KEAS CUBS SCOUTS VENTURERS ROVERS LEADERS The Scout Association of New Zealand Annual Report 2016 Incorporating the National Office Financial Statements for the year ended 30th September 2016 CONTENTS 2 Executive Report 4 National Commissioner Report 5 International Commissioner Report 6 Who We Are 8 What We Do 10 Venture 2016 - Inferno 11 Our Volunteers and Life Members 12 Scouting at a Glance 14 2016 Actions and Milestones 18 Youth Development Policy 21 Acknowlegements 22 Audit Report & Financial Statements OUR PURPOSE We empower youth through adventurous experiences to lead lives that make a positive difference. OUR VISION In 2025 more than 25,000 youth will enjoy Scouting adventures. They will come from every background, with a place for all, shape their own experiences, and make a positive difference for New Zealand. SCOUT LAW Have Respect - For yourself and others - For the environment Do What is Right - Be trustworthy and tolerant - Have integrity Be Positive - Accept challenges with courage - Be a friend to all The Scout Association of New Zealand 1 EXECUTIVE REPORT Every year in Scouting is action packed. Every week day during school term time, thousands of youth members and their Leaders meet to experience new adventures, challenge themselves and serve their communities in infinite ways. Then there are the community events, local fundraising – for the Scouts Movement and on behalf of other community organisations, camps, parades, as well as local, regional, national and international Scouting events. 2016 was no different, and this year’s annual report seeks to provide a picture of what it is like to be a Scout in New Zealand. THE LIFELONG BENEFITS OF SCOUTING Parents and Scout Leaders know the positive and lifelong contribution Scouting makes in the lives of our young people, and recent international studies now support what we know. Scouting, which aims to develop qualities such as self- Midway through 2015 SCOUTS New Zealand launched the reliance, resolve and a desire for self-learning, has Movement’s 10 year strategy, Better Prepared with a vision of: benefits for the individual long after they have hung their scarf. Findings drawn from the UK National Child In 2025 more than 25,000 youth will enjoy Scouting Development Study 1 show that children who participate adventures. They will come from every background, with in Scouts and Guides are likely to go on to have better a place for all, shape their own experiences, and make mental health in middle age. a positive difference for New Zealand. Research from the United States, also supports these While 2015 signalled the future promise of Better Prepared, conclusions. A three year study from Tufts University the 2016 year saw both concrete preparation for the journey (Massachusetts) measured the character attributes of ahead, and significant milestones already met. These both Scouts and non-Scouts with Cub Scouts reporting included, amongst others: and a Movement-wide consultation significant increases in cheerfulness, helpfulness, on the New Zealand Scout Promise, the development kindness, trustworthiness, and hopeful future expectations, of a holistic Youth Development Policy and a project to compared to non-Scouts. consolidate the financial accounts of all known Scouting entities. These pieces of work are exemplars of how SCOUTS Interestingly, and also from the United States, NASA and New Zealand works with members - both youth and adult, Scouting have a long history. More than two-thirds of key stakeholders and external experts; and how we will take a all current and former astronauts have been involved transparent and consultative approach to the comprehensive in Scouting. The leadership, teamwork, and positive work programme required to achieve our vision for 2025. role models that are part of Scouting are seen to create motivated, high-achieving adults. SCOUT PROMISE CONSULTATION The consultation on the Scout Promise this year was a good “Scouting has given example of a robust, transparent and rigorous process that resulted in what we believe to be a refreshed and relevant me the confidence to promise for today’s youth and adult members alike. Ably led by our National Commissioner and a team of volunteers, the try new things and the consultation produced a well considered promise which is currently with the World Organisation of the Scout Movement confidence to believe (WOSM) to be ratified, after which it be rolled out across the in myself.” Movement in 2017. Thomas James, Avonhead-Russley Scout Group 2016: A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT Like any lengthy journey, preparation and planning is essential for success. This year SCOUTS New Zealand has ACHIEVEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND focussed on identifying the required level of investment in Being active in all our communities is the essence of the infrastructure and people that will amplify our impact. This Scouting Movement in New Zealand, however, it is the work has been undertaken alongside the “business as usual” role of the Scout Association of New Zealand (SCOUTS of managing a Movement of 15,000 plus youth members New Zealand) to ensure the Movement has direction, and 5,000 Adult volunteers. Good progress has been made cohesion and offers a consistent and quality programme on a number of fronts. in every Scout Group operating throughout New Zealand. 