Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council
Registered charity number 1025483
Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ending 31 March 2025
Objectves and Purpose
The District's governing documents are those of 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.
The District is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scout Groups. The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
Actvites undertaken
The objectives of the District 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.
Chairman’s report
The year has seen further consolidation and adjustment to the new philosophy and structure within the Scout Association. It has been under the leadership of Neil McKay as Acting District Lead Volunteer in the absence of an appointee to replace Hilary Clayton. However, the strength and development of the Programme Team, Leadership Team and Volunteering Development Team have meant that the District has not suffered from not having its own dedicated Lead Volunteer.
That leads to a big 'thank you' to not only all the Leaders who run the various sections on a weekly basis but also those in supporting roles behind the scenes at Groups and District. Not everyone is willing or suited to being a uniformed leader but all Groups need a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. The District provides support on Appointments, Finance and Training. People in all these roles help to make Scouting what it is today.
The necessary changes to keep Scouting moving with the times and keep up with the needs for welfare and safety, necessary in today's society, are now largely completed. This means that the District Trustee Board has more of an overseeing role and is less involved with the day to day activities in Groups. A key element of this concerns the preparation and filing of accounts by Groups and support is often given in this area. The number of Explorer Units has seen a particular need for help from the District Treasurer, Ben Curren, to ensure that finances are correctly set up and administered.
As we said last year, the DTB is here to help, not wield a big stick!
The 2025 Census showed a total membership of 2491, an increase from the 2024 Census but still below the peak of 2622 in 2019, before Covid. This is encouraging but the District total hides some important information. The Youth Membership is actually at an all time high of 1985, an increase of 37 against 2019. However, the Adult figure is down from 674 to only 506. Last year, the Trustees commented on the problem that many Groups have; that of attracting Leaders, who are the key to delivering scouting to Young People. It would appear that the problem is potentially worse than twelve months ago and is a major challenge to not only this District but many others. Although the number of Explorers has been static for several years, the opening of new Units since the Census is likely to show an increase come the next Census and continues the need for more Leaders.
Last year the Trustees talked about the analysis of Membership by Religion and Ethnicity. The usefulness of the statistics is limited by the reply to some questions being optional and not mandatory. It was hoped that encouragement by Leaders would lead to a reduction in 'prefer not to say' (PNTS} responses. Unfortunately, this has not happened in relation to Gender Identity and Ethnicity - the percentage of 'prefer not to say' has actually increased. On Ethnicity, 6.9% PNTS against 6.6%. There has been a small increase in the 'Non White' groups from 193 to 219 or 8.1% to 8.8%, with a small decrease in White membership from 85.3% to 84.3%, although the number has increased by 58.
For Gender Identity, PNTS has risen from 8 to 26 but it is not known what underlies this. The most significant change in the analysis is within Religion. There has been an increase of 2.8% in the number declaring a Religion but a very significant switch from PNTS to No Religion of around 400. PNTS has decreased from 815 to 436 and No Religion increased from 854 to 1231. We have to assume that this is essentially a result of members answering the question more precisely. The full analyses are available to Leaders.
The Trustees would like to focus this year on 1st Sheffield. The Group number was reintroduced in 2007 for the Group at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital. It is quite possibly unique, but a concept that could be adopted elsewhere to spread the Scouting word and ease the stay for children in hospital. The Group is led by Neil Leatherland and has a regular team of six. Two of the leaders, Rob Webster and Paul Howe, have been with the Group for 17 and 10 years respectively and have been awarded the Silver Acorn for this and other Scouting activities. Up to 50 children are involved each Thursday, receiving an activity pack.
Looking ahead, we hope that enough Leaders can be recruited to support the growth in Youth members.
Scouting is alive and well in Hallam District!
Financial Review
The District's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the District should income and fundraising activities fall short and to assist with Group development projects. The District Trustee Board considers that the District should hold a balance of around £50,000.
The District balance has been increasing year on year for a number of years. Whilst it is important to hold sufficient contingency to underwrite potential liabilities incurred by any groups in the District which experience financial distress, the District Trustee Board’s view is that the current balances are more than sufficient for the short to medium term. During the next period, the intention is to release some funds for the benefit of Scouting in the District. This was achieved to some amount during the period of this report, even though the overall funds against bank current accounts (£34,228) is larger on paper than last year, as a consequence of this year’s figure including assets held by Anvil & Dore Explorer units, totalling over £6,500 at yearend.
