Do more. Share more. Be more. 14th Fife Scout Group Annual Review 2017/18

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Top Awards

20-Jun-17 Leo Brady 20-Jun-17 Szymon Waciaga 20-Jun-17 Matthew Smart 20-Jun-17 Alyx Montgomery 20-Jun-17 Maksymillian Szewczyk 20-Jun-17 Aaron Mackie 20-Jun-17 Ben White 20-Jun-17 Jack Lithgow 20-Jun-17 Aydin Eskar 20-Jun-17 Joachim Szewczyk 20-Jun-17 Kayla McCreadie 20-Jun-17 Jack White 20-Jun-17 Callum Golda 7-Feb-18 Liam Fox 7-Feb-18 Kyle Fox 7-Feb-18 Matthew Moffat

25-Apr-17 Adam MacLean 25-Apr-17 Finlay Murdoch 25-Apr-17 Callum Morrison 8-Nov-17 Deacon Eskar 8-Nov-17 Kyle Thomson 12-Dec-17 Jack McGowan 12-Dec-17 Connor McCreadie

Chief Scout’s Bronze Award

Chief Scout’s Silver Award

Wood Badge 25-Apr-17 Allan Tait CSL 25-Apr-17 Stuart Dalgleish SL 4-Oct-17 James Maclean AGSL

01-Oct-17 Ken McIlroy ASL

Chief Scout’s Award for Merit

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Rewarding Excellence Wednesday Beaver of the Year Logan Littlejohn Thursday Beaver of the Year Max Bailey Tuesday Cub of the Year Alix Meikle Thursday Cub of the Year Thomas Patrick Scout of the Year Melissa Gray Explorer of the Year Cameron Crosbie Service to Scouting Award Connor Maclean

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Group Membership

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Explorers

Scouts

Cubs

Beavers

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Assistants

Leaders

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8

Group Executive 2017/18

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Chairman Vacant Secretary Claire Menzies Treasurer Jill Williams

Group Scout Leader

Derek Dunsire (p)

Assistant Group Scout Leader

James Maclean (p)

Section Leaders Beavers Hazel Golda (p)

Steven Montgomery (p) Cubs Fiona West

Allan Tait Scouts Stuart Dalgleish Explorers Kenny Crosbie

Elected Members Wednesday Beavers – Peter Dodds (p) Thursday Beavers – Garry Hankin (p) Tuesday Cubs – Claire Menzies (p) Thursday Cubs – Dawn Mackie (p) Scouts – Ross Douglas (p)

Nominated Members

Alan Evans

Co-opted Members Julie Bowie

(p) Indicates parent of section member of Group (Beaver, Cub, Scout, Explorer)

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Group Scout Leaders Review

Each week we help over 120 young people in Kirkcaldy enjoy fun, friendship and outdoor adventure. They develop a sense of optimism and strong values, as well as the leadership and team working skills that are more valuable today than ever before. 14th Fife has continued to grow and our plan for the next five years is simple. We need to build on our recent successes and focus on the challenges we face. Recruiting enough adult volunteers to make sure all young people that want a Scouting experience get that chance. Continuing to push the boundaries so our young people get safe but exciting experiences. Scouting empowers young people and gives them the skills to achieve remarkable things, and opportunities to develop an understanding of the rapidly changing world. We want to build on our successes in recent years and this will make sure we make an even bigger impact. We are still very busy at the Group - like every year - and it has been a challenge to draw breath and reflect on the last year, but I am delighted to report that the Group continues to thrive and the session 2017-2018 has been another successful year. The individual section reports provide more information on what has been achieved throughout the year as well as the range of activities undertaken. They really are a good read and demonstrate the scope and scale of learning, trying new things and most importantly, development through fun for every Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer in the Group. Please take the time to read them and get in touch if you would like to know more.

So what about the last year? •All sections continue to offer Nights Away experiences, whether sleepovers, weekend camps or longer events such as international camps. As in the previous year, each section offered at least 2 nights away experiences to every member. •We no longer have anyone on a Waiting List that isn’t able to join at the next intake. A further 25 are ready to join in August taking us back to around 140. •We’ve made some improvements to the outside of the Hall - a slightly enlarged car park area and our new signage to reflect the new Scout brand - we hope you like it! •We hosted a number of Scouts and Leaders from Scouts Canada and in addition to spending time with them in Scotland, travelled over to Denmark where 22 of our Group joined the Canadian Scouts and our Danish Friendship Group and 40,000 other Scouts at the Danish National Jamboree in Sonderborg •Our international adventures continued at 14th Fife with both Blair Atholl and the World Scout Jamboree taking up time for a number of members. I was selected to lead the East Scotland Region Unit of 40 to the World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia in 2019. In addition, James was appointed an Assistant Unit Leader. Five our Explorers took part in the WSJ Selection Event in September 2017, Niamh Lister, Cameron Crosbie, Aiden Russell, Ross Dalgleish and Jack Hamilton with Cameron Crosbie being selected to attend. •Every two years, the Blair Atholl Interntational Jamborette takes place and Cameron Bowie, Niamh Lister, Aiden Russell and David Panarella were selected to attend the event in July 2018. •One of our Assistant Scout Leaders, Ken McIlroy was awarded the Chief Scout’s Award for Merit.

