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2022-12-31-accounts

9th HARPENDEN SCOUT GROUP

(REGISTERED CHARITY 1021216)

AGM Report Jan 1[st] – Dec 31[st] 2022

Contents

Reference and Administrative Details ....................................................................................... 2 Trustees .................................................................................................................................... 2 Holding Trustees ....................................................................................................................... 2 Professional Advisors ................................................................................................................ 2 Structure, Governance and Management ................................................................................ 3 Objectives and Activities .......................................................................................................... 5 Achievements and Performance ............................................................................................... 6 Scouting Equipment .............................................................................................................. 7 Scout Report ......................................................................................................................... 8 Cub Report .......................................................................................................................... 10 Beaver Report ..................................................................................................................... 11 Other Scouting .................................................................................................................... 12 Fundraising Update ............................................................................................................ 12 Hut Update ......................................................................................................................... 13 Public Benefit Statement ........................................................................................................ 14 Financial Review ..................................................................................................................... 14 Statement of Responsibilities of Trustees and Officers ...................................................... 14 Reserves Policy ................................................................................................................... 15 Financial Position ................................................................................................................ 15 Investment Policy ............................................................................................................... 15 Risk and Internal Control .................................................................................................... 15 Declaration ......................................................................................................................... 16

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity name: 9th Harpenden Scout Group Registered charity number: 1021216 Registered charity address: 369 Luton Road, Harpenden, AL5 3LZ

Trustees

During the year the board of trustees was as follows:

Appointment Trustee Name Appointed Ex-officio, Chair Jackie Moore Aug 2020 Ex-officio, GSL Nicholas Corran Sep 2016 Ex-officio, Secretary Rebecca Gowing Aug 2020 Ex-officio, Treasurer Caroline Corran Apr 2017 Ex-officio, SL Andrew Falconer Jan 2014 Ex-officio, CSL Chris Mellor Apr 2017 Ex-officio, BSL Mary Ann Colledge Jan 2007 Ex-officio, BSL Kiley Dixon Aug 2020 Elected Gareth Green Aug 2020 Elected Tim Reid Aug 2020

Holding Trustees

The Scout Association Trust Company holds the lease (on behalf of the 9[th] Harpenden Scout Group, since Sept 21[st] 2022) for the leasehold land on which the Scout Hut is built.

The Scout Hut (Kinsbourne Common Hall) is at 453 Luton Rd, Harpenden, AL5 3QE.

Professional Advisors

Independent Examiner Bankers Stephen Newman FCA CAF Bank Ltd Ardbraccan 25 Kings Hill Ave Cross Oak Road Kings Hill Berkhamsted West Malling HP4 3NA Kent ME19 4JQ

Structure, Governance and Management

9th Harpenden Scout Group is a trust established under rules common to all Scouts in the United Kingdom (the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association (POR)) which are organised in Scout Groups, Scout Districts, Scout Counties and Country Headquarters. These ‘units’ of Scouting provide support, channels for communication, opportunities for youth members and adults to make decisions and take responsibility, and functional units through which the design and delivery of the Scouting programme can be best achieved.

Each of these entities is a trust in its own right and operates on a hierarchical basis. In this way, the Headquarters of The Scout Association provides oversight and supervision of the Hertfordshire County Scout Council (the ‘County’) which, in turn, does so for the District Council, and on to the 9th Harpenden Scout Group.

9[th] Harpenden Scout Group consists of 1 Scout Troop, 2 Cub Packs and 2 Beaver Colonies.

It is an educational charity and is registered with The Charity Commission as such. It is managed by the Group Scout Executive Committee (the ‘GSE’), the members of which are charity trustees of the Group (the ‘Group Trustees’). The Group Trustees are responsible for complying with legislation applicable to charities, which includes requirements to keep proper accounts and make returns to The Charity Commission as appropriate.

