62nd Belfast Scout Group The Annual Report for Year Ended March 2024 Scouts Northern Ireland Charity Commission: NIC104000 62nd Belfast Scout Group- Year Review As the group volunteer lead it is my pleasure to present the below reports on behalf of all the sections that make up the 62. scout group. At our lastAGM I highlighted that we were entering our centenary year and with this AGM we bring our year lon8 programme of events mostly to a close. I wish to Start by thanking all those that support 62. Scout Group, each section requires considerable dedication of all the leaders and helpers involved to deliver excitin8, varied, and challenging programmes that challenge our young people to develop in a safe environment, hopefully throughout their entire time with us from Squirrels right up to young leaders. You will find below the settion reports written by our Section Leaders relevant to your son and be able to read more about the activities they got up to. Ih Overall as a group in our 100 year we remain in a strong position. We have approximately 105 youth members engaging in a varied scouting programme across 5 sections. Our growth as a group has remained relatively flat over the last 2 years having now fully recovered from Covid. This is mainly due to Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs being at capacity both for the number of leaders available and the hall space. We continue to field regular enquiries for all 3 sections and redirect where possible to other nearby groups. Numbers in Scouts and Explorers continue to increase, Scout Section continues to grow due to scouts bringing their friends who have in turned joined up, which is a brilliant endorsement. Highlights for this year included our centenary camp in September which was attended by all sections who either visited for the day on Saturday or spent the weekend camping either inside the BP chalet for Cubs or camping out for Scouts and Explorers. There was a full programme of activities throughout the weekend with a parhcular focus on activities on the Saturday which would challenge all sections with fresh activities that they had not previously done at other camps. The group came together for a camph're that evening. In February we held a reunion afternoon tea forall past members in the Rosetta Hall atstjohns. It was fantastic that we were able to fill the hall with past members. Particular thanks to John Lyons our Group President for being such a driving force behind this event and all the other leaders and volunteers who made it possible by organising, setting up the venue and serving tea's and coffees on the day. Northern Ireland Charity Commission: NIC104(X)O I would like to express my thanks and that of the 62. Scout Council to the section leaders, Marjorie, Helen, Liz, Jonnie and Scott Guiler and their teams for the programmes they have delivered this year and their continued dedication to Scouting. It would be remiss of me not to encourage anyone reading to consider volunteering. Scouting has changed and continues to become more modern, now more than ever there is a variety of roles suited to everyone from those that can commit to volunteering once a week to those can only give a few hours once a month. Much of the trainin8 has now moved online reducing this requirement also. Please speak to me or Scott Robinson or any of the sections leaders if you would like more information. Finally, the Trustee Board also wish to note their thanks to our Sponsoring Authority, Newownbreda Presbyterian {St. Johns} Church, as without their support the Scout Group would not be able to provide the wide range of activities for our members. Deane Dawson (Group Volunteer Lead) Group Location The Scout Den at Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church, 374-378 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 3HX. The Den is a small hall for meetings and equipment storage. Main activities are carried out in the adjoining St Johns Hall. Group Correspondence All correspondence should be sent to: Deane Dawson G.V.L. 62. Belfast Scout Group Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church 37416 Ormeau Road Belfast BT7 3HX 62ndgsl@gmail.com Northern Ireland Charity Commission: NIC104( Personnel of the Trustee Board The Trustees who comprise the Group Trustee Board on 31/0312024 are: Gordon Myles (Chair) Deane Dawson {Group Lead Volunteer) Scott Robinson (Deputy Group Scout Leader & County Lead Volunteer for Belfast) Beth Dawson (Secretary) Marjorie Guiler {Lead Volunteer for Squirrels) Helen Morrissey {Lead Volunteer for Beavers) Liz Dudgeon (Lead Volunteer for Cubs) Jonathan Dudgeon (Lead Volunteer for Scouts} Stephen Mallett {Lead Volunteerfor Explorers) Scott Guiler (Elected Trustee) Kenny Campbell {Elected Trustee) Michael Forsythe {Elected Trustee) Claire Compston (Elected Trustee) Norman McKee {Lagan District Commissioner) Please Note: All Trustees live in Nl and activities held are based in Belfast County. 