which some 393 activity and challenge badges were awarded as part of our varied badge programme, these included; Artists, Athletes, Athletes Plus, Communications, DIY, Entertainers Hobbies, Home Help, Home Safety, Local Knowledge Personal Safety, Road Safety, Sportsman Activity Badges alongside of the Air Activities, Hikes Away , Nights Away, Musician and Swimmers Staged Activity Badges and the Adventure, Personal and Teamwork Challenge Badges. Additionally, the Pack took part in all 3 District Cub events, winning both the Quiz and Indoor Football Competitions and 3rd in the District Multisports event. We had Camps to Crawfordsburn in the Summer of 2023 along with a winter overnight stay in Gosford Forest Park in February 2024. The Pack also held outings to Lisburn Bowling Alley, Clip n Climb (Dundonald Ice Bowl), the Ulster Aviation Society, Lisburn Cinema and an Orienteering event with 44[th] Belfast Cubs around Hillsborough Forest Park. Each Cub took part in 4 hikes. Thanks to Ian, Reuben and Noel alongside Young Leader Joshua Parkes for their ongoing dedication and commitment. ## **Scouts** The Scouts had on average 30 Scouts per night, keeping us very busy. Scouts earned 317 badges including: My Faith, Local Knowledge, Fundraising, Fire Safety and Astronomer. Scouts also earned some of the Challenge Awards such as, Teamwork, Personal, Creative and Adventure Challenge badges. In April 2023, Scouts headed away for the weekend, being hosted very kindly by 1st Randalstown Scout Group in their halls. ~~Scouts worked together in patrols to cook, clean up and set up for each meal. A~~ ctivities included archery, uni-hoc, team games, treasure hunt around the town and litter pick-up in Randalstown Forest, finishing at the shores of Lough Neagh a movie night and Scouts Sunday service. Other highlights include; Astronomy Dome from Armagh Planetarium enabled all sections to discover the wonders of the solar system in an interactive and immersive experience, we celebrated the Coronation with a family treasure hunt in Wallace Park, at Dagger Wood undertook our Astronomer badge and installed some new homes for the wildlife, participated in Trash for Trash event at Wallace Park. A further highlight was our Jerry Can Challenge in midMay as part of their Global Awareness badge, carrying jerry cans of water to gain an understanding of the difficulties experienced in some countries to have the basic necessities of life every day. Our Theipval Barracks trip took us through problem solving and field tasks with the Army. Scouts also got to use the climbing wall, racing to the top and abseiling back down again, which was a very enjoyable sunny evening. We also had a night of tomahawk and angel throwing in the Woodland at Dagger Road and enjoyed our Awards Night in the middle of the month in the hall with all sections. Mia Millen-Vignon was awarded Scout of the Year with Ellie Farmer being awarded the new Endeavour Award. The Scouts then got their kit packed up and headed to Crawfordsburn for T.O.E. (The Outdoor Experience) camp. We had an excellent weekend with Scout and Guide groups from all over Ireland at the site, with Scouts being bused out to activities at the Belfast Activity Centre, Bangor and the shores of Belfast Lough. Scouts enjoyed a wide variety of activities including, rafting, caving, climbing, abseiling, archery, bungee runs, shooting, drumming and a compulsory campfire. To start in September 2023 we had our Hammock Camp in the Woodland. Closely followed by Moving Up in the hall when patrol leaders worked with their patrols on quizzes and challenges as we got to know the new Scouts. All new recruits had to “Walk the Rope.” Further highlights include NIE visit who taught Scouts about electricity, especially aspects around safety, Fire Station visit to help understand more about how this emergency service works – getting up close and personal to the fire engines and a little wet with the hoses! Pioneering tasks included creating catapults and learn basic pioneering skills throughout. We were hosted by our neighbours in Elmwood PC youth club where everyone enjoyed the table tennis, pool, football, uni hoc and the tuck-shop! For Christmas, Victoria lead a session when the Scouts made felt robins, clay ornaments and Christmas cards and we had our Christmas Dinner night, with a night of traditional games and a full Christmas dinner – with Santa making an appearance. Made for More, a Christian charity who encouraged us 1[st] Ballymacash Scout Group Page | 3 to think about our identity and our faith provided a fun, interactive night, full of team