The Group Trustees are appointed in accordance with the POR (as applied by the GSE) under four categories of membership, namely:

The GSE has set a quorum for any meeting of the Executive Committee of 40% of the current members to include the Group Scout Leader (or nominated deputy) and the Chair (or their nominated deputy).

The Executive Committee aims to meet once a term.

The Executive Committee exists to support the Group Scout Leader in meeting the responsibilities of their appointment and members are required to act collectively as charity trustees of the Scout Group, and in the best interest of its members to:

The Executive Committee must also:

Each member must also:

Objectives and Activities

The Purpose, Method and Values of the Scout Group are the same as those of The Scout Association.

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: All Scouts 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:

The Scout Group and its constituent sections undertake a variety of activities to implement the Scout Method. These are described in more detail under ‘Achievements and Performance’.

Chairs Report

2022 has been a much better year for Scouting, no online meetings! It has been inspiring to see how sections are getting back to their busy best, with fun evenings, sleepovers and trips away. Well done and thank you to all the section leaders, assistant leaders and young leaders for their hard work and enthusiasm. We continue to try to find new leaders to fill gaps in both Cubs and Scouts.

The Hut continues to provide a wonderful community facility. Thank you to the excellent work done behind the scenes by our hut committee, Tim, Craig and Gareth, as well as the bookings team and keyholders to keep the hut clean safe and available for use. Some longrunning tasks have finally been completed this year, after some very tenacious work by this team, including the transfer of the lease to the Scout Association Trust Company.

Fundraising is coming back to life with the joint Fete with St Mary’s church held in September. Hopefully we can get an enthusiastic team up and running before long.

Thank you to the other committee members, Bec as our very helpful secretary, Caroline as treasurer.

Thank you to Nick for the wonderful job he is doing as GSL. We are very lucky to have him running our group.

We look forward to even more fun and adventures in 2023!

Achievements and Performance

Scouting Equipment

We are well stocked with camping, pioneering and general scouting equipment.

It continues to be maintained and available for all sections to use.

There were no major new purchases of equipment this calendar year.

There are currently no plans for major purchases (additions or replacements).

We will however continue to perform kit checks around camps and events, to see if any of the equipment has deteriorated and needs maintenance, repair or replacement.

Scout Report

Colony/Pack/Troop: Hillary/Tenzing combined

Number of members:

Leaders in section: 3 (Andrew SL, Nick ACSL, Ray ACSL). Often only 2 available, due to work/family commitments. No YLs. Parent rota proving vital

Chief Scout awards: 0

Camps/Nights away: 3 (Ferny crofts: June 22)

Highlights from year:

Spring Term 2022:

A shorter programme, having delayed start until after Gang Show (which 6 Scouts participated in). We celebrated Burn’s Night with Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, and Shrove Tuesday with pancakes. A more physical term with a night hike from Redbourn, a cycle ride to Redbourn and back, and climbing/bouldering at the XC. We ended the term with an egg-catapult challenge.

Summer Term 2022:

A 12-week term, comprising a combination of outdoors/adventure type activities as well as physical/sporting activities. We undertook micro-navigation skills, erecting tents and cooking shelters, pioneering, wood-chopping and fire building. Away from the hut, we went 10-pin bowling, stand-up paddleboarding at Stanborough, shelter building at Gibraltar Farm. Sadly, we were unable to organise volunteer work (having tried both Heartwood Forest and Batford Springs). A highlight of the summer term was the camp in June, taking advantage of the extra public holiday. Four leaders and 14 Scouts (7+7) went to Ferny Crofts in the New Forest for 3 nights under canvas. As well as a walk around the New Forest, the Scouts took part in the on-site activities (crate stacking, rafting, tomahawk throwing), and cooked their own meals.

