Annual Report 2020

Annual Report 2019-20

Chairman’s Welcome

Who could have predicted last year that so much would have changed?

As well as the terrible medical impact of the covid-19 pandemic, our work and social lives are very different and at times difficult.

However, what has not changed is the passion of the Kingmills Scouting team to make sure that the young people who enjoy Scouting continue to get as much as they can from it. Despite lockdown, the meetings have continued, albeit in a socially distanced manner on Zoom, on line camps have happened and a vast number of badges (over 500) have been awarded since March 2020. I say ‘happened’ but these things do not just ‘happen’ and have require hard work from the dedicated leaders including Sarah, Emmanuel (Cathedral Beavers), Rachel, Suzanne, Craig, Catherine (Kingsmills Beavers), David, Helen, Scott, Ian, Graeme (Cubs), Graham, Heather, Russell, Malcolm, Oz (Scouts). Graham as Group Scout Leader has done a great job keeping us on track to maintain the scouting ethos and support for our young people. Graham has also been very patient with my initial ‘zoom’ ineptitude!

Thank you to all the beavers, cubs and scouts for your enthusasim and for taking part in a very different way of scouting and for keeping Kingsmills going.

Families and carers have also played their part from giving up a corner of your house for zoom meetings, to your kitchen for bake nights and engagement from families for the camps. The leaders were buoyed up by the enthusiasm for the virtual camps that happened over the summer.

They say every cloud has a silver lining and the covid-19 situation has allowed us to push on with phase 2 of the hall upgrade. Our resident architect Bruce (Wright) has patiently tweaked plans (with an eye on phase 3!!) and met on several occasions with the builders

and other trades to ensure that this project is on track and has gone smoothly (not anyone’s fault that the water main was cut through with a masonry circular saw and the stop cock was inaccessible!!).

The old smelly toilets have gone and by October the upgraded hall will be ready to go!

We cannot know with certainty what the future will hold for the resumption of normal scout meetings but what is certain is that at Kingsmills our young people will have the best possible experience.

If you have any thoughts or ideas, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with Graham or any of the committee.

This is my last AGM as Chairman and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kingmills Scouts, for the wonderful experiences and education, not just for my kids but, for myself and for giving me the opportunity to be a part of Scouting again.

Best wishes for the next year and beyond.

Steve Leslie Group Chair

Group Scout Leader

Looking back on the year it’s fair to say that the COVID 19 pandemic of the last 6 months has changed the way we have all been able to live our lives. Those things we took for granted, suddenly became unavailable. I was reminded very recently by the Scouts that the last meeting we had before “lockdown” we were doing pioneering and the solution was to wash our hands, whilst singing “Happy Birthday” twice. I was also reminded how I said “don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll be meeting normally, just with more hand washing”. It feels like yesterday and also a lifetime ago, both in time and how our lives and society have changed. Hold that thought as we journey through the year at Kingsmills Scout Group.

Our year started as normal with our AGM and family fun day, only briefly interrupted with a torrential thunderstorm. What I suspect we’d all give to be having another AGM and family fun day, even with the thunderstorm! Highlights from the summer included the Scouts summer camp to London, with fantastic activities, including water sports in Canary Wharf. 3G Swing and Raft building at Gilwell Park (the home of Scouting) and climbing on site at Bounds Green. We also were tourists, visiting Tower Bridge, Parliament (including our 2nd round of questions for Drew Hendry MP) and of course our walking tour or Regents Canal. A joint meeting in St. Albans with local Scouts was a particular highlight of the camp.

Once again the weather was on our side, as we didn’t just get sun, we got baking hot sun!

Little did we know at the time, but this would be the last camp we’d have the whole Troop, as we sadly lost Zoe Sutton a few short months after camp. It was always a pleasure (and education) to have Zoe at Kingsmills as part of the Troop. It was a real sign of how fond we all were of Zoe that several of the Scouts attended her funeral to show support for her family.

Moving from Scouts, September also saw me step in to support the Beavers, as we worked to recruit additional adult volunteers. We were delighted to be joined by Suzanne who has been an asset to the Beaver team at Kingsmills.

Our executive committee, once again have worked tirelessly under the stewardship of Steve Leslie (Chair) in organising fundraisers and ensuring our Scout Hall is fit for purpose, ensuring we can deliver safe scouting for all. My thanks to our Executive Committee for their efforts.

