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2023-03-31-accounts

Lewisham District Scout Council Trustees’ Annual Report 2022/2023

lewishamscouts.org.uk @LewishamScouts

Registered Charity No. 1001668 Scout District No. 10001058

LEWISHAM DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts for 2022/2023

CONTENTS

Contents
Notice of 2023 Annual General Meeting & Agenda
Minutes of the District’s eleventh Annual General
Meeting held on 11 July 2022
Reports & Accounts
Reference and administration details
Structure, governance and management
Public beneft
Objectives and activities
Achievements and performance
Financial review
People
Changes and Thanks
Plans for the future
Declaration
Accounts (including Independent Examiner’s Report)
Schedule of Registered Scout Groups & Explorer Scout
Units		 Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 9
Page 10
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 15
Page 16
Page 27

1

LEWISHAM DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting will be held at Bellingham Bowling Club, 183 Bellingham Road, London SE6 1EQ at 7.30pm on Monday 10 July 2023.

AGENDA

INTRODUCTION

GOVERNANCE OVERSIGHT

THE PAST YEAR – REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE SCOUT COUNCIL

MAKE APPOINTMENTS

Following the formal business of the meeting there will be presentation of awards and closing remarks from the District and County Commissioners and a report by Explorer Scouts of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition.

2

LEWISHAM DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL

Minutes of the 12th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING held on 11 July 2022 at the Bellingham Bowling Club

1. ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY THE DISTRICT CHAIR

The Chair opened the meeting by welcoming everyone to the 12th AGM of Lewisham District Scout Council.

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence had been received from Darren Lodge, Martyn Bain, Peter James, Bill Compton, Antonietta Hesketh, Garry Leach, Joe McEvilly, Lawrie and Lindsey Smith,and Alex Summerford.

3. RECEPTION AND CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 12 JULY 2021

The Chair confirmed that the Minutes had been approved by the District Executive Committee as Trustees and asked the meeting to receive and consider them.

4. RECEPTION AND CONSIDERATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (INCLUDING THE ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS)

The Chair confirmed that the Annual Report (including the Annual Statement of Accounts) had already been approved by the District Executive Committee as Trustees.

He drew particular attention to the following points:

Frylands Wood:

After a nerve-wracking year in 2020/21 the year under review had proved a year of consolidation and progress.

Bookings had continued to improve, no doubt to some extent due to the closure of the National Site at Downe, and we were able to achieve a financial surplus over the year without the support that we had previously from Government grants – particularly the Job Retention Scheme. In more recent months we had become almost too successful, with more potential users seeking bookings than we had the resources to deliver.

Since the end of the year under review we had welcomed Dave Barber to the staff as our part time administrator and he had greatly reduced the admin burden on the manager and instructors, freeing up time to spend doing their main tasks. Unfortunately, as reported elsewhere in the Report , Nick Smith, our Deputy Manager, was diagnosed with cancer last October and very sadly passed away last month. He will be greatly missed, not only as a friend and colleague but also for the huge contribution he made to the running and development of the Centre.

Finance:

Largely as a result of the increasing use of Frylands our financial position had improved enormously, the two issues we were dealing with during the year being the consolidation of our accounting systems and preparation for the need to register for VAT, a position which we were fast approaching

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Appointments Advisory Committee:

At the beginning of the year Lesley Hine took over as Chair. Her legal mind and fresh approach have been put to good use in reviewing the way the Committee operates. During the year the Committee had continued to holding on-line on Zoom.

Group Governance Support Working Group:

The working Group role was to support administration and governance in Groups.

The Group had met regularly during the year.

The two most significant areas of support had been firstly keeping Scouting alive in Deptford - the 2[nd] and 32[nd] Deptford Groups had both had difficulties and without them there would have been no Scouting in the District north of the A2 – and restarting the 20[th] Forest Hill special needs Group. Very good progress is being made with all three Groups: the 2[nd] Deptford has restarted two sections, the 32[nd] Deptford has grown considerably over the year and the 20[th] Forest Hill should reopen in September.

The Chair asked the meeting to formally receive the Annual Report.

The Annual Report (including Statement of Accounts) was RECEIVED.

5. CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS RESOLUTIONS

The Chair sought the Council’s approval to the following resolutions:

All these resolutions were approved.

6. APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF DISTRICT PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENTS

The Chair advised the Scout Association’s Rules now required us to appoint or reappoint our President and any Vice President each year. We did not currently have any vice Presidents and there was no recommendation to appoint any at this stage. He recommended therefore that we reappoint our President, Peter James. This was approved by the Council.

7. APPROVAL OF THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER’S NOMINATION OF DISTRICT CHAIR

The Council approved the District Commissioner’s nomination of Mike Jackson as District Chairman for the forthcoming year..

8. CONFIRMATION OF THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER’S NOMINATIONS OF MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The District’s constitution allows for 6 people to be nominated. The District Commissioner nominated: Victoria Armitage; Luke Cohen, Lesley Hine, Joe McEvilly; and Graham Simmons.

This was approved by the Council

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The Council also approved a further proposal that confirmation of the District Commissioner’s nomination of a further candidate over the coming year be delegated to the District Executive Committee.

9. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The District Secretary: Vacant and no nominations received. The District Treasurer: Vacant and no nominations received.

