avon scouts annual report 2015

AVON COUNTY SCOUTS

ANNUAL REPORT 2015

avonscouts.org.uk

CHANGING

LIVESWITH EVERYDAY ADVENTURE

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Message from the County CommissionerGrowthYouth ShapedInclusiveCommunity ImpactOur ReportVision 2018PearsOverview of Accounts

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Avon County Scouts Annual Report 2015 | 1

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Scouting remains as relevant today as it has always been, and is increasingly popular with young people. During the year we have opened 14 new Scout Groups or sections, creating 231 new scouting places for our young people and adding 68 more adult volunteers to our movement. Building on the work created in partnership with the Pears Foundation we continue our commitment to provide more Scouting opportunities for more young people. To facilitate this growth we have invested in six paid interns to deliver the development of new scouting provision within the County, particularly in more hard to reach areas. As we go into year two of the project our aim is to open a further 16 new provisions in 2015 and so to reduce the list of those waiting to join by a further 400 young people who are currently unable to enjoy scouting.

In my first year in post I aim to strengthen the work that my predecessor, Dan Wood, has set in motion. I want the four pillars of scouting - Growth, Inclusivity, Youth Shaped and Community Impact – to be in the minds of all our adult volunteers. Building them into our weekly activities, camps and special events will ensure we deliver a high quality programme in every Beaver Colony, Cub Pack, Scout Troop and Explorer Scout Unit in the County.

Graham Brant County Commisioner

MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Graham Brant

172122


GrowthNetwork and Explorer Scouts are thriving in Avon.

Network and Explorer Scouts are thriving in Avon. Increasing membership over the past 12 months means we have

• 110 Network members (aged 18-15) - more than ever before• 60 of our Network members who are also adult Leaders• 1,072 Explorer Scouts (aged 14-18) - a 25% increase since 2010 • 235 of our Explorer Scouts who are also Young Leaders, volunteering their time, skills and energy to support other young people • an increase of 6% in members in Brunel District – the highest in the whole South West Region• opened 14 new sections with almost 200 new young people enjoying Scouting thanks to the Pears growth project• 9,518 young people enjoying the Scouting adventure as Beaver Scouts (aged 6-8), Cub Scouts (aged 8-10½) and Scouts (aged 10½-14) across Avon

Youth ShapedInvolving young people in decision making.

Our Network section (18-25 years old) organised two AGMs over the last year. The first was at the 2014 County Conference and a later one took place at a County Network camp in South Glos. Additionally, a County Ball was organised by the members of Scout Network in October. It was well attended and great fun was had in the photo booth among other attractions! The Network members were also able to provide fund raising opportunities to their units. The Network Chairs and other members have also been making plans for the rearrangement of Network activities based on a District structure from autumn 2015.

The County team have ensured that an Explorer Scout and two Network members have been fully engaged in developing the current County Plan. Their ideas have been invaluable and have facilitated a more rounded approach.

When the two World Scout Jamboree units formed the young people shaped the nature and content of the training weekends. The youth membership have chosen the unit names – Avonushi and Avonators and have been involved in the badge designs, fundraising ideas and work with the leadership team to plan their strategy for their journey to Japan in July 2015

At Beaver, Cub and Scout level, Leaders are engaging their young people to ensure that whilst the programme remains Leader guided it is informed by what the young people wish to achieve.



InclusiveThe ‘Pears Project’ will continue focus on ‘hard to reach’ areas using electronically mapped membership information including Sections, Groups, Districts and their census numbers. The County has used this information to inform and target our development plans and external relations/fundraising work. We have managed to open 14 new sections and provisions to reduce our current wanting to join list by over 400 young people. We have opened Groups in previously thought hard to reach locations including the Manavata Scout Group in the Bradley Stoke area. Manavata means ‘humanity’ in Sanskrit - the human virtue of tending and befriending others through love, kindness and social intelligence. We have worked with this community to weave the values of Scouting into their daily lives.

2014 was a big international year for Avon with the formation of two Units comprising of 72 young people and 8 Leaders to attend the World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) in Japan, in July and August 15. Supported financially by County and District funding, these young people come from different communities across Avon and have been active in their own fund raising and in training preparations. These have included engaging with the local Japanese community to gain an insight into life in Japan.