1 Lifelong study of almost 10,000 people from across the UK who were born in November 1958. 2 Annual Report 2016 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BEST PRACTICE ONE MOVEMENT, ONE TEAM Youth are the reason we exist, and SCOUTS New Zealand Using a “plan, do, review” approach to everything we is also pleased to announce the launch of our first ever do requires consultation across Scouting Sections and Youth Development Policy in 2016. Drawing on the Youth geographical regions, and the canvassing of differing Development Strategy of Aotearoa, evidence based best world views. This approach leads to robust and considered practice – including world Scouting practice, the policy decisions. Accordingly, operating as “One Team” across is a significant step towards ensuring and measuring the Movement is a prerequisite for success in all of our five both consistency and quality in Scout youth development priorities. When we are all open to working collaboratively, programming across New Zealand. We are indebted to respectfully and transparently within the Movement, with our our youth members, National Leadership Team, other external stakeholders and supporters, and the communities adult volunteers and external subject matter experts who we operate in, Scouting in New Zealand and the youth we contributed to the development and launch of the policy. support are the winners. If the work undertaken in 2016 is anything to go by, the Scouting Movement is well placed to That SCOUTS New Zealand has incrementally improved build on past success and has a very, very bright future. how it consults with the Movement, develops best practice policy and is building a more resilient Movement through THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE knowledge sharing and investment in infrastructure is JOURNEY no accident. It is a purposeful and planned approach to ensure: Scouting in New Zealand continues to grow; our None of this of course would be possible without our programme continues to be “fit for purpose” in a quickly vast network of volunteers and supporters. SCOUTS New changing world; and we are able to offer a Scouting Zealand is deeply indebted to those supporters who stand programme to families and whanau who have yet to with us from outside our Movement. Your support, both in experience the adventure of Scouting. financial terms and in-kind, makes a very real and lasting difference to the youth of our Movement. In helping prepare OPPORTUNITIES OF CONSOLIDATED them for a life of success, your investment of time, resources REPORTING and financial assistance is vital; thank you. The New Zealand Charities Services requirement to Recognising the effort of our volunteers is not just something provide a consolidated financial picture of all Scouting we do at this time of year, it is a part of our Scouting culture. entities is facilitating an exciting range of immediate and That said, SCOUTS New Zealand is looking at additional future opportunities that will create significant efficiency ways it can ensure our volunteers are appropriately gains in how we operate. This has led to more open recognised for the work they do. SCOUTS New Zealand is communication between Groups and within Zones to incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated, experienced rationalise accounting and reporting tasks, and the sharing and hardworking team of volunteers. of knowledge and financial literacy. Furthermore it has started the conversation about how the entire Movement, In an age where volunteering for any length of time is once the extent of Scouting in New Zealand is captured, declining, the number of Leaders, Associates and Committee could benefit through increased purchasing power and Members that keep the Scout Hall doors open as well as the economies of scale. host of specialist advisors, event staff and council members who give so freely of their time, is quite unique. From the information gathered to date in 2016, we anticipate the consolidated balance sheet of SCOUTS Thank you, one and all. New Zealand and all reporting entities will, for the first time, show how significant SCOUTS New Zealand is in a Yours in Scouting, financial sense, both in absolute terms and relative to other large not-for-profit and charitable organisations. INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE While the National Executive Committee (NEC) have approved investment of reserves to deliver on our Better Prepared priorities, our capacity to undertake the work programme of review, renewal and change required to meet our vision of 2025 is decidedly challenged in the face Stuart Francis of increased compliance costs. National Chair The National Office of the Scout Association recorded an operating deficit in 2016 of $363.5K (2015: $174.4 surplus) in part as a result of reduced fundraising combined with increased compliance staffing in health and safety, consolidated financial reporting for New Zealand Charities Services and the recruitment to previously vacant positions.