Scouts
1[st] Croydon
Annual General Meeting Reporting on the financial years 2020 & 2021
Thursday 19 May 2022
Beverley Hall, Grant Road, Addiscombe
Registered Charity 1031409
1
Contents
Accounts for 2020 ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Treasurer's Statement ‐ 2021 and 2020 ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Scouts report 2020‐2021 .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Cubs report 2020‐2021 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Beavers report 2020‐2021 ................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Group Scout Leader’s report 2020–2021 .......................................................................................................................................... 15 Chairman’s report ............................................................................................................................................................................. 15
2
Accounts for 2020
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the 1[st] Croydon Scout Group – 2020 Accounts
I report on the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the report, Accounts and Statement of Assets and Liabilities detailed on the attached pages.
This report is made solely to the trustees in accordance with Sections 43 and 44 of the Charities Act 1993. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner’s Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity trustees for my examination work.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Group trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (‘the 1993 Act’)) and that an independent examination is needed.
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It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts (under Section 43 (3) (a) of the 1993 Act);
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under Section 43 (7) (b) of the 1993 Act);
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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 these 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. These procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on on the view given by the accounts.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
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i. to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 4 I of the 1993 Act, and
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ii. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act have been met;
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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2020 Accounts for 1[st] Croydon Scout Group
1. 2020 Receipts
| 1 Receipts 1.1 Donations, legacies and similar income 1.1.1 Membership subscriptions 1.1.2 Less: Membership subscriptions paid on (D 1.1.3 Net membership subscriptions retained 1.1.4 Donations towards Group activities 1.1.5 Legacies 1.1.6 Gift Aid 1.1.7 Other 1.1 Sub total 1.2 Grants 1.2.1 Maintenance grant 1.2.2 Other grants 1.2 Sub total 1.3 Fundraising (gross) 1.3.1 Spring Event 1.3.2 Summer Event 1.3.3 Autumn Event 1.3.4 Other fundraising activities 1.3 Sub total 1.4 Investment income 1.4.1 Bank interest 1.4.2 Building Society interest 1.4.3 Property Rent income 1.4.4 Other investment income 1.4 Sub total 1.5 Other receipts - as yet unidentified 1.5.1 Other receipts - as yet unidentified 1.5 Sub total 1 Total Gross Income Asset and investment sales, etc. Total receipts |
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,239.57 £ |
2,018.04 £ |
3,345.00 £ |
4,632.50 £ |
|
| i 1,482.00 -£ |
1,634.00 -£ |
2,508.00 -£ |
2,352.00 -£ |
|
| 242.43 -£ |
384.04 £ |
837.00 £ |
2,280.50 £ |
|
| 42.30 £ |
993.00 £ |
1,393.00 £ |
1,851.00 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
17.00 £ |
250.00 £ |
|
| 200.13 -£ |
1,377.04 £ |
2,247.00 £ |
4,381.50 £ |
|
| 10,000.00 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
1,200.00 £ |
- £ |
|
| 10,000.00 £ |
- £ |
1,200.00 £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
158.65 £ |
- £ |
|
| 34.33 £ |
32.16 £ |
94.25 £ |
- £ |
|
| 34.33 £ |
32.16 £ |
252.90 £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 4,066.23 £ |
6,820.00 £ |
6,200.00 £ |
6,940.00 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 4,066.23 £ |
6,820.00 £ |
6,200.00 £ |
6,940.00 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 13,900.43 £ |