In addition Avon hosted the WSJ International Service Team Selection for the South West Region, and 20 volunteers will be heading to Japan from Avon to provide that essential support as part of the International Service Team.

A number of Scouts have been abroad this year to Kandersteg and further afield. For example 20 Explorer Scouts and 10 Leaders from Cabot District in Bristol travelled to Meghauli in the south of Nepal to run the 2nd Jungle Jamboree for Scouts in the Chitwan District. For more than a year the Explorers had been preparing for this, learning about the Nepalese culture, local Scouting, the people and the environment that shapes their lives.


Community Impact Our impact within the community continues to grow as we partnership with schools and local authorities to be an integral part of the communities in which we are based. .

Many Groups take an active part in local life, helping with community projects, holding positions on the organising committee of local events, or working with the elderly in their area. We continue to increase our visibility within our local community which prepares our young people for adult citizenship of the future.

To achieve the top awards in Scouting young people have to make an impact in our community. Often this leads to continued on-going service to the community long after the award is completed. The very top award is the Queen’s Scout Awards and one of the highlights of the year was seeing Avon members make up a whole contingent in the St. George’s celebration at Windsor Castle. We are extremely proud of 32 Queen’s Scouts:

• William Betts• Chevy Bidwell• Edward Bray• Charlotte Brewer• Justine Brunning• Rachel Edge• Edward Ellams • Daniel Haggett• Alex Harrington• Bethany Harrington• Matthew Hodgkins

• Rebecca Horler• Elly Johns-Turner• Christopher Masters• Victoria Morley• Kathryn Ottley• Huw Parry• Katrina Reynolds• Ethan Rose• Adam Sage• Katie Salter• Calum Smart

• Gregory Spratt• Tracey Stevenson• Anna Sutton• Dunstan Thompson• Lewis Trethewey• Jonathan Waldren• Robert Waggett• Emma Watura• Edward Wheatcroft• Jackie Wray.

10 | Avon County Scouts Annual Report 2015

There were 102 Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards achieved by members of Avon Scouts this year. These were made up of 72 Bronze Awards, 10 Silver Awards and 20 Gold Awards. More superb achievements by our young people. Those achieving Gold Awards are:

• Edward Bray• Sarah Bruce• Edward Ellams• Christopher Grattidge• Catrin Jones• Mollie Lockett• Kathryn Ottley

• Huw Parry• Laura Price• Arthur Silverberg• Calum Smart• Gregory Spratt• Anna Sutton• Dunstan Thompson

• Robert Waggett• Jonathan Waldren• Emma Watura• Maedene Webb• Edward Wheatcroft• Hannah Woodman,

To recognise the outstanding service which our adult volunteers give in many and varied ways to our young people and hence to the community the Scout Association makes ‘Good Service’ awards. These say ‘thank you for your commitment and enthusiasm’ on behalf of all our young people. It is with great pleasure therefore that we can report 65 Good Service Awards to our adult volunteers in Avon this year. These were made up of 35 Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service, 13 Award of Merit and 3 Bar to the Award of Merit. In addition the following were announced as part of the St George’s Day Awards:

• MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS CONDUCT - for meritorious conduct of an exceptionally high standard: Andy Phelps (Phelpsie) • SILVER ACORN - In recognition of specially distinguished service: Brian Day, Caroline Evans, Roderick Habicht, Ronald Higgs, Sarah Jenkinson, Karl Kilburn, Roger Lewis, David Milton, Anthony Stringer, Julie Webber, Gary Welsh, Brian Wood.• BAR TO THE SILVER ACORN - In recognition of further specially distinguished service: Philip Woolcock.• SILVER WOLF - In recognition of services to Scouting of the most exceptional nature: Neil Salter

Congratulations and thank you to all our recipients, from the Scout Association and the communities they serve.


