Annual report
Chairman’s review.
1. After
a short absence we were delighted to welcome back Sue Sunderland as a Beaver
leader. She and Helen are now looking after the Colony.
2. Last
November we had a very successful bonfire and firework display at Toc H Rugby
Club. All the stored fireworks had been used up last year, so we had to spend
considerably more on materials this year. It was generally agreed that the
bonfire was the biggest and the fireworks the best we have done so far. A good
profit was made, although lower than last year’s owing to the extra costs, but
more of that from the Treasurer shortly.
3. As a variant, a very enjoyable deferred Christmas meal was held at the Didsbury Village Restaurant on May 9th, complete with crackers and paper hats. Unfortunately the turnout was on the small side but it did mean that everyone could talk to everyone else. I encourage parents as well as leaders and committee members to go on these evenings. They are great fun and good value.
4. The new Gift Aid scheme is now operational and working well. This makes it simpler for the Group to reclaim the income tax which you have already paid on the subscription. The Treasurer can give you more details if you wish. For convenience records are held on a computer. There is no problem with the Data Protection Act, but we do need your permission to hold such records and have prepared a consent form accordingly.
5. Over the year we have spent a considerable amount upgrading the lodge facilities and its security and, also, our equipment. In particular, we have a new steel main door. A new mess tent has been purchased. Owing to changes in regulations for leaders, we have had to embark on a series of training courses, some of which are quite expensive. However, these are necessary if we wish to take our young people camping and hiking.
6. The Executive Committee has reluctantly decided to increase the section subscriptions to £20 per term from September. This, however, is the first increase for about three years and compares very favourably with other local Groups. As you will all be aware, costs have risen in that time. In particular, we now must pay a markedly increased capitation fee to Scout Control.
7. The website continues to flourish, to the extent that digital pictures are now being taken specifically for it, as at the Remembrance Day parade. It is a useful source of information on Group activities. The URL has changed. It is now www.didsburyscouts.org.uk.
8. Finally,
I would like to thank, on your behalf, all of the leaders who give so much of
their time for the Group. I must also thank the other members of the Executive
Committee, including our Secretary, Allison Lobley, who is standing down, for
all their work throughout the year. I also thank Douglas Anderson for his audit
of the Group accounts. The Whist Drives continue, now under new management.
These have given enjoyment to many people and provide welcome income for the
Group. This year we have had a greater input from parents and families at
events such as the bonfire and Didsbury Festival. In particular, the “Tea in a
Tent” working party was well supported last June. This is very welcome and I
thank you all. Keep up the good work! Next, we shall have the “Gourmet Burger Stall”
at Didsbury Festival on Saturday. This is a major logistic exercise. Please try
to help.
D.S. Leitch,
12 June 2003.
Can I first remind everyone that all the group leaders and executive are volunteers and put in a lot of time and effort into the group for free.
Since last year we have implemented the new structure for scouting and subsequently lost most of our 14 plus scouts, unfortunately most have not gone to the district explorer unit so they have been lost to scouting. The beaver colony has survived the threat of closure due to lack of leaders, Helen Hampson has transferred from cubs and Sue Sunderland has been persuaded to soldier on. There is a parent rota, which the majority of parents are supporting but the colony needs more warranted leaders.
Caroline Knowels has settled in as ASL at scouts and Noel Privat joined us 2 weeks ago and will hopefully take out an ASL’s warrant. Martin Miller also helps at scouts as a young leader.
Sue Bullied has transferred from Beavers to help Alan at Cubs, we also have one of our old scouts Jonathan Doyal helping as part of his D of E award at present.
We have waiting lists for Beavers and Cub and have enough membership to open an additional Beaver Colony and Cub pack all we need are MORE WARRANTED LEADERS.
Can I reminder everyone of the group’s web site where reports on past activities and information on forthcoming events can be found. (www.didsburyscouts.org.uk)
Finally I would like to thank the section leaders and the executive committee for all their dedicated work over the past year.
Keith Hampson (GSL) June 2003
Beaver Scout.
There have been a number of changes in Beavers over the last year. Sue Sunderland had a break from beavers, Sue Bullied transferred to the cub section and Helen Hampson took over the running of Beavers so that the Beaver section could remain open. We are also missing the help of Caroline who was a student in Manchester and has now left to get a job elsewhere. We are grateful for the help from beaver parents who help us promote good behaviour in the beaver colony; this is carried out via a parent rota
We have also started the new Beaver scout programme where beavers can gain badges but as yet we have not done enough work to be able to award any but this should happen before the summer term ends.
Towards the end of last summer we carried out a number of outdoor activities which included trips to the park and tracking.
Following the summer holidays we followed the theme of wind power and animal life. We also made puppets and put on a show.
The New Year saw us celebrating the Chinese new year by making fans, lanterns and dragons, tasting Chinese food and taking a trip into Manchester to see the dragon festival.
Over the last few weeks we have done items on disabilities and what friends mean to each of us.
We have also taken part in District activities – Remembrance Sunday parade, the Christmas carol service and have attempted the football but unfortunately it’s been cancelled twice! We did manage to take part in the model making competition and came second.
We had an enjoyable day when the beavers were invited to join the cubs for the day at their camp. The highlight of the day was going fishing.
Our numbers remain at twenty with a waiting list of ten, we will not be able to take more in until after the summer when 5 will go up to cubs.
We have had a very busy year and hope that the next year will be as productive.
Helen Hampson & Sue Sunderland (Beaver leaders)
Cub Scout.
This has been another difficult year for the Cub Pack especially with the lack of leaders, but can I take this opportunity to thank Sue Bullied my assistance leader and Jonathan (1yr Service for Duke of Edinburgh Gold) and those parents who have helped us on a regular basis, whose help is invaluable.
Well I hope the
Cubs have enjoyed a varied and exciting program over the past 12 months, we
have seen our number’s grow to 32 cubs and have now started a waiting list.
Well what have
we done!!!!
May - Map &
Compass.
June - Tea in a
Tent (Brewing Tea, Pitching a Tent, Rope Handling)
July - Commonwealth Games Camp at Linnett Clough
Sept - Tracking & Codes
Oct - Science Rockets & Balloons
Halloween Party
Nov - Making Puppets
Dec - Puppet Show
Jan - Games
Feb - Country Code & Drama
Mar - Space (Modelling Space Craft, Map the Stars,
Alien Key Rings)
April - Space
Continued
May - Hat Museum
Visit
Alan & Sue
(Cub Scout Leaders)
The past year has seen a number of changes in Scouting leading to a time of great change within the troop itself. The most overt of these has been the creation of the Explorer Scout section run by the District rather than our own group. This has meant the loss of almost half the strength of the troop as all scouts over 14 years of age have transferred to this section. Despite the dramatic reduction in numbers, the troop itself has continued to develop and we have benefited from the arrival of Caroline, a new and talented leader who joined the group in the last year.
The troop attended the county Technology camp at Linnet Clough last October where several badges were gained. In February three of the older scouts and Caroline attended the county PL’s training weekend at Linnet Clough. More recently over the Spring bank holiday, the scouts completed a short expedition over three days in the White Peak area of the Peak District National Park.
With the assistance of the Group Scout Leader, we are planning a climbing weekend in Wales for early July. Later in the year the troop will again take an active role in the Technology Camp and we will shortly be developing our long term programme to cover the next visit to Kandersteg in 2005.
Mike Ney (Scout leader)