In February, we had a rare occasion at Kingsmills. I was proud to join Cathedral Beavers for their 1st Birthday. Being a long establish group, we rarely get to celebrate new things. We do have quite a bit of work to do in recruiting additional adults to ensure the security and longevity of Cathedral Beavers going forward (please get in touch if you want to get involved!)

Then March came, and suddenly everything changed. Plans postponed, camps cancelled, and activities axed. It was both the easiest and most difficult decision to suspend face to face Scouting.

They say in times of adversity people come together. Words can not express the pride in our volunteer adults leaders passion and drive to both recognise and take on the challenge of delivering Scouting via Zoom. Our volunteers and Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and also yourselves – the parents & carers – ability and willingness to adapt, be creative, try new things and “take a leap” into the unknown really did fill me with pride. Being able to offer 2 Virtual Camps, through British Scouting Overseas and The Scouts really brought the Group together was tremendously satisfying. I am immensely proud of all our adult volunteers who have committed time during thee difficult times to ensure we offer fantastic activities and to each of them I extend my sincerest thanks

and gratitude.

Not content with changing the way we run activities, our Executive Committee signed off and have progressed with the transformational project on our hygiene facilities. The old toilets are gone and we all knew they were bad. As the new ones go in as I type this, it really has impressed just how bad the old ones were. I’d like to pay particular thanks to Bruce Wright and Steve Leslie for taking on this project. Their expertise, drive and enthusiasm has seen this project leap from the page and into reality.

I would like to pay tribute to our outgoing Chairman Steve Leslie.

I often joke that the Chair has a difficult job. To tell me “no” and to be that person I can speak to about difficult and confidential matters. I have been immensely fortunate in my 4 years to be support by 2 fantastic Chairmen.

Steve, you have been a rock of support to me, particularly in dealing with matters relating to the governance of the Group and hall ensuring I am focussing my efforts on supporting of adult volunteers. Those may often feel like “small things” but they provide me great assistance. Steve, I and all involved with Kingsmills

thank you for your efforts and commitment over these last 4 years on the Executive Committee and latterly as Chair.

Looking ahead, we have do have challenging times ahead. Scouts now falls under the education rules for COVID, which is enabling us to begin the journey towards face to face Scouting, and hopefully for after the October holiday be allowed to meet indoors. Whilst this may seem like we’re heading back to normal, be assured, we are some way from “normal” and as we all know any steps forward are tentative and may require steps back in the future.

We also are in need to more volunteers to help deliver great Scouting at Kingsmills. From leaders, to ad hoc helpers, people with a passion for DIY, a flair for admin or really any skill. No offer of support is too small to add benefit to Kingsmills & Cathedral, in equipping out young people with Skills for Life.

Thank You Graham Eden Group Scout Leader

Governance

2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year ended 31st March 2020 Scottish Charity Number SC016603 Name & Address: The 2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group may be contacted c/o 47 Murray Terrace, Smithton, Inverness, IV2 7WX Constitution & Purpose: The Scout Group is constituted in terms of the Rules of the Scout Association, which is a charitable body incorporated by Royal Charter.

The purpose of the Scout Association is to promote 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. The method of achieving the aim of the Association is by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and Law guided by adult leadership.

Trustees: Graham Eden Stephen Leslie Tania Fleming Stewart Fraser John Horne Rachel Eden Scott Greig Heather Preece Margaret Aburn Nicola Madej Gerry Sutton Bruce Wright Andrew Hamilton Lisa Burnside

Group Scout Leader Group Chairperson Group Treasurer Group Secretary Assistant Beaver Scout Leader (resigned 29th June 2019) Beaver Scout Leader (elected 29th June 2019) Assistant Cub Scout Leader Assistant Scout Leader Committee Member Committee Member Committee Member Committee Member Committee Member Committee Member (elected 29th June 2019)

Trustees are recruited and appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules (“POR”) of the Scout Association.

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Reserves Policy: The Trustees believe that around three months of annual expenditure is an appropriate level of reserves in order to cover timing differences between receipts and payments and to allow for any unexpected items of expenditure on the Scout Building.

Activities & Achievements: During the year the group has continued to deliver the Scout Programme for the benefit of young people in Inverness. The Group has retained healthy numbers in each of the sections – Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.

The Group has three main fundraising activities each year: Scout Post, Race Night and a Coffee Morning We have been carefully managing our relationship with our 3 key hall users – Les Enfants, Kingsmills Kempo and Claire Muir Pilates who continue to use the hall on a regular basis.

