77th SCOUT GROUP BALLYGOMARTIN
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for year ended 31[st] March 2023
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104218)
77th BELFAST (NORTH/WEST) SCOUT GROUP
Trustees Annual Report 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023
Trustees
Mr Alan Parkes, Mrs Irene Glassey, Mr Alan Hermon, Mrs Maureen Adams, Mrs Kathleen Carney, Mrs Karen Patterson, Mr John Mercer, Mrs Amy Toy, Mr Glenn Chambers
Charity Purpose
The primary objective is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual and social potential as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local community.
Main Activities
The scout group achieves its aims by providing an enjoyable and attractive balanced program of activities. The various sections of the Group follow the Scout Association programme of instruction and training that enables young people to achieve various awards and badges which are designed to deliver the purposes outlined above. The group has taken part in variety of indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year.
The group is made up from 5 sections to cater for various age groups of children, the youngest section are the Squirrels which caters for girls and boy from 4 - 5 years old. This year they have taken part in a variety of activities including badge work, working towards completing their challenge badges:
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All about Adventure Award
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All about Me Award
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All around Us Award
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All Together Award
The squirrels also enjoyed a day trip to the District Scout Camp at Crawfordsburn in June 2022 and the 77th Scout Groups’ winter Residential Camp in the Cub Chalet, Crawfordsburn Scout Centre in February 2023. At each of these camps they took part in a number of outdoor activities including grass sledging and crate climbing.
Beavers are the second section catering for boys and girls from 6-8 years old. This year they have been working hard to complete their badge work, they have achieved: 7 Bronze Awards, 32 Challenge badges, 20 Staged badges and 50 Activity badges. They also took part in a number of District events and competitions. They had a day trip to the North/West District summer camp held Crawfordsburn Scout Centre in June where they took part in a variety of activities. They also enjoyed
a trip to the 77[th] Group Winter Residential Camp in the Cub Chalet, Crawfordsburn Scout Centre, in February 2023 with a number of the older Beavers sleeping overnight.
Cubs are the third section which caters for girls and boys from 8-10½ years old. This year they have taken part in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities including hikes and activity days. They also attended the North/West District Scout Camp held at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre in June 2022 and the Group Winter Residential Camp in the Cub Chalet Crawfordsburn Scout Centre in February 2023. During each of these camps they took part in a variety of outdoor activities such as Archery, Crate Climbing, Grass Sledges, Orienteering and camp skills. The Cubs also took part in a number of District competitions such as Uni-hoc and connect 4 which they were extremely successful in winning both. They have also been working had to complete their badge work achieving 69 badges.
Scouts are the fourth section which caters for boys and girls from 10½ - 14 years old. This year again they have been extremely active working hard to complete various badges achieving 15 Challenge and 30 Activity badges and taking part in a variety of outdoor activities, district events and competitions. They attended the North/West Belfast district Camp held at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre in June 2022 taking part in a variety of adventurous activities such as Climbing, Zip-line, Archery and crate climbing. They were also able to practice their camping skills including fire lighting, tent pitching and cooking. In February 2023 they also attended the 77[th] Group Winter Residential Camp in the Cub Chalet, Crawfordsburn Scout Centre along with the Cubs and Beavers. Again they took part in a variety of outdoor activities such as 3G Swing, Axe throwing and Air-soft. The Scouts also competed in a number of district competitions including archery and dodgeball winning both.
The final section is the Explorer Scout section which caters for boys and girls from 14-16 years of age. They attended the North/West Belfast district Camp held at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre in June 2022 taking part in a variety of adventurous activities such as Climbing, Zip-line, Archery and crate climbing. They were also able to practice their camping skills including fire lighting, tent pitching and cooking. In February 2023 they also attended the 77[th] Group Winter Residential Camp in the Cub Chalet, Crawfordsburn Scout Centre along with the Cubs and Beavers. Again they took part in a variety of outdoor activities such as 3G Swing, Axe throwing and Air-soft. They have also working towards their Queens Scout and Duke of Edinburgh awards with 4 Explorers working on their Bronze and 2 working on their Silver awards.
As a direct result of the Group’s positive interaction within the local community and the numerous outdoor activities it undertakes each year, it continues to thrive, attracting new members and volunteers each year.
Public Benefit requirement
While training of leaders is carried out through the Scout Association, our encompassing body, the Trustees are aware of their and the charity’s duty to meet the objectives of the charity, and to scrutinise the work of all those involved with the daily management and leadership of the various sections.
End of year financial position
The Trustees are confident that there no issues or concerns as to the viability of the Group. Income is sufficient to meet the financial needs of the group throughout the year and the premises in which the group meets is leased from the local Church for a small fee, which includes rental, heating, lighting and maintenance.
The total income to the 77th Scout Group for the year ending 31 March 2023 was £6,794.20 (in comparison to £15,091.71 for the previous year which included a number of successful grant applications to assist with recovery from the effects of the covid pandemic). All income in this financial year is attributed to grant funding, membership fees, camp fees, weekly dues and fund raising. Expenditure for this financial year totalled £8,973.04 leaving the group with a bank balance going forward of £11,131.07. There are no funds held by the charity that were materially in deficit at the end of the year.
77th SCOUT GROUP BALLYGOMARTIN
Approved by the Trustees of the 77th Scout Group at a meeting on Thursday 3[rd] August 2023 and signed on their behalf by:
Name ALAN PARKES :
Chair. ________
Name ALAN HERMON:
Cub Section Leader