8,229.20 £ |
9,899.90 £ |
11,321.50 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 13,900.43 £ |
8,229.20 £ |
9,899.90 £ |
11,321.50 £ |
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2020 Accounts for 1[st] Croydon Scout Group
2. 2020 Payments
| 2 Payments 2.1 Charitable Payments - General 2.1.1 Youth programme and activities 2.1.2 Adult support and training 2.1.3 Contribution to camp costs 2.1.4 Uniforms and badges 2.1.5 AGM and trustee expenses 2.1.6 General petty cash 2.1.7 Other costs 2.1 Sub total 2.2 Charitable Payments - Hall 2.2.1 Council Tax 2.2.2 Water and Sewerage 2.2.3 Electricity and Gas 2.2.4 Insurance 2.2.5 Repairs and Renewals 2.2 Sub total 2.3 Fundraising expenses 2.3.1 Spring Event 2.3.2 Summer Event 2.3.3 Autumn Event 2.3.4 Other fundraising activities 2.3 Sub total 2.4 Other payments 2.4.1 Asset and investment purchases, etc. 2.4.2 Other payments - as yet unidentified 2.4 Sub total 2 Total Gross Expenditure |
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 260.40 £ |
1,247.88 £ |
1,944.45 £ |
1,510.64 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
142.00 £ |
58.67 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
1,480.09 £ |
|
| 183.91 £ |
305.77 £ |
490.78 £ |
384.96 £ |
|
| - £ |
138.80 £ |
259.50 £ |
329.55 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 22.00 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 466.31 £ |
1,692.45 £ |
2,836.73 £ |
3,763.91 £ |
|
| - £ |
408.24 £ |
399.33 £ |
387.99 £ |
|
| 730.34 £ |
716.45 £ |
682.84 £ |
667.49 £ |
|
| 1,284.08 £ |
1,725.89 £ |
1,331.61 £ |
1,200.41 £ |
|
| - £ |
2,289.32 £ |
2,210.29 £ |
2,133.59 £ |
|
| 4,154.54 £ |
7,553.84 £ |
1,974.14 £ |
1,820.18 £ |
|
| 6,168.96 £ |
12,693.74 £ |
6,598.21 £ |
6,209.66 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
7.60 £ |
366.60 £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
7.60 £ |
366.60 £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
491.40 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
491.40 £ |
|
| 6,635.27 £ |
14,393.79 £ |
9,801.54 £ |
10,464.97 £ |
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2020 Accounts for 1[st] Croydon Scout Group
3. 2020 Summary
- 1 Total Receipts 2 Less: Total Payments Net surplus (or loss)
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13,900.43 £ |
8,229.20 £ |
9,899.90 £ |
11,321.50 £ |
| 6,635.27 £ |
14,393.79 £ |
9,801.54 £ |
10,464.97 £ |
| 7,265.16 £ |
6,164.59 -£ |
98.36 £ |
856.53 £ |
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2020 Accounts for 1[st] Croydon Scout Group
4. 2020 Assets & Liability
| 3 Assets & Liability 3.1 Cash funds 3.1.1 Bank current account (as at 31 December) 3.1.2 Bank deposit account 3.1.3 Cash / Floats 3.1 Sub total 3.2 Other monetary assets 3.2.1 Tax claim 3.2.2 Debts from County/Area/District/Group 3.2.3 Debtors 3.2 Sub total 3.3 Non-monetary assets for charity's own use 3.3.1 Badge stock 3.3.2 Land & Buildings 3.3.3 Fixtures & fittings at Beverley Hall 3.3.4 Scouting equipment 3.3.5 Other 3.3 Sub total 3.4 Liabilities 3.4.1 Creditors - Accounts not yet paid 3.4.2 Creditors - Amounts paid in advance 3.4.3 Subscriptions not yet paid 3.4.4 Other liabilities 3.4 Sub total 3.5 Contingent liabilities & Future obligations 3.5.1 Contingent liabilities & Future obligations 3.5 Sub total |
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14,638.97 £ |
7,373.81 £ |
13,588.40 £ |
12,757.93 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 14,638.97 £ |
7,373.81 £ |
13,588.40 £ |
12,757.93 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 250.00 £ |
250.00 £ |
250.00 £ |
250.00 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 15,000.00 £ |
15,000.00 £ |
15,000.00 £ |
15,000.00 £ |
|
| 15,000.00 £ |
15,000.00 £ |
15,000.00 £ |
15,000.00 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| 30,250.00 £ |
30,250.00 £ |
30,250.00 £ |
30,250.00 £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
Signatories
Howard Stephens Chairman Treasurer
Rinish Shah
1[st] Croydon Scouts Group - Executive Committee 20[th] October 2021
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Treasurer's Statement ‐ 2021 and 2020
The Group gained an overall surplus of £26,186 between 2020 and 2021. This is solely due to the receipt of the Covid grants totalling £32,594. Excluding the grant, the Group would have made an underlying loss of £6,408 between 2020 and 2021.