Our report:A Report from the Board of Trustees/County Executive Committee: 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015

Avon Scout County has enjoyed another year of continuing development, supported particularly by the ‘Pears’ project for establishing new Scout Groups and new Sections within existing Scout Groups. The responses to these and other development initiatives indicate that Scouting is relevant to the young people of today, and makes a very positive contribution to the lives of our 10,000+ youth members. Our role as the County Board of Trustees / County Executive Committee has been to support these developments and provide an underpinning structure, governance and financial management system that promotes more and better Scouting opportunities. As part of this we have been prepared to call on our reserves to fund activities, aiming over two years to reduce them in line with the Charity Commission recommendations. There is always more to do, and we need continuing input from new Trustee volunteers, but we are pleased with what has been achieved this year. Our report last year was structured according to the 5 strategic aims of the County Plan - here is what we had set out to do, and what we have actually achieved.

John KirwanCounty Chairman

John Kirwan

Strategic aim 1: Empowering young people

What we hoped to do • Complete the roll-out of the banking system and make all activity groups and Network Hubs familiar with the procedures.• Continue to support County Scout Network activities, and encourage greater engagement in collaborative events.• Continue to press Districts to undertake appropriate consultations with Explorer Scouts and promote novel ways to support these activities

What we have done• Continued the roll-out of the banking system to further activity groups, though there are still some organisational difficulties. A better organisational structure with the bank is required.• Promoted Network development and activities. • Increased the presence of Explorer Scouts at the County Conference and Annual General Meeting• Sent two young people to the National Youth Forum in London• Involved young people in all stages of the County Plan meetings • Utilised the views of young people at the Regional County Commissioners / County Chairmen meetings• Begun a consultation process on the role of a County Youth Commissioner.

Strategic aim 2: Valuing volunteers

What we hoped to do • Support the remaining Districts to remove the District membership fee for adult volunteers, if necessary with financial incentives.• Promote the launch of the Compass database, and consider whether the further provision of OSM will be helpful to Leaders on the ground• Continue and increase the number of Executive training opportunities.• Consider further how to help Leaders gaining their Wood Badge to promote their skills to employers.• Review and evaluate the County Conference and plan a further event for 2015.

What we have done• Consolidated our budget plan to no longer include a County adult membership fee. (HQ have since announced their intention of moving towards no adult membership fee from 2016 onwards)• Supported Compass but also OSM for a second year allowing for a seamless changeover when the new Compass system is ready to roll out• Increased the provision of Executive Committee / Trustees training• Continued to provide training in a variety of ways to allow volunteers to complete their Wood Badge adult training award• Expanded the scope if the County Conference• Undertaken a review of District Appointments Advisory Committees• Encouraged every District to undertake a Red/ Amber/Green (RAG) review of their current activities• Undertaken an in-depth review of Bath and Wansdyke Districts to understand how we better support the volunteers and strengthen the Districts.



Strategic aim 3: Promoting inclusion

What we hoped to do • Specifically seek to broaden representation on the Board of Trustees.• Maintain a focus on supporting the recruitment of adult volunteers, and support the delivery of development opportunities in areas of low Scouting provision

What we have done• Appointed new Trustees and wider scope of Trustees for 2015-216• Widened youth representation on the Board of Trustees• Promoted the ‘Pears Project’ to create scouting in ‘hard to reach’ areas • Supported the cost of 2 contingents to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Japan• Made further budget provision for hardship funds and disability needs• Made recommendations on widening inclusion in the Bath/Wansdyke review• Targeted groups with missing sections

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Strategic aim 4: Managing sustainably

What we hoped to do• We anticipate increased expenditure on activities and equipment reflecting the preparatory work undertaken by the County management team, and have allowed for this in our budget, with a reduction in reserves reflecting the removal of the need to hold reserves to cover Woodhouse Park.• Continue with our web site development to complete the remaining tasks related to payments and registrations for courses.• Meet the administrative challenges of an expanding County.• Take forward our fundraising strategy in collaboration with the new County Commissioner.

