Scouts
1st Ripley Scout Group
Annual Report
2024
## **Group Objective Statement**
The objectives of the Group are as a unit of the Scout Association. The aim of the Scout Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.
The method of achieving the aim of the Association is by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and Law and guided by adult leadership.
We continue to review any potential risks to the children and have taken measures to ensure their safety. The Executive committee regularly reviews the condition of the HQ and grounds and remedial maintenance is dealt with on a regular basis. Insurance cover is reviewed annually and all adults in contact with the children on scouting activities are supervised and CRB validated.
Subscriptions are charged for membership to cover immediate running costs of the Group and these do not unduly restrict membership. The Group follows the principle that no one should be excluded because of their inability to pay membership subscriptions.
## **Chairman’s Report**
Another year of scouting has passed, and find myself penning my report for the year. This will be my 13[th] and final Chairmans report, as the time has come to pass the baton onto someone new. I’ve not lived in Ripley for 10 years now, my children who were Cubs and Scouts are now at university / working. I look back over my time as Chairman and Trustee member with great fondness of the last 17 years.
I’m delighted that each section still has a good number of children regularly attending each week. Our leaders and helpers spend much time creating a programme of weekly events for the children. It’s wonderful that these are experienced by a good number of children in each section.
I must thank Richard who continues to act a temporary Group Scout Leader. He juggles this role along with his District roles, for which we thank him.
Without exception in most of my reports recently I have indicated the need for additional adult support. This year is no different. Scouting in Ripley survives through a small number of adults that give time week in, week out to ensure the children are able to experience growing up with Scouting as a foundation for their development. Many of those who join me on the Trustee Board have done for as many years as myself. Scouting in Ripley will only survive with new support. I ask you please to consider stepping forward to join the Trustee Board or offer some help to the leaders.
1[st] Ripley benefits each year with what has become the only major single form of income outside of subscriptions. I’m talking of course about Ripley Rocks. Last year we were blessed again with good weather which ensure attendance was excellent. The military planning of Peter, Karen and Richard ensures that the event runs with very few if any hitches. This year’s event on the 6[th] July needs your support however. Richard, I know is looking for assistance with various roles during the day.
Thank you to Joe for preparing this year’s financial report. It clearly demonstrates the importance of Ripley Rocks as our biggest single fund-raising event. It essentially covers the majority of our largest financial expenses. E.g. Minibus, HQ, Equipment store. This avoids a larger financial burden on the families in the group.
I close by thanking you all for your support over many years, I thank our leaders, trustee members, and fund raisers for ensuring Scouting in Ripley stays firmly on the map.
As Vanessa and I move further afield from Surrey, I will always have fond memories of my time at a wonderful Scout Group.
## **Mark Galpin**
_Group Chairman_
## **Lead Volunteer’s Report**
Over the last year the Group’s sections and leaders have achieved lots which has resulted in many young people gaining skills for life in a fun and exciting way.
All the sections have good numbers and we continue to get enquiries via our website and phone system. Throughout the year we have seen Bronze, Silver and Gold awards achieved and presented. Both Cubs and Scouts were able to run camps with Cubs using our own land and completing activities at Walton Firs and Scouts going to the New Forest.
Our Beaver section continues to attract young people with a stimulating programme of activities under the leadership team of Rose, Verity, Justine and we have welcomed back Katherine into the team.
The Cubs have enjoyed an exciting year taking part in district/county events such as Chilly Cubs and SCRAM as well as locally arranged events put in place by the leadership team of Kathy, Anna and Brian with the support of Young Leaders Daisy and Catherine.
Scouts have seen a different thrust of activities since Kurt joined Tom this year when Rebecca got married and moved away. Two scouts, Jack and Archie, were presented with their Chief Scout Gold Awards and we now have several others getting close to achieving this award.
During the year we also saw Jack attend the World Scout Jamboree and both Daisy and Catherine were supported on the Explorer Belt Challenge to Spain.
