Aiming High! Annual Review of Chester Scouts 2014

AIMING HIGH! ANNUAL REVIEW OF CHESTER SCOUTS 2014

CHESTER AND DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL Registered Charity Number 511406

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

The journey begins – one of our youngest members joins Scouting

Joanne Turner Neil Thornton District Commissioner District Chair

Iain McIntyre Alan Wilding Deputy District Commissioner Deputy District Commissioner

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENTS

President: His Grace the Duke of Westminster KG CB CVO OBE TD CD DL

Honorary Vice Presidents:

Rt Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Chester Rt Rev The Bishop of Chester Stephen Mosley MP

Vice Presidents:

Terry Collier June Hughes Eric Plenderleath MA Peter Slater Dolores Whitton John Ebo

SUPPORT FOR SCOUT GROUPS Kristy Collins, Assistant District Commissioner (Beaver Scouts) Helen Shone, Assistant District Commissioner (Cub Scouts)

District Leaders:

Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts Scouts Bev Hall Sue Clifford David Broady Jane Shortall Vicki Courtney Martin Formstone Joanna Taylor David M Evans Mark Gray June Hughes John McDowell Christine Owens

Explorer Scouts

Cat Hirst, District Explorer Scout Commissioner Specialist Support

Charly Hillier, Assistant District Commissioner (Activities) Roger Hewitt, Assistant District Commissioner (Event Support) Richard Johnson, Local Training Manager John Lambert, Assistant District Commissioner (Development) John Riley, Manager, Fellowship Active Support Unit Cheshire Scout Network Richard Clarke, Leader, Hollyoaks Scout Network, Chester

SCOUTING’S STRATEGY

The national vision for The Scout Association for our development over the period to 2018 is:

• Scouting in 2018 will make a positive impact in our communities; prepare young people to be active citizens; embrace and contribute to social change • Scouting in 2018 will be shaped by young people in partnership with adults; enjoyed by young people and more adult volunteers; as diverse as the communities in which we live • Members of Scouting in 2018 will feel empowered; valued; proud OUR MISSION

Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society OUR VALUES

As Scouts we are guided by these values: integrity; respect; care; belief; and cooperation Our Annual Review shows some of the things we have done to work towards our vision. We hope you enjoy our story!

GROWTH (To increase the number of youth members and volunteers)

Highlights:

• Two new Explorer Scouts Units established: Wildre at Bickerton and Spartan at Christleton

• Plans are in hand for re-starting Bea- ver Scouts in existing Groups

• Providing a varied and challenging programme for our members makes our Movement attractive to new members. Our photos show some of the highlights of the year. We aim to have a justied reputation for quali- ty activities

• Providing a want to join service by phone or through our web site

The Beeston Hike—a day for Beaver Scouts where money for charity can be raised through sponsorship

Craft activities for Beaver Scouts INCLUSIVITY (To be as diverse as our communities)

Highlights: Chamboree was • Our aim is to plant Cheshire’s interna- Scouting wherever it tional camp at will grow, so that all Tabley in the sum- young people in our mer of 2014. community will be Hundreds of Scouts able to enjoy what from Cheshire the Scouting has to offer rest of the UK and • This means that we other countries lived need to recruit new and played together adult volunteers and for a week to grow our links with the community. Our development plans— supported by John Lambert (Assistant District Commissioner for Development) have had this as a priority

• International links are important and this is an area where Scouting excels

• The next World Scout Jamboree is in Japan in 2015 and our nine representatives were preparing all through the year—a chance to think about global links and to explain why the Jamboree is being held—a festival of youth and peace

Jamboree on the Air (in October) linked Scouts around the world by radio. As usual we had a successful station in Chester COMMUNITY IMPACT (To make a positive impact in our communities)

Highlights:

• A major project which reaches out to the community is our Gang Show. The 58th production took place at the King’s School in February. The partnership with the school has developed well and is of great bene#t to both parties. The show attracts many to the audience and is an event which showcases young people and their talents to the community at large

• An offshoot from the Gang Show is the participation of members of the cast in the annual Brook Street Carnival—a community celebration

• Links with other organisations can bene#t both sides—in the year we worked with BT volunteers

• Scout Community Week helps us to reach out—and there are new partnerships being forged

1st Ashton worked with their village community to improve the environment and we had our ﬁrst project with BT Volunteers

