1st Wickford Scout Group Trustees Annual Report
From (Start Date): To (End Date): For the period 1-Apr-2023 31-Mar-2024
Section A: Reference and administration details
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Charity Name: 1[st] Wickford Scout Group
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Registered charity number: 1001145
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Charity’s principal address: 1st Wickford Scout Group, Elder Avenue, Wickford, Essex, SS12 0LR
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity and other Leaders / Executive Committee members.
| S/N Name ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
N Name ~~es~~ |
Office(if any) | Dates Acted(if not for wholeyear) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ~~a ~~ ~~a~~ |
David Terrell ~~es~~ ~~es~~ |
Trustee & GroupChair | |
| 2 ~~a~~ |
Mark Dean ~~es~~ ~~es~~ |
Trustee & GroupScout Leader | |
| 3 ~~eG~~ |
Akinwunmi Savage ~~es~~ ~~eG~~ |
Trustee & GroupTreasurer ~~eG~~ |
~~eG~~ |
| 4 ~~eG~~ ~~a~~ |
Carolyn Catlin ~~eG~~ ~~Qe~~ |
GroupSecretary ~~eG~~ ~~Qe~~ |
~~eG~~ ~~Qe~~ |
| 5 ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Alison Barnes ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
Trustee & Exec. Committee Member ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
| 6 ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Alex Neal ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
Exec. Committee Member ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
| 7 ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Laura Matthews ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
Exec. Committee Member ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
| 8 ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Joyce Hoyle ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
Trustee & Cub Scout Leader ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
| 9 ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Caroline Hogg ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
Trustee & Beaver Scout Leader ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
| 10 ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Tina Anne Grimble ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
Trustee ~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
~~Qe~~ ~~Qe~~ |
| 11 ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Carol Nelson ~~Qe~~ ~~se~~ |
Trustee & Cub Scout Leader ~~Qe~~ ~~se~~ |
~~Qe~~ ~~se~~ |
| 12 ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Colin Lees ~~se~~ ~~se~~ |
Trustee & Scout Leader ~~se~~ ~~se~~ |
~~se~~ ~~se~~ |
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Bankers: Lloyds Bank
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Independent Examiner / Scrutineer: Stephen Clarke
Section B: Structure, governance and management
The charity’s governing documents are those of the Scout Association. The Scout Association’s governing document is a royal charter which gives authority to the Byelaws of the Association and the Policy, Organisation and Rules of the Scout Association. The group is a trust established under these rules which are common to all Scout groups. At the previous AGM, we reconfirmed our use of the model constitution as laid out in Policy, Organisation and Rules 5.4. The trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of the Scout Association (POR).
The group is managed by an elected board of trustees, comprising a Group Chairperson, Group Scout Leader, Group Treasurer and Group Secretary along with individual section leaders, and others nominated onto the committee for their knowledge or skills.
The Group Board of Trustees exists to ensure Scouting is run safely, legally and in line with our charitable purpose. They must be confident that:
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The charity is well managed, carrying out its purpose for the public benefit,
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Our activities comply with our governing document and the law,
1st Wickford Scout Group
Trustees Annual Report
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We are following POR and the rules of the Charity Commission
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The group has sufficient resources to meet the planned work of the group.
The group has a financial policy, detailing systems that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement and loss. These include requiring two signatories for all payments made by any section within the group, expenditure of a certain amount being approved by a wider group of leaders, maintaining a risk register of potential risks to the charity and mitigating against these and insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered.
Section C: Objectives and Activities
Objectives
The objectives of the group are as part of the wider Scout Association. The purpose of the Scout Association is “to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.”
This is achieved through the Scout Method which states that “Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting and:
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enjoy what they are doing and have fun;
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take part in activities indoors and outdoors;
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learn by doing;
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share in spiritual reflection;
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take responsibility and make choices;
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undertake new and challenging activities;
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and make and live by their Promise.”
We are guided by the Values of Scouting which are:
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Integrity: We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal.
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Respect: We have self-respect and respect for others.
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Care: We support others and take care of the world in which we live.
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Belief: We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes.
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Co-operation: We make a positive difference; we co-operate with others and make friends.
Our main goal for 2025 is to get parents to step up and take on leaders’ roles for our Beavers and Cubs sections that are at risk of closure due to the lack of leaders.
Section D: Achievements and Performance (Excerpts from 2024 AGM
Report)
GSL’s report 2023 – 2024
Another excellent year for our group with exciting activities. With the completion of the end wall in the hall, we spent a weekend removing the conifers at the back of the HQ and another weekend chipping all the branches. Many thanks to the leaders who gave up their time to complete these
1st Wickford Scout Group
Trustees Annual Report
tasks. We also have some excellent and time-consuming painting done on the wall. There is more to come.
We obtained a loan from the Billericay and Wickford District Scouts to cover the cost of the wall, to be paid back over 4 years. We also obtained a grant from the Essex County Scouts towards the cost.
We had a very successful Group Fun Day at Kingston Ridge scout camp with all our Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and all our leaders helping to make the day so much fun for all.
