Annual Report 2024

AGM 17-9-24

Chair’s  report

Since being appointed chair at the last AGM I have been meeting volunteers and leaders and getting to grips with how the group operates. I very much enjoyed attending the camp in October - my first experience of scout camps. I am hugely impressed by, and grateful for, the dedication and expertise shown by our leaders and volunteers.

The National scout movement has originated some changes in scouting governance, which we are in the process of implementing. My hope is that they will lead to a more streamlined meeting structure and greater parental engagement in our programme of group activities. 

We have welcomed Georg Christ as Group secretary and I would like to express my thanks to Georg for the energy and rigour that he is bringing to the role."

Mike Arundale (Chair of Trustees)

GSL’s  (Lead Volunteer) report

Leadership
All sections are in need of regular adult volunteers (Leaders), see sections reports. We used to have two scout troops, we had to amalgamate them due to lack of leaders after covid. The number in the one troop is such that we really could do with being able to start the second again but we can only do this if we have more leaders (this is the same as I wrote last year). Both cub sections need more leaders too Anita from Thursday and Nikhil from Monday have both finished helping this year. 

Garden
The garden is looking better than ever, the garden was judged as part of Didsbury in Bloom. We do not know the results yet. A big thank you to Helen Hampson, Rosemary Fielding, Hillary Lowe and Penny Robinson for all the work they put in throughout the year to keep it looking so good. If you would like to help get in touch with Helen

Chair
Mike Arundale has taken over smoothly from Chris Pearse and co-opted George Christ in as minutes secretary. They have both worked had to transform the group exec committee into the group’s board of Trustees which is now the way the scout group needs to be run.

Deputy Group scout leader

I am please to welcome Brian Cosgrove as my deputy, we have managed to formalise this appointment and Brian now has this as a full role as well as lead with the explorers

Scout association changes

It is hoped that by the end of October the scout association database (compass at the moment) will have changed over to a new system and we will all change from sections with leaders to “Teams with volunteers”. It is hoped that the new database will make life easier for volunteers (leaders)

Many thanks, to all our leaders and supporters, who are all volunteers.  Well done.

Keith Hampson

Group scout Leader

Treasures report

Although the expenditure has risen considerably in this financial year the accounts are still in a healthy position with a credit balance of £28,610.34 at 31/03/24, this is £9500.00 less than the previous year.

The rise in expenditure is due to paying £6006.00 for the legal fees associated with renewing the lease for the land, also general running costs have gone up.  We have also had an increase on repairs to the hut.

As you will see the income is down by around £4000.00 this is due to receiving £1000.00 less is subs and I did not submit a gift aid claim for this year because we were waiting for parents to tick the gift aid box on OSM.

The gift aid claim will be submitted as soon as possible in the new financial year.

Pat Ramsden

Group Treasure

Beaver report 

We have been busy with badge work gaining many different badges We have covered elements in all  challenge awards, many have gained activity badges which range from experiment to health and fitness to hobbies to builder. Many have gained staged activity awards in swimmer, snowsports, hikes, air activities to name a few. To gain a bronze chief scout award, the highest  badge that can be obtained in beavers, each beaver needs to complete the 6 challenge awards and 4 other badge. I am pleased to say that 2 beavers have gained these badges this year. A total of 253 badges have been awarded well done to the beavers for their hard work.

We have had visits from the fire brigade, RNLI, a wheelchair user, a blind person with their dog. We have done a survey in the village about what people thought about Didsbury, following this we wrote to the MP who responded saying he would visit if he was able. We have had only one sleepover this year which was when we did our survey of the village.

We continue to struggle for leaders as a number have work commitments. On a Tuesday we have a regular team of 3 parents who help but we are now starting a rota for other parents to help. On a Wednesday a number of leaders can help less frequently so again we are staring a rota for assistance.

Thank you to all my leader volunteers for all their commitment.

Helen Hampson, Beaver Lead volunteer (Beaver scout leader) 

Cub report

The two cub sections, Celts and Saxons, have continued to work together sharing a similar programme with special joint meetings and camps.  

In October we joined the Scouts and Explorers for a very chilly Sixers and Seconders’ camp. The smaller group of older cubs allowed us to focus on skills such as backwoods cooking, pioneering and fire lighting. 

Then in April, we were able to enter 2 teams into Pike View Hike giving the cubs the chance to practice their navigation and team working skills. Unfortunately we didn’t win a trophy this year, but we’re sure that the opportunity to teach cubs map reading skills as young leaders, helped the explorers to their victory!

We held an exciting summer camp at Dunham in June with kayaking, grass sledging, archery, iron branding, backwoods cooking and a very impressive campfire. 

Thank you to Glenn and Mat, our regular parent helpers. Our Young Leaders, Will, Maaria, Caelan, Matty and Edmund have been a huge help- thanks to them.  Thank you to Emma, Chung, Michaela and Ian for helping with our camp and to all the parents who helped with our outdoor meetings over the year. 

We have awarded 341 badges this year including 7 Silver Chief Scout cub awards, the highest award within Cubs.

Sadly for us, but happily for him, Nikhil has completed his University course and returned to his native London- thank you for your time with us. Matthew (Hathi) has had a change in work circumstances so will not be available as much now. We will need parent help particularly for outdoor and practical activities. 

Alison Malkin (for the cub tem)

Scout report

Peter Mayhew
Phoenix Scout Leader

DVESU (Didsbury Viking explorer scout unit)

We have had another strong year in Explorers this year with membership at 24 and regular attendance at meeting between 16 and 20. Our leaders this year are Brian and Kevin with support provided by Keith. I’d like to thank both Kevin and Keith for their help this year. 

The highlight for this year was our entry into the Bibby’s Farm Yomp, the explorer event at the Pike View Hike, our team of 4 were successful in winning the event, a huge congratulations on the achievement.

We have had a joint summer camp with the scouts and have an upcoming camp in October. We have built on the explorers skills this year in planning events and the majority of our summer camp was put together by the young people with support from the leaders. We have a growing number of the explorers who currently help in some of the other sections as young leaders and their help is appreciated by all the other leaders. This year we have awarded 4 explorers with their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award and we have also award a platinum Chief Scout award. Congrats to all the young people on their efforts. 

Brian Cosgrove

Explorer Scout Leader