I would like to finish this report firstly by thanking Mark Galpin for the years of support he (and his family) have given to 1[st] Ripley Scouts as a parents, Executive Committee member and Chairman. I also must thank all the leaders, Trustees, parents, and the friends of Ripley Scouts for the support they have given me, and the work they’ve done to enable our young people to access so many new and fun activities whilst developing under the ethos of Scouts.
## **Richard Ayears**
## _Acting Lead Volunteer_
## **Treasurer’s Report**
**This financial year (ending March 2024) again sees the Group in a healthy financial state, with a comfortable cash balance and good reserves at March 2024. We have made no significant capital outlay this financial year; we have increased our level of reserves, and there are no forward creditors or debtors.**
**Income** overall appears significantly greater than last year, but this represents something of a false position. Income from our most important source of revenue, **Ripley Rocks** , was about £2k down on the previous year. And revenue collected from parents’ contributions to activities was also down by about £1k. However the overall level of incoming cash was boosted by a significant insurance claim of £7.5k against the loss of our Totem Pole in the previous winter’s storms. There are also some payment timing issues (with subscription payments and hall hire revenue) that have distorted this position.
**Hall Hire** revenue was well down year on year at £500, but much of this is due early receipt, falling in the previous year’s accounts.
**Subscriptions** revenues are stable at around £6.1k, and subscriptions from parents remain at £55 per term. Another timing issue has meant that no Capitation payment to the District for the Group has been paid this year; this cost of approx. £2.8k will appear in next year’s accounts.
**Marquee hire** revenue has remained historically low (£850), following the decision not to pursue private hires, regardless of value, _**due to lack of volunteer help from parents.**_
**Parental financial suppor** t of activities as mentioned above is down about £1k.
**Outgoing Donations** are at a historic high. The Group has made £1.3k in donations, again principally to related World Scout Jamboree. This is significantly down on the previous year where we also gave considerable support to those youngsters attending World Scout Jamboree.
**Capital expenditure** this year remains effectively _nil_ .
**Utilities** – Expenditure has again increased this year, and is a little higher than pre-pandemic levels at £1.7k. This increase is due to the increased usage of the HQ building and also a one-off deposit cost as our historical low fixed electricity contract expired in February. We will continue to engage in “switching” suppliers regularly to control these costs; Gas prices remained fixed low until Nov 2024, but are expected to rise significantly after that.
**Minibus** running costs remained largely steady and typical at £1.3k, as it continues to be used for Group activities and the Cubs and Scouts particularly have made good use of it.
**Admin / maintenance / misc outgoings** together have increased yearon-year to £6.8k (up about £4k). We have spent about £3k on the HQ (replacement of some rotten windows, electrical work etc.) and also had some increase in insurance costs and for uniforms and badges (which I think reflects the increased activities and leader involvement). We plan further maintenance and renovation in the coming financial year (new flooring, new kitchen and acoustic treatment of the hall). I expect this to consume at least all the income from the coming Ripley Rocks if not more.
**Gift Aid:** We continue to recover our Gift-Aid contributions for taxpaying parent subscription payers for the previous year. This is up this year at £1.6k due to subscriptions in the previous tax year rebounding from the Pan demic the year ending March 2023. We can expect this to remain at this level going forward.
**Incoming Donations** are about half the level of last year slightly at £300, including a further fall in income from the Guildford Community Lottery to £100, which continues to remain unpromoted from within our Group.
