Annual Report 2023

Group Chair's Report

It has only been 9 months since our last AGM however we wish to bring the meeting back to June of each year which was the traditional time before the 2020 Covid Lock down.

Since the last AGM, a lot has been happening with a full programme of activities within all the Sections We had the return of the Scout Christmas Post, which as well as bringing in £1000 into the Group Funds, is also a very good PR opportunity for Inverness Scouting A big thank you to parents/guardians and young people who came along on the Friday night to assist with the sorting of the post and for delivering the cards over the weekend. Given that the majority of people using the Christmas post are elderly, it is a welcome service in our community

As I mention every year, our Scout Group relies totally on volunteers - whether a Leader within the Beavers, Cubs or Scouts or as a committee member or simply helping with the wide variety of tasks from baking to clearing leaves to transporting camping equipment. We are very fortunate to have so many parents/guardians volunteering when we request help and we continue to need this support however much or little time you can contribute, we are very grateful

It was not until I took on the role as Chairperson of the Scout Group that I began to realise the huge amount of work that the Group Scout Leader was required to do by the Scout Association. This is an important role to keep the Group functioning in accordance with rules and regulations and with an overarching responsibility for all of our Sections Graham Eden has been Group Scout Leader for 7 years (as well as being Scout Leader) Since the last AGM, I am pleased to report that Malcolm Nicol, who is also a Scout Leader, has agreed to share the role of Group Scout Leader with Graham to spread the everincreasing workload

As this year is our 110 years of 2nd Inverness it is great to see the Group is always looking to develop and we always welcome any ideas for development and our Section programmes so please don’t be shy giving us ideas. Looking forward we are looking at working with the Midmills Group to support the establishment of an Explorers Section (14 to 18 years) and have had an enquiry from some parents regarding setting up a Squirrels Group (4-6 years) which we are looking at carefully

Finally, thanks to the Section Leaders and the Committee for their support over the last 9 months.

Andy Hamilton Chairperson

Group Scout Leader's Report

How wonderful it is to be able to sit down to write about the last year at 2nd Inverness and I don’t need to write about social distancing, face masks, hand sanitiser, lockdowns and covid rules. Our year has seen us return to a degree of pre-covid normality. Whilst we ’ ve left covid behind we have taken one key learning from that period We are able to offer a better experience to a slightly lower number of young people at our weekly meetings, which is why we have reduced the section numbers this last year just a little bit

We kicked off the year in August by choosing our winning badge for out 110th year as a Scout Group There was a wonderful selection of entries making the job of choosing a winner particular difficult. Congratulations to Lucas Skinner on his winning design inspiring our celebratory badge

Our year has seen us ramping up activities back to more normal levels with a huge range of visits, outdoor activities and of course a more normal camping programme with the Scout Troop. Particular highlights have included the summer camp in Inverkip last July, a first stand alone expedition challenge for Scouts, Cubs hiking and Beavers enjoying some fantastic visits

I spoke last year about how we are continuing to support our adult volunteers with their training and we continue to make very positive steps here with both Helen and Iain completing their leader training.

We continue to be inundated with demand by parents of young people who want to join out 77 young people enjoying Beavers, Cubs and Scouts every week. For every young person we have now, we have another 1 who is unable to join due to our current adult volunteer levels. I can’t stress how much you do NOT need specialist skills nor do we seek a lifetime commitment Volunteering can be both fun an rewarding and most importantly you can fit it round your lif

We’re always looking to expand our teams at Beavers, Cubs and Scouts as well as our support teams on the committee. If you really don’t want to work with kids, maybe you can help by joining the team to maintain our premises, or help with some admin Towing a trailer to camp might seem a trivial thing, but it in itself is a massive support to the leaders. I’d encourage you to look at what you can offer to support us in the Group

As part of our modernising and moving formally to a teams based approach, after over 7 years as the Group Scout Leader, I’m pleased that Malcolm (a cub parent) has volunteered to work with me and we shall be carrying out this valuable management and support work as a team.

The strength of our adult volunteer team, leaders and committee has been key to us ensuring that we are a well resourced Group. We are always looking for volunteers so support the group. I do hope greatly to see parents (and grandparents) choose to get involved more with the group over this coming year, exploring out flexible volunteering options

Thank You

Graham Eden Group Scout Leader

Governance

2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year ended 31st March 2023

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:

Ex Officio

Graham Eden (Group Scout Leader)

Andy Hamilton (Group Chairperson)

Tania Fleming (Group Treasurer)

Stewart Fraser (Group Secretary) resigned 22nd September 2022

Jo Busby (Group Secretary) Co-opted 18th January 2023

Elected Committee Members

Lesley Henderson elected 22nd September 2022

Nicola Madej resigned 22nd September 2022

Willie Macleod elected 22nd September 2022

Gerry Sutton resigned 22nd September 2022

Bruce Wright

Lisa Burnside resigned 22nd September 2022

Peter Roxburgh

Ulrike Wenzel elected 22nd September 2022

Nominated Members

Oz Foster (Deputy Group Scout Leader)

Rachel Eden (Beaver Scout Leader) resigned 1th January 2023

Sarah Murray (Assistant Beaver Scout Leader)

Malcolm Nicol (Assistant Scout Leader)

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

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 been unable to engage in fundraising activities during the last year due to the ongoing restriction of the COVID pandemic Despite this we have been carefully managing our relationship with our key hall users – Les Enfants and, Kingsmills Kempo who continue to use the hall on a regular basis

Approved by the Group Executive and signed on its behalf by

Andy Hamilton Group Chairman

Finance

Independent Examiner’s Report

Scottish Charity No. SC016603

I report on the financial statements of the 2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group (“The Group”) for the year ended 31st March 2023.

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 Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10 (1) (d) 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 Examiners Statement

My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Group 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

Clarification was requested from OSCR on how land and buildings and improvements to make them comply with current safety requirements should be treated in the accounts. As there is no requirement for a balance sheet, only a statement of Resources, the land and buildings required to be written off This is shown as an extra line in the accounts as it is an exceptional item which will not be repeated.

In the course of my examination, no other matter has come to my attention

1 Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements’

a. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 44 (1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and

b To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation

9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations have not been met.

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 BA, FCCA

11 Stratton Road, Inverness, IV2 3XA

11 June 2023

2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout Group

2022/23

Land & Buildings

in Year Cathedral Beavers - cash at bank Group - Cash at Bank

General Fund - start of year

151 40 18526 05 15120.04 3557.41

Liabilities:

The Group has no material liabilities or obligations.

The notes form an integral part of these accounts.

Approved by the Group Executive Committee on XXX and signed on their behalf by: Assets Current Assets Total Assets Represented by: 18677 45

0 00 15120 0 4 15120.0 4 23432 3 -8312 26

151. 4 14968.64

2nd Inverness (Kingsmills) Scout

Charity Number SC016603

2022/23 The Trustees did not receive any remuneration during the year. (2021/22: also nil)

4 Donations

3 Equipment

2. Fundraising

1 Trustee