What we have done• Promoted continuing use of reserve funds, while restructuring plans for fundraising• Maintained and improved web site use, allocating resources for professional support – but more needs to be done• Restructured our finance administration, including greater use of e-banking• Re-established our fundraising initiative to move forward in 2015• Reviewed and supported the working arrangements with County staff

Strategic aim 5: Leading effectively

What we hoped to do • Identify a new County Secretary, and new Trustees from the wider community in Avon.• Complete the District Appointments process review and take positive steps to disseminate good practice.• Work with the new County Commissioner to review and revise the County Plan and extend our forward planning.

What we have done• New Trustee proposals will be put to the Annual General Meeting• Completed the District Appointments process review, identified weaknesses, stimulated improvements and initiated a support programme• An updated County Plan is presented on the next page


Vision 2018Scouting 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 more young people and adult volunteers;

• as diverse as the communities in which we live.

Members of Scouting in 2018 will feel:

• empowered,

• valued,

• proud.

Avon Scout County Strategic Plan 2014–20181 GrowingWe believe Scouting changes lives, which is why we

want every young person to have the opportunity to get

involved.2 InclusiveBecause every young person deserves the opportunity to

take part in Scouting, we are working to remove barriers

to participation.3 Youth shapedWe believe that every young person should be able to

shape their Scouting experience guided by adult support.

4 Making a positive impact in our communities

Scouting makes a difference, not just to the individual but

also to the community. Scouting needs to be an integral

part of our communities.

The Scout Association has recently refreshed the national

strategic plan for the second half of our journey towards Vision

2018, to focus on four main themes. The County Plan has

therefore been restructured to align with these areas. Here

are the Trustees’ plans for the coming year:

GROWTHIn Avon County there are hundreds of young people waiting on joining lists, and hundreds more who have not been able to consider joining because there is no Scout Group near where they live. We will work to give more young people the opportunity to join the everyday adventure of Scouting.

How we will support this in 2015-16• Continue our strong commitment to adult recruitment and training• Work towards further funding for possible year 3 of the ‘Pears Project’• Allocate funding to support local ‘Grow Your Group’ initiatives• Continue to support County activities for young people and adult leader skills training• Providing more provision for new members whilst ensuring that existing provision remains of a high standard and provides a quality programme to the young people • Continue to allocate funds for paid development support

18 | Avon County Scouts Annual Report 201318 | Avon County Scouts Annual Report 2015

“It was a great privilege to serve Avon Scouts as

a Trustee. I particularly enjoyed championing the extraordinary commitment of volunteers at every level of

the organisation, and will always celebrate the enormous

positive impact their hard work has on young people in

Bristol, Bath and Avon.”TJ Rawlinson, Bristol


INCLUSIVITYWe will ensure Scouting develops and is sustainable in some of the most deprived parts of Avon County, that we welcome all members of society, and that we are seen as open to people from all backgrounds by the general public.

How we will support this in 2015-16• In its second year the ‘Pears Project’ will continue focus on ‘hard to reach’ areas using electronically mapped membership information including Sections, Groups, Districts and their census numbers. The County will use this information to inform and target our development plans and external relations/fundraising work.• Seek further Trustee representation for potential partnership development areas• Provide support and training for members of District Appointment Advisory Committees


YOUTH SHAPEDYoung people across all ages will have the chance to have their voice heard on all aspects of Scouting, including programme and activity planning and the way that their Group, District and County are run.

How we will support this in 2015-16• Further increase active youth representation on the Board of Trustees• Explore new ways of including youth opinion and ideas in the County Conference and at the Board of Trustees• Promote youth membership of District Boards of Trustees• Include the youth shaped element more clearly in County activity planning and delivery• Pay for a County Youth Forum and for ‘speaking up’ training for young people• Promote the Explorer Scout Young Leader scheme by supporting Young Leader training module delivery and supporting training for those who provide adult leadership for Young Leaders• Appoint a County Youth Commissioner and deputies to develop a youth forum

COMMUNITY IMPACTWe believe Scouting makes a difference to individuals and to society. Our members take action in the service of others, but we want to do more and for our contribution to be more widely recognised.