62nd Trustee Update Following the resignation of our previous Treasurer in lune 2023 we have yet to appoint a new Treasurer. Our Trustees, Scott Robinson and Marjorie Guiler, have jointly been carrying out this function on a temporary basis. The role of Deputy Group Scout Leader, currently held by Scott Robinson, will cease to exist at the point of the upcomin8 Annual General Meeting. The Nl Charity Commission website has been updated with any changes to the group. The Trustees have examined the NICC statutory guidance on the Public Benefit requirements and consider they have complied with it in full. Northern Ireland Charity Commission: NIC104(MXI 62nd Belfast Scout Group Structure The 62nd Belfast Scout Group is a constituent member of the UK Scout Association and follows its rules and policies as laid down in a document known as POR (Policy Organisation and Rules). There are 5 sections- Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers which are age-related as set out below in the census section. The Section Leader for each settion is a Trustee as per POR and included above. The Group is a cross-community with different church and ethnic backgrounds represented. 62nd Belfast Scout Group have a Constitution which is agreed upon annually and followed throughout the year by the elected Trustee Board. The position of Group President is currently held by John Lyons. Purpose and Benefit Scouting is established to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, socia l a nd spiritua I potential as individuals and responsible citizens. This also benefits the local and wider communities to which they belong. By gaining Awards and badges set up by Scouts UK they learn and display knowledge and skills which will be of value to them throughout their lives. Activities and badges are tailored for the separate age groups. 62nd Belfast Membership Census (January 2024) Squirrel Drey- 18 Members Beaver Colony- 22 Members Cub Pack- 18 Members Scout Troop- 21 Members Explorer Unit- 14 Members Executive Members- 14 Members Other Leaders- 18 Members Total Number of Group: 125 Members Northern Ireland Charity Commission: NIC1041X)O 62nd Belfast: Finance For the 2023/24 financial year the Group is reporting a deficit of £2,559 {2022123: Surplus of £2,558). Although income for 2023124 was £17,376, £2,816 more that the previous year, our expenses of £19,730 resulted in the deficit. Expenditure on camps and outings was significantly larger than the previous year, events at our AGM became a new annual cost and events organised to mark the groups centenary year were a unique expense. Within the reporting year, we were pleased to raise £778 at our June 2023 Duck Race which was donated to Air Ambulance Nl and the Squirrels-Kicks Count which raised £48. The Ardnavally Walk raised £534, half of which goes to the Group and half to Lagan District. Northern Ireland Charity Commission: NIC104000 62nd Belfam S¢out Group Reglstered wlth Ihe Chaflty Comlsslon for Northern Ireland (NIC 1040001 Flnandal Statements forihe Year Ended 31 March 2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 INCOME Subs- Beavers. Scouts, Cubs. Explorers Duke of Edinburgh Income from actNllies I fund ralslng Camp income ELB Grant Other Grani Sale of centenary mugs GIftAld 525 1472 3800 3577 1.285 2.213 769 2.123 300 474 1689 2,026 17,376 14.560 EXPENSES Capltatlon Group aciÈvilles Camps and outings Duke of Edlnbuigh Donations Badges and Scarves EA grant retumed Den running costs l 0￿￿YS Insurance Newtownbreda Presbyierlan- contrlbuiion lor use Centenary celebratlons AGM expenses Equipment Mlscellaneous 3720 1412 3207 810 1594 3.812 1.312 442 1.156 702 1053 459 355 1000 4284 711 328 25 619 327 850 1,158 1.061 19730 (2354) 12002 2.558 22.926 25.484 (Dellclt)ISuiplus lor the yeai Openlng balance i Aprll