ONE AMAZING YEAR!

WREXHAM DISTRICT SCOUTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 Front cover picture: Explorer Scout Zaak Vening at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan 2015 From the District Chair…

Scouting in Wrexham provides a wide range of experiences and opportunities to young people and some who are not so young. In support of this the District Executive Committee meet on a regular basis throughout the year and have continued to deliver in its role of supporting Scouting in the District, providing support to the District Commissioner and her team.

I must thank all of the members of the Executive Committee for giving up their time to attend meetings and for the work they have done throughout the year. I must also extend my thanks to all our leaders who week in week out provide the young people with a wide range of challenging, educational and fun activities, without their hard work there would be no Scouting in Wrexham

December saw a change in the roles of District Commissioner and Deputy District Commissioner. Sue Lister and Jill Lewis stepped down from their respective roles and I must thank them for all their hard work in fulfilling their roles. The new District Commissioner is David (Moz) Morris and the new Deputy District Commissioner is Jim (Butch) Butcher and I look forward to working with them in the future

The Cox Wood campsite committee plays an important role managing the facilities offered by the site and I extend my thanks to them for giving up their time to attend meetings. My thanks must go to Chris Maddocks who as site manager and takes responsibility for the day to day running of the site, to those who, as and when required, act as wardens or lead activities and to the other volunteers who help to maintain the site and keep it tidy and ready for use throughout the year.

The Golddiggers have returned from the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan. I am reliably informed that a good time was had by all and that they were excellent ambassadors for scouting in Wrexham

The new Executive will be faced with fresh challenges and some old ones and I am sure that they will rise to those challenges and play a full part in ensuring that scouting in Wrexham goes from strength to strength.

Parents can and do play a vital role in the life of any Scout Group. They provide, often much needed, help and support when they can and this is one of the ways in which parents can show their thanks to leaders who week in week out provided their sons and daughters with activities both educational and challenging. I therefore extend my thanks to all those parents who in ways both large and small help to support Scouting in Wrexham.

There is always a need for more leaders and if anyone is interested in taking on this challenging yet rewarding role they should contact their local Group Scout Leader to express their interest.

Mike Meadows

Wrexham Cub Scouts welcome Walking with the Wounded to Castle during their annual District Cub Camp From the District Commissioner…

Well I feel a bit of a fraud writing this report covering the 12 months since our last Annual General Meeting considering I’ve actually only been District Commissioner for four of those months. I’ve never stopped little things like this stopping me taking the credit before though and I don’t intend to start now!

Before I took on the role of DC, I really enjoyed my time as Deputy District Commissioner working with Sue and Jill. Sue Lister is going to be a hard act to follow. She put her heart and soul into everything she did as DC and worked so incredibly hard in the role.

Without Sue I may even not be in Scouting myself now as way back when she gave me so much support as a Leader starting out - she also ran some pretty cool camps that I was so lucky to be a part of. Since then Sue has been central to Scouting in Wrexham and even though we are losing her as District Commissioner, I’m so pleased to say that in her new role she is still as much part of the team as she always was.

Jill was great to work with as my co-Deputy, and another person who works tirelessly. Without the number of young people who Jill has brought on as Young Leader over the last years who knows how we’d have managed. Again, I’m glad to say Jill is now busy in another role in the District as Assistant District Commissioner for Development.

Very often people think about “District” as just being about the joint events we put on. I don’t think of it as that. I think of us as being the 16 Scout Groups and the Explorer Units all working together. I’m as proud of what one Cub Pack is doing on a wet weeknight in December as an event organised by District.

Saying that, we have seen some fantastic events put on by our fantastic team of Assistant District Commissioners over the last twelve months. So a massive thank you to Colleen, Teresa, Sue, Aaron, Dave and Mat for all the work they’ve put in.

I feel a bit guilty bringing the Jamboree up, but it would be remiss of me not to note this huge milestone in the District. I’m pretty sure that 18 is the most Wrexham Scouts ever to attend a single World Scout Jamboree. I’d also like to say a huge thank you to everyone from the District who supported us, from the District Executive to the Beaver Scout parent who bought a badge.

Another big event in the last twelve months was our #YouShapeWrexham day attended by a massive amount of young people for the sort of event it was. It’s so important that we listen to our young members, but more than that - we must involve them in everything we do.