We had the biggest turnout of all the Scout Groups for the Remembrance Parade with very smart Beavers, Cubs and Scouts marching through Wickford.
Our group have said goodbye to Kirsten and Dave as Oak Beaver leaders after over 10 years of excellent service, with Lynn and Amanda stepping up to take over as interim Leaders.
We desperately need parents to step up and take on leaders’ roles for our Beaver and Cub sections as we may be looking at closing sections due to the lack of leaders.
At the beginning of April, we had 8 Ford employees trim and prune all our hedges and tidy up the area as part of their community service days.
The trustees and exec committee has worked wonders this year to bring the HQ up to standard with gas, electrical and the fire procedures and have run fund raising activities to help with the group running costs.
I would like to thank the Leaders, Committee and Parents for all their support and help that has allowed Scouting to continue to flourish in our group. We look forward to some new and exciting adventures in the future.
Mark Dean
Group Scout Leader / Group Lead Volunteer
Chairman’s Comments
I would like to thank all the Committee Members for their time, hard work, participation and support during my time in office.
The Group has gone from strength to strength. There have been some improvements made to the grounds (such as pruning of the perimeter trees and sprucing up the fire pit) as well as changes to the internal structure of the hall, which has enhanced the site.
The internal works to the end wall, which had to be demolished owing to subsidence, have been completed. I will leave Mark will elaborate further on this project.
The source of the water leak, which resulted in the Group being charged a considerable amount by way of Water Rates, was located by Mark and fixed by the installation of a shut off valve that will prevent the same thing happening again.
1st Wickford Scout Group
Trustees Annual Report
Mark has also nurtured a relationship with 4th Wickford Scout Group who now use our redundant shed located in the carpark.
The Committee has, through the considerable hard work of Akin, devised a new financial policy. I would like to thank him for all the work he has put into this project as I know it was hard work and took some time for the change to be implemented.
We also approved a new Fire and Evacuation Policy for the safety of all users of the Hall.
I would also like to mention and thank Carolyn, our Secretary, for taking the Minutes of the Meetings and accurately reproducing them for the Committee Members.
I look forward to working with you all in the coming year.
DAVE TERRELL
Chairman
Section E: Financial Review
Treasurer's Report (2024 AGM)
Key Highlights
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Healthy financial position, with £20,000 in reserves and, combined with other account balances, offering a safety net equivalent to over 2 years' worth of outgoings.
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Support from the District by way of a £10,000 loan, payable over 4 years, towards the cost of the wall repair work undertaken in the HQ.
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The £10,000 District loan was further reduced to £7,000, on account of the £3,000 grant obtained from the County.
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Successfully accessed Gift Aid for the first time, with up to 4 years back claims resulting in over £6,300 being received from HMRC.
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Claimed back £3,900 overcharged by EON Next for electricity.
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Switched Group bank accounts from CAF bank to Lloyds and achieved savings by putting an end to monthly account maintenance charges. Subsequently switched three out of five Section accounts to Lloyds. The remaining two to be switched over the current financial year.
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Finance Policy approved and implemented. Thanks to the Group Chair for the well needed push.
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In summary, a good year from a financial point of view. Many thanks to parents/carers for their support, particularly with subs and Gift Aid forms.
1st Wickford Scout Group
Trustees Annual Report
Section G: Accounts & Declaration
Note: See clearer copy (without signatures) below.
1st Wickford Scout Group Trustees Annual Report 1st Wlckford Scout Group ndlture Account Year Ended 31 Mar¢h 2024 Income and Ex Inira Attouni Transler bscrwon$ trict Loan ),149 12,810 17.951 lrnra Accounl Tralfer 12.9&3 Rw"ts & M"ntenarte 10.OCK) CerNJ5 Part to DLstr 6.381 ihkns.. Gas tr£ufarte Aepw"w5 & (Pawniryl Ulilrfies .. W & Assds TranslÈr to sec Ulilits- EJxtrKay 30.149 2.625 4.2NJ 3.304 1.932 17,951 15, 3,872 utilrt*s.. Aelur ActNrties.. Group Carryl Donalx Fund Raising 2,1 1,273 1.140 6x1 3al 711 519 497 Bank Interest Rental IrKo 19 150 Grant 71 5129S $4202 5&784 47.362 Intra Acc(Junt Trtnsf 1,149 17951 30,149 17,1 .14 Income and Expenditure 36252 29.412 21147 23.634 2QO)J io.c 2023124 Group Balance Sheet As Ai 31 March 2024 A••th {B•nk WKI Coth 8•1once•) 5.4 10.849 BaLaw as al 1.Aw'l.2023 rplus I (Del11) W1 Ayr Loan ILiaJilrty 2.5% PayThent Rthenti ILiat¥'ltyl 39.670 14 4821 10.(m &ts 359 LIW 8eavw5 CAk Baavsfs Trw Cub Pat 7,811
),(XJ7 15, I27 419 1,161 927 D. Terrell Group Ch•lr Sava30 in cordare those r¢Yd% Ex*mln•d by: S. Clark¢