It was proposed by the Chair that the meeting approved delegating the appointment of suitable candidates to the District Executive Council. This proposal was approved.

10. APPROVAL OF NOMINATION OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL

The Chair reminded the meeting that at last year’s Annual General Meeting Don Coombe, Lesley Dann, Roger Dann and Richard Leach had all been elected to the District Scout Council for a term of three years. No further nominations were proposed for the current year.

11. ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The following members had been nominated:

Nominated by: Seconded by:
Alan Britchford Jackie Morrison Graham Simmons
Chris Ellinson Kevin Murphy Richard Morrison
Richard Morrison David Wallis Luke Cohen
Kevin Murphy Chris Ellinson Jackie Morrison
Michael Wall David Wallis Luke Cohen
David Wallis Richard Morrison Kevin Murphy

As the number of nominations did not exceed the number of persons to be appointed all nominations were approved by the Council.

12. ELECTION OF A MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT TO REPRESENT THE DISTRICT ON THE COUNTY SCOUT COUNCIL.

Joe McEvilly had previously volunteered for the role, and has again this year. APPROVED.

13. APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINER FOR 2020/2021

The Council approved the Chair’s nomination of John Lambourne FCA of Latham Lambourne Ltd. as Independent Examiner.

13. ADDRESS BY THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER

The District Commissioner reported that we now had 20 Groups and 4 Explorer Scout Units back to normal operation. The 20th Forest Hill Special Needs Group was due to re-open in September and we had two new Squirrel Dreys with two more soon to open. Unfortunately two Groups had closed during the year.

Recruitment of adult volunteers remained an issue and work was continuing to try to make progress in this area.

5

She reported that a lot of work had been done in encouraging and managing nights away. She thanked everyone for their efforts in getting Scouting up and running again after the pandemic and thanked the members of the District Executive Committee for their work.

As reported in the Annual Report unfortunately three very active members of the District had died during the year: Michelle Buckle, Josie James and Nick Smith. They would be difficult to replace and she reminded the District that we needed young leaders to take on District Roles.

After her address Awards were presented to a number of members of the District.

14. CLOSING REMARKS

The Chair thanked all those who had contributed to the meeting, particularly the District Trustees and thanked all those present for coming.

6

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

Lewisham District Scout Council is a trust (Charity No. 1001668; Scout Registration No 10001058). It has its own HQ building at 66 St German’s Road, London, SE23; and has a new 40 year lease from September 2022 on Frylands Wood Scout Outdoor Centre, Featherbed Lane, Croydon, CR0 9AA (freehold owned by The Scout Association).

THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (TRUSTEES) FOR 2021/2022

Ex-officio:

District Chair – Mike Jackson District Commissioner – Jennifer McCullough District Secretary - Vacant District Treasurer - Vacant District Scout Network Leader -Vacant District Explorer Scout Commissioner - Vacant District Youth Commissioner - Vacant

Elected / Nominated /Co-opted Members of the Committee

Vicki Armitage Lesley Hine Graham Simmons
Alan Britchford Joe McEvilly Graeme Taylor (from
Chris Ellinson Kevin Murphy 20.3.23)
Luke Cohen Richard Morrison Michael Wall
David Wallis

Appointments Advisory Committee and Sub-Committees of the District Executive Committee for 2022/2023

Members of the Appointments Advisory Committee and of sub-committees are appointed by the District Executive Committee. Chairs and members of sub-committees were appointed on 11 July 2022. The District Chair and District Commissioner are exofficio members of all sub-committees.

Appointments Advisory District Headquarters Frylands Wood
Committee Sub-Committee Management
Committee
Lesley Hine (Chair ) Joe McEvilly (Chair) Kevin Murphy (Chair, from
Hilary Leach John Harris 26.09.22)
Dave Leach Michael Wall Vicki Armitage (Deputy
Graham Simmons Ray Wickenden Chair)
Lynn Simmons A representative from Chris Ellinson (Deputy
Katie Sturgess each Section meeting Chair)
at the building Alan Britchford
Liz Fricker (from 21/5/23)
Ron Fox Awards Panel Barry Goswell
Penny Goswell
Garry Leach (Chair) Peter Low (from 16/5/22)
Maria Cliford Joe McEvilly
Chris Ellinson Graham Simmons (from
Trevor Flanders 16/5/22)
Isabel Gainey Sarah Turner (Secretary)
Alex Summerford David Wallis
Ray Wickenden
Brian Young

Bankers: CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, West Malling, ME19 4TA Independent Examiner : John Lambourne FCA of Latham Lambourne Limited, Chartered Accountants - 18 Woodlands Park, Bexley, DA5 2EL

7

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Lewisham District Scout Council was formed on 1 January 2011 as a result of the merger of Lewisham Manor and Lewisham North Scout Districts, with three Groups and an Explorer Scout Unit from Deptford (formerly in Albany Scout District) then joining on 1 April 2011. Its borders are coterminous with the London Borough of Lewisham.

Lewisham District Scout Council is constituted in accordance with the Rules of The Scout Association to provide Scouting within the London Borough of Lewisham and is supported under those Rules by the Scout County of Greater London South. The Scout Association is incorporated by Royal Charter. The Charter of The Association provides for the making of Bye-Laws approved by His Majesty in Council which, in turn, authorise the making of the Rules referred to above (known as “Policy, Organisation and Rules”, or “POR”).