Autumn Term 2022:

The Scouts managed a fair number of outdoor activities, with only minimal rescheduling due to weather or leader availability. Activities included fire building (cooking a tomato and sausage pasta meal), night-time orienteering on Nomansland, problem solving / teambuilding activities. Steve Hynes ran a bicycle maintenance evening, which went really well, and also accompanied us on our bike ride. We got the Scouts involved in the fete, with a few good stall ideas and around a dozen who helped on the day. We also cooked curry, had a town quiz, went to Welwyn for Fun Rings, and ended the term with a Christmas party and accompanying Father Christmas on the Roundtable collection. Sadly, we were unable to enter any teams into Green Beret due to lack of Scout interest sufficient to form a team.

Badges:

We have continued to link badges to our activities, and encourage those Scouts who are interested. Felicity Falconer is continuing to support and track Scouts’ progress and maintain momentum.

Cub Report

Section: Cubs

Colony/Pack/Troop: Eiger and Everest

Number of members:

Leaders in section: CSL 2, ACSL 3, SA 1, YLs 4

Chief Scout awards: 3

Camps/Nights away: 2 HMS Belfast and hut sleepover

Highlights from year:

Winter term 2022:

We had a busy start to the year with the annual Gang Show trip returning, two nights covering the scientist badge, book reader and story night, a trip to the ice skating rink at Planet Ice, and we locked the Cubs up in a trip to an Escape Room (they all successfully got out!). We finished the term with a Mother’s day tea and a hike.

Summer Term 2022 : We had a fun term with activities including a trip on the Grand Union Canal, yoga, YP-led base night, cycling, and a welcome return to Gibraltar Farm for shelter building and backwoods cooking and Fort Knebworth alongside the Beavers. We also ran a first night away since Covid, starting slowly with a sleepover at the hut (thank you to Andrew for stepping in to ensure we had a permit holder after a last minute covid case).

Autumn term 2022 : the last term of the year had a wide range of activities including a night on HMS Belfast (attended by 26 Cubs and 5 leaders), first aid with some first responders, a visit to Redbournbury Mill, a spooky Halloween ghost walk in St Albans, a cycle night, knots, base night and many more adventures!

Beaver Report

Section: Beavers

Colony/Pack/Troop: Cherokee & Odakota

Number of members:

Leaders in section: Cherokee: 3 (BSL, ABSL, SA), Odakota: 4 (BSL, 2 ABSL, SA)

Chief Scout awards: 4

Camps/Nights away: 1

Highlights from year: St George’s Day Beaver Skills Day Fort Knebworth Celtic Harmony Beaver Sleepover District Beavers Carol Service

Badges:

Cook, Cyclist, Experiment, Money Skills, Gardener, Health & Fitness, International, Emergency Aid

Other Scouting

No wider scouting events this year

Fundraising Update

Fundraising restarted with a joint 9[th] and St Mary’s Church fete in Sept ‘22.

Hut Update

We continue to be well supported by our volunteer viewings, bookings, payments, key holder and hut management team.

Building maintenance

Largely recovered from COVID, some impact from cost of living

Hires

Other

Public Benefit Statement

The purpose of Scouting is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential – as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities. The method of achieving this is by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and Law, and guided by adult leadership and the Scout Method (see above).

The Group Trustees have a duty to report on the Group’s public benefit in the Annual Report. We have assessed our aims, objectives and activities and believe we have met The Charity Commission’s public benefit criteria for both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development.

The Group complies with the two key principles set by The Charity Commission with regard to public benefit:

  1. Identifiable benefit: The practice of Scouting and the application of the Scout method help young people develop towards their full potential. This benefit is directly linked to the purpose of Scouting.

  2. Public benefit: Membership within the Group is open to young people aged from 6- 14; full membership is restricted to young people who are willing to make the Scout Promise. The Scout Association does not exclude those in poverty from its benefits.

While the Scout Association charges a subscription to its members, the benefits of Scouting are not restricted by the ability to pay. Within the District, there are arrangements to waive subscriptions and other costs for those who cannot afford to pay; nationally there are funds available for uniform and activities so that young people are not excluded from activities by virtue of being unable to pay. Any private benefits of Scouting are incidental.