Similarly, some Explorer unit balances are significant (although that is partly due to the timing of expedition receipts with respect to the reporting year). In the next period, leaders will be encouraged to review their budgets and assess how best to ensure the funds are used to provide benefit to members, perhaps by reducing (or refrain from increasing) charges levied on members.
Structure, Governance and Management
The District is managed by the District Trustee Board, the members of which are the ‘Charity Trustees’ of the Scout District 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.
With effect from the 2024 AGM on 7 October 2024, the District Trustee Board consists of three classifications of Trustee:
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Ex officio members:
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District Lead Volunteer
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District Youth Lead
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Appointed members who are persons appointed as subject of a resolution by the District Scout Council at their AGM. This includes persons fulfilling the roles of:
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The District Chair
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The District Treasurer
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Appointed Trustee
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Co-opted members who are persons co-opted annually by the District Trustee Board.
The number of Trustees must be between 5 and 12.
Before the 2024 AGM on 7 October 2024, different rules were in place. For that period, the District Trustee Board consisted of
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Up to seven ex officio members:
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The District Chair
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The District Commissioner
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The District Youth Commissioner
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The District Secretary (if appointed as a Trustee)
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The District Treasurer
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The District Explorer Scout Commissioner
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The District Scout Network Commissioner
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Up to six elected members who are persons elected at the District Annual General Meeting as subject of a resolution by the District Scout Council at their AGM.
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Nominated members who are persons nominated by the District Commissioner, in consultation with the District Chair and approved at the District Annual General Meeting. The number of nominated members must not exceed the actual number of elected members.
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Co-opted members who are persons co-opted annually by the District Trustee Board. The number of co-opted members must not exceed the actual number of elected members.
This District Trustee Board exists to support the District Lead Volunteer and the District Youth Lead in meeting the responsibilities of their appointments. The Trustees have collective responsibility for:
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Managing the finances of the District;
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Following Scouts policies and relevant legislation across the District;
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Looking after buildings, insurance and property across the District;
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Managing Risks across the District;
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Help the charity to operate well, today and in the future.
Reference and Administratve details
The trustees in post for the period of this report were:
| Name | Ofce | **Member type ** | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen James Culmer | District Chair | Ex ofcio | All |
| Benjamin Edward Curren | District Treasurer | Ex ofcio | All |
| Hannah Grace Litle | District Explorer Scout | Ex ofcio | To 7-Oct-2024 |
| Commissioner | |||
| Luke Paul Oldham | Elected/Appointed | All | |
| Michael Davidson | Elected | To 7-Oct-2024 | |
| Iain Fraser Scruby | Elected/Appointed | All | |
| James John Szymczak | Elected/Appointed | All | |
| JeremyStuart Holmes | Elected/Appointed | All |
The Charity’s principle address is 74 Stothard Road, SHEFFIELD, S10 1RE.
Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council
Registered charity number 1025483
Annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
Scrutineer's Report to the Trustees of the Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council
| report on the accounts of Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council for the year ended 31 March 2025
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Scrutineer
As the 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 District's constitution, | have scrutinised the records and the accounts set out on pages 3 to 5.
Scrutineer's Statement
In my opinion the accounts are in accordance with the records produced to me and comply with the constitution.