The District is managed by the District Trustee Board (until April 2023 known as the District Executive Committee). Its members are the charity trustees of the District Scout Council which is an educational charity. As charity trustees they are responsible for complying with legislation applicable to charities, which includes registration, budgeting, keeping proper accounts and making returns to the Charity Commission as appropriate. The District Trustee Board cannot act outside the Royal Charter, Bye-Laws and Rules of the Scout Association.

The District Trustee Board consists of a number of ex-officio members: District Chair, District Commissioner, District Secretary, District Treasurer, District Scout Network Commissioner, District Explorer Scout Commissioner and District Youth Commissioner; as well as elected, nominated and co-opted members. The County Commissioner and the County Chair have the right of attendance at meetings.

The District Trustee Board’s main purpose is to ensure that the District runs safely and legally. It also supports the District Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of the appointment and oversees governance support for Scout Groups, Explorer Scout Units and the District Scout Network in the District. It is responsible for such matters as promoting the development of Scouting in the District; the maintenance of District property and management and development of the District Scout Outdoor Centre; the employment of District Scout Outdoor Centre staff; administration of District finances; fund-raising; the appointment of Leaders, Administrators and Advisers; and insurance of persons, property and equipment.

The District Trustee Board may establish sub-committees. Sub-committees consist of members appointed by the Trustee Board. The District Commissioner and the District Chair are ex officio members of each sub-committee.

The District Scout Council is the electoral body, which supports Scouting in the District. It is the body to which the District Trustee Board is accountable. It comprises all adult Members of the Movement registered in the Scout District (including members of the District Scout Network), Explorer Scouts and their parents and carers, a representative of the District Troop Leadership Forum and the County Commissioner and the County Chair.

Other supporters of the District may be appointed as members by the District Scout Council on the recommendation of the District Commissioner and the District Trustee Board.

8

The District has systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss. These include two signatories or electronic authorisations required for all payments and insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

To be a charity in England and Wales, an organisation must have only charitable purposes which must be for the public benefit.

Trustees and the District Management Team have referred to The Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the District’s objectives and in planning future activities. By adopting and maintaining the Purpose, Method and Values of The Scout Association, we are confident that our charitable purposes are sound, and in line with what we are trying to achieve in terms of public benefit for both our youth and adult members.

The Purpose, Method and Values are set out below.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

THE PURPOSE OF SCOUTING

Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

THE VALUES OF SCOUTING

As Scouts we are guided by the following values:

THE SCOUT METHOD

Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting and:

9

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The fundamental purpose of a Scout District is to support its Scout Groups, which provide the Scouting experience to young people.

The work of the District Trustee Board is divided into three broad areas:

The Board has been active in all these areas.

Governance

Effective governance has always been a key feature of Lewisham Scout District. The District Trustee Board has continued to carry out its role responsibly and with due diligence and care. Its meetings have been well attended, and issues have been discussed and resolved in a thoroughly professional and business-like manner.

Lewisham District has a relatively high financial turnover compared with other Districts and this makes the monitoring and managing of financial risks a very high priority for Trustees.

We struggled through 2020/21 with the aid of government Covid Grants but our reserves policy enabled us to keep our Outdoor Centre open whilst many other Scout and Guide Charities were forced to close theirs. The following year, 2021/22 was a period of recovery and consolidation and the year under review has still been extremely challenging but we were able to consolidate the progress we had made in the previous year.

During the year, recognising that the monitoring and management of risk is a key responsibility of our Trustees, we adopted a more systematic approach to risk management. The District Risk Register now consists of three sub-registers dealing with the work of the District Trustee Board, Frylands Wood operations and thirdly generic risks that affect all of our Groups across the District. The Frylands register is monitored by the Frylands Wood Management Committee and the other two by the Group Support Team with all three being reported to meetings of the District Trustee Board.

Frylands Wood Scout Outdoor Centre.

By far the largest activity of the District Trustee Board, both in terms of financial activity, risk and staff and volunteer time, is the management of our Outdoor Centre.

Frylands Wood is far more than a traditional District Camp Site. We run it not only for the benefit of our own young people but also as a service to a wider group of outdoor education providers, including schools, Girlguiding UK and other uniformed and nonuniformed youth organisations. Our aim is to open up the "Scout experience" to as many young people as possible, whether or not they are Scouts.

10

Over 2022/23 we were able to build on the success of the previous year and continue to increase our business. To cope with this we restructured both our Management Committee and our staff. Kevin Murphy agreed to take on the role of Chair of the Management Committee in September and brings to the role a range of skills that are complementary to those provided by Chris Ellinson and Vicki Armitage, the two Deputy Chairs. In October we welcomed Sue Allen-Gardner to the staff as our finance administrator and in November we were joined by Jorge Kleiss, who brings a very wide range of experience to the role of Deputy Centre Manager and fills the very large hole left by Nick Smith’s tragically early death last year.

Despite all the short term costs involved in these staffing changes the Centre performed better than budget and broadly broke even at the end of the year.

Unfortunately that success leaves us with a challenge in that the turnover has increased to the point where our reserves no longer comply with our reserves policy. Trustees will therefore be seeking to increase the reserve during the current year to mitigate financial risks.