2021 & 2020 combined Breakdown of Receipts vs. Payments (£)
----- Start of picture text -----
42,181 Receipts Payments Net surplus / loss
32,594 32,586
26,186
15,995 14,878
10,176
1,108 9
‐590 ‐1,698
‐4,702
21/20: Total 21/20: Sections 21/20: Hall 21/20: Executive
----- End of picture text -----
Although the Group benefited from a Covid surplus, both Beverley Hall and Sections made significant underlying losses between 2020 and 2021.
2021 & 2020 combined Breakdown of Receipts vs. Payments (£)
----- Start of picture text -----
42,181 Receipts Payments Net surplus / loss
32,594 32,586
26,186
15,995 14,878
10,176
1,108 9
‐590 ‐1,698
‐4,702
21/20: Total 21/20: Sections 21/20: Hall 21/20: Executive
----- End of picture text -----
Our Leaders continue to manage the costs of running their Sections very well. However, the income from membership subscrip‐ tions were not able to fully cover the mandatory contribution to District and cost of the activities, resulting in a combined short‐ fall of £1,698 between 2020 and 2021. This loss‐making position is a repeat of recent years, but exaggerated in 2020 due to lower than expected membership subscriptions.
Understandably, Beverley Hall suffered a significant loss of £4,702 revenue between 2020 and 2021, due to the enforced lock‐ downs directly affecting lettings income. Thankfully, the forecast for 2022 is much heathier due to return of lettings. However, the raising cost of utilities and inflationary pressures is of concern.
The Executive incurred minor costs between 2020 and 2021, and the Group successfully applied for and received the further Covid grant of £32,594 between 2020 and 2021.
For 2022 accounts: The Group has sufficient funds to manage significant anticipated costs (£10,000 + ) to address dilapidations to the exterior of the building, guttering, and essential upgrades of electrical units to meet to current regulations.
Review of the Beverley Hall’s hire fees is recommended to mitigate inflationary pressures and reach a break‐even position. A surplus position is unlikely without a significant increase in the hire fees.
Rinish Shah ‐ Group Treasurer, 1[st] Croydon
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Scouts report 2020‐2021
2020 and 2021 were unsurprisingly strange years for scouting. With the global pandemic hitting, we spent much of the time taking part in virtual activities using tools such as emails and Zoom. This, for the large part, worked reasonably well.
Early in 2020 we carried out the astronomer badge and emergency aid, including resuscitation using man‐ nequins, and completed the expedition challenge badge. This involved the Scouts planning hike routes to and from Bears Wood campsite, hiking these routes and camping overnight at the campsite. Unfortunate‐ ly, the weekend we had this planned for, there was a terrible storm and we had to cut the hike home short due to the weather. We also visited Croydon Fire Station later in the term.
Shortly after this, the Coronavirus pan‐ demic hit and all face‐to‐face activities had to be cancelled. Despite this we kept a busy programme, sending out bi‐ weekly activity emails with things that Scouts could do for fun as well as to keep completing badges. We also did a virtual promise renewal, took part in claps for the NHS, carried out many Zoom meetings and took part in virtual
camps, one of which was the Scout Association Great Indoors Weekender. Activities we took part in over this period included scavenger hunts, multiplayer battleships, cooking indoors, barbequing outdoors, neck‐ erflip challenge, origami, pasta and marshmallow tower challenge, first aid, and games nights. We even managed to fit in some virtual map reading, by having a leader go out on a hike and letting the Scouts di‐ rect them where to go using Google maps. For the camps, the Scouts were able to sleep either outdoors in their gardens using tents, or indoors by building their own shelters.
