Essex South East Guide Association
Charity Registration Number: 1029086
Working title:
Girlguiding Essex South East
Annual Reports and Financial Statements 1[st] March 2021 to 28[th] February 2022
Trustees:
Alison Tompkinson – County Commissioner Amanda Gardner – Assistant County Commissioner Carole Davies – Division Commissioner, Basildon Janet Nelson – Division Commissioner, Billericay – end 22[nd] April 2021 Jacqueline Cole – Division Commissioner, Castle Point Paula Bower – Division Commissioner, Rayleigh - end 6[th] September 2021 Carol Roberts – Division Commissioner, Rayleigh - start 11[th] September 2021 Sally Baskett - Division Commissioner, Southend East Susan Bishop – Division Commissioner, Southend West Carol Crowhurst – Outdoor Activities Adviser Julie Nye – Guiding Development Coordinator Anne Wright – County Treasurer
Executive Committee:
County President County Commissioner Assistant County Commissioner Division Commissioners County Secretary County Treasurer County Guiding Development Coordinator County Outdoor Activities Adviser County Trefoil Guild Chairman Other Advisers as appointed by the County Commissioner
Registered Address:
7 Great Hautbois Road Coltishall Norfolk NR12 7JN
Independent Examiner:
Karen Batman 2 Vine Close Basildon Essex SS14 1GF
Bankers:
Lloyds Bank Santander 78 High Street Bootle Rayleigh Merseyside Essex L30 4GB SS6 7EB
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Structure, governance and management
Girlguiding Essex South East (the County) is part of the Anglia Region of Girlguiding. It has its own Executive Committee as set out in its constitution. The Executive is chaired by the County Commissioner and meets a minimum of four times a year. Girlguiding Essex South East operates in accordance with all policies adopted by Girlguiding. Girlguiding is governed by Royal Charter.
Trustees are responsible for the recruitment and appointment of new trustees. All new trustees are given a detailed introduction to the workings and activities of the organisation.
Aims and Objectives
As a member of Girlguiding, Girlguiding Essex South East aims to help girls and young women to develop emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually so that they can make a positive contribution to their community and the wider world.
This is achieved through activities which are relevant to the age group and which encourage learning by doing, through working in small groups, making their own decisions, having a balanced and varied programme, caring for each individual and sharing a commitment to a common standard.
Public Benefit Statement
The Trustees of Girlguiding Essex South East accept the need to have regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. They recognize that it is their responsibility to ensure that the benefits offered are realised in Essex South East by promoting all aspects of Guiding within the county, both within the membership and in the wider community.
Annual Review by the County Commissioner
– Girlguiding Essex South East Annual Report March 2021 February 2022
At the start of this financial year, many units were still meeting virtually or sending activities via email or in the post. Gradually as we came out of lockdown, many units started to meet outdoors giving the girls much needed opportunities to take part in activities face to face. As the year went on, units began to meet indoor again albeit with many restrictions still in place including social distancing, the use of hand sanitizer and a variety of measures taken to ensure equipment was not shared. By the start of the spring term of 2022, most units were back to some sort of normality. The number of Young members dropped significantly during 2020
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and early 2021 but numbers have been steadily increasing again since September 2021.
Many of the leaders who had needed to take a break due to Covid-19, returned to their units but sadly several were no longer able to volunteer which resulted in the closure of a few units.
Having had to cancel our County Awards evening in 2020, we were pleased to be able to hold virtual Awards evenings via zoom in March 2021. Two events were held to enable all award winners to attend the evening where reasons for the individual awards were shared. It was good for everyone to be able to see other leaders they had not seen for over a year, albeit virtually, as well as being able to celebrate the successes and dedication of many of our leaders.
Trainings for leaders in First Response and Safe Space continued to be delivered via zoom and are continuing to be an option along side face-to-face trainings.
Opportunities for our young members to take part in face-to-face meetings started again in April 2021 with many units holding outdoor meetings in parks and grounds of their meeting place. It was not until September that most units began returning to indoor meetings.
Larger events have now also been able to start again. Several districts have resumed District events and Southend Gang Show was able to hold 6 months of rehearsals and then perform a week of shows with little disruption. Although we are now able to hold larger events, many leaders are still wary of attending events where there are large numbers of people so no county events for girls have yet been held.