Approved by the Group Executive on 28th September 2020 and signed on its behalf by Stephen Leslie Group Chairman

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Finance

Independent Examiner’s Report I report on the financial statements of the 2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group (“The Group”) for the year started 1st April 2018 and ended 31st March 2020 which are set out on pages 9 to 11..

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner: The Group’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The Group’s Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (a) to (c) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement: My examination is carried out in accordance with the Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

Independent Examiner’s Statement: In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements; • to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44 (1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and • to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the Accounts Regulations have not been met, or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Munro Ross 11 Stratton Road, Inverness IV2 3XA 23rd September 2020

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2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group Receipts & Payments Account Year Ended 31st March 2020

Charity Number SC016603

2018/19 £

Notes

2019/20

Subscriptions Less paid to District Programme Activities/Events Camps Uniform/Badges Fundraising Letting Donations Donations Grants Bank Interest Miscellaneous Transfer Troop/Camp Gift Aid Total Receipts for Year

7195.70 -3395.50 398.64 11187.79 558.22 4029.62 18901.00 500.00 575 0.84 177.05 3811.00 1491.34 45430.70

6143.24 -2808.00 539.10 4637.31 0.00 4201.31 18256.00 477.72 1000.00 0.80 68.36 0 1397 33912.55

8206.35 12422.99 21.41 511.00 0

5530.70 5667.16 104.00 347.57 185.00

2156.10 369.78 841.60 2393.14 2400.00 317.18 0 0.00 29639.55

2004.00 428.06 824.92 23307.38 2800.00 606.63 0.00 175.34 41980.76

15791.15

-8068.21

£

Receipts

2 4

Payments Programme Activities/Events Camps Fundraising Equipment Leader Training Accommodation Costs: Electric Phone Insurance Repair and Replace Cleaning Stationery & Postage Legal fees Miscellaneous Total Payments for year Surplus/(Deficit) for Year

2 3

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2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group Balance Sheet Year ended 31st March 2020 2019/20 Fixed Assets Land & Buildings Current Assets Cathedral Beavers - cash at bank Beavers - Cash at Bank Cubs - Cash at Bank Scouts - Cash at Bank Group - Cash at Bank

Total Assets Represented by: General Fund - start of year Surplus/Deficit in Year

Charity Number SC016603

2018/19

12000.00

12000.00

485.58 1095.79 3379.03 4615.15 27476.51 37052.06

0.00 1380.79 3568.74 2346.10 13492.88 20788.51

49052.06

32788.51

32788.51 15791.15 48579.66

40856.72 -8068.21 32788.51

Other Assets: The Group owns the Scout Building at Walker Park, Kingsmills Road, Inverness.

It is the policy of the Trustees to maintain it adequately it is not intended to charge depreciation in future years.

The Group owns a quantity of camping and other equipment which has been acquired over a number of years.

Liabilities: The Group has no material liabilities or obligations.

The notes on Page 17 form an integral part of these accounts.

Approved by the Group Executive Committee on 28th September 2020 and signed on their behalf by: Stephen Leslie Group Chairman

Group Scout Leader

Tania Fleming Group Treasurer

Group Treasurer

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2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group

Charity Number SC016603

Notes to the Accounts: Year Ended 31st March 2020

1. Trustee Remuneration and Expenses: 2017/18 The Trustees did not receive any remuneration during the year.

(2016/17: also nil)

2. Fundraising Income Baxters Coffee Morning Bingo Scout Post AGM

£

991.00 900.33 435.15 1201.59 301.55 £3,829.62

Expenses AGM

£21.41 £21.41

3. Equipment Archery Equipment

511.00 £511.00

4. Donations £500.00

CAF Donation

£500.00 11

Each week, we help over 460,000 young people develop the skills to succeed in life. But this can only happen thanks to our brilliant volunteers.

Volunteering is easier than you think. Whether you can spare an hour a month or a day a year, we have hundreds of opportunities both behind the scenes and directly supporting young people.

With full support and training, you can volunteer on a flexible basis.

Not only is it incredibly rewarding and great fun, you’ll learn some brilliant skills transferable to the workplace and further education.

We welcome volunteers from every community and background. You don’t need to have been a Scout.

You just need to believe in a more positive future and the difference we can make together.

Volunteer today and help us prepare more young people with Skills for Life.

kingsmills.org.uk/volunteer kingsmills.org.uk

#SkillsForLife

2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group is a Registered Scottish Charity SC016603