BWDS Development Fund

The development fund exists to develop Scouting within Basingstoke West.

It was established in the early 1980s and is managed by a group of Trustees. See Background (below) for the full story.There are 2 clear elements to the fund – Supporting Scouts and Guides within the Basingstoke Area to enjoy the activities Scouting and Guiding provides, which due to their personal/family circumstances might be difficult. Applications can be made to the fund for Financial Support. Applications must be made before the finances are required and the Trustees meet three times a year in February, June and October (and applications need to be made 4 weeks before a meeting). Due to the sensitive nature of this element of the fund, the Trustees conduct their business confidentially.The second element of the fund is to invest in the Development of Basingstoke West Scout District to grow through specific projects.

Further Information

• Background
• Financial Support
• Development

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Background

The Development Fund was established in June 1986 as a way to support members of Scouting and Guiding in the area and to invest in the development of Scouting in the DistrictInitial funding was provided by the Basingstoke West District Scout Council, and for a number of years additional income came from 50% of the interest on the District’s various investments and surplus income from Gang Show.

These remain the sources of funding, together with other forms of income dedicated to development, such as legacies.In 2013, the funds original stated objectives to invest in buildings and property has been amended to open the possibility of using the fund to more generally develop Scouting in the District, especially given the housing developments in the town and the need to provide a Scouting opportunity to a bigger population.

The Trustees, who are appointed according to a legal constitution, administer the fund. Currently the Trustees are:

• Independent/External Verifier and Chair
  • Howard Bentley
• The District Commissioner
  • Joshua Hensman
• A Vice President of Basingstoke West DSC
  • Terry Rolls
• A Gang Show Producer
  • Julie Allen
• A Group Scout Leader (substituted where necessary to avoid conflict of interest)
  • Colin Wallace
• Minutes and Correspondence Secretary (Non-Voting Support to the Fund)
  • David Cluett

Trustees meet three times a year (normally mid February, mid June and mid October) to consider applications.

Application Types

Support

This is the support the Trustees have been providing since the fund started in 1986.The more specific and immediate request for financial support for Scouts, Guides and Leaders in the wider Basingstoke Area who have needs to enable their Scouting/Guiding activity or those of others to come to fruition

Development

This is a new aspect of funding available from the Development Fund.The general development/promotion of Scouting in Basingstoke West District – Includes larger scale initiatives to bring Scouting to more of the population and/or provision of more opportunities and activities within the District.

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Financial Support

Aim (Support)

The aim of the trust fund is to enable members of the Scouting and Guiding Associations to experience growth and development, which may not otherwise be possible, through a contribution of financial support.

Objectives (Support)

We aim to support cases where:

• Hardship and personal circumstances might prevent participation.
• As a result of the support provided, a wider group of Scouts/Guides or a community will benefit.
• Individuals (or a group) are aspiring to achieve a challenging goal (perhaps beyond the norm) out of which personal growth and experience will be achieved

Applications

Applications are invited from any Scout or Guide Association member (including leaders who may be nominating members of their Group to be recipients of funding) within the area. Applications are treated as confidential and details of individuals who apply will remain in confidence.

Applications must…

• Be in writing.
• Describe the activity/circumstances for which support is required.
• Show how the application meets the aim and objectives of the Trust.
• Include details of other support being provided or applied for and details of personal fundraising activities.
• Be endorsed by…
  • The GSL for group member applications, or
  • The District Commissioner for Explorer, Network or other District member applications, or
  • The Guide District Commissioner for Guide Association member applications.
    The endorser must make their endorsement in writing. It is acceptable for the endorser to be the person who is making an application on behalf of someone else.
• Be sent to the Fund Minutes and Correspondence Secretary, 4 weeks before a scheduled meeting.
• Be considered by a quorum of 3 voting members of the Trustees before grants can be awarded.

Note

Grants cannot be made retrospectively – but in cases where an unexpected grant is urgently required, provided that all the above criteria and endorsements are fully met (except the deadline for submission) The Trustees will consider the application, depending on the circumstances of the case. However, it should be noted that ‘outside of normal process’ applications may not always be as successful due to potential missing vital information and difficulty in the Trustees being able to fully consider every aspect of the application. ‘Outside of normal process’ applications must be submitted via the endorser (as described above e.g. GSL etc.) as a point of immediate contact.

Examples

To help you consider your case, here are some examples where support has been provided in the past, shown against the objectives:

Hardship and personal circumstances might prevent participation

The family of a Beaver Scout was facing extreme financial hardship and unable to pay his group subscriptions – the fund paid the subscriptions on behalf of the family. In this case, the leader had made the representation to the Trustees.

In a similar case, the fund paid the summer camp fees for a Scout, who would otherwise been unable to participate – again the leader made the representation.

As a result of the support provided, a wider group of Scouts (or a community) will benefit

The fund made a contribution to a group of Scouts who were making a trip to Romania to help build a well to bring fresh water supplies to a village.