Signed: phe
Name: Stuart Cole
Date: 39 kUGv81 I> 2s
Page 2
Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council
Receipts and Payments Account
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----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2024/25|2023/24|
|General|Explorers &|Restricted|.|
|funds|1st Sheffield|HEXNET|funds|Rifle Team|Total funds|Total funds|
|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|
|Receipts|
|groups/|units|in|Hallam|District|-|
|National/County/Area/District|(|1420)|(|840))||(|id|)|
|District|a|
|aS |S| 9 | Ef|
|Sumy|total|(3)|()|ae50|]{|||LL|17,161]|||[___15,506][|]|
|cameincome|sso PL|ts0|| ts||
|erm|
|aes||| a ee a|
|fresinenteene|
|a|
|eS||EN |EN 6EN |ES ED |)|
----- End of picture text -----
Page3
Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council
Receipts and Payments Account
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds | 1stSheffield | Explorers& HEXNET |
Restricted funds |
. RifleTeam |
Totalfunds | Total funds | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Payments | ||||||||||||
| i es |
es | Ce )es | eS | |||||||||
| a eS |
6A | ARe6 | 6 | SST5 | ||||||||
| — | PE | oro | oto | |||||||||
| Subtotal | SES | ES | aT | a | ||||||||
| a | ||||||||||||
| Cashfunds | last year end | 40,095 | 2,283 | 24,751 fw | ||||||||
| Page4 | . |
| 2024/25 | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds | 1stSheffield | Explorers& HEXNET |
Restricted funds |
RifleTeam | Totalfunds | Totalfunds | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Sheffield Scout Resources Charity Short Term Investment Service |
34,208 | 34,208 | 37,011 | ||||
| Totalcashfunds | 37,964] | 1,491 | 2716} | } | 1,794 | ||
| a ED Debts due from the |
ER | 0ED0 | 0ENED | EDES | ES | ||
| County/Area/District/Group | |||||||
| Overdue 2022 Membership subscriptions, | |||||||
| 36th | |||||||
| Non monetary assets forcharity's own | |||||||
| use | |||||||
| apie | |||||||
| ES6 | 6ES9 | 9ED0 | 0ES0ES |
Contingent liabilities and future obligations
Note 1
Accounts for Anvil & Dore Explorers are included in the report for the first time this period. The opening balance of these Explorers' bank accounts (6,000) is recorded as a credit against Bank Transfers.
The above receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees on [ &Seprenberl 2025 and signed on their behalf by
==> picture [230 x 48] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Signature Print Name
~. ~
----- End of picture text -----
Page 5
Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council
Registered charity number 1025483
Annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
Scrutineer's Report to the Trustees of the Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council
| report on the accounts of Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council for the year ended 31 March 2025
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Scrutineer
As the 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 District's constitution, | have scrutinised the records and the accounts set out on pages 3 to 5.
Scrutineer's Statement
In my opinion the accounts are in accordance with the records produced to me and comply with the constitution.
Signed: phe
Name: Stuart Cole
Date: 39 kUGv81 I> 2s
Page 2
Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council
Receipts and Payments Account
==> picture [520 x 397] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2024/25|2023/24|
|General|Explorers &|Restricted|.|
|funds|1st Sheffield|HEXNET|funds|Rifle Team|Total funds|Total funds|
|£|£|£|£|£|£|£|
|Receipts|
|groups/|units|in|Hallam|District|-|
|National/County/Area/District|(|1420)|(|840))||(|id|)|
|District|a|
|aS |S| 9 | Ef|
|Sumy|total|(3)|()|ae50|]{|||LL|17,161]|||[___15,506][|]|
|cameincome|sso PL|ts0|| ts||
|erm|
|aes||| a ee a|
|fresinenteene|
|a|
|eS||EN |EN 6EN |ES ED |)|
----- End of picture text -----
Page3
Sheffield Hallam District Scout Council
Receipts and Payments Account
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds | 1stSheffield | Explorers& HEXNET |
Restricted funds |
. RifleTeam |
Totalfunds | Total funds | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Payments | ||||||||||||
| i es |
es | Ce )es | eS | |||||||||
| a eS |
6A | ARe6 | 6 | SST5 | ||||||||
| — | PE | oro | oto | |||||||||
| Subtotal | SES | ES | aT | a | ||||||||
| a | ||||||||||||
| Cashfunds | last year end | 40,095 | 2,283 | 24,751 fw | ||||||||
| Page4 | . |
| 2024/25 | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds | 1stSheffield | Explorers& HEXNET |
Restricted funds |
RifleTeam | Totalfunds | Totalfunds | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Sheffield Scout Resources Charity Short Term Investment Service |
34,208 | 34,208 | 37,011 | ||||
| Totalcashfunds | 37,964] | 1,491 | 2716} | } | 1,794 | ||
| a ED Debts due from the |
ER | 0ED0 | 0ENED | EDES | ES | ||
| County/Area/District/Group | |||||||
| Overdue 2022 Membership subscriptions, | |||||||
| 36th | |||||||
| Non monetary assets forcharity's own | |||||||
| use | |||||||
| apie | |||||||
| ES6 | 6ES9 | 9ED0 | 0ES0ES |
Contingent liabilities and future obligations
Note 1
Accounts for Anvil & Dore Explorers are included in the report for the first time this period. The opening balance of these Explorers' bank accounts (6,000) is recorded as a credit against Bank Transfers.
The above receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees on [ &Seprenberl 2025 and signed on their behalf by
==> picture [230 x 48] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Signature Print Name
~. ~
----- End of picture text -----
Page 5