Numbers of Scouts in the troop took a dip during the pandemic. This was most likely due to fatigue caused by the regular use of online meetings which we were all having to do. We continued to develop our strong relationship with 23[rd] Croydon by doing all our activities with them and took part in a few sessions with 7[th] /12[th] Croydon.
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Luckily in the summer of 2021 we were able to start meeting face‐to‐face again. There were plenty of rules around this to make sure that everyone was safe, so every meeting was held outdoors, either at Lloyd Park or South Norwood Country Park. During this time, we were able to start working on some back to basics scouting activities to get the Scouts caught up with any knowledge and skills that they may have lost during the lockdowns. Activities included map reading, orienteering, disk golf, tree recognition and games to get the Scouts used to doing things together again. This was all done over the school summer holiday, so we met on Saturday mornings to make the most of the days.
In the autumn term 21/22 we were back to meeting on Tuesday nights in the church hall. This meant that we could get back to the usual activities we would run on our regular meetings. We started the term in the usual fashion with games in the park. We took part in night hikes to remind the Scouts how to map read and use the maps to navigate. We also built on the online first aid skills that the Scouts started in lockdown by carrying out some practical sessions. This covered most of the stage 2 and 3 badge work. We took part in a camp in October with all 1[st] Croydon sections at Bears Wood. This was the first camp since before the pandemic. 23[rd] Croydon renewed their relationship with the Love Lane community garden by restarting the plant patch that they had looked after several years earlier, and we were pleased that they invited us down to join them. The work involved cultivating the plot and planting some bulbs, assisting with tidying and rubbish collection and building a water collection device from odd materials for use by all members of the community garden group. We also took part in the annual Parliament Week activities, as well as making
ecobricks, decorating a Christmas tree for the church
festival and doing practical skill for the chef badge.
The end of term Christmas celebrations saw us get a train to Stratford, where we invested several Scouts in front of the Olympic stadium. We then hiked to Greenwich and caught the train home for a sleepover at Beverley Hall. The next day we went bowling at Purley Way.
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Cubs report 2020‐2021
The start of 2020 saw us take on new badges including the fire safety badge which we took a trip to Croy‐ don Fire Station in March as part of the badge requirement. The Cubs really enjoyed the visit and asked lots of questions.
Every year Croydon Scouting District puts on a badge day which this year they chose the science badge and to earn the badge we had a trip to the Science Museum in London. The Cubs that attended thoroughly en‐ joyed the trip and learnt a lot from the exhibitions.
The end of March 2020 saw the UK go into lockdown due to the cur‐ rent pandemic, which meant a stop to face‐to‐face Scouting, but once receiving guidance about Scouting continuing, meetings were held on Zoom. We did a few badges and games that we could using online meetings, which wasn’t easy for leaders, Cubs, etc., but we did what we could and I think overall the Cubs enjoyed the meetings.
So we started off 2021 where we finished 2020, with meetings taking place by Zoom due to the pandemic. During the Zoom sessions we worked towards various badges and did games which was a bit chal‐ lenging, as it is difficult to keep the Cubs entertained for long periods of time, especially if they had been using Zoom during the day for school. One of the games that Cubs enjoyed (and I did) was a scaven‐ ger hunt around the home where the Cubs got and showed a variety of items.
As restrictions started to ease during the summer term, it was possible to start meeting back face‐to‐face, which was good as it meant we didn’t have to look at a screen and could do activities that we hadn’t been able to do during lockdown. The first meeting back we went on a hike from Lloyd Park up to the viewpoint at Shirley Hills and it was the first time that some of the Cubs and leader had met new Cubs who joined during lockdown. The second meeting we went to Park Hill Park and took part in activities towards the ath‐ letics badge, which was good fun and the Cubs enjoyed doing them. This was the last meeting of the term before the summer holidays, so it was nice to get a couple of face‐to‐face meetings back before the end of term.