YOUTH SHAPED (To ensure Scouting is shaped by young people in partnership with adults)

Highlights:

• For two years Cheshire Scouts have run a leadership development programme for Explorer Scouts (HOBY) – this special programme of youth development has been so successful that a similar opportunity will be available in future to those aged over 18 as well • Our plan is to develop the District Youth Forum as a way of encouraging participation and youth involvement in the District, with strong links with the Cheshire Scouts’ Youth Forum. The District Executive Committee have con,rmed their intention to have full dialogue with our youth membership • A key support for Scout Groups is the Young Leader Scheme. Young Leaders are aged over 14 and provide valuable help in supporting our younger members. They also have a personal development opportunity through the training and encouragement offered to Young Leaders – this work was a fresh priority for Chester and District during 2014 • Links with the Borough Council and with our Member of Parlia- ment continued during 2014

8th Chester leaders meet up with Stephen Mosley MP SUPPORT FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS

Even more adult volunteers are completing their training and achieving the Wood Badge, thanks to those who give their time to support training, especially our Training Advisers, Richard Johnson, the Local Training Manager

We continue to run First Response training courses, free of charge, so that our adult volunteers receive up to date advice on first aid techniques. The training is provided by a small team of trainers – many thanks to Charly Hillier, Richard Johnson and Iain McIntyre

During the year Dave Evans MBE, a Deputy District Commissioner, stepped down for family reasons. Many thanks to Dave and Anne and best wishes for the future. Dave continues to support Chester Scouting

The Appointments Advisory Committee members may only be seen once by our volunteers but they provide a very important role within the District. Our thanks to them and to Arthur Brighton, our Appointments Administrator

ACTIVE SUPPORT FOR SCOUTING IN CHESTER AND DISTRICT

All our major District events were supported by our Active Support Units – our thanks to all members of the Units and the Unit managers:

Fellowship ASU – John Riley Gang Show – Keith Harding

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The purpose and objective of the District Scout Council are those of The Scout Association, based on the Values of Scouting and using the Scout Method:

Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

The District meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings.

The District is a trust established under its rules which are common to all units of The Scout Association.

The District Executive Committee exists to support the District Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of that appointment and to provide support for Scouting in Chester and District. More information is contained in the District’s governing documents: the Royal Charter, which gives authority to the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association, and the Area Constitution (last updated in 2010).

The members of the Executive Committee are the charity trustees of the Area Scout Council which is an educational charity. As charity trustees they are responsible for complying with legislation applicable to charities. This includes registration, keeping proper accounts and making returns to the Charity Commission as appropriate.

Members of the Committee and trustees of the charity during 2014 were:

District Chair: Neil Thornton

District Commissioner: Joanne Turner

District Secretary: Lotte Moores

District Treasurer: Mark Moores

District Explorer Scout Commissioner: Cat Hirst

Elected members

David Bull OBE David M Evans Ron Jackson Joanna Taylor Gary Warburton

Members nominated by the District Commissioner

Richard Clarke Chris Clowes Jonathan Ducker John Lambert

Advice and Consultation

The principal adviser to the Committee is the District Commissioner, with her team. We are also advised by the Committee’s officers and a number of sub-Committees, appointed annually, whose Chairs normally attend meetings of the Committee in a non-voting capacity (unless they are also members of the Committee itself). The facilitator of the District Youth Forum and a member of the Scout Network are co- opted by the Committee. No professional advice was sought during 2014.

Finances

We regularly monitor the levels of bank balances and the interest rates received to ensure the District obtains maximum value and income from its banking arrangements.

Finances in the current economic climate are always a challenge. Despite this, we continue to raise funds by a variety of means:

• Our membership fee • Investments in the Short Term Investment service of the Scout Association (where income is currently very low) • Investment in the Charity Aid Foundation’s 90 Day Notice Account, bringing in significantly more interest than many other vehicles on offer • Fundraising • Hiring-out of the District Scout Centre • Our Scout Shop, managed by Vicky Taker

Risk Management

The District has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss, these include two signatories for all payments and insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered.

