On the 17th July the group our Annual General Meeting

The chair opened the meeting by thanking all executive members and leaders for their support over the last year. There was also an overview of how the Scout Association are in the process of updating their requirements in respect to best practice governance and what this means for the constitution for a joint Scout and Guide group. Specifically, members be known as trustees and the current executive meetings will focus on governance, while operational Scout and Guide matters will be discussed in smaller sub committees.

The chair also thanked Lisa White for her support over the last 5 years on the Scout and Guide Exec. During her time with Burley Guiding Lisa re-started the 2nd Burley Brownies and began her leader training. She has also organised a volunteer stall for Guiding & Scouting and scarecrow competition during Festival Week. This is in addition to her helping at several other fundraising events such as Teas on the Green, Christmas market and Santa sleigh. Within Guiding Lisa has introduced and run Thinking Day on the Air, has instigated and run the Wharfedale Division Pride event and has been part of the County PR team. For all of this and more, Lisa was presented with a Guiding Thankyou badge.

Specific reports that were presented can be found here

2023 statement of accounts

AGM Group Guide Leaders report 2023

Chairs statement

Group Scout Leader – AGM Report 2023

The Burley-in-Wharefdale Scout and Guide Group held their Annual General Meeting on the 16th June.

John Spencer the Chair thanked everybody for their help over this period, especially Beryl Thompson the group treasurer, Mike Robinson the Group Secretary and Howard Thompson the HQ manager for thier governance and trusteeship. He also thanked Darren Hewett the new Group Scout Leader and Sue Vint for keeping the Scout and Guide groups going during the last year.

Although covered in the covered in detail by the Treasurer’s report, the finances of the group are in a very good condition. We have now fully paid for all the building works and professional fees associated with the new HQ. We decided as an executive to carry on with the new build or capital account which is  separate from the general day to day running account. The contributions from the individual subscriptions to the capital account will continue. This will allow a fund to build up for the upkeep and maintenance of the building and for the improvement of the facilities

Sue Vint, the Guilding Group Leader reported that as Covid restrictions were relaxed through the year, we increased our guiding activities. As a result Guiding continues to flourish in Burley-in-Wharfedale.  We still have nine full units (3 Rainbows, 3 Brownies, 2 Guides & Rangers) with 192 girls, & we have waiting lists for each section.

Meanwhile Darren Hewett, the Scouting Group Leader reported that over the last year, Beavers have increased their numbers to 24, and continued to offer a varied programme which included badge work covering areas such as adventure, teamwork, health and fitness, while also building skills in areas such as cooking and money. Over the same period the Watson and Forster Cub packs have run sessions covering a range of activities from: Astronomy, Backwoods Cooking, Fire Safety and Emergency Aid to name just a few.

Full details of all reports can be found here:

Chair’s Address 2022

Scout Group – 2022 AGM Report

GGL AGM REPORT 2022

Being part of the local community is an important aspect of Scouting and Guiding in Burley. It was enormously rewarding to see that the 2021 Santa Float around the village raised around £1400 in donations which is being shared between the Scouts & Guides as well as two local charities in order to spread some Christmas cheers and help those less fortunate than ourselves.

£500 is being given to both Homeless Hampers and BEACON (Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern)

Homeless Hampers

Homeless Hampers provide essentials in the form of hampers to those who are in shelters or on the streets. As a charity they strive to challenge the public’s perception of the homeless and promote positive engagement with the vulnerable. Volunteers are always needed to help distributing hampers to those on the streets and to help in the local shelters and more information can be found on their web site

https://homelesshampers.co.uk/

BEACON (Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern)

BEACON is a small charity which addresses the varied needs of the many people seeking asylum  who find themselves in the Bradford district. They aim to foster a culture of welcome and hospitality alongside the provision of practical support such as:

• The Hosting Project offers accommodation in volunteer households to destitute asylum seekers who would otherwise be street homeless: guests are not entitled to claim benefits and are denied the right to work to support themselves.
• The McKenzie Friends volunteers support asylum seekers who have no access to legal representation – accompanying them to appeal hearings and supporting them to gather new evidence.
• The weekly CHAT English Conversation Club offers a place to practise English, gain confidence and combat isolation, in a fun and friendly environment.

https://beaconbradford.org/

Father Christmas returned to Burley this year with a grand tour around the village collecting money for charities and for the Scout and Guide Group. How fantastic it was to see so many villagers  come out to wave & chat to Santa and his elves when they touredthe village! It was so lovely to see so many very enthusiastic & happy smiling faces & who were so excited to meet Santa.