The new term in September 2021 started with a few Beavers swimming up to Cubs and some coming from outside (not having been in Beavers before). We were able to use the church hall again for our meetings which was good and meant we could play different types of games and work towards badges.
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We also had a group camp in the first weekend of October 2021, which was thoroughly enjoyable despite the constant rain on the Saturday. In the morning the Cubs learnt how to pitch and strike a tent, which they did well, and then we hiked to Frylands Wood campsite to do activities which the Cubs took part incl. rifle shooting. On the Sunday we had much better weather with the sun shining and warmer temperatures. All sections that attended prepared and cooked lunch over the fires that we had built. After this it was time to pack, clean, etc. for finishing camp. A games night rounded of the term in December.
Scout receiving Chief Scout’s Silver Award (earned in Cubs in lockdown)
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Beavers report 2020‐2021
2020 started off well. A massive all‐District camp was planned for May (Frylands) and the District Beavers Fun Day was planned for late March; then we went into lockdown. The challenge now became how to con‐ tinue Scouting with just the materials families had at home. Game on!
Within 2 weeks we were up on Zoom doing 30mins sessions every Friday (same start time for a bit of routine in uncertain times), which continued all through Easter, half term and into the summer holidays (22 weeks straight!), such was the demand. The Scouting Association was quick to provide activity suggestions online for everyone (including those not in Scouting) and Beavers’ younger sib‐ lings started joining in online Beavers meetings too. Unable to do any face‐to‐ face Scouting (wot no camps!), we participated in Northumberland Scouts’ Camp At Home (April) which broke the World Record! Beavers camped in tents in their garden or in dens indoors (including bedding & packing a bag – don’t forget your cuddly and some snacks!).
We finished off knots and mini pioneering (making trebuchets using chop‐ sticks or pencils, learned firelighting and backwoods cooking, so we were perfectly prepared for The Great Weekender (July) – 24 hours of online guided activities for all sections, opened by the Chief Scout Bear Grylls & with many other prominent people and organisations involved (RAF, Ben Sheppard, UK Space Agency, etc.). Our Beaver colony joined our Scout troop in various activities, e.g. yoga sun salute (Sunday morning), tower‐ building (spaghetti and marshmallows), but my favourite was the rocket – ours landed in the neighbours’ garden but they forgave us as they enjoyed watching it too!
Over lockdown we had fun baking, junk modelling, resistance painting, gardening, photographing, making kindness rocks, and doing health & fitness. A couple of Beavers completed their Chief Scout’s Bronze Award in lockdown. Badges earned and some craft materials were delivered on foot or by bike, as were Christmas cards (Dec.2020); I spoke to everyone (on the doorstep), including those who weren’t able to join on Zoom. Many Beavers clocked up lots of Hikes Away and Nights Away badges – far more than I normally award in this section!
In Autumn 2020 we had FOAL Farm give us an online live tour of their sanctuary (Animal Friend badge) and joined other Beaver col‐ onies in North Croydon for an online Sparktacular (Halloween and Firework themed). Other badges included Space, Hobbies and Col‐ lector, and the Beavers made a better job than I did of pizza in a mug! Cooking continued in Spring 2021 with my personal favourite
13
‐ edible campfires – as well as making a bird‐feeder and worry jar. For our last online meeting we joined 1[st] Prague Beaver Colony online for a tour of the Metropolitan Police’s River Unit in Wapping.
Although we saw approximately 50% dropout in participa‐ tion online (Zoom isn’t for everyone), virtually everyone joined in once we were able to resume face‐to‐face (April 2021). We ran every meeting outdoors except 3 (Digital Citi‐ zen 1 & Digital Maker 1 badges needed computer equipment & for Disability Awareness it rained!). We even did Experi‐ ment, Navigator 1 and Emergency Aid 1 badge tasks out‐ doors, before finishing term with an outdoor party. It was great to have so many parents participate in Explore badge (Lloyd Park) and Cyclist badge (Bingham Rec).