Therefore I’m glad not only to have the support of Butch as Deputy District Commissioner - I just wouldn’t be able to have taken on this role without him - but also Sam Wilde as our Youth DC. Hopefully we’re going to achieve loads together with all of your help over the next twelve months.

Moz Morris

1st Rhosnesni Beaver Scouts “Beavers’ Got Talent” Youth Awards…

Chief Scout’s Bronze Award Chief Scout’s Platinum Award & Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze 1st Dylan Hughes 1st Gwersyllt Mason Green Bishop’s Own Owen Kelly 1st Gwersyllt Adam Probert Bishop’s Own James Pitt 1st Gwersyllt Derren Howell Bishop’s Own Georgina Sharp 1st Rhosnesni Andries Theussen K2 Sam Wilde 1st Rhosnesni Freya Ellis K2 Tom Davies 1st Rhosnesni Leah Templeman K2 Rebecca Jones 1st Rhosnesni Sam Griffiths K2 Gareth Powell 1st Rhosnesni Emily Vening K2 Natasha Vening 1st Rhosnesni Lewis Jones Phoenix Jordan Davies 1st Rhosnesni Jay Povah Atlas Katie Fanson 1st Rhosnesni Dylan Pomeroy Atlas Ollie Williams (Platinum only) 41st Wrexham Ffion Williams 41st Wrexham Daisy Brown 41st Wrexham Ella Henshaw 41st Wrexham Roxanna Jones Chief Scout’s Diamond Award & Maisie Bostock-Deakin Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Bishop’s Own Gethin Roberts Bishop’s Own Ryan Purton K2 Sam Wilde Bishop’s Own Ian Bagnall K2 Dominic Barlow K2 Joshua Jones

Chief Scout’s Silver Award Young Leader’s Belt 1st Moss Amilia Griffiths 1st Moss Pippa Halton Ollie Williams 1st Moss Theo Davies Bethany Vernon 1st Rhosnesni Daniel Frankel Georgina Sharp 1st Rhosnesni Ioan Crump Daniel Fairlamb 1st Rhosnesni Isaac Smith Evan Smaje 1st Rhosnesni Ewan Holland Katie Fanson 1st Rhosnesni Aimee Curtis 1st Rhosnesni Emily Loudon 1st Rhosnesni Jemima Weaver

Chief Scout’s Gold Award

1st Gwersyllt Micha Dodman 1st Gwersyllt Tom Marles 1st Rhosnesni Pip Bolton 1st Adam Morris Bishop’s Own William Griffiths Adult Awards…

Long Service Awards

Peter Williams 30 years Sue Lister 30 years Wyn Blaze 25 years Teresa Brummell 20 years Jill Lewis 20 years Karen Hughes 5 years Joshua Hughes 5 years Philip Evans 5 years Peter Jones 5 years Charlotte Griffiths 5 years Adam Gwatkin 5 years

Wood Badges

Sian Dent ASL Penny Dell-Smith GSL Rhosnesni Scott Bayley BSL Rhosnesni Helen Edwards ACSL Kyle Percival ASL

Bishop’s Own Scouts visit Go Below Last year…

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting at the Sports and Social Club Wrexham on Saturday 25th April 2015

Welcome and Introductions by District Chair Apologies were received from: Steven Brown, Mark Jones, Helen Smith Jones, Ian and Chris MacLean, Christine Smith, Brian Doyle, Stephen Lamb, Rosemary Corbett-Thomas, Janet Davies and Alan Williams Approval of minutes from the AGM held in May 2014: The Minutes were proposed by J Butcher and seconded by G Lister. They were then signed in to the record. Acceptance of the statement of accounts: The statement of accounts was presented by the District Treasurer, Karen Cheesbrough and accepted by the meeting. Approval of the District Commissioner’s nomination for Chairperson: The District Commissioner (DC) proposed Mike Meadows for the post of District Chairperson. All present were in agreement. Nomination and election of District Secretary: DC proposed Dave Cheesbrough for the post of District Secretary seconded by Angela Hardwell and accepted by all present Nomination and approval of District Treasurer: Karen Cheesbrough was nominated by Mike Meadows and seconded by Ron Edwards. All present accepted. Approval of persons nominated by the DC to serve on the Executive Committee: DC nominated Jill Lewis, David Morris and Sandra Jones. All accepted by the meeting Nomination and election of members to serve on the Executive Committee: Nominations were Elliott Jones, Adrian Bryan and Ian MacLean. Duly accepted by the meeting. Appointment of Honorary Auditor: This appointment to be confirmed Election of a representative to the Area Scout Council: No volunteer for this post so it remains open. Election of a representative to the Gladstone Centre Committee: Ron Edwards has now recovered from his illness and was nominated to represent the District on the above committee. Election of Members for the Cox Wood Sub Committee: DC nominates Mike Meadows for the post of Cox Wood Chair. Jim Butcher nominates Sue Lister as Cox Wood Secretary DC nominates Karen Cheesbrough as Cox Wood Secretary. Other members nominated are Gerry Lister, Russell Wyn Thomas, Ian Maclean and Josh Hughes. All the above were accepted by the meeting Following the conclusion of the above official matters the district Chair informed the meeting that all Officers and Members of the District Executive were available to answer questions. He then brought the meeting to a close. Accounts