Financial Review

Statement of Responsibilities of Trustees and Officers

The Group Trustees and officers are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Scout Group and of its income and expenditure for that year. In preparing those financial statements, the Group Trustees and officers are required to:

The Group Trustees and officers are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Scout Group. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Scout Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Reserves Policy

The Group's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the group should income and fundraising activities fall short. The GSE has reviewed and updated its reserves policy to require that sufficient unrestricted funds be available to:

Overall the GSE considers that reserves of £50,000 should be held to cover all of the above.

Financial Position

The Scout Group's main sources of income are subscription payments from members, rental income from hiring the scout hut to other community groups, and fundraising events as outlined above. The Group also collects payments from members towards the cost of organised camps and other activities. The Group reclaims gift aid on subscription payments annually.

The Group's outgoings include the provision of activities for the Beaver, Cub and Scout section meetings, subscription payments to the Scout Association, and maintenance of the scout hut.

As reported in the accounts, the Group's income for the year was £29,759, and expenses were £24,434. The Group held reserves of approximately £90,000 at the end of the year. This is above the level required for operating expenses per the reserves policy above, partly because the Group has been fundraising (£13,000) towards the improvement in car parking, work on which is still pending.

Looking forward, the reserves held at the end of 2022 leave the Group in a strong position to face any future interruptions to income.

Investment Policy

The Group has adopted a risk averse strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks or building societies.

Risk and Internal Control

The Group Executive Committee has identified the major risks to which it believes the Scout Group is exposed, these have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate them. The main areas of concern that have been identified are:

Declaration

The Group Trustees declare that they have approved the Group Trustees’ report above:

Jackie Moore, Group Chair Nicholas Corran, Group Scout Leader

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees on 26/4/2023

End of Report

9TH HARPENDEN SCOUT GROUP REPORT AND Accouwrs YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 Recèipts & Payments Account Summary for the year ended 31 December 2022 This Year to 3111212022 Previous Year to 3111212021 Totsl receipts for the year Ipage 2) 29,759.42 22.049.34 Totsl payments for the year Ipage 31 (24,434.68) 120,047.611 Net receipts {payments} for the year 5,324.74 2,001.73 Cash, bank and sirnilar funds brought forward 89,644.49 87,642.76 Cash. bank and similar funds carriett forward 94 969.23 89 644.49 The above account and accompanying statement ot assets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees on... . -.and signed on their behalf by ? £lLcL Page I

9TH HARPENDEN SCOUT GROUP REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 Recelpts for the year ended 31 December 2022 This Year to 3111212022 Previous Yearto 3111212021 MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS less- Paid 9,890.42 {4.368.00} 6.776.78 14.999.501 £5 $22.42 £1777.28 NVESTMENT INCOME RECEIVED Bank Interest Sectiot) Bank Intorest 195.95 3.15 4.05 0.00 199.10 4.05 DONATIONS COVID Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant RENT OF HALL HALL DEPOSITS 0.00 0.00 14,729.74 1200.00) 0.00 8.000.00 9,095.24 1,000.00 £14 529.74 £18 095.24 ACTMTIES Sectlons Camp$ 3,035.18 3.658.68 687.80 0.00 £6 693.86 £687.80 FUND RAISING Igr05s) Gmup Fundraising Team Group Scout Executive Fireworks Evening Section A¢￿v￿e5 Fundraising - Xmas tree carrylng Group Scout Executive Summer Fete 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.441.25 £1441.25 £0.00 OTHER INCOME Income Tax recovered on subscrfptions and donatlons 1.373.OS 1,484.97 £1 373.05 £1484.97 TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR £29 759.42 £22 049.34 Page 2