Autumn 2021 saw us finish lots of badge tasks for Cook and Health & Fitness, which was good preparation for backwoods cooking on the final day of the group camp (1‐3 October). It made up for being drenched the day before, but it was good to back together again camping. An impromptu quiz was great fun when we couldn’t have a campfire and the homemade soup and pizzas went down well. In mid‐ October the District Beavers Space Fun Day was finally able to take place; the Beavers had lots of fun learning gravity skills, making a planet‐like bath bomb, racing on spacehoppers, using giant inflatables and making an alien’s den (teambuilding). In half term the Beavers (& a few Cubs) had a tour of Parliament, visited the Science Museum and watched an Imax film.
Lockdown saw us gain a new Young Leader ‐ Fire Beaver – who has been a great help. This term (summer 2022) we welcomed back Swimming Beaver and together the two Young Leaders are doing a great job and getting involved in programme planning.
More recently we had a stall at Robert Fitzroy Academy’s Spring fair – hopefully the first of many school and community fairs to resume. We haven’t been able to recruit a Beaver leader or Assistant yet (to share the responsibility and fun!), but we are starting an online recruitment campaign in earnest now; then I can start formally become Group Scout Leader.
Have you thought about getting involved in Scouting?
You know the value of Scouting. Why not join the fun?
It’s highly rewarding. Full training is given (leading to ILM membership). Know someone who might be suitable?
Look out for and share our upcoming online adverts. Do have any specific skills you can bring to Scouting?
Web whizz? Marketing master? Project management professional? DIY dab‐hand? Gardening guru? Creative cook?
Scouting exists for young people, but also because of people like you and I.
14
Group Scout Leader’s report 2020–2021
Firstly, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all the Section Leaders and their Assistants for giving up their time to run their respective sections.
I know that the past couple of years has left a lot to be desired, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, but am pleased to confirm that each section has made sterling efforts to keep their Sections running by offering a combination of Zoom style meetings and whenever possible ( within both Government and Scout Association guidelines ) socially distanced outdoor activities.
The Beaver section was the first to return to what I class as normal activities by using the facilities at Beverley Hall and I was pleased to see both the Cub and Scout Sections returning to use the hall at St Matthews Church in summer term 2021.
The Group Executive Committee continue to support the Group by ensuring that Beverley Hall is maintained in tip top condition, and I offer my sincere thanks for organising the cleaning and general upkeep of the premises.
Furthermore, I would like to offer thanks to the parents of our young members for taking part in the parent rotas and for their efforts in allowing their children to continue to enjoy their Scouting.
Finally, some of you may be aware that I had to tender my resignation earlier this year, due to some ongoing health issues. I have enjoyed my time with the Group as both a Scout Leader, Assistant Group Scout Leader and Group Scout Leader. I wish the 1st Croydon Scout Group every success in moving forward. They will always hold a special place in my heart.
Steve Storey
Group Scout Leader
Chairman’s report
During the previous financial years, the Group navigated it's way to rebuild its offer of a wide range of activities for our membership. This is evident in the section reports.
This has been an unprecedented 2 years and the Scouting world has had its share of diffi‐ culties. We have to be in full of admiration for the adaptability of our leaders in offering an alternative experience for our young members, we have a solid base of members backed by adults who have stuck with us and continue to support the group in its endeavours.
Section numbers:
Beavers 8, Cubs 10, Scouts 14
These figures remain average to more recent times. However these are low compared to capacity and desirability and historically these numbers have been much higher. There is also no doubt that the numbers fell away during the pandemic but we have a stable group
15
now with increasing numbers particularly in the Scout section which has benefitted from recent “Swimming up”.