Reserves

In order to manage our business risks, we have resolved to maintain sufficient reserves (currently £ 80,000) to meet such contingencies as:

• District property – unbudgeted repairs etc • Properties administered for dormant Groups – repairs etc • Finance to active Groups • Development opportunities not covered by the annual budget • Programme opportunities • Unforeseen operating costs • Matched funding/start-up costs for projects • Loss of income

The Committee’s Work in 2014

Special thanks to those who stepped down from the role of trustee for all their efforts. Welcome to our new trustees. We have met regularly in order to review and direct the business affairs of the District. Our thanks to all our members for taking on these additional duties.

Work has continued on the maintenance and repair of the District’s two properties: the District Scout Centre and the District Stores. Plans have started for the redevelopment of the District Scout Centre: this will inevitably be a long term project.

Communications are maintained through a weekly eUPDATE, an email distribution list and the web site, which was re-launched in January 2014. Many thanks to our webmaster, Josh Diamond. At mid-2014, compared with the same period in 2013:

• Sessions increased by over 100%. • Users increased by more than 95% • Page views increased by more than170%

Approved by the Executive Committee and signed on their behalf:

Neil Thornton, District Chair Lotte Moores, District Secretary

GONE HOME

We are sorry to record the names of members who have died during 2014, with our condolences to family and friends:

Alan Bostock

George Clarke

Joan Hunt

Monica Maddox

Jean Proffitt

AWARDS Congratulation to our members who gained major awards during 2013:

QUEEN’S SCOUT AWARD Alex Bain

THE WOOD BADGE

Awarded to adult volunteers who have completed training for their current role in the Movement Cat Hirst Mike Jones Juliet Jordan Jordan Smith Emily Taker Luke Thornton David Ricketts Wendy Woodman

AWARDS FOR SERVICE TO THE MOVEMENT 2014

Silver Acorn

Mel Owen Chief Scouts 5 Years’ Service Award

Nigel Banks Christopher Green

Stephen Bonsall Carol Gorman

Claire Cheng Peter Hooper

Susan Churchill Heather Marshall Philip Cooper Nicola Mason Ruth Dalgarno Robert Scott

Alexandra Davies Gillian Shone

James Duffy Duncan Steaton

Richard Edgar Nigel Tait

Kathryn Foreman Mark Turnbull

Colin Fishpool David Walker

John Harrison Lesley Warburton

Adrian Gideonse Louise White Chief Scout’s 10 Years’ Service Award

Melvin Hall Roger Roberts

Kelly Jones Steven Shone

David Goodier Thomas Woodward Shirley Polley

Chief Scout’s 15 Years’ Service Award

Richard De Beger Mark Gray

Julie Gray Paul Wright Chief Scout’s 20 Years’ Service Award

John Buchanan Charly Hillier

George Coward John Lambert Chief Scouts 25 Years’ Service Award

Richard Clarke Gillian Owen

Yvonne Harding MBE John Riley

Chief Scouts 30 Years’ Service Award

Nicholas Oates Alan Wilding

Geoff Taylor Chief Scout’s 40 Years’ Service Award

June Hughes Graham Polley

Ron Jackson Rex Wilson

SCOUTING IN CHESTER AND DISTRICT 2014

Ashton Hayes: 1st Ashton and Manley Bickerton (also serving Tattenhall): 1st Sandstone Wildfire Explorer Scouts Blacon: 5th Blacon (Holy Trinity) Christleton: 1st Christleton Spartan Explorer Scouts Farndon: 1st Farndon Farndon Explorer Scouts Guilden Sutton: 1st Guilden Sutton Hoole: 42nd Chester Huntington: 40th Chester Malpas: 1st Malpas Garrison Explorer Scouts MEMBERSHIP Newton: 48th Chester (St Columba's) 2014 2013 Saltney: Total for st 1471 1534 1 Saltney (St Mark's) Chester Saughall: Total in st 1330 1291 1 Saughall Groups Sealand Road/Canal-side: Explorer th 8 Chester Scouts 85 111 Tarporley: 1st Tarporley Maverick Explorer Scouts Tarvin: 1st Tarvin Tilston: 1st Tilston Upton: 1st Upton-by-Chester District Scout Centre and Scout Shop Hollyoaks Scout Network Wolf Explorer Scouts Vicar’s Cross and Mickle Trafford: Cestrian Dewa Explorer Scouts Waverton: 1stWaverton Westminster Park and Handbridge: 18th Chester (St Mary's) Renegades Explorer Scouts