How we will support this in 2015-16• Engage with partnership organisations such as Youth United and Girlguiding UK• Support the use of County activities for spreading the message of Scouting• Broaden the range of non-Scouting people invited to the County Conference and AGM• Increase our links with schools• Be part of every community we serve• Undertake 100 community impacts in our communities from visiting elderly people’s homes, to planting bulbs in the park, to undertaking a conservation project, to being part of the organising committee for local events• Working with Local Councils to increase our visibility


Avon Scouts Pears Foundation Project The Pears Foundation sets out to create meaningful social change, increase respect and understanding and inspire people to support their communities and the causes they care about. In 2014, following a successful pilot project we undertook in one District in Avon, the Pears Foundation funded a £200,000 two-year collaborative project with Avon County Scouts and The Scout Association National Headquarters to offer the opportunity for more young people to benefit from Scouting.

Our ‘Pears Project’ employs and trains young adults as development workers. Managed on our behalf by the Scout Association’s Regional Development Office in the South West, the project identifies areas of need – particularly in ‘hard to reach’ communities – and then finds adult volunteers and young people who would like to be part of the adventure. The project works in close collaboration with other agencies, such as schools and community trusts. Initial backup and training is provided and gradually the Leaders of the new Scout Group or Section take over the reins.

Our aims for the Pears Project are ambitious – but not unrealistic. In the first 6 months of full operation 3 new Scout Groups have been formed and in total 14 Sections established. These have 68 new adult volunteers in leadership roles of one sort or another and are delivering Scouting activities to 231 new youth members. These Groups and Sections will go on to provide self–sustaining Scouting for decades to come. But why stop this activity after only 2 years? Finding further funding to continue the work is a challenge for the County Board of Trustees!

Overview of Accounts 2014-15 The Scout County of Avon draft statement of financial activities MARCH 31, 2015

Endowment

fundsRestricted

fundsUnrestricted

funds2015 Total

2014 Total

Incoming resources £ £ £ £ £

Incoming resources from generated funds

Voluntary income

Donations, grants and legacies - - 6,491 6,491 2,418

Investment income

Interest received - - 137 137 96

Incoming resources from charitable activities

County - - 156,939 156,939 42,604

Other incoming resources

Census membership - - 96,292 96,292 91,645

Total incoming resources - - 259,859 259,859 136,763

Resources expended

Woodhouse Park 1,650 - - 1,650 1,567

Scouting activities - - 222,818 222,818 71,821

County Scouting - - 27,083 27,083 52,374

Investment in the future of Scouting provision in the county

- - - - (9,803)

Administration costs - - 50,180 50,180 41,120

Governance costs - - 1,000 1,000 1,000

Total resources expended 1,650 - 301,306 302,956 168,290

Net resources expended before transfers -1,650 - -41,447 -43,097 -31,527

Fund balances brought forward 165,633 - 197,762 363,395 394,922

Fund balances carried forward 163,983 - 156,315 320,298 363,395


Scouting is about EVERYDAY ADVENTUREScouting offers fun and friendship, challenge and everyday adventure to 450,000 girls and boys across the UK. We have a positive impact on young people, our 114,000 adult volunteers and the communities in which we live.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT US

As an individual From volunteering an hour or two a week at your local Scout Group, becoming a donor or leaving us a gift in your Will, whatever you choose to give, it will make a huge difference.

As a companyScouting provides flexible opportunities not only for individuals but also for our corporate partners, from sponsoring a badge or event to using our employee volunteering programme. Get in touch to find out more.

HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU

You will develop skills, make friends and make a difference to the lives of hundreds of young people in your community. As a company you will benefit from working with one of the most trusted organisations in the UK, increased brand awareness and commercial benefits.

www.avonscouts.org.uk


We would like to acknowledge and thank all the contributors to this Annual Report including Matt Bartlett, Gemma Sharples and others for their

photographs, County volunteers and others for text, Tony Edmonds and Azimuth Print, Richard Chambers and DesignChambers, Design.

avonscouts.org.uk

Avon County Scouts Woodhouse Park Activity Centre FernhillAlmondsbury South Gloucestershire BS32 4LXe: [email protected] www.avonscouts.org.uk

Copyright © 2015 Avon County Scouts


avon scouts annual report 2015

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