A big thank you to all who gave a donation. Your astounding generosity raised about £1400. These donations will be shared between the Scouts & Guides as well as local charities in order to spread some Christmas cheers and help those less fortunate than ourselves.

Thank you to all for your support and best wishes for 2022!

The 2021 Annual General Meeting for the Burley-in-Wharfedale Scout and Guide Group took place on the 20th May. John Spencer, Chair of the Group, addressed the meeting:

“Last time we had the AGM, (it was only 7 months ago by the way) I think we all hope that some form of normality would be returning, I do not want to tempt fate, but I believe we are approaching that point.

If we think of the COVID pandemic as a long break from normality I believe that more than most organisations the Scout and Guide Groups in Burley long for a return to normality, to meeting up and starting proper group activities again. Let us all hope this can happen.

At the last AGM we all felt that the finances of the group would be under considerable strain however due to careful management of the money, the willingness of parents to carry on paying subscriptions and the Grants the Group have obtained from the Government the finances are in a reasonably healthy state. Can I thank Mike Wild for the time he has spend pursuing the grants.

The other key issue we have confronted is the ability to run the units without being able to meet up. Now the remote meeting is coming to an end can I personally thank those group leaders that have gone the extra mile to keep a varied and interesting programme going.

Last year I mentioned that after the building of the HQ, I was going to take soundings around the present Executive and all the leaders to review how the Executive works in relation to both the running of the HQ and its responsibilities to the groups. At this AGM you will be able to review and vote on these proposals.

I must end by thanking everybody for their help over this difficult period, especially Beryl Thompson the group treasurer, Mike Robinson the Group Secretary and Darren the new Group Scout Leader and Sue for keeping the scout and guide groups alive during this very difficult time”

Group Guide Leader report

TREASURER’S AGM REPORT 20.05.21

Group Scout Leader – AGM Report 2021

2021_05_21 Group AGM_Mins

This year I guess for most of us has not been easy. After the excitement of last year and the opening of the new Headquarters, it felt as though the duties and responsibilities of the Executive would be reduced. In relation to this, we hoped the real job of Scouts and Guides would take centre stage and that the Scout and Guide programmes set out by the relevant associations would be followed for the benefit of all the members of the different groups.

Due to the COIVD 19 pandemic, this meeting is being held much later than anticipated, but it is still just within the 6 month time frame of the end of our financial year We are as usual grateful to Beryl Thompson for preparing the accounts and keeping all of us (especially me) in check when it comes to the finances of the group.

I may as well mention now that the finances of the group will be a challenge in the next financial year. We have funds in the building account to fully pay the builder, the professional team and to repay the loan we received from the Burley Community Trust. When everything is paid, the monies will be exhausted with nothing left to help with the general finances.

We have sent a letter out to all parents indicating that we will need contributions in the Autumn Term or the general expenditure and running cost of the HQ will be exhausted. This is something we do not want to contemplate, and I am hoping all parents and leaders will understand the need to contribute. The ultimate cost of this will be dependent of the numbers who are willing to remain as part of the Scout and Guide family.

The other key issue we are confronted with now is the ability to run the units without being able to meet up. Both the Scout and Guide associations are, as you would imagine, very keen to keep units operating remotely, however this presents real challenges to both the leaders their groups. I am aware that there is a range of different programmes being offered but I believe that over time a more expansive programme will be offered.

After the building of the HQ, I am going to take soundings around the present Executive and all the leaders to review how the Executive works in relation to both the running of the HQ and its responsibilities to the groups. I hope to put together some proposals on a way forward that will hopefully be positively received.

I must end by thanking everybody for their help over this difficult period, especially Beryl Thompson the group treasurer, Mike Robinson the Group Secretary and Angela and Sue for keeping the scout and guide groups alive during this very difficult time.

John Spencer

Chair

Reports delivered at the AGM can be found below

1st Burley Scout Group Review 2019-20

Group Accounts 2019 to 2020 for the AGM

Guide Report for AGM 2020

New Build Account 2019 to 2020 for the AGM

TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE AGM 2020