At the 2019 District AGM it was announced that The Scout Association had agreed to offer the District a new 40 year lease for Frylands Wood That lease was finally signed by District Trustees and the Scout Association on 23 September 2022. This will give us the opportunity of seeking more grant aid to invest in the future of the site and we are currently setting up a working Group to plan the further development of the site, particularly replacement of the buildings, some of which are beyond the end of their economic life.

Appointments Advisory Committee

The Appointments Advisory Committee has continued its dual role of welcoming new adult volunteers into Scouting whilst ensuring that they have the ability and willingness to carry out their roles.

The Ron Fox Awards Panel.

The Ron Fox Awards Panel was set up under the leadership of Garry Leach to use the income from the fund left to us by the late Ron Fox to provide grants primarily to Scout Groups which will support the provision of better Scouting for more young people. The panel comprises members from across the District, particularly the Lewisham North Groups reflecting the area where Ron was District Commissioner and later District Chair.

The Panel has continued its work of supporting Scouting in Lewisham Groups providing a total of over £2000 of grants in its first full year of operation,

The Group Support Team

What was previously the Governance Support Team has extended its role during the year so now it has the dual function of providing Group Trustees with governance support (on behalf of the District Trustee Board) and also providing Group Scout Leaders with management support (acting on behalf of the District Management Team). As a result it has been renamed the Group Support Team.

In last year’s Annual Report we reported that two Groups in the northern part of the Borough – the 2nd Deptford and the 32nd Deptford – had both been at risk of closure and there was a possibility that we would have no Scouting provision north of the A2.

11

With limited support from the Team the 32nd Deptford, has now returned to a very healthy state, including the opening of a Squirrel Drey and hosting a new Explorer Scout Unit. Their numbers have increased from 11 young people at the January 2021 census to 79 this year, (plus an Explorer Scout Unit with 10 members, which is registered as a District provision) and numbers are continuing to increase.

The 2nd Deptford has proved more of a challenge. After the pandemic period they had only two leaders remaining and many vacancies on their Group Executive Committee. No meetings had taken place during closure and their numbers of young people had fallen from 21 in the 2021 Census to none in 2022. By this year’s census they had increased to eight but there is clearly a long way to go. They have also had significant financial problems with a Group Headquarters in need of extensive maintenance and difficulties (now resolved) in accessing their bank account due to previous signatories leaving the Group. Three members of the Governance Support Team: Richard Morrison, Graeme Taylor and Luke Cohen, have continued to support Charlie Baxter, the Group Scout Leader and other volunteers, with further support from the County Development Service.

The third Group which looked at the start of the year would require significant support from the Team was the 20th Forest Hill. This is a Group for young people with additional needs who would not be comfortable in a mainstream Group. It had continued to operate during the periods of lockdown via Zoom meetings but during that time their two key leaders had moved away from Lewisham and there were no longer sufficient resources to restart face to face meetings. We were very pleased to be able to find new adult volunteers and the Group re-opened under the leadership of Maxine Johnson in September last year.

In each of these cases the priority has been to help the current volunteers within the Group to resolve the problems rather than doing it all for them and the intention is that as they develop the Team will gradually withdraw. The successes we have had have relied on the hard work put in by adults in the Groups and in particular their Group Scout Leaders.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The attached examined accounts form an integral part of this report, and as ever the support and service received from Latham Lambourne in their preparation is gratefully acknowledged.

During the year budgetary and monetary control was achieved by means of regular reports to the District Trustee Board and to the Frylands Wood Management Committee.

The reported end of year total monetary funds provide an optimistic view of the District’s financial position. Net current assets plus investments amounted to a remarkable £531,578. However, it should be noted that £500,365 of that was held either as restricted or designated funds against specified future expenditure, leaving only just over £31,000 in unrestricted funds. But, as reported above, the amount in our designated Contingency Reserve falls short of that required by our reserves policy by about £40,000 and should Trustees decide to transfer all of that sum into the Contingency Reserve our general (unrestricted) funds would be exhausted.

The accounts show an overall net deficit excluding investments of £11,183 which was offset by an investment gain of £16,168.

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The full review of financial procedures and practices commissioned two years ago was not concluded, and our bookkeeping remains split across two systems. We have engaged external bookkeepers to update our accounting package to accommodate the full District accounts and this work is nearing completion.

During the year, having taken external professional advice, Trustees formally adopted an Investment Policy and a sum of approximately £375.000 was moved from bank deposit accounts into a General Investment Account provided by Aegon Investments. The sum chosen represented the capital of the Ron Fox bequest plus around £50,000 of the contingency reserve which it was thought was not likely to be required at short notice.

Trustees acknowledge with gratitude the following specific grants and donations:

Don Broome Scout Trust £1,000
Ecclesiastical Insurance Group (nominated by Movo Partnership) £200
Lewisham Lottery £796
Wickes (Gift of building materials) £520

and to the many unclaimed personal expenses by Trustees and Office Holders.

PEOPLE

The Scout Association’s Annual Census at the end of January 2023 showed an 11% increase in the District’s youth membership (under 18’s) from 917 to 1022. However, whilst these figures are moving in the right direction our young people numbers were still 3% below the pre-pandemic 2020 census. On a positive note, these figures included 44 Squirrel Scouts (4 to 6 year olds) up from 10 last year and 86 Explorer Scouts, up from 58 last year. As the year has progressed Groups are continuing to develop and open new sections and we expect a further substantial growth in next year's figures.

