TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT & STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER 2024
FOR
1ST ELY SCOUT GROUP COUNCIL
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1024135
1ST ELY SCOUT GROUP COUNCIL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER 2024
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS ~~ee~~
~~PT~~ Charity Name: 1st Ely Scout Group Council ~~PT~~ Other Names the Charity is Known by: 1st Ely Scout Group Registered Charity Number: 1024135 Charity Commission for England & Wales
~~PT~~ Scout Association Registration Number: 10012928
Charity’s Principal Address: 1st Ely Scout Centre St John's Road Ely CB6 3BG
Names of the Charity Trustees who Manage the Charity ~~PT~~
| Trustee Name | Office(if any) | Dates acted if not for wholeyear |
|---|---|---|
| Rick Clay | Chair | |
| Ian Weatherall | Treasurer | |
| Brian Calvert | GroupLead Volunteer | |
| Elliot Bord | Trustee | |
| Annabel Line | Trustee | |
| Howard Milton | Trustee | |
| Jill Norfield | Trustee | |
| Jill Pettit | Trustee | |
| Laura Robinson | Trustee | |
| Jason Ward | Trustee |
Names and Addresses of Advisors ~~PT~~
| Type of Advisor | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Scrutineer | Victoria Cooper | Red Shoes Accounting 181 Wisbech Rd Littleport CB6 1RA |
1st Ely Scout Group Council Reg. Charity 1024135
Page 2 of 9
1ST ELY SCOUT GROUP COUNCIL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Description of the Charity’s Trusts
Type of Governing Document
The Group's governing documents are those of the The Scout Association. They consist of a Royal Charter, which in turn gives authority to the Bye Laws of the Association and The Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
How the Charity is Constituted
The Group is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts.
Trustee Selection Methods
The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
Additional Governance Issues
The Group is managed by the Group Trustee Board, the members of which are the ‘Charity Trustees’ of the Scout Group which is an educational charity. As charity trustees they are responsible for complying with legislation applicable to charities. This includes the registration, keeping proper accounts and making returns to the Charity Commission as appropriate.
The Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer and 8 Trustees as listed above (including Group Lead Volunteer as an Ex-officio Trustee) who meet every 3 months.
Members of the Trustee Board complete Being a Scouts Trustee learning within the first 6 months of joining the Board.
This Group Trustee Board exists to make sure the charity is well-managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and equipment are in good working order, and everyone follows legal requirements and the organisation's policies and rules. Their support helps other volunteers run high-quality and safe programmes that gives young people skills for life.
Risk & Internal Control
The Group Trustee Board has identified the major risks to which they believe the Group is exposed, these have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate against them. The main areas of concern that have been identified are:
Safeguarding
All adult volunteers are subject to confidential enquiry checks, and must undertake an enhanced DBS check within their first 28 days and cannot be in unsupervised contact with young people until this has been passed. All volunteers undertake Safety and Safeguarding training modules amongst others, which they are required to complete every 3 years throughout their volunteering. Volunteers and parents are reminded about the Scout Association's safeguarding policies and the Yellow Card safeguading poster is displayed inside the scout hall venue. The Group Lead Volunteer checks compliance with training and DBS checks and reports to the Trustee Board at each meeting that this has been met.
Damage to the Building, Property and Equipment
The Group has sufficient insurance in place to mitigate against permanent loss and maintains a sum of money held in an interest-earning account to cover for unexpected emergencies. The Group would request the use of buildings, property and equipment from neighbouring organisations.
1st Ely Scout Group Council Reg. Charity 1024135
Page 3 of 9
1ST ELY SCOUT GROUP COUNCIL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER 2024
Risk & Internal Control (cont.)
Injury to Leaders, Helpers, Supporters and Members
The Group contributes to the Scout Association's national accident insurance policy. Risk Assessments are undertaken before activities.
Reduced Income from Fundraising
The group holds a reserve to ensure the continuity of activities should there be a major reduction in income. The Board could raise the value of subscriptions to increase the income to the group on an ongoing basis, either temporarily or permanently.
Reduction or Loss of Leaders
If there was a reduction in the number of leaders to an unacceptable level in a particular section or the group as a whole then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst case scenario the complete closure of the Group.
