REGISTERED CHARITY NIC103971
6[TH] ARDS SEA SCOUT GROUP AGM
9[th] OCTOBER 2024 REGENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
PRESENT APOLOGIES Alan Poots SL/GSL Helen Moore Chairperson Pauline Coulter Treasurer Robin Jardine ASL Lynne McCracken ACSL Sharlene Jellie CSL Joanne Miller BSL Allison Kingsmill ABL Paul Martin ACSL Alison Savage SL Andrew Greene ABSL Kim Upritchard ASSL Claire Hunter ASSL Jack McGimpsey ASSL
INTRODUCTION
Alan welcomed everyone to the meeting and passed on Helen’s apologies for not attending due to illness. He proposed to chair the meeting in her absence.
MINUTES 2023 AGM 30[th] September 2023
The minutes of the 2023 AGM were agreed. Proposed by Joanne Miller and seconded by Pauline. Coulter
CORRESPONDENCE
None
FINANCIAL REPORT
Opening balance at 1[st] April 2023 was £6618.40. Income during the year amounted to £21,580.76. Closing balance at March £7,483.57. A detailed breakdown of figures by section is contained in the financial report attached.
It was discussed and agreed that the Group would donate £500 to the Church towards heating and lighting.
David Quigg, an accountant with the NI Health Service has agreed to audit our annual accounts. The meeting proposed a vote of thanks to David, in anticipation of this work.
SECTION REPORTS
Detailed reports of the activities of each of the four sections – Squirrels/Beavers/Cubs/Scouts - have been prepared by the Section Leaders and are attached.
GROUP SCOUT LEADER’S REPORT
The GSL’s report is attached
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Alan proposed that the Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary remain in post for a further year. This was agreed.
Allison Kingsmill Group Secretary
Annual Report on 6[th] Ards Squirrels October 2024
The Squirrels were once again back to full capacity of 24 squirrels last September and they enjoyed a full and varied programme. We had the usual parties for Halloween and Christmas and did our badge work, craft and games along the way.
Santa provided a great hit at our Christmas party so thanks to him for taking time out of his busy schedule to come along.
Thanks to Malcolm McConnell who came along to discuss model aeroplanes and how planes fly.
Outside visits included the Paddling Pool, our walk round Newtownards to try and talk about various buildings and statues when all they want to do is run around the square and go to Mauds for ice cream, an educational trip to Ards Allotments where they were given strawberry plants to grow and a thoroughly enjoyable night at Bangor Fire Station thanks to Joanne for organising.
The last night BBQ at Scrabo remained mainly dry where 5 of the boys passed through the forest and up to Beavers. A few more have since gone up. We have 23 boys again in September and 1 very brave girl who appears to be holding her own.
We were sorry to lose Janet this year due to illness and hope that her health continues to improve. Also Jenny has taken a back seat due to her Mum’s ill health but we are delighted to welcome Katie Grinnell as a young leader and of course thanks to the old favourites Claire, Kim, Jack and Matilda for their help throughout the year. Jack has now completed all his training.
Thanks to Alan for always turning up with badges and scarves at the drop of the hat and to Pauline for assisting with the finances at the year end.
We have an action packed year planned and are looking forward to some new activities.
Alison Savage – Section Leader
6 TH ARDS SEA SCOUT GROUP BEAVER SECTION REPORT SEPTEMBER 2023 – JUNE 2024
This year we undertook a full programme of indoor and outdoor activities, some in conjunction with the Cubs and some with the Squirrels. These have always gone down well and we find it helps with the transition when it comes to the children moving sections. We would like to express our thanks to both sections and hope to continue with these joint nights in the future.
Some of those nights included BBQs at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre and Scrabo, Wall Climbing, Bowling, and a few trips to the park and for ice-cream!
We also had a night over in Bangor Fire Station with the Squirrels that all our young people thoroughly enjoyed, even if they did get a bit wet from over excitement using the hose.
Throughout the year we worked hard with the Beavers covering all aspects of badge work and activities and we were delighted to award over 100 badges, which we presented to the Beavers’ in an Awards Ceremony the morning after the sleepover.
This year we also were able to Award 4 Bronze Chief Scout Awards, congratulations to the 4 girls on this achievement and thanks to all the Beaver leaders for all the work and effort put in to help the Beavers achieve these badges and awards.
This year we introduced our sleepover back into the programme and all children thoroughly enjoyed this – the leaders, maybe not so much. Thanks to Paul for coming and helping out with this.
I would also like to thank Ben, our Young Leader, for all his help with delivering our programme – it is very much appreciated.