Trustees are delighted to report that since the start of the year under review the following members of the District were recognised with long service awards for 25 or more years of service:

25 years: Julia Anstey, James Lennard

35 years: David Miller, Andy Jeal, Rita Nicolaou

40 years: Richard Morrison, John O’Shea, Beryl Roberts

50 years: Mike Jackson

Awards for Good Service were awarded to:

Award for Merit: David Cohen, Debbie Cohen, Amber Cox, Dave Plumer, Brian Young Silver Acorn: Paul Houghton, Rob Ludlow, Brian Sweeting Bar to the Silver Acorn: Chris Ellinson

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Congratulations and thanks to all those who received awards and of course to the many others who have not received an award this year but continue to deliver an outstanding experience to our young people.

During the year we were sad to hear of the deaths of the following members:

Michelle Buckle died in April 2022 after a long period of ill health. She had given many years’ service to Scouting in Deptford as well as serving as Assistant District Commissioner for Beaver Scouts. Her enthusiasm and commitment continued despite increasing mobility problems over recent years.

Josie James died in June 2022, again following a long period of ill health. She had held a wide range of adult roles in Lewisham and predecessor Districts since the mid 1950s including carrying out an excellent job as District Appointments Secretary since 2005.

Nick Smith very sadly passed away in June 2022, following a diagnosis of cancer in October the previous year and subsequent treatment. He had been a member of the Frylands Wood SAS since 2013 and joined the paid staff as Deputy Centre Manager in 2018. As well as the huge contribution he made to the development and management of Frylands he continued to be an active member of Croydon Scout District in a number or roles.

Colleen Martin died in July 2022. She had been a Cub Scout Leader at the 1st New Cross and also very involved at Frylands in the providore and in catering for school groups.

Pam Jones died in May 2023 after a long period of illness. She had served with the 10th Lewisham South for many years, first as Beaver Scout Leader and later as Group Scout Leader. She also served as District Beaver Scout Leader from 1994 to 1998 and later Assistant District Commissioner for Beaver Scouts from 1998 to 2008.

All will be greatly missed.

CHANGES AND THANKS

This year has seen a number of changes in the personnel and operations of the District Trustee Board.

As reported above Kevin Murphy took on the chairmanship of the Frylands Wood Management Committee in September 2022. That Committee was also strengthened during the year when Graham Simmons joined in May 2022. With six full time and numerous part time staff members at Frylands Wood Graham’s knowledge of Employment law and practice is invaluable.

Vicki Armitage and Alan Britchford have announced that they no longer wish to continue as Trustees. Both have done a great deal for the District over many years and will continue their involvement with Frylands Wood, in Alan’s case despite living a great distance away. Vicki continues make use of her wide knowledge and experience of activity centre management and legislation as Deputy Chair of the Frylands Wood Management Committee.

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Our thanks go to all those moving on from roles - we are working on recruiting to fill the vacancies. Scouting is a Youth Movement and the District will work best when the knowledge and experience of its longer-serving members are combined with the enthusiasm and new ideas that younger volunteers can bring.

In a report such as this there are too many people to refer to and thank all by name. Suffice it to say that without those who have, for example, run District events and activities; supported leaders with their training; helped Groups and Explorer Units to develop and grow; provided support to Frylands Wood as a member of the Service Crew; looked after our ‘books’ and paid our bills; sat on committees; taken minutes of meetings; and so much more, the District would not be in its present healthy state.

Thank you to all concerned.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Our vision remains that all Lewisham Scout Groups and Explorer Scout Units will:

However, we continue to meet new challenges, especially around the recruitment of adult volunteers. The District, and Scouting generally, will need to meet and overcome those challenges by everyone pulling together.

DECLARATION

District Trustees have approved the Trustees’ report above, which is signed on their behalf by:

Mike Jackson Jennifer McCullough Mike Jackson Jennifer McCullough District Chair District Commissioner July 2023

15

LEWISHAM DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31ST MARCH 2023

Charity Registration number: 1001668

Scout Registration number: 10001058

Latham Lambourne Limited

Chartered Accountants

Bexley

Note: Signed copies of the Accounts and Independent Examiner’s Certificate are available for inspection

16

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the

Lewisham District Scout Council

I report on the accounts of the Council the year ended 31st March 2023 on pages 18 to 26 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and related notes.

This report is made solely to the trustees in accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees for my examination work.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. You consider that the audit requirement of Section 144(2) of the 2011 Act does not apply.

It is my responsibility to:
. Examine the accounts (under Section 145 of the 2011 Act);
To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under Section 145(5)(b) of the
2011 Act); and
. To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent Examiner's statement

The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of ICAEW

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

. to keep proper accounting records( in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 Act); and . to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act

have not been met; or

  1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached, or

  2. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the accounting rules of the District's constitution have not been met.