The Outdoor team organised a virtual sleepover which took place in the summer of 2021. All the activities and a challenge pack were shared online and the girls were encouraged to sleep somewhere other than their own bed. Many of our young members took part finding some interesting places to sleep.
Leaders are now beginning to plan and run residential events for their girls both camping and indoor events. The paperwork needed for these has a long lead-in time which commissioners were very lenient with initially as there was so much uncertainty as we came out of the pandemic as to whether events would go ahead or not and thanks must go to Commissioners for their time and patience with this.
Our Annual Subscriptions payments were due to be paid to Girlguiding at the end of February 2022. Most units were back to some sort of face-to-face meetings by then but were still suffering financially from not meeting for over a year so again this year the county made the decision to make a grant to each unit that applied of 20% of their Annual Subscriptions bill in order to support units who might be
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facing financial difficulties making the annual subscriptions payments. This offer was taken up by all but a handful of units.
We are now almost back to ‘normal’ meetings and girls are working hard to achieve badges and awards while enjoying attending their weekly meetings.
Thanks must go to all the leaders who have worked hard to keep their units running over the last 2 difficult years.
Alison Tompkinson – County Commissioner for Girlguiding Essex South East
Financial Review
Another year with a difference as units started to resume face to face meetings. Some units initially struggled financially with low numbers and hall rent to pay. Five units applied for and received financial assistance from the Anglia Sustainability Grant.
Many units in the County were fortunate to receive Grassroots funding from their local council. This varied in value according to area from just over thirty pounds to nearly two hundred pounds. It made a great difference to some units, enabling them to provide a greater variety of activities for the girls.
Following several meetings it was agreed by the trustees to financially support the planning of the 2024 Essex International Jamboree. The sum of fifty thousand pounds has been put aside to cover planned expenses before the event. This is expected to be as a loan with the County being repaid by March 2025 however the trustees acknowledged that unexpected things do happen!
Once again the County offered a 20% subsidy for the Annual Subscription to all units with girls. The subsidy was paid out in February 2022 to 181 units.
Our General Fund is now substantially lower than in previous years but more than adequate for the County to continue supporting the girls, leaders and units with access to new experiences and resources and financial assistance.
The Finance Committee met twice during the year to offer financial support and advice to Divisions and the County Executive.
The County continues to hold funds in the CCLA COIF Investment Fund account as a long term undertaking with the expectation of a higher return whilst receiving quarterly interest. The value at the end of the year is higher than the initial investment.
Reserves Policy: This is continually reviewed and agreed by the County Executive that £50,000 be held in Reserve to give strength and viability to Girlguiding Essex South East as an organisation.
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Investment Policy: Any investments made need the approval of the Trustees and are made in the most secure way possible.
Risk Assessment: A full risk assessment has been carried out and copies of this document can be obtained from the County Commissioner.
Approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of Girlguiding Essex South East on 6[th] July 2022.
Julie Nye
Carol Roberts
Trustee
Trustee