We hope to keep working with the Beavers to develop their skills and prepare them for moving up to Cubs.
Joanne Miller – Section Leader
6[th] Ards Scout Group
AGM – Cubs Report
September 2023 to June 2024
It has been another busy year in Cubs.
Badge Report
5 Cubs gained their Chief Scout Silver Awards: Alexander Mooney, Leahrose Watson, Arthur Patty, Elijah Green and Caitlin Wilson.
Trips/Outings/Visitors
We enjoyed lots of outdoor activities this year including Crawfordsburn Scout Centre for Orienteering and wall climbing. We went to the park where we practised pitching and taking down tents and enjoyed a hike up Scrabo and BBQ. We also did tracking activities.
We completed our Martial Arts Badge by learning a range of self-defence techniques with 2 visits to Raptr Martial Arts in Dundonald.
We enjoyed some joint activities with the other sections including a litter pick around some areas of the town, advised by the council.
Beavers also joined us for Burns Night, Christmas and Easter celebrations.
Cubs joined the Beavers and Squirrels for a Sponsored walk. Cubs walked from Ballyholme to Crawfordsburn Scout Centre and enjoyed hot dogs at the end. Special thanks to Terry for organising. Cubs raised an amazing total of £510 for our Pack.
Nights Away
We ended our year in Cubs with a 2 night Summer Camp in Lorne activity centre. Cubs enjoyed completing a variety of adventurous and outdoor activities including Gladiator Challenge, Archery, Zipline and making S’mores round the campfire. Beavers joined us on the Saturday evening for a walk to the beach and Pizza. ! It was a very successful camp, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
I would like to thank Paul and Lynne for all their help and support throughout the year and also special thanks to Alan for all his ongoing support in our preparations for camp – very much appreciated.
Sharlene Jellie – Section Leader (Cubs)
6[th] Ards Sea Scouts
Report: September 2023 to August 2024
September 2023 saw Scouts commence with a total of 30 scouts, and as the year progressed this increased to 40 scouts, the most we have ever had. This total would include 9 girls.
Pumpkin Camp was cancelled as Crawfordsburn was very wet under foot, so our first camp was Barn Camp in January. Once again, a great success and thanks are due to Lynne and Brian McCracken for hosting us.
Our Christmas outing was to Ards Cinema to see the newly released Wonka.
Mourne Camp in May followed by a Patrol Camp in June prepared everyone for our Summer Camp at the end of July to the Share Centre. Declared by many as the best camp ever, the 22 scouts attending all engaged fully with all the activities.
As well as the camps, badge work over the year progressed at a good pace, culminating with 6 scouts being awarded their Chief Scouts Gold Award. Well done to Joey Carson, Ben Waide, Darsi McMaster, Sidnee Gallagher, Emily Gallagher and Jay Henderson..
Our Most Improved Scout was T J Veitch and for the first time Emily and Sidnee Gallagher were joint winners of the Scout of the Year.
We wish those scouts that are moving on the very best and we hope that they continue in scouting.
Alan Poots – Scout Leader
GSL Report: Alan Poots
The Education Authority provided funding of £2981 for the year April 2023 to March 2024 and we wish to thank the EA for their generous and much welcomed support.
Our annual census return recorded a total of 85 young people comprising 21 Squirrels, 14 Beavers, 12 Cubs and 38 Scouts. This is a significant increase in overall membership from last year.
The organisation of Scouting in Strangford District is undergoing change, with the proposed closure of The County Down layer of management and also the replacement of the Scout Leader Data Base System, Compass across the United Kingdom. Generally the proposed replacement of Compass has been welcomed.
I would also wish to acknowledge new leaders who have joined our sections and given freely of their time. Jack McGimpsey in Squirrels and Andrew Green in Beavers. Andrew also pops along to Scouts regularly and is most welcome. Many thanks to both of them. Also recently Chris McWilliams has volunteered as an adult helper at Beavers and I hope that he will join us as leader once the new Data Base system is up and running. Many thanks to Chris also.
The New Data Base is due to go live on 28[th] November, so fingers crossed all goes well. Leaders have been renewing many of their mandatory training modules recently in order that when the transfer of data takes place, the new system will have as many leaders as possible with current training in date.
The Scout section issued a call recently for any parent who could help out on a Friday Night and at weekend camps. Sam Weir has had to stand down as a leader due to family commitments and Robin Jardine, who has been a scout leader for a long time, announced that this would be his final year. We hope that over the next few months some parents will come forward.