John Lambourne

John Lambourne FCA

For and on behalf of

Latham Lambourne Limited

Chartered Accountants

18 Woodlands Park, Bexley, Kent DA5 2EL

`

17

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31st March 2023

Note
Income and Expenditure
Income
14
Income from donations
Donations and Grants
Income from Charitable Activities
Youth Programme
Adult Support & Training
Support & Services to The Movement - DHQ
Support & Services to The Movement - Outdoor Centre
Other Trading Activities
Fundraising and Levy
Investment Income
Bank Interest
Other Incoming Resources
Total
Expenditure on:
15
Raising Funds
Charitable Activities
Youth Programme
Adult Support & Training
Support & Services to The Movement - DHQ
Support & Services to The Movement - Outdoor Centre
Miscellaneous Payments
Total Resources Expended
Transfers between Funds
Fixed assets transfers
Net Income
Other recognised gains
Investment value change
Balances Brought Forward at 1st April 2022
Balances Carried Forward at 31st March 2023
`		 £
£
£
£
7,386
1,614
145
9,145
12,457
0
0
12,457
158
0
0
158
270
0
0
270
351,161
0
0
351,161
7,024
0
0
7,024
3,923
0
0
3,923
0
0
0
0
382,379
1,614
145
384,138
5,411
1,449
0
6,860
14,805
2,365
0
17,170
1,011
0
0
1,011
4,339
0
0
4,339
363,310
1,500
0
364,810
186
0
945
1,131
389,062
5,314
945
395,321
-7,500
7,500
0
0
0
0
0
0
-14,183
3,800
-800
-11,183
16,168
0
0
16,168
214,168
493,565
3,800
711,534
216,153
497,365
3,000
716,519
Unrestricted
Funds
Designated
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
2023		 2022
£
45,586
11,432
185
270
280,238
5,874
2,899
0
346,484
4,397
8,343
521
1,958
286,790
0
302,009
0
0
44,476
0
667,058
711,534

The notes on pages 21 – 26 form part of these accounts

18

Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended 31st March 2023

Total funds
2023
£
Cash fow from operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities
-389,613
Cash fows from investing activities
Interest from investments
0
Purchase of plant and equipment
-4,234
net cash used in investing activities
-4,234
Cash fows from fnancing activities:
Net cash used in financing activities
0
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period
-393,847
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the accounting period
508,052
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the accounting period
114,205
-393,847
0
Reconciliation of net income/ (expenditure) to net cash fow from operating activities
Net income/(expenditure) for the year (as per the statement of financial activit
4,985
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges and assets written of
7,225
Interest from investments
Change in value of investments
-16,168
Purchase of investments
-373,700
Decrease/(Increase) in stocks
2,576
Decrease/(Increase) in debtors
-11,816
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
-2,715
Net cash provided by operating activities
-389,613		 Total funds
2022
£
55,656
-8,448
-8,448
0
47,208
460,844
508,052
47,208
44,476
7,675
0
0
3,553
-14,905
14,857
55,656

`

19

Balance Sheet at 31st March 2023

Note
Fixed Assets
Tangible Fixed Assets
2
Investments
3
Current Assets
Stock
4
Debtors
5
Cash at Bank and in Hand
6
Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year
7
Net Current Assets
Net Assets
Funds
Unrestricted
10
Designated
9
Restricted
8		 2023
2022
£
£
£
£
184,941
187,932
389,868
0
6,095
8,671
37,558
25,742
114,205
508,052
157,858
542,465
16,148
18,863
141,710
523,602
716,519
711,534
216,154
214,169
497,365
493,565
3,000
3,800
716,519
711,534		 2023
2022
£
£
£
£
184,941
187,932
389,868
0
6,095
8,671
37,558
25,742
114,205
508,052
157,858
542,465
16,148
18,863
141,710
523,602
716,519
711,534
216,154
214,169
497,365
493,565
3,000
3,800
716,519
711,534
711,534
214,169
493,565
3,800
711,534

Approved by the District Trustee Board on 22 May 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

Mike Jackson

M H Jackson (District Chair)

`

20

Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2023

1 Accounting Policies

The District has responsibility for a building previously used by a group which closed in June 2008. This building has been included in these accounts at its insured value. It is used as the district headquarters.

Other mobile, portable, or sectional buildings and 2 storage containers, being purchased by, or donated to the District, have been included in theses accounts at depreciated cost or gift valuation. They are all located at Frylands Wood.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Designated funds are funds set aside by the trustees for particular purposes.

`

2 Tangible Assets

COST or VALUATION
Brought forward
Additions
Assets Written Off in Year
Depreciation/ Valuation adjustment
Net Book Value carried forward
Investments
Portfolio
Change in investment value		 Buildings
169,661
3,218
8,295
1,835
4,923
.
0
300
3,234
700
0
-190
-360
0
0
-1,188
-832
-2,792
-633
-1,230
168,473
2,496
8,377
1,902
3,693
2023
373,700
16,168
389,868
Buildings
Fixtures and
Equipment
Activity Training
Equipment
Other
Equipment
Vehicles and
Mowers		 Total
187,932
4,234
-550
-6,675
184,941
2022
0
0
0