WREXHAM DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL Receipts and Payments Account Year start date Year end date

For the year 1-Jan-15 31-Dec-15 from

Receipts and payments 2015 2014

£ £ Receipts

Donations, legacies and similar income

Membership subscriptions 41,031 41,075

Less:Membership subscriptions paid on (National/County/Area) (37,548) (35,753)

Net membership subscriptions retained 3,483 5,322

Donations - 0 50

Loans 0 7,222

Gift Aid - ESU 1,366 1,012

Sub total 4,850 13,607 Grants

Cox Wood - CFAP Grant 0 0

Youth Strategy Grant - Activity Training 1,600 50 Sub total 1,600 50 Fundraising (gross)

Scout Shop Sales 9,755 11,568

Badge Secretary Sales 3,626 3,714

Coxwood 14,995 13,452

Explorer Scout Unit 8,857 7,579

District and Groups 14,394 35,199

Training 330 0

Sub total 51,957 71,510

Investment income

Bank interest & Short term investments

The Scout Association Short Term Investment Service 122 75

District HQ Rent & Car Park Rent 2,494 2,142

Sub total 2,617 2,216

!1 LT700002 Total Gross Income 61,023 87,383

Asset and investment sales, etc. 0 0

Total receipts 61,023 87,383

Year start date

For the year from 1-Jan-15 To 31-Dec-15

Receipts and payments 2015 2014

£ £ Payments Premises Costs

District Headquarters 9,620 6,086

Coxwood Campsite 8,389 7,051

Explorer Scout Units 12,141 13,573

Donations

Scout Active Support - 0 0

District Grants & Donations 1,600 5050 Administration Expenses

Support Teams, Training & Administration 520 1,327

Depreciation 5,259 5,891

Activities

District Section Activities 12,448 37,647

Sub total 49,978 76,625 Fundraising expenses

Scout Shop - Cost of Sales & Expenses 7,251 9,015

Badge Secretary - Cost of Sales & Expenses 3,290 3,350

Sub total 10,541 12,365

Total Gross Expenditure 60,519 88,991

Assets and Purchases - Grant Assisted 0 0

Total payments 60,519 88,991

Net of receipts/(payments) 504 - 1,607 Fund Balances brought forward 84,390 85,997 Fund Balances carried forward 84,894 84,390 !2 LT700002 Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year

1-Jan-15 31-Dec-15

£ Current Assets

Cash at bank & in hand 62,063 57,223

Debtors 0 0

Loans to Scout Groups 0 - The Scout Association Short Term Investment Service 12,250 12,250

National Savings account 3,214 3,166

Total cash funds 77,527 72,638 Other monetary assets

Sub total 0 0 Fixed Assets

Coxwood Site Development & Machinery - written down value 5,694 9,950 District Equipment - written down value 1,241 2,940 Explorer Scout Unit Equipment - written down value 816 1,815 Sub total 7,751 14,705 Non monetary assets for charity's own use

Badge stock 1,625 2,517

Shop stock 3,879 5,983

Sub total 5,503 8,500 Liabilities

Accounts not yet paid 0 450

Activity Grant not yet utilised 0 5,200

K2 ESU - Croatia Fund 59 59 District Summer Camp Fund - Switzerland 2014 5,829 4,138

Sub total 5,888 9,847

Net Assets Less Liabilities 84,894 85,997 Represented by:-

General Fund 84,894 85,997 The above receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees on 14th April 2016 (the date of the Executive Committee meeting that approved the accounts) and signed on their behalf by

Signature District Commissioner Mrs Susan Lister Treasurer Mrs Karen Cheesbrough

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