The fund made a contribution to a leader who wanted to become qualified in Mountain Leadership in order to take Scouts, from the District, mountaineering. Whilst other sources of funding supported his training, there was considerable personal expense involved in gaining the necessary days of mountaineering experience outside of the training course (given that Basingstoke is not in close proximity to mountain ranges!)

Individuals (or a group) are aspiring to achieve a challenging goal (perhaps beyond the norm) out of which personal growth will be achieved

A group of Scouts decided to conduct their Queens Scout Award expedition in the Fish River Canyon of Namibia in Southern Africa – a notoriously hostile terrain, deep in a canyon and hundreds of miles from habitation. The Scouts raised their own funds for travel etc, but the trustees made a grant to fund the hire of a satellite telephone – an essential safety item, to call for help, if required.

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Development

Aim (Development)

The aim of the trust fund is to develop Scouting within Basingstoke West to ensure appropriate Scouting is within easy reach of the population and to encourage longevity of membership through provision of an interesting and diverse programme of activities. The fund will provide a financial contribution to enable action which may not otherwise be possible.

Objectives (Development)

We aim to support and promote actions which:

• Makes Scouting accessible to local communities as the town expands in size and diversity – To Start Scouting
• Enables Scouts in the District to enjoy a wider range of programme activities and challenges – To Stay Scouting
• Encourage new members to join Scouting at every level – To Lead Scouting

Note

The fund does not exist to build existing Groups capital assets or support financial crisis. However, should the closure of a thriving Group be threatened, the fund will consider support to enable recovery, providing longevity can be assured.

Applications

Applications are invited from any member of the community and from within Scouting, where a proposal appears to meet the objectives above. In the case of Development applications, there is no need for confidentiality and applications will appear in the minutes.

Applications must…

Relate to the development of Scouting in Basingstoke West District

• Be in writing
• Describe the activity/circumstances for which support is required
• Show how the application meets the aim and objectives of the Development Trust
• Include a plan that clearly shows how the support will be used and how the whole plan will be completed (This could be considered to be a ‘Business Plan’)
• Include within the plan an assessment of risks and the counter measures that will be applied
• Include details of other support being applied for or being provided
• Be sent to the Fund Minutes and Correspondence Secretary, 4 weeks before a scheduled meeting
• Be considered by a full meeting of the Trustees before grants can be awarded

Note

Grants cannot be made retrospectively – but given the nature of Development requests, there should be no immediate urgency beyond the 3 scheduled meetings in the year. If this is not the case, an extra-ordinary meeting of the Trustees will be called.

Examples

To help you consider your case, here are some examples where it is expected that support would be granted, shown against the objectives:

Makes Scouting accessible to local communities as the town expands in size and diversity

An ex- Scout Leader from London moves into new houses in Marnel Park and suggests starting a new group in that area. She finds others who could be potentially leaders in the area and a community centre where the group could meet. She applies for £2000 to ‘pump prime’ the group to fund equipment and activities to initially start Beavers, Cub Scouts and Scouts.

A Scouter of an ethnic minority hears on the grapevine that a number of young people feel that Scouting isn’t for them because they feel it is a white, Christian organisation in Basingstoke. The Scouter seeks funding to start a Group for the ethnic minority with an ultimate plan to integrate the group with an established Group, once established.

Enables Scouts in the District to enjoy a wider range of programme activities and challenges

A Local Leader has qualified in the Caving Leadership Certificate, He would like to offer Caving as an activity for his Group and the District. He seeks a grant of £1500 to purchase an indoor Caving simulator to enable local training and enough Caving equipment for a group of 6 to go Caving.The Grant is made but with conditions (which would be standard for such grants) – The equipment is the property of the District and will remain so. The Group to which the Leader belongs becomes the custodian and are responsible for the upkeep of the equipment (albeit the Fund may make a reasonable contribution to repairs etc.). Whilst the Group may make use of the equipment, the Leader must make the opportunity for 20 other Scouts from the District to go Caving every year as a minimum.

Encourage new members to join Scouting at every level

A group is thriving but due to circumstances beyond their control a number of key leaders are having to leave the group and the area. Attempts to find replacements through contacts within the Group and through local media have failed.The Group Scout Leader wants to mount a recruitment campaign with flyers, posters and with a professional stand in the Town Centre over 2 weekends. The print costs are £250 and a substantial Gazebo with professional signage from Gilwell will cost a further £250.

The Group could fund it themselves, but they feel the District as a whole might pick up applicants. Also, the Group has found two Leaders who are prepared to cover the gaps for 6 months but will have to travel in from Alton – The Group wants to protect its funds to support the travel expenses of the temporary leaders.

The award is made on condition that the material is generic so that all elements could be used again in the future by any Group. The Gazebo and spare print material is held by the District.

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Contact

• Fund Minutes and Correspondence Secretary
  • Mr David Cluett
    • Kimberley Nook
      8 Highfields
      Overton
      Hampshire
      RG25 3PH
      Tel: 01256 771408
• Chairman
  • Mr Howard Bentley
    • 3 Crofters Meadow
      Lychpit
      Basingstoke
      Hampshire
      RG24 8RX
      Tel: 01256 350402