## **Joe Gervasio**
_Group Treasurer_
# **1st Ripley Scout Group** Treasurer's Report & Accounts
# **for the year ended 31 March 2024**
Page i
## **1st Ripley Scout Group**
## **PRESIDENT**
Vernon Wood
||**PERSONNEL**||
|---|---|---|
|Lead Volunteer & Quartermaster|Trustee|Richard Ayears|
|Scout Leader|Volunteer|Tom Crane|
|Scout Leader|Volunteer|Kurt Kapeller|
|Cub Leader|Volunteer|Anna Rhyner|
|Cub Leader|Volunteer|Brian Rhyner|
|Beaver Leader|Trustee|Justine Ayears|
|Chairman|Trustee|Mark Galpin|
|Secretary|Volunteer|Ruth Harrison|
|Treasurer|Trustee|Joe Gervasio|
||Trustee|Graham Anker|
||Trustee|Dan Kenny|
||Trustee|Peter Hookins|
||Trustee|Peter Schooling|
||Trustee|Jennie Ratcliff|
||Trustee|Mike Anning|
||Trustee|Julie Rae|
||Trustee|Andrew Paulson|
## **BANKERS**
Lloyds TSB, 5 Ockham Road South, East Horsley Surrey. KT24 6QW Cambridge & Counties Bank Ltd, 5b New Walk, Leicester England, LE1 6TE
Group/District Registration Number with The Scout Association 5945 Charity Registration Number 1020385
## **Contact Name and Address**
Richard Ayears 6 Grandis Cottages High St, Ripley Surrey GU23 6AB
## **2001 Groups and Districts Statement of Financial Activities Form (Single-fund) B**
Page ii
18t Rlpley Scout Group
Treasurer's Annual Report for the year ended
31 March 2024
The Treasurer Is happy to report that the Group's finances are In
healthy state, with a comfortable cash balance and good reserves
at March 2024.
We have started to make some capital outlay on our headquarters
and anticipate that this Will need to continue and increase in the
coming year. Most other income and out-goings remain at a level
broadly consistent with historical norms.
Once again we have increased our level of reserves, and there are
no forward creditors or debtors.
The Group/District is a trust established under its rules which are
common to all Scout Groups. Trustees are appointed in
accordance with the Policy, Organisation & Rules of The Scout
Association.
At the end of the year income reserves amounted to -
Fixed Assets: £24,277
Working Capital: £21,518
Reserved Capital.. £72,439
Approved by the trustees on (datel
and signed on their beh
Mark Galpin (Chairman)
Richard Ayears (Acting Lead Volunteer)
B3 Groups and Dlstrlcts Statement of Flnanclal Actlvltles Form (Slngle•fund) 2001
Page iii
**1st Ripley Scout Group**
## **Statement of Financial Activities Summary for the year ended**
## **31 March 2024**
|TOTAL INCOME
TOTAL EXPEDITURE
NET INCOMING RESOURCES
FUND BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD
**FUND BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD**|**This Year**
**£**
32,433
-21,381
11,051
107,182
**118,234**|Previous Year
£
24,770
-20,271|
|---|---|---|
|||4,499
102,683|
|||**107,182**|
## **2001 Groups and Districts Statement of Financial Activities Form (Single-fund) B4**
Page iv
**1st Ripley Scout Group**
## **Statement of Financial Activities Summary for the year ended**
## **31 March 2024**
|**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**
MEMBERSHIP
Subscriptions collected
Less: Payable to District and refunds
INVESTMENT INCOME
Interest Received :-
C & C Bank
DONATIONS
Ripley Bonfire Association
Guildford Lottery
Miscellaneous Donations
Insurance Claim
ACTIVITIES
Activities, Outings and Camps
FUND RAISING
HQ Hire
Marquee Hire
Music Event
OTHER INCOMING RESOURCES
Tax refund re Gift Aid
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**|**This Year**
**General Fund**
**£**
6,192
0
6,192
2,695
0
99
200
7,500
1,725
530
850
11,051
1,590
**32,433**|Previous Year
£
6,139
-2,640|
|---|---|---|
|||3,499
1,033
200
130
280
0
2,792
1,960
800
13,319
758|
|||**24,770**|
## **B5 Groups and Districts Statement of Financial Activities Form (Single-fund) 2001**
Page v