3 Investments

21

Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2022

4 Stocks

Stocks
Providore (Inc stamps)
Badges
DMT Wear/Crew
Debtors
Trade Debtors
Internal (Groups & Members) Debtors
Third Party monies (Groups)
Pre-Prepayments
Cash at Bank and in Hand
Bank Current Accounts
Bank Deposit Accounts (Interest bearing)
Cash Floats with others
Liabilities: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
Booking Deposits
Creditors - Others
Third Party monies (Groups)		 2023
5,693
259
143
6,095
2023
£
17,483
13,807
6,268
37,558
2023
£
22,498
91,127
580
114,205
2023
£
12,996
3,152
0
16,148		 2022
7,623
824
224
8,671
2022
£
17,233
0
2,758
5,751
25,742
2022
£
24,199
475,400
8,453
508,052
2022
£
17,137
1,726
0
18,863

5 Debtors

6 Cash at Bank and in Hand

7 Liabilities: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year

8 Restricted Funds

`

Frylands projects Movement in Resources
Transfer
Incoming
Outgoing
£
£
£
£
£
3,800
145
-945
3,000
Balance 1st
April 2022
Balance 31st
March 2023
3,800
0
145
-945
3,000

9 Designated Funds

Contingency Reserve
Frylands Wood
Group Development - Fox Fund
International Fund
Kenya 2023		 Movement in Resources
Transfer
Incoming
Outgoing
£
£
£
£
£
150,000
0
0
0
150,000
14,026
1,500
1,614
-1,500
15,640
319,089
6,000
0
-2,365
322,724
4,950
0
0
4,950
5,500
0
0
-1,449
4,051
Balance 1st
April 2022
Balance 31st
March 2023
493,565
7,500
1,614
-5,314
497,365

22

Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2023

10
Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds
Restricted funds
Designated Funds
Unrestricted Funds
11
Employees Remuneration
Salaries
Social Security Costs
Pension Costs
less: CJRS grants received
Indirect Costs
There were 7 full time employees during the year (2022 4). And a
times of the year. No employee received employee benefits of mo
12
Trustees Remuneration and Expenses
Remuneration paid to Trustees
Expenses Reimbursed to Trustees
Number of Trustees Reimbursed		 £

Tangible Fixed
Assets
184,94
184,94

Trustees were reimbursed for necessary out of pocket expenses spent on District business at agreed rates, and for expenditure made by them on behalf of the District. Two Trustees have donated back to the District a part of the expenses claimed by them, either during the year or since the year end, amounts received in the year are included under donations.

13
Independent Examiner Fees
`
Examiner fees
Fees for other services		 2023
£
1,170
240
1,410		 2022
£
1,170
240
1,410

23

Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2023

14

Comparatives for the Statement of Financial Activities

Note
Income and Expenditure
Income
14
Income from donations
Donations and Grants
Income from Charitable Activities
Youth Programme
Adult Support & Training
Support & Services to The Movement - DHQ
Support & Services to The Movement - Outdoor Centre
Other Trading Activities
Fundraising and Levy
Investment Income
Bank Interest
Other Incoming Resources
Total
Expenditure on:
15
Raising Funds
Charitable Activities
Youth Programme
Adult Support & Training
Support & Services to The Movement - DHQ
Support & Services to The Movement - Outdoor Centre
Miscellaneous Payments
Total Resources Expended
Transfers between Funds
Fixed asset transfers
Net Income
Other recognised gains
`		 £
£
£
£
23,594
7,495
14,497
45,586
11,432
0
0
11,432
185
0
0
185
270
0
0
270
280,238
0
0
280,238
5,874
0
0
5,874
2,899
0
0
2,899
0
Unrestricted
Funds
Designated
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
2022
324,492
7,495
14,497
346,484
4,397
0
0
4,397
8,343
0
0
8,343
521
0
0
521
1,958
0
0
1,958
274,968
8,252
3,570
286,790
0
0
0
0
290,187
8,252
3,570
302,009
-317,570
317,570
0
0
9,550
-1,400
-8,150
0
-273,715
315,413
2,777
44,475

24

Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2023
15
Detailed Incoming Resources
Note
Administration & Funding
Donations & Grants
Legacy
Covid support grants
Sundry Donations
Activities for Generating Funds
Fund Raising
Membership Levy
Recovered Membership Fees (Previous Year)
Interest & Fund Raising
Bank Interest
Youth Programme & Activities
Section Events
Kenya Trip
Jamboree
International fund
District Events
Explorer Scout & Network
Admin & Accommodation
Badges & Uniform
Programme
Subscriptions (nett of Third Party element)
Adult Support & Training
Non Member Insurance
Tributes
Badges & Scarves
Support & Services to the Movement
District Headquarters
Lettings
Utility Recoveries
`
Outdoor Centre
User Fees & Charges
Less Discounts
Activities & Equipment Hire
Less Discounts
Retail Sales (Catering; C'mas Trees;Provi;Stamps)
Operating costs recovered
Maintenance Costs recovered
Warden's Support ( Recovered)
Gas Sales
Utility costs recovered
Deposits forfeited
Miscellaneous Charges & Sundry Receipts
Miscellaneous Receipts
Sundries
Total Income		 £
£
£
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7,386
1,614
145
9,145
7,386
1,614
145
9,145
381
0
0
381
6,643
0
0
6,643
0
0
0
0
7,024
0
0
7,024
3,923
0
0
3,923
3,923
0
0
3,923
521
0
0
521
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
521
0
0
521
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
11,936
0
0
11,936
0
0
0
0
11,936
0
0
11,936
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
158
0
0
158
158
0
0
158
270
0
0
270
0
0
0
0
270
0
0
270
138,251
0
0
138,251
-4,687
0
0
-4,687
133,939
0
0
133,939
-4,564
0
0
-4,564
41,318
0
0
41,318
127
0
0
127
120
0
0
120
0
0
0
0
43,699
0
0
43,699
1,557
0
0
1,557
491
0
0
491
910
0
0
910
351,161
0
0
351,161
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
382,379
1,614
145
384,138
Unrestricted
Funds
Designated
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
2023		 £
0
23,359
22,227
Total Funds
2022
45,586
372
5,502
0
5,874
2,899
2,899
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9,143
2,289
11,432
0
0
185
185
270
0
270
108,600
-3,803
113,829
-4,609
24,478
5
529
0
36,963
50
767
3,429
280,238
0
0
346,484