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Group Scout Leaders Review •Our Cubs supported the ‘Feeding Families and Keeping Warm’ initiative at Christmas with an incredibly generous donation of hampers and treats for local families. Bernadette Duddy from Fife Council was overwhelmed with the generosity and I don’t think her car has recovered or ever been so full of goodies! •We also took part in a number of fundraising events during the year and in addition to some grant funding, secured enough to purchased a second minibus, who will arrive in August or September. In this Group, we really do have a team of people who make a difference to the lives of young people. The leaders and sectional assistants who work tirelessly and give up so much of their time to make this happen, I can only say a really big Thank You. Without these guys, your sons and daughters wouldn’t have the opportunity for all the fun and adventure that they take part in – activities, both in the hall and outside, camps, sleepover, trips to the safari park, international adventures. They do a tremendous amount of work and make a difference. At the same time, it’s only fair to say a massive thanks to the husbands, wives and partners of the leaders who ‘tolerate’ our passion and let us come out to play! We have had Karen Dodds and Kerry Brady joining our team during the year – at Beavers and Connor Maclean taking on a leadership role at Explorers. In addition to the leaders, I’d like to thank our Group Executive Committee for their support over the last year. Whilst our Chairperson role is vacant, Claire has taken over as Secretary and Jill, our Treasurer continues to look after the pennies

and keeps us on track with our budget. The leaders and parent members who also make up the Executive also deserve a mention of thanks. These guys are important but we still want and need, more people involved. As a Group, we continue to grow. Over the coming 6 months, as we embed the new strategy, I’ll be working with the Leadership Team and the Group Executive to develop our support model and we will be calling on those that have indicated a willingness to help. Don’t worry if you haven’t yet offered yet, I’ll be back in touch to follow up on some of our gaps and get some more volunteers! So there is still plenty to do, but fundamental to all of this, is the need to maintain the standards and fun that Scouting has to offer. As I keep saying, this is not my Group. Whilst your child is a member, it’s OUR Group and we ALL have an active part to play in the life of the Group. Please consider how you can support us in the future to ensure your children continue to enjoy a wide range of experiences to develop and challenge them as they grow. I say this every year but it’s true and I shall continue to say it - it continues to be a privilege and a pleasure to lead the Scouting family at 14th Fife and to everyone who has supported the Group over the past 12 months – leaders past and present, section assistants, parents, our Group Executive, District colleagues, sincere heartfelt thanks from me! Derek Dunsire Group Scout Leader

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Beaver Colonies Review

It’s been yet another very busy year for the 14th Fife Beaver colonies. We currently have 31 beavers across both nights and since last years AGM we have had 23 move up to Cubs and 23 new boys and girls join us. Several of our older Beavers have been awarded the top Beaver award, the Chief Scout Bronze, which is a great achievement. Badge wise 25 different challenge, activity and staged badges have been worked towards throughout the year with a total of over 450 badges given out. They’ve “plastered” each other and learnt how to put someone in the recovery position as part of their Emergency Aid badge, made pizza and fruit kebabs as part of the cooks badge and been for a cycle to earn the cyclist badge to name just a few activities. We’ve also had a visit from the Police with their riot gear and CCTV van. We’ve had 2 sleepovers in the past year, one being the group camp at Douglaswood and, more recently, an overnight stay in Loch Lomond Sea life Centre after a visit en-route to the Kelpies and the Helix on a gloriously sunny April day. This 2nd sleepover was a first for 19 of our current beavers and hopefully the 1st of many to come. These camps help teach our young people various life skills and give them an opportunity to be away from home enjoying new and fun experiences with their friends. Last December we attended the District Christmas Party along with around 200 other Beavers from local groups where the big man in red made an appearance after lots of fun, games and food were had, always a good night! None of this could happen though without the help of all the other leaders and helpers that give up their time and we would like to thank Euan, Carol, Kerry, Steven, Karen, Cameron, Larissa and all others that step up to help from time to time. Hazel, James & Dawn 14

