## **1st ROBOROUGH SCOUT GROUP** # **Annual Report** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** **Registered Number: 1002877** Page 1 ## **1[st] Roborough Scout Group Annual report Year ended 31 March 2024** GROUP TRUSTEES BOARD Ex-officio Members Steve Ridge Chair Beth Evans Secretary David Blagdon Treasurer Eric Drabble Group Scout Leader Elected Members Peter Bishop Trustee Robert Loader Trustee Tanya Martin Trustee Duncan Lown Trustee Co-opted Trustees None BANKERS Lloyds Bank PRINCIPAL ADDRESS 14 Honeysuckle Close Woolwell Plymouth PL6 7TE Page 2 ## **1[st] Roborough Scout Group Annual report Year ended 31 March 2024** ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT** The trustees submit their annual report under the Charities Act 1993 (as amended by the Charities Act 2006) and the financial statement for the year ending 31 March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with current statutory requirements, the charity’s governing documents and the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 2005. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION** 1[st] Roborough Scout Group is registered with the Charity Commission under charity number 1002877. The appointed trustees, principal address and details of the charity’s advisors are given on page 1. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing Document** The Charity is governed by the Royal Charter dated 4[th] January 1912. ## **Recruitment and Training of Trustees** The members shall carry out the election of officers and committee members at the Annual General Meeting. Each nomination must be proposed and seconded by a voting member of the Group with the consent of the nominee. New Trustees are inducted into the workings of the charity during meetings held on a bi-monthly basis. ## **Organisational Management** Overall responsibility for the management of the Charity is vested in the Trustees. The management of the Group shall be vested in Group Trustee Board. The Charity is an unincorporated association which holds at least three committee meetings during the year. These meetings are organised by the trustees to continue with the work necessary to maintain the objects of the Group. ## **Risk Review** The trustees are responsible for the management of the risks faced by the charity. The Trustees continue to examine the major internal and external risks that the charity faces. Systems are in existence to monitor and control these risks to mitigate any impact that they may have on the charity in the future. The key controls used by the Group include: - Formal agendas for all committee meetings - Comprehensive strategic planning, budgeting and management accounting - • Established organisational structures and lines of reporting - Clear authorisation and approval levels The trustees recognise that systems can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance that major risks have been adequately managed. Page 3 ## **1[st] Roborough Scout Group Annual report Year ended 31 March 2024** ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (continued)** ## **OBJECTS, AIMS AND ACTIVITIES** 1[st] Roborough Scout Group operates and complies with the Scout Association – Policy, Organisation and Rules. ## **Charitable Objects** To contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of the local, national and international communities. ## **Objectives for the year** The objectives for the year were to continue to provide the weekly activities for the Scout, Cub and Beaver sections. ## **Strategies to achieve the year’s objectives** Maintain a programme of scouting activities and to continue with fundraising activities so that financial stability is maintained. ## **FINANCIAL POLICY** ## **Reserves Policy** It is the policy of the charity to try to maintain a level of free reserves; these are unrestricted funds which are not invested in fixed assets, designated for specific purposes or otherwise committed. The pandemic highlighted the risks of short-term reductions in membership and losing income due to cancellation of lettings. The Trustees determined that the appropriate target for free reserves for the scout group should be based on two year’s expenditure. ## **Investment Policy** The Committee has reviewed the most appropriate policy for investing funds and has found that investing funds in a short-term cash deposit account best meets their requirements. This will continue to be under review. ## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS** To continue to maintain and develop a programme of activities and to develop the centre as a focus for the local community. Page 4 ## **1[st] Roborough Scout Group Annual report Year ended 31 March 2024** ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (continued)** ## **Chairman’s Report** Throughout this year the group has continued with all three sections remaining full. The trustee board has been able to ensure that the volunteers & sections have the support & resources needed to enable the group to provide an exciting, successful & active programme. The trustee board looks after the hall and provides the financial support and management for all activities within the group, this is to support the GSL and leaders to run Scouting for our members. If anyone feels they can offer their time to assist us then please speak to any of us about joining the committee We are in a good financial position and ensure that we keep up with the maintenance of our building. We continue to repair and replaced our camping equipment and have what is needed to support the sections in their activities. We have this year updated the lighting and had other electrical items replaced and the building checked. We will also be looking to refit the kitchen in the near future. A major part of our income is from regular hall hirings, thanks to Ali who manages this seamlessly with little help needed from the rest of us. Thanks to Dave Blagdon we have had another year of accurate and up to date accounts, with the books independently checked and prepared for the AGM. This role includes our insurance and getting the best deal on our services and running costs. I know that Dave & Jill also do a lot of cleaning and tidying behind the scenes. I would like to thank Beth for continuing with the role of secretary. We may not be the best group of people to organise but she does keep us on track. Thanks to all our trustee board members for their help & input, this gives a wider view of what we do & the direction we should take. As you will see from the GSL’s report our sections are full and with good retention. I would like to thank the GSL and Leaders for their time and success in making this possible. Steve Ridge Group Chair Page 5 **1[st] Roborough Scout Group Annual report Year ended 31 March 2024** ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (continued)** ## **GROUP SCOUT LEADER’S REPORT** We have had another very active and successful year. I will report on all our activities to date, not just for the financial year! Since our last AGM, we attended ScoutEx23 a County wide camp during August 2023, held our regular camps, visited the international scout centre in Switzerland, and attended the very successful Scoutmoor jamboree held by Devon Scout County end of August 2024. All our sections are full, with waiting lists. It is testament to the dedication, enthusiasm and creative session planning of our leaders; I cannot thank them enough for all they do for our young people. In turn, I have repeatedly heard from independent observers that our young people demonstrate excellent behavior when out with us; thank you and well done to all our members. Thank you to all our executive, Steve, chair, Dave, treasurer, Beth secretary, and Tanya, Rob and Pete, our trustee members (and leader in Pete’s case) for their support and efforts for us. Some leaders are leaving for their own good reasons, Lily and Jenny, we will miss them but are grateful for the sterling efforts they, and James, Ali, Pete, Graham, Sarah, Sarah, Jill, Emma, Claire, Anne-Marie, Simon and Duncan have given over the past year. We look forward to the return of Ellie after her year away! We welcome Andrew as a new leader Thank you to those parents who have helped at camps and at section meetings, your efforts have added to the quality of those sessions. This forthcoming year does present challenges that we shall meet. The structure of the scout association is being updated, and our titles, and executive roles and remits will change. We are undergoing a digital transformation, but our day to day practice of delivering a programme of activities and camps for young people remains the same. The role of trustees, chair and treasurer will amend to align with charity commission descriptions, and we will discuss this in more detail at the AGM. The application of scout association regulations will become more stringent, following a review of a tragic accident 6 years ago, but we already do so as a scout group; there will be more observation and recording of our preparations for activities, and leader training. I look forward to an equally successful year! Eric Drabble Group Scout Leader 1st Roborough Scout Group Receipts and Payments Account For the year fwom 1 st Aprll 2023 To 31st March 2024 Receipts and payments 2023124 2022123 Unrestrlcted funds Unrestrlcted funds R￿eIPtS Donatlons, legacles aDd Slmllar In¢