Risk and Internal Control:
The group has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss, these include 2 signatories for all payments and a comprehensive insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered.
1st Ely Scout Group Council Reg. Charity 1024135
Page 4 of 9
1ST ELY SCOUT GROUP COUNCIL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Summary of the Objects of the Charity set out in its Governing Document
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 these values:
-
» Integrity - We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal.
-
» Respect - We have self-respect and respect for others.
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» Care - We support others and take care of the world in which we live.
-
» Belief - We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes.
-
» Co-operation - We make a positive difference; we co-operate with others and make friends.
The Scout Method
Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting and:
-
enjoy what they are doing and have fun
-
take part in activities indoors and outdoors
-
learn by doing
-
share in spiritual reflection
-
take responsibility and make choices
-
undertake new and challenging activities
Additional Details of the Objectives and Activities
The Group works hard to keep scouting as affordable and acessible to as many local families as possible by maintaining subscription fees at their current levels. A break-even budget will be achieved through the delivery of suplementary income in the form of hall lettings and grants.
Public Benefit Statement
The Group meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings.
1st Ely Scout Group Council Reg. Charity 1024135
Page 5 of 9
1ST ELY SCOUT GROUP COUNCIL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER 2024
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Summary of the Main Achievements of the Charity During the Year
1st Ely has continued to thrive, with over 150 young people actively participating in Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts each week, supported by a team of 40 adult volunteers. The Group is bigger in number than ever before. We have maximised the number of places available to accommodate as many young people as possible but there are more than 100 people on waiting lists still.
All sections have enjoyed a varied programme of activities, including nights away, hikes, and outdoor pursuits. For the second consecutive year, we organised a group camp with children aged 4-16 attending, encouraging teamwork across age ranges as well as providing an opportunity for volunteers from different groups to get to know each other and work together. Fourteen of our Scouts will travelling to Ireland for the District International this summer, broadening their scouting experiences.
To support our growing Squirrels and Beavers sections, we have built new storage for craft materials and toys in the hall, and across the Group we have invested in new camping equipment. Hall bookings for birthday parties, meetings, and events have generated additional income, allowing us to fund ongoing improvements and upgrades to our facilities.
None of this would have been possible without our fantastic team of volunteers, whose dedication has ensured another year of outstanding scouting experiences for our young people.
Plans for Future Periods
1) To open a second Squirrel Drey from Easter 2025 to cope with a 150% waiting list.
2) Community engagement to continue raising our profile in our local area to show Scouts as good neighbours, and to continue applying for local grants.
1st Ely Scout Group Council Reg. Charity 1024135
Page 6 of 9
1ST ELY SCOUT GROUP COUNCIL TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER 2024 FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves Policy
The Group's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities should income and fundraising efforts fall short. The Group Trustee Board considers that the group should hold a sum equivalent to 12 months running costs, circa £16,000 . These reserves are currently held in an instant access account so as to be available as soon as they are required.
The Group held total funds of approximately £54,900 at year end, including the £16,000 '12 months' operating reserve. The Trustees are of the opinion that additional funds above the operating reserve should be kept available to allow for repairs and fixes to the Group's building, which is now 10+ years old and in any year could require costly replacement or repair of the roof, plumbing, glazing, electricals or the underfloor heating system for example. As the building is the group's only meeting place, and also an important source of revenue from lettings, the Trustees consider it important that a sum of money is kept at hand in an interest-earning savings account to allow for necessary repairs to keep 'business as usual'.
Details of any Funds Materially in Deficit
None
Investment Policy
The Group's Income and Expenditure is small and as a consequence does not have sufficient funds to invest in longer-term investments such as stocks and shares. The Group has therefore adopted a low risk strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks and building societies. A sum of no more than £25,000 (including the reserve figure of £16,000) is held in an instant access deposit account. The remainder of the group funds are held in a 95-day notice savings account.
The Group Trustee Board regularly monitors the levels of bank balances and the interest rates received to ensure the group obtains maximum value and income from its banking arrangements. Occasionally this may involve using an account that requires a period of notice before funds may be withdrawn, before doing so the Group Trustee Board considers the cash flow requirements.