9TH HARPENDEN SCOUT GROUP REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 Payments for the year ended 31 Decembèr 2022 This Year Prevlous Yearto 3111212021 3111212022 PREMISES Hall capltal Smprovements Electricity Hall cleaning Insurance Hall malntenance 0.00 6,478.55 1.195.05 4.680.00 1.111.78 2.639.89 2.415.97 4,099.S7 1,194.71 4,040.34 w ij Business rates Phone and broadband Hall supplies Muslc rights Water Rates 458.40 388.83 383.96 607.08 227.29 376.42 193.63 0.00 248.68 279.08 £13 837.54 £17 181.69 DONATIONS £0.00 £0.00 ACTIVITIES Sections Camps 5.396.94 3,752.34 2.423.02 0.00 £9 149.28 £2 423.02 FUND RAISING EXPENSES Group Seout Executive Flreworks Evening Group Scout Exgcutive Summer Fete 0.00 0.00 o.oo £0.00 £0.00 ADMINIESTABLISHMENT EXPENSES Leaders unlfornis Leaders, tralning Fees re transfer of lease to The Scout Assoclatlon 1170.001 185.00 {164.00) 0.00 780.00 0.00 Sundry Charges Independent accountsnts fees Equipment Maiirtenance Bank Charyes 116.51 126.90 0.00 131.35 405.00 480.00 £1447.86 £442.90 TRUSTEES EXPENSES 0.00 0.00 PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT DISTRICT LOAN REPAYMENTS 0.00 0.00 0.00 TOTAL PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR £24 434.68 £20 047.61 Page 3

9TH HARPENDEN scoirr GROUP REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR F,NDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 ststement of Assets & Liabilities for the year ended 31 December 2022 This Year to 3111212022 Previous Year to 3111212021 MONEfARY ASSETS Group Bank Current Aecount(s)" 51.1B3.32 45.194.25 Bank Deposit Accounts 40.808.33 40,662.90 Sectlon Bank Current Accounts 2,977.58 3.797.34 Section Cash 0.00 0.00 £94.969.23 £89 64&49 Includes £800 of hall doposits12021- £1,000) NON-MONETARY ASs￿s Group Headquarters Land: Leasehold 99 years Irorn 23 October 2013 Ground Rent£1 perannum Bulldlngs: Insured value 582.272.00 528,761.00 Scouting equipmenl fitrnlture. etc. Insured value 21,518.00 21.518.00 £603 790.00 £550 279.00 LIA81UTIES Those dug wlthln one year Hall deposlts repayable Iheld In PayPal account} 8(Kl.00 1,000.00 Sundry credltors and accruals 0.00 0.00 £800.00 £1000.00 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND FUTURE OBLIGATIONS NONE NONE Page 4

Independent examiner's report to the trnstees of 9 Harpenden Scout Group I re￿rt to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 9. Ha￿nden Scout GTOUP for the year ¢nded 31 December 2022. Responsibilities 2nd basis of report As the charity trustees of the ￿ Harpenden Scout Group you &e TestKkn5ible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requiTcments of the Charities Act 2011 I'the Act'l. I report in Tespe¢t of my examinAtion of the P Hary)enden S¢out Group accounts carried out undeT section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my exami[￿tIon I have followed all the appli¢able Directions Eiven by the Charity Commission under section 14515llb) of ihe ACL Independent examiner's state￿¢llt I have completed my examination. l ¢onfiTtn that no material matters have come to my attention in cot)nection with the examination giving tn¢ cause to believe th* in any material respect.. accou￿tIng record5 were not kept in respe¢t of the 9 HaTpenden SCO￿ Group as required by seetion 130 of ihe Act. or the accounts do not ￿0rd with those records. I have no concerns and havt come a¢ross no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawtl itj this report in order to enable a proper undeEstandiRg of the accounts to be rwhed. Signed: Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodÉes lif any).. FCII Addr¢s5'. 4 kD2lI ACQ , CPo££ OAK ROAD Date..