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Cub Packs Review We currently have 47 Cubs in our 2 Packs. This has been another busy year with the Cubs working on challenge badges and some activity badges too. Over the year they have gained their Artist, Personal Safety, Scientist, Astronomers, Navigator 2, Athlete, Hobbies, Cyclist and various Hikes and Nights Away badges. Camps Over the weekend of 23/24th March we held a very successful indoor camp where the cubs completed the astronomers and scientist badges. During the weekend they learned about stars, planets, the solar system, constellations, made air rockets, towers with cocktail sticks and mini marshmallows, investigated the density of liquids, the pH of liquids and how electrical circuits work and how plants take up water through their stems. 35 cubs and 5 leaders are also looking forward to joining cubs from all over Scouting in September when we will attend the Howling camp at Fordell Firs. Throughout the year we have taken part in all the District competitions. The Cubs all did their best and represented the Group well. Our Thursday cubs lifted the trophy at the Sports competition in September. This was followed by a joint team winning the Harper Safety competition in March. Our Christmas treat was going skating with all the cubs proving to be better skaters than Allan and myself. We had a great couple of weeks when the cubs did presentations on the hobbies they take part in. We helped out our local community by donating to food hampers so that those less fortunate than ourselves would not go hungry over the festive period. Our mums also got a treat for Mother’s day when they were waited on with cups of tea/coffee and homemade biscuits. The dads weren’t left out either. For Father’s day they came along to Wemyss campsite to try out some activities and have a sausage roll and drink. Throughout the year we have continued to do various problem solving and team building activities which will help give your children skills which will help them in their adult lives. All this wouldn’t be possible with our team of helpers so a big thanks to Susan, Heather, Elaine, Sarah and Laura along with our Young leaders Michael and Cameron. Without their help every week the kids wouldn’t have such a great time. Fiona and Allan

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Scout Troop Review

The last year started with an April District camp at Fordell Firs. Where the scouts had to set up their own camp area and cook their own meals on an open fire. Over the weekend the scout had chance to meet other scouts from around the district and they completed scout basis from orienteering, charrette building and back woods cooking, was a fantastic weekend for everyone involved. In June, the scouts had the chance to cycle to Wemyss firs camp site from the Scout hall. We also in June went kayaking at Kinghorn loch where all the scouts had a great fun in the water and night away from the hall. In July we headed out to Denmark for their national jamboree in Sonderborg. We left from Edinburgh airport to Copenhagen where we stayed the night at a Danish Scout centre. The next day we travelled down the Sonderborg to jamboree camp site were we all gathered with 37000 Danish & international scouts. Within our sub camp we had Danish scouts and Canadian scouts. Over the week the scouts took part in various activates within the jamboree site and were able to meet scouts from all over the world. The Scouts all had a life changing adventure over the week and to see the Scouts develop as individuals, gain independence and grow in confidence in as little as one week was great to see.

In October, we had a Halloween camp at Wemyss Firs over the weekend we had Halloween themed activities where the scouts were able to carve their own pumpkins. We also visit Dundee swimming pool and Camperdown park. At the end of term in December we visited extreme trampoline park. Over the Christmas period and into the start of this year, we focussed on completing a number of Challenge badges. In March, the scouts attended a camp at Nine Acres in Crook Of Devon. Over the weekend some scouts went on an expedition hike from Crook of Devon Down to Dollar and then back to Crook which was for there Expedition challenge badge. The Scouts also pitched their own camp site, cooked their own meals on an open fire, Completed orienteering and back woods cooking. This was a fantastic weekend for everyone involved and all gained good scouting skills over the weekend. Finally, my thanks go to Alan, June and Ken and the rest of the team who have supported the section over the year. Stuart Dalgleish Scout Leader

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Explorer Unit Review It has been another busy year for the explorer scout unit attached to the 14th Fife Scout Group. We have said good bye Connor Mclean who came to the end of his youth involvement as he turned 18 but who has since come back to help as a leader. We have had two new recruits in Amy and Larissa and we look forward to receiving some of the older scouts in due course. International Since the last AGM seven of the explorers joined some of the scouts in attending Denmark's largest Jamboree in Sønderborg during the summer of 2017. Three of the explorers, Cameron Bowie, Aiden Russell and Niamh Lister have been selected to attend the Blair Atholl Jamborette which takes place in July this year. Kenny one of the Explorer Leaders has been asked to attend as well as part of the hills team. Cameron Crosbie has been selected to attend the Word Scout Jamboree in America next year. Activities We have been concentrating on the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme with particular emphasis on the practice and assessed expeditions. This is a fantastic opportunity for our explorer scouts to develop even more and gain an internationally recognised award in the process. All nine had successfully passed the practice and assessed expeditions, with 7 giving a presentation about the assessed expedition. We have also been working towards the platinum Chief Scouts Award and as result of this 4 of the explorers, Matthew Cargill, Michael Panerella, Cameron Bowie and Cameron Crosbie were presented with this at the St George’s Day Service this year. I hope that the other explorers will complete their platinum award in the near future and they only have one component left to do. Both Michael Panerella and Cameron Crosbie have completed the Young Leader modules and have completed two out the four missions.