Closing balance 31 March 23.130 Cash at bank 31st March Cash floais Totsi Unrestrlcted lunds Resirlcted lunds Isquirrels) 22065 1065 23.130 21.968 1.162 23.130 25,319 165 25,484 24,029 1,455 25.484 Other Assets at Insurance value Scout Den Camp equipment. ILxtures. littlngs 163.548 17.580 119,000 14.415 181.128 133.415 Other Ilabllltles TOTAL NET ASSETS 204,258 Northern Ireland Charity Commission: NIC104000 Independent ExamIn￿S Teport to the trwtres of * Belfast SCO￿ Gro I reyton the acwjnts of the¢￿rIty setout In Amual Report for the￿areT￿led 31 Marth 2024. A5 the tharitV5 trustee5 yov awe re5PL¥Yslbleforthe preparatlon of theaccounts In accordaKewlth the Charltk5Act {Northern Irelandj 2(KJ8. It is my reSpO￿lbIllty￿. examlr* the at￿nts underseuion 65 ¢fthe 0orilie5kt followthe w￿•￿r•S lald thx¥n In theg•)wa DlreCtitirts￿en lrythec¢rnmis￿On undersection 6g91{b} of theCharlUesP*t 8a4$ oflNlependenteM•therfsveport I have examlned your charlty accounts as requlred urmlu secuon 65 of the awrltles Act and myexamlnatlon wa5 ¢aTrled out In accordan￿ wtth the general Dlrectlons 8l%w by the ChadtyCommb51on forNorthern Irelond under sectlon 651911b) of the Charltles A¢L My axamln*ion ￿nd￿￿ed a rtrllew olthe actountlnl re£ords kept by th#rfty and a compRrlson ofthe artounts pres•nt•d wtih ihose records. tt also Induded tAXW￿0Th of #ny unwo1 items or dlsclosure5 In the at¢¥)unts Jnd seeklng¢xplanthrs from •$ ch*ltytrwtees con¢ernln8aFrysuch maiter My role15 to stste whether any m?tewknl n¥tlers hm cometo my attentkn Blthgmè cause to bellm: l. That a¢¢ountlng re¢¢*ds TAere not keptlnacrurdan￿ wlth 5ecilon 63 of the CharttlesAc¢ 2. That the acoxmts do not acwrd wlth thoseaccountlrq records 3. That the accounts do not comthwlth the accountln8 reqUIreN￿rrt% ofthe Charlt68s Act 4. That there Is furth& Infomaiiot) needed fiya woper unde￿￿DdIn￿ ofthe aCc￿JDtstO be reath I have coM￿eted my examlnatlon and have no con(erns In Tespertof the matters111 to141 Ilsted abv4e tn ¢(￿nectIon wlth lolWn8the DlrecUoM ofthe Ch¥ltyComnkn forNtyttwn IrdaDd, I h4¥Èfound Jw matters that requlre drawin8to your att￿￿¢ Denls Guller, 21 Mty 2024 Independent Examlmr Northern Ireland Charity Commission: NIC1040(X) 62nd Belfast: Sectional Reports ssquirrels Marjorie Guiler Anotherfun-filled yearfor Squirrels! The weather in the summerterm was lovely and we made the most of the great outdoors with walks to Galwally Lake to feed the ducks and to the new Lagan Footbridge to see the Squirrel mural. Stephen Harding. who designed the bridge, joined us there to talk to the boys about bridge-building. 2nd June saw the duck race - no real ducks were harmed ! The water level was low after the great weather but all the boys managed to 8et very wet. The family barbeque and bouncy castles durin8 the AGM afterwards were well received by all. The Squirrels practised camping one evening in the church garden before going to the Lagan camp at the end of June- a great end to the summer term. At the beginning of the autumn term, they "camped" again at Ardnavally, this time with the rest of the 62. at the Centenary camp. They loved having their dinner with the older boys in 62. and joining in at the campfire and a visit from Party Animals made their day (if not the leader's day!). I would like to thank a former parent who kindly sponsored this visit- our annual event to remember Catherine. Squirrels also visited and had fun at Ardnavally for Halloween and Christmas at Elfnavally, both Lagan District events. They are always ready to celebrate and party- another Halloween fancy dress party, Divali and of course Christmas when Santa took time out of his busy schedule to visit. We have continued to work {still having fun) on badges and were very pleased to award 8 Squirrels with their Chief Scout Acorn Awards in September before they moved up to Beavers. We have also completed/nearly completed 2 Challenge badges (All Around Us and All About Mel and 5 Activity badges (Local Superhero. Get Creative, Let's Celebrate, Super Chef and Explore Outdoors). Well done boys! The Drey has been full throughout the year and we continue to operate a waiting list. Thank you to all our Leaders-Beth, Rebecca, Claire, Hilary and Laura and young leaders Harry, Nenagh and Adam. I know it takes much more than an hour a week- Squirrels would not be Possible without you. Northern Ireland Charity Commission: NIC1040(KI 14EAVEt