Pictured above: (l-r at back) Gareth Roberts - on rope (Centre Director of Operations), Simon Atkins (Clement Keys), Rick Keeber (County Commissioner), Lawrence Fagg (County Treasurer), Gerry Russell, (County Secretary)

The specialist not-for-profit division of chartered accountants Clement Keys has secured a contract to provide audit services to the Scout Association County of Birmingham. 

Clement Keys specialise in services to the not-for-profit sector, providing accounting, auditing and business advice to ensure organisations comply with the requirements of the Charity Commission and the Charities SORP, and will be supporting the Scout Association County of Birmingham and its associated venture Blackwell Adventure.

Clement Keys partner Simon Atkins says: "UK Scouting is the largest co-educational youth movement in the UK and after experiencing its biggest increase in membership since 1972 now has a total membership of almost half a million, so we are delighted to add such a prestigious organisation to our portfolio of not-for-profit clients.

"We already provide independent examination services to the West Mercia Scout County and look forward to helping the Scout Association County of Birmingham deliver a quality service to the area's young people and maximise its growing popularity."

The Scout Association County of Birmingham is a co-educational youth movement working with over 5,000 young people throughout Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield and is supported by more than 1,000 volunteers. It has a full time office in Newtown, Birmingham, plus a modern activity centre, adventure camp site and water activities facility, Blackwell Adventure, based near Bromsgrove. 

At the 100-acre site, which incorporates Pikes Pool, young people are encouraged to experience a more traditional approach to camping and to try orienteering, pioneering and building a shelter from natural materials, as well as a host of water activities, including rafting and kayaking. Facilities include a 3G swing, giant (Jacobs) ladder, purpose-built abseil tower, a 40ft scramble net, grass sleds, indoor and outdoor archery ranges, 240m of zip wire, an indoor climbing wall and an outdoor heated swimming pool.

The Scout Association County of Birmingham is launching a £350,000 appeal to update and enlarge the accommodation facilities at the Stable Block. The Blackwell Adventure centre is growing in popularity with Scout groups, schools and other youth organisations from around the country and this investment will allow more young people to enjoy the experience and benefit from gaining new life skills.  

Gareth Roberts, director of operations of the Scout Association County of Birmingham said: "These are exciting times for the Scout movement. We have a record number of teenagers joining and more adult leaders for the second year running, although the huge growth in demand means that we still need more volunteer leaders to help reduce the waiting list which currently stands at 33,500 nationally."