**1st Ripley Scout Group**
## **Statement of Financial Activities Summary for the year ended**
## **31 March 2024**
|**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
PREMISES
Water Rates
Light and Heat
Insurance
Repairs and Renewals
Telephone / Web comms
ACTIVITIES
Activities, Outings and Camps
ADMIN/ESTABLISHMENT EXPENSES
Post & stationery
Admin/Establishment exps
Rubbish Bin & cleaning
TRUSTEES EXPENSES
OTHER EXPENDITURE
Leader Training & Uniforms
Mini Bus Running Costs
Misc Donations
DEPRECIATION
**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**|**This Year**
**General Fund**
**£**
79
1,729
2,211
3,535
543
6,435
0
0
320
-
1,038
1,258
1,341
2,893
**21,381**|Previous Year
£
91
1,316
1,952
147
509
5,984
0
0
304
-
664
1,335
4,713
3,255|
|---|---|---|
|||**20,273**|
## **2001 Groups and Districts Statement of Financial Activities Form (Single-fund) B6**
Page vi
**1st Ripley Scout Group**
## **Balance Sheet as at**
## **31 March 2024**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
This Previous
Year Year
£ £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS
Minibus 1,906 2,541
Trailers 21 28
Equipment 103 138
Totem Pole 0 142
Barn 18,667 20,741
Land 3,580 £3,580
24,277 27,170
CURRENT ASSETS
Deposit Account 72,439 69,744
Cash at bank and in hand 21,518 10,268
93,957 80,012
Less: CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Amounts due within one year 0 0
NET CURRENT ASSETS £93,957 80,012
Less: LONG TERM LIABILITIES:
Amounts due after more than one year 0 0
0 0
NET ASSETS 118,234 107,182
Represented by:-
GENERAL FUND 118,234 107,182
**----- End of picture text -----**
The notes on the attached page form part of these accounts.
## **B7 Groups and Districts Statement of Financial Activities Form (Single-fund) 2001**
Page vii
**1st Ripley Scout Group**
## **Fixed Assets**
## **31 March 2024**
## **1ST RIPLEY SCOUT GROUP**
## **FIXED ASSETS**
||||||**Totem**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**FIXED ASSETS**||**Minibus **|**Trailers **|**Equipment**|**Pole**|**Barn**|**Totals**|
|**COST**||||||||
||At 1 April 2023|£6,780|£3,788|£12,660|£8,005|£35,126|£66,359|
||Additions|-|-|-|-|-|£0|
|At|31 March 2023|£6,780|£3,788|£12,660|£8,005|£35,126|£66,359|
|**DEPRECIATION**||||||||
||At 1 April 2023|£4,239|£3,760|£12,522|£7,863|£14,385|£42,769|
||Charge for year|£635|£7|£35|£142|£2,074|£2,893|
|At|31 March 2024|£4,874|£3,767|£12,557|£8,005|£16,459|£45,662|
|**NET BOOK VALUE**||||||||
|At|31 March 2024|£1,906|£21|£103|£0|£18,667|£20,697|
## **NOTES:**
The Totem Pole is written off this year in entirety as it was destroyed.
The Barn is being written off at a rate of 10% per annum on a reducing balance basis.
The other assets are written off at a rate of 25% per annum on a reducing balance basis.
Page viii
**1st Ripley Scout Group**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees 31 March 2024**
I report on the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages iii to viii.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The Group’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- Examine the accounts (under Section 145 of the Charities Act);
- To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under Section 145(5)(b) of the Charities 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 Group 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 no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in statement below.
## **Independent Examiner's statement**
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 accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act ;and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met, or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Name:** Peter Hookins - Accountant **Address:** Springfield, Tuckey Grove Ripley Surrey GU23 6JG **Date:** 11 June 2024
## **B3 Groups and Districts Statement of Financial Activities Form (Single-fund) 2001**
Page ix