25

Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2023
16
Detailed Resources Expenditure
Administration & Funding
Governance Costs
Fund Raising Costs
Office Holders Expenses
Professional Fees & Charges
Investment charges
Bank charges
Other
Youth Programme & Activities
Section Events & Activities
District & Other Events
Kenya trip
Jamboree
International fund
Group & Personal Support
Depreciation - Other Equipment
Explorer Scout & Network
Grants
Badges & Uniform
Programme
Adult Support & Training
Meetings & Expenses
Conferences
Clothing
Net Stock Movement in Year- DMT Clothing
Adult Training Courses
Badge Purchases
Net Stock Movement in Year- Badges
Communications
Tributes
Non-member Insurance
Resource Material
District Equipment (Incl. ESUs)
Other Equipment written off
Support & Services to the Movement
District Headquarters
`
Insurance
Maintenance
Utilities & Rates
Development
Outdoor centre
Fees & Charges
Activity Costs
Retail Purchases (Catering;C'mas Trees;Provi;Stamps)
Gas purchases
Net Stock Movement in Year
Insurance
Post, Telephone & Copying
Advertising & PR
Transport
Service Team Costs
Direct Employment Costs (Inc accommodation)
less: CJRS grants
Wardens Support
Utilities & Rates
Buildings & Site Maintenance
Other Payments
Loss on scrapped assets
Depreciation - Buildings & Fixtures & Fittings
Depreciation - Vehicles
Depreciation - Activity Training & Equipment
Outdoor Centre Development
Miscellaneous Improvements
Miscellaneous Payments
Sundry
Total Resources Expended		 Total Funds 2023
£
£
£
£
0
0
0
0
275
0
0
275
2,796
0
0
2,796
1,300
0
1,300
1,040
0
0
1,040
0
1,449
0
1,449
5,411
1,449
0
6,860
9
0
0
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
0
0
9
0
2,365
0
2,365
0
0
0
0
14,796
0
0
14,796
14,796
2,365
0
17,161
1,011
0
0
1,011
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,011
0
0
1,011
0
0
0
0
2,496
0
0
2,496
1,843
0
0
1,843
0
0
0
4,339
0
0
4,339
9,964
0
0
9,964
32,044
1,500
0
33,544
17,541
0
0
17,541
35,147
0
0
35,147
2,575
0
0
2,575
7,303
0
0
7,303
12,250
0
0
12,250
2,341
0
0
2,341
0
0
0
0
2,019
0
0
2,019
158,502
0
0
158,502
0
0
0
0
7,665
0
0
7,665
32,089
0
0
32,089
36,295
36,295
350
0
0
350
550
0
0
550
1,188
0
0
1,188
1,230
0
0
1,230
4,257
0
0
4,257
363,310
1,500
0
364,810
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
186
0
945
1,131
186
0
945
1,131
389,062
5,314
945
395,321
Unrestricted
Funds
Designated
Funds
Restricted
Funds		 £
0
0
2,659
0
1,738
0
Total Funds
2022
4,397
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8,343
8,343
510
0
0
-224
0
186
-149
0
198
0
0
0
0
521
0
328
1,130
500
1,958
3,512
19,511
19,901
29,503
3,927
4,510
5,105
353
1,891
2,435
105,763
-1,099
7,804
17,081
58,416
502
0
2,657
1,641
3,377
286,790
0
0
0
0
302,009

26

Lewisham District Scout Council

Schedule of Registered Scout Groups & District Explorer Scout Units

Scout Groups

1[st] Lewisham Park 1[st] New Cross 2[nd] Deptford 2[nd] Sydenham 3[rd] Crofton Park 4[th] Lewisham 6[th] Lewisham South 8[th] Lewisham South 9[th] Lewisham North (inactive) 9[th] Sydenham 11[th] Forest Hill 12[th] Forest Hill 12[th] Lewisham North 12[th] Lewisham South 14[th] Lewisham South 16[th] Lewisham South 17[th] Forest Hill 17[th] Lewisham North 20[th] Forest Hill (ScoutLink) 20[th] Lewisham South (inactive) 21[st] Lewisham North 28[th] Lewisham North 32[nd] Deptford

Explorer Scout Units

Aureate Explorer Scout Unit Discovery Explorer Scout Unit Golden Hind Explorer Scout Unit Lionheart Explorer Scout Unit Muhsineen Explorer Scout Unit Venture Explorer Scout Unit Young Leader Explorer Scout Unit

27