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Glrfguldlng Statement of Accounts 1" March 2021 to 28" February 2022 In¢Lmie 2020121 2021122 Ex enditure 2020121 2021122 Annual Sub5CriPtlons 19,146.20 13,710.00 Amual Subscrfprion5 Awards & prentatIOnS Donations 719.50 1,929.46 0.00 1,394.62 0.00 Donoiion5 50.() 50.OD Grants: Essex International Jamb(Yee Learnlng & Developm*t Grahi Grants.. Essex InternatiaL Jamboree Learnin8 & Develowent Gra Sustainability Grant Grassroots TU31 Subscription- subsidy FinancTral As515tanct Jack Petchey 12,300. 0.00 272.99 695.27 950.00 1,151.60 o.IX) 11.959.21 16.801.26 22,624.14 500.00 11.202.00 Z1,123.00 3,580. 5.484.00 0. 11.959.19 Grassroots Jack Petchey 4,451. 30.123.LN) County Trainings 480.00 30.OD County Training5 New Resource5 Publlcatlons 180.13 0.00 98.95 149.93 Events= Actlvltles- fjlrLs Out¢S)or Events: 388_00 58.00 AcLlVltie5. Girls 59.70 338.00 468.LKI 284.80 Z70. tdoor Iniemaiional Z,Z03.33 2.194.09 International E55ex International Jamboree 2,424.41 6.5Lh).00 1,828.22 833.33 County EuroJam Continqent 0.00 Bad Archive Badges 2,515.98 1.823.98 791.94 408.49 Bèd8es Archfve Badge5 3,269.98 189.25 2,261.75 39.22 Interesi.. COIF In¥e5tmeTht COIF Dep051t Lloyd5 32 Noiltr Accotni 5antander Archi51 C(Junty EqUipMt Insurance Offlcer Experfjes PR, Web & ArketI 510rage sS¢r1ptIOns Venue Hire 326.40 380.46 82.60 45.45 106.68 388.09 7.29 215.66 544_08 Z61.50 703.62 3.315.97 40.00 225.00 544.08 481.56 838.21 2,920.32 48.44 30.00 RBSISantander rransfer bth)us 500.C 0.00 Mi5C 0.05 0.05 49,794.06 71,472.26 51.804.64 66,684.13 Expenditure Over Inc¢Jme 4,788.13 Account5 examined by (Karen Batmanl Essex South East Gulde Association tla Girlguiding Essex South East Charity Rewstration No. 1029086
WE5(0¥ER. Girlguidlng Balance Sheet th 1st hlarch 2021 to 28 February 2022 Bank Balances. Z020121 16,350.26 40,269.92 47,266.01 50.569.23 154,455.42 2021122 14,441.56 40,281.48 44,367.73 50,576.52 149,667.29 Lloyds Bank Lloyds 32 Day Notlce Santander COIF Deposir Account COIF Investment Account 12.766.12 167,221.54 13,843.07 163,510.36 Funds- 2020121 702,654. 3.661.01 6,630. 809.55 2021122 38,886.46 1,185.28 10,962.40 809.55 9,IXIO.QO 0.00 50,IKH).00 52.666.67 163,510.36 General Funds Learning & Development Grant Sustainability Grant Dawn Crampin Fund Jack Petchey International Reserve Essex International Jamboree -33.02 50,0(K>.(K) 3,5(K).iX) 167,221.54 Addltlonal Assets: Stock: Badges- Resale value- É2,988.64 Equipment: Ba on purchase5 tr4er E250 per itern. Value at 2810212022 Depreciation at 20% per annw Projector Lifepak Defib Trainer 2019120 £302.26 2021122 £378.00 £141.06 £315.00 Essex scout & Gulde Interftatlonal Jamboree: Glrlguldlng Essex South East havÈ a e slxth share of the funds held In Essex Scwts EIJ Aceount. Riffhams Cam ite: Site.. Equally owned by Girlguiding E55ex South East and Girlguiding Essex Trlorth East Funds.. GirlgLriding Essex South East titled to half the funds up to a maximum of 11,894. Liabilitie5= Accounts examitEd by . (Karen Battnanl Essex South East GLride As5(Kiation tla Girlguiding E5sey South East Charity Reglstration No. 1029086
(HARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALfS Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the tru$teesl members of Essex South Easi Guide AssoGiation On aceounts for tha year ended 28 Fèbruary 2022 Charlty no 1029086 I report to the trustees on my eXinatiOn of Ihe A¢cxJun¢s of the above charity I"Ihe Trust") for the year ended 2810212022. Re5ponsibilitie$ and As the thaniy's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirernenls of the Ch2rrties Act 2011 I'lhe Act'l. I report in respect of my exarnination of the Trust's account5 carried ouk under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my ex8minalion. I have followed all the applicable Direction5 given by the Charity Commission under seGlion 1451Sllbl of the Aci Independetrt exatninerfs I have completed my exarn1nation. I confirm that no material matters have statement Curne to my attention In connection wth the exarnination which gives me cause 10 believe Ihai in. any material re$pe¢l. th8 accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Chanties Act., or the aGcounts did ntst aGGord %Mth the accounting records". or the accounts did not comply wth the appli¢aNe quirementS conceming the fom content of accounts set OLrt in the Charities IA¢¢ounts antl Reportsl Regulation$ 2008 other than any qUireMent that the accounts give a'lrue 2nd fair, view which Is noi a matter considered as part of an independent examination I have no concerns and have come across no other mètters in COn¢t10n with the examin8tion lo which attention should be drawn In this report in order lo enable 8 proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ned". Dat*: Name- l Karen Batman Relevant proles5ional qualifi¢ationl$l or body lif anyl- Address: 2 Vine Close. Ba$ildon. E$$ex SS14 1GF IER Oct 2018