challenges, individual games and thought-provoking message. Patrols continued their Creative Challenge award by building iconic landmarks out of junk, with the Eiffel Tower winning the competition. The new gas cookers enabled Scouts to learn how to use them and cooked pancakes in patrols. The Linen Hall museum visit, enabled Scouts to learn about local history and try our hand at fabric making. Divis in the Dark and our Sponsored Walk, walking from Holywood to Crawfordsburn and back again – all in aid of the Cancer Fund for Children was a huge success, the Scouts raised and impressive £1500 for the charity. We spent lots of time working improving our map skills to prepare our Gold Award Scouts for their Expedition and teach the new Scouts some of the basics. We finished off the month by earning our Librarian badge and had an enjoyable afternoon at Lisburn Library learning about how the library organises books, how to conduct research and a tour of the facilities. It has been another busy 12 months for the Scouts, with a variety of activities from being outdoors on camps, to learning new skills and helping our local community. A huge thank you to Michale, Mark, Carol, Victoria and Eloise for making Scouting everything it should be. ## **Explorers** Explorers have had a very busy year throughout 23/24. They were enabled to link into the Scouts with activities such as the Planetarium show, Thiepval, putting up tents for the Scouts. The explorers also undertook their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award, which involved map and compass training, sorting tents, preparation for their hikes including food prep, kit prep route planning. Additionally the explorers undertook pumpkin painting, football nights, LED building project, Carol service, bowling, woodland nights with Tomahawks, board game nights, Night at the Woodlands with Maghaberry Explorers where they cooked bread, chicken and hot chocolate and participated in the District explorers event at the woodlands. A very busy, active programme, all which would not have been possible without the dedicated leaders of the Explorers section, thank you too; John, Kai, Karen and Ruth. ## **Group** The Scout Group participated in all District led events and fora. All Sections attended the annual District Christmas Carol Service and annual St George Day Parade and Service. Individual sections within the Group took part in numerous District, County and Northern Ireland organised events. The Group also attended events hosted by our sponsors, St Marks, such as monthly family services, the Remembrance Day service and Christingle service. We held monthly Group Scout Council meetings each month except for July and August and all of the Sections from Squirrels to Explorers conduct their programmes through the Online Scout Manager system. This included the collection of 2023-24 membership fees and applications for to HMRC for Gift Aid reimbursement. All adults involved within their Group have completed all aspects of the mandatary training, including First Response, Safety and Safeguarding Training. Thanks must go to all the leadership teams and young leaders who support our Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers in developing a very enjoyable, interesting and diverse programmes. Thank you also to parents who support and encourage not only their own young people but the group. Finally, thank you to St Marks Parish for the use of their premises, as our Group sponsors, allowing us to be a part of the church community, and for working with us to provide opportunities for local young people. 1[st] Ballymacash Scout Group Page | 4 ## **Financial Review** Our Scout Group runs on one main bank account held in the name “1[st] Ballymacash Scout Group Council”. All funds held in reserves are for the use of the Group or any section within the Group (Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and the partnered Explorer Unit) for future use in line with the aims and objectives and activities of the Scout Group. The agreed portion held for such use will be subject to the agreement of the Trustees. Subscriptions fees received are acknowledged for the use of that member section. Our funds at the end of March 2024 are in a satisfactory state and there are no debts or funds in deficit. ## **Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the above report, ratified at the Annual General Meeting and signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees by ## **Jonny Farmer Chairperson , 1[st] Ballymacash Scout Group 9th December 2024** 1[st] Ballymacash Scout Group Page | 5