I’m sure that going forward there is a positive message that we can take to young people and their parents and guardians in offering them a future in Scouting, in companionship, physical activity and of accomplishment. Recent visit to a local school generated much con‐ versation and engagement not seen for may years, we remain hopeful that some of those who expressed an interest will take the step to joining us.
Leadership: Leadership numbers have been stable in the year but fall short of the total numbers required. To this end, parent rota commitments are vital and I urge everyone to fully participate.
Parent / carer support: Parental support for the group and representation on the Commit‐ tee is essential to the success of the Group. We have a functioning executive committee but are actively seeking further parental support for the group. It is reasonable to expect that there should be at least one parent representative from each section in addition to the officer positions. The Executive Committee meets several times a year and supports the leadership in managing group affairs and administrative duties such that the Leaders can concentrate on Scouting matters.
I’m very pleased to report that we have several new executive committee prospects and hopefully they will be taking up their position on the committee imminently.
Group funds: Covid Grants excepted. The group continues to benefit financially from the proceeds of the rental of Beverley Halls. These are funds that we cannot rely on to provide a surplus going forward indefinitely, as there are likely to be costly fabric issues to deal with at Beverly Halls in the next years or so. Our funds generate from hall hire means we rely less on fundraising than many other Scout Groups in the area. We continue to maintain one of the lowest subscriptions in whole of the Croydon district.
Special thanks are directed towards Jean Harbert for her support and dedication in return‐ ing Beverley Halls into a successful revenue generating facility for us to support the group.
I’m pleased to see that all our regular hirers have returned and we have recently identified others who have a longer term need for the facility. This will bring the hall almost up to full capacity, which is where we desire it to be, such that we no longer need to rely on one‐off hires which can be problematic to manage.
Website / Communications
We will shortly launch our website to act as a focal point for external enquiries. This will be developed with the endorsed “go‐to” Scout Association website designers. We don’t in‐ tend a multi‐paged detailed website at this stage, but a well presented page of contacts to aid the recruitment process and be a focal point for our social media activity.
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In recent times we have successfully rolled out access to Online Scout Manager (OSM) for all members, this will reduce the burden on leaders and provide better transparency of ac‐ tivities and accomplishments of our members, whilst being GDPR compliant.
Fundraising / group events: We intend to fix 2 events into the annual calendar spring / summer event to coincide with the AGM and an autumn / winter event. Additional sugges‐ tions are always welcome, so if anyone would like to propose a suitable family event or sim‐ ilar just let one of the committee members know, likewise if you would also like to partici‐ pate in any of the upcoming events.
Summary
I would like to thank the members of the executive committee for their help and support over the last year. They are part of a team which with the leaders and helpers which is committed to making the membership of 1[st] Croydon Scout Group a rewarding experience for our children. These have been exceptional times and we hope that 2022 is the begin‐ ning of a bright future for the Group.
On behalf of the executive committee members and I’m sure all parents take this oppor‐ tunity to thank all the leaders for their on‐going dedication and commitment the group.
Steve Storey
Finally, you will be aware that Steve Storey tendered his resignation as our Group Scout Leader earlier this year. We were sorry to see him leave and I would like to offer my thanks to Steve on behalf of the Groups and personally for his friendship, support and leadership over the years.
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the
1[st] Croydon (Addiscombe) Scout Group
I report on the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprise the report, Accounts and Statement of Assets and Liabilities detailed on the attached pages.
This report is made solely to the trustees in accordance with Sections 43 and 44 of the Charities Act 1993. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner’s Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity trustees for my examination work.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Group trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (‘the 1993 Act’)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts (under Section 43 (3) (a) of the 1993 Act);
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under Section 43 (7) (b) of the 1993 Act);
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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 these 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. These procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on on the view given by the accounts.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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i. to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 4 I of the 1993 Act; and,
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ii. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act have been met;
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Vikash Shah 14 Whitethorne Gardens Croydon CR0 7LL
Signed: ....................................................... Dated: ......................................................
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of 1st Croydon Scout Group - 2021 Accounts
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