DECLARATION
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees on 25th February 2025
Rick Clay Chair
Brian Calvert Group Lead Volunteer
1st Ely Scout Group Council Reg. Charity 1024135
Page 7 of 9
1ST ELY SCOUT GROUP COUNCIL
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1014135
| Scouts | REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1014135 | REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1014135 | REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1014135 | REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1014135 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scouts | REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1014135 | REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1014135 | REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1014135 | Page 8 of 9__ | ||||
| RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT | Receipts | Payments | Balance | See | Balance | |||
| 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | Note | 2023 | ||||
| RECEIPTS | ||||||||
| Charitable Activities | £16,203.15 | - | £16,203.15 | 1a | £17,015.50 | |||
| Grants Received | £4,000.00 | - | £4,000.00 | 1b | £648.00 | |||
| Donations Received | £688.00 | - | £688.00 | 1c | - | |||
| Fundraising (Gross) | £59.76 | - | £59.76 | 1d | £45.08 | |||
| Gift Aid | - | - | - | 1e | - | |||
| Investment Income | £1,141.00 | - | £1,141.00 | 1f | £107.37 | |||
| Rental Income | £3,128.75 | - | £3,128.75 | 1g | £4,515.00 | |||
| Asset & Investment Sales | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Other Receipts | - | - | - | 1h | £1,759.60 | |||
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £25,220.66 | - | £25,220.66 | £24,090.55 | ||||
| PAYMENTS | ||||||||
| Charitable Activities | £23,027.30 | (£23,027.30) | 1a | (£22,351.03) | ||||
| Donations Made | £750.00 | (£750.00) | 1i | - | ||||
| Grants Made | - | - | - | |||||
| Fundraising Expenses | - | - | - | |||||
| Asset & Investment Purchases | - | - | - | |||||
| Other Payments | - | - | - | |||||
| TOTAL PAYMENTS | - | £23,777.30 | (£23,777.30) | (£22,351.03) | ||||
| BALANCE | - | |||||||
| Net Income for the Year | £25,220.66 £23,777.30 ~~PO~~ |
£1,443.36 | 1 | £1,739.52 | ||||
| Account Balances at 1st January | £53,513.64 | 2 | £51,774.12 | |||||
| ACCOUNT BALANCES AT 31ST DECEMBER | - | £54,957.00 | 3 | £53,513.64 | ||||
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES | Balance | See | Balance | |||||
| 2024 | Note | 2023 | ||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Cash at Bank and in Hand at | £54,957.00 | 4 | £53,513.64 | |||||
| Other Monetary Assets | - | - | ||||||
| Investment Assets | - | - | ||||||
| Non-Monetary Assets | Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Scout Hall, St John's Road, Ely | ||||||||
| Held by the Scout Association Trust Corporation as custodian trustee - shown as Nil value. | Held by the Scout Association Trust Corporation as custodian trustee - shown as Nil value. | |||||||
| https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-things-locally/legal-services/satc | ||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | £54,957.00 | - | £54,957.00 | £53,513.64 | ||||
| LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Scrutineer's Fee Due | - | - | ||||||
| Other | - | - | ||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | - | - | - | - | ||||
| NET OF ASSETS OVER LIABILITIES | £54,957.00 | - | £54,957.00 | £53,513.64 |
This Statement of Accounts was approved by the Trustees on 25th February 2025
Signed on the Trustees' behalf by:
Rick Clay Group Chair
Ian Weatherall Group Treasurer
Page 9 of 9__
1ST ELY SCOUT GROUP COUNCIL
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1014135
| Receipts | Payments | Balance | Balance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOTES | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| **1) ** | INCOME FOR THE YEAR | |||||