Cameron Bowie has completed half of the young leader modules and has completed two of the missions. I look forward to him completing the rest of the young leader modules. Across the year the explorers have taken part in escape rooms, cinema, cooking archery, Bike maintenance, hikes, DVD and Pizza evening, as well as the explorers planning and attending their first camp via the passport scheme! They also took part in a community clean up and acted as marshials at a local vet visitor’s day. With an increase in camping two of the explorers Aiden Russell and Matthew Cargill have completed the bronze zodiac award. Cameron Bowie and Michael Panerella are working towards their Silver Zodiac Award and Cameron Crosbie is working towards his Gold Zodiac award. Leadership The explorer leadership team continues to encourage the explorers to plan and run their own programme which can be challenging but rewarding at the same time! We continue to lead them from the front, encouraging them, supporting them and guiding them to be the best that they can be. I would like to thank Michael Brown for his continued support and advice whilst running explorers, he keeps me sane! We would also like to thank Derek Dunsire, James Mclean, Connor Mclean and Dawn Mackie for helping out whenever Mike or I are unavailable to run explorers due to work commitments. Most importantly – thank you to each and every Explorer – without them, we would have no Unit. They have been a credit to us, the Group, the District but most importantly, themselves. Kenny Crosbie and Michael Brown Explorer Scout Leaders

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Treasurers Report This year we are showing a surplus of just over £6000, however it is normal for the accounting year where a foreign summer camp is held to show a deficit as the largest percentage of fundraising and member contributions are made in the prior accounting year. This year the accounts show a surplus in the region of £14000 when the foreign camp receipts and payments are omitted. Thanks to the generosity of donations and fundraising achieved in the last few months of the year, the general fund account remains in a healthy position at the year-end with a balance of over £36,000. Outstanding Gift Aid claims have now processed and funds shall be with us shortly. Donations for hall use remain fairly constant aided by the ongoing use by Doodle and Splat, Tots Express and Jo Jingles. Aside from our festive bag packing at Sainsbury's, our fundraising has mainly focused on the monthly discos, which are now in their 9th year and still proving a big hit with the local kids. With the purchase of our new minibus, and the installation of a new gas boiler expenditure has been considerably higher than last year. However other costs remained fairly constant over the period. At this time these accounts are not yet finalised and audited, but represent a fairly accurate summary of our financial position. Jill Williams Group Treasurer

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Receipts and Payments Account

2018 2017 £ £

BANK & CASH IN HAND Opening Balances 34700.88 24932.82 Surplus/(Deficit) for year 6117.93 9768.06 Unpresented Cheques 0.00 0

Closing Balances 40818.81 34700.88

RESERVES General Fund 36431.24 23119.80 Beavers 370.79 614.19 Cubs 323.87 266.83 Scouts 511.36 176.31 Explorers 281.20 281.20 Camp 2635.35 9508.51 Cash 50.00 50.00 Unlodged receipts 215.00 684.04

Closing Balances 40818.81 34700.88

ASSETS Land & Scout Hall

Tents & Camping Equipment Kitchen Appliances Play Equipment Disco Equipment Mini Bus

2018 2017 £ £

RECEIPTS Membership Subscriptions 10752.50 11887.50 Donations for use of hall 3298.00 3972.00 Donations 25800.00 0.00 Grant Awarded 10200.00 0.00 Vodafone 4025.00 3981.25 Fundraising 6360.17 4625.30 Member contribution - Camp Fund 7173.50 5322.00 Mini Bus Income 2333.39 1499.12

Total Receipts 69942.56 31287.17

PAYMENTS Heat & Light 1472.00 1395.00 Insurance 838.00 981.60 Hall Maintenance 3631.07 2706.30 Telephone 504.00 468.80 Membership Fees 3785.50 3906.00 Equipment Purchase 1260.06 1806.43 Training 192.94 859.10 Uniform & Badges 1683.92 748.85 Camps 14627.48 5144.75 Excursions 435.30 412.36 Section Activities 1370.15 1326.46 Sundry Purchases 404.48 968.28 Mini Bus 33619.73 795.18

Total Payments 63824.63 21519.11

Surplus/(Deficit) for year 6117.93 9768.06

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14th Fife Scout Group Council Glenbervie Road, Kirkcaldy, FIFE, KY2 6XT

14thfifescouts.org.uk

Facebook.com/14thfifescouts Twitter.com/14thfifescouts Youtube.com/14thfifescouts

Scottish Charity Number SC031351