| **a) ** | Charitable Activities | |||||
| Membership Subscriptions | £15,352.50 | £801.97 | £14,550.53 | £11,853.43 | ||
| - less Feespaid on to District, County& HQ | (£8,103.00) | - | (£8,103.00) | (£5,350.00) | ||
| Net Membership Subscriptions | £7,249.50 | £801.97 | £6,447.53 | £6,503.43 | ||
| Youth Programme & Activities | £7,728.50 | £13,181.08 | (£5,452.58) | (£2,936.48) | ||
| Banking Costs | - | £60.00 | (£60.00) | (£105.00) | ||
| Electricity Supply | - | £1,536.29 | (£1,536.29) | (£1,160.29) | ||
| Gas Supply | - | £2,018.29 | (£2,018.29) | (£1,539.40) | ||
| Insurance | - | £897.00 | (£897.00) | (£644.49) | ||
| Resources | - | - | - | (£420.00) | ||
| Scout Hall | - | £3,765.06 | (£3,765.06) | (£3,225.41) | ||
| Trustee Board | - | £23.33 | (£23.33) | (£15.45) | ||
| Water & Sewerage | - | £480.55 | (£480.55) | (£360.81) | ||
| WiFi | £1,225.15 | £263.73 | £961.42 | (£1,431.63) | ||
| Net Charitable Activities | £16,203.15 | £23,027.30 | (£6,824.15) | (£5,335.53) | ||
| **b) ** | Grants Received from | |||||
| City of Ely Council | £500.00 | - | £500.00 | - | ||
| Department of Culture, Media & Sport | £3,500.00 | - | £3,500.00 | - | ||
| Ely Community Events Team | - | - | - | £200.00 | ||
| Redrow Community Fund | - | - | - | £448.00 | ||
| Total Grants Received | £4,000.00 | - | £4,000.00 | £648.00 | ||
| **» ** | Other Income & Expenditure | |||||
| c) | Various Donations Received for General Funds | £688.00 | - | £688.00 | - | |
| d) | Received from District Scout Post Fundraising | £59.76 | - | £59.76 | £45.08 | |
| e) | Gift Aid Reclaimed | - | - | - | - | |
| f) | Bank Account Interest Received | £1,141.00 | - | £1,141.00 | £107.37 | |
| g) | Rental Income - Scout Hall Lettings | £3,128.75 | - | £3,128.75 | £4,515.00 | |
| h) | Received on Closure of 3rd Ely Scout Group | - | - | - | £1,759.60 | |
| i) | Donation Made to London Hearts for a Defibrillator | - | £750.00 | (£750.00) | - | |
| Net Other Income & Expenditure | £5,017.51 | £750.00 | £4,267.51 | £6,427.05 | ||
| NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR | £25,220.66 | £23,777.30 | £1,443.36 | £1,739.52 | ||
| **2) ** | ACCOUNT BALANCES AT 1st JANUARY | |||||
| Current Accounts | £53,513.64 | £51,747.18 | ||||
| Deposit Accounts | - | - | ||||
| Cash in Hand | - | - | ||||
| Group Funds with District | - | £26.94 | ||||
| TOTAL | £53,513.64 | £51,774.12 | ||||
| **3) ** | ACCOUNT BALANCES AT 31ST DECEMBER | |||||
| Current Accounts | £1,365.68 | £53,513.64 | ||||
| Deposit Accounts | £53,591.32 | - | ||||
| Cash in Hand | - | - | ||||
| Group Funds with District | - | - | ||||
| TOTAL | £54,957.00 | £53,513.64 | ||||
| **4) ** | CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND | |||||
| General Funds | £38,957.00 | £36,962.39 | ||||
| Reserve Funds | £16,000.00 | £16,000.00 | ||||
| Restricted Funds - Balance c/f of Grants Received |
- | £551.25 | ||||
| TOTAL CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND AT 31ST DECEMBER | £54,957.00 | £53,513.64 |
Scrutineer's Report to the Trustees of 1[st] Ely Scout Group Council
I report on the accounts of the Group/District for the year ended 31 December 2024
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Scrutineer
As the Group's/District's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that neither the audit nor independent examination requirements of the Charities Act 2011 apply. It is my responsibility without carrying out an audit or independent examination to scrutinise the accounts and to report to you.
Basis of Scrutineer's Statement
In accordance with the directions given in the Group's/District's constitution, I have scrutinised the records and the accounts.
Scrutineer's Statement
In my opinion the accounts are in accordance with the records produced to me and comply with the constitution.
Victoria Cooper 8 Chamberlain Fields Littleport Cambridgeshire CB6 1FJ
16 September 2025