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← Southend Estuary District Scout Council

2025-04-05-accounts

Southend Estuary Scout District

ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25

SOUTHEND ESTUARY DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL Registered Charity No 1045298

Annual General Meeting

8pm, 17 September 2025 District Headquarters, Eastern Avenue, Southend SS2 4BU

Presidents

Bernard Clark Brian Dawnbarn

Trustee Board

Chair Sonja Mackenzie Appointed Until Sept 2026 Treasurer David Keeler Appointed Until Sept 2026 District Lead Volunteer Andrew Lewin Ex Officio District Youth Lead Lloyd Croucher Ex Officio Trustee Lorraine Walter Appointed Until Sept 2025 Trustee Mark Chapman Appointed Until Sept 2025 Trustee Jack Day Appointed Until Sept 2025 Trustee Vicky Scammell Appointed Stepped down Aug 2025

Bankers

National Westminster Bank

Independent Examiner

Ian P Chapman

1

Southend Estuary Scout District

Report from the District Trustee Board

Southend Estuary District covers the geographical area east of Southend, covering Southend, Prittlewell, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, Shoebury, Barling and Wakering.

Scouting in Southend Estuary Scout District is open to all young people between the ages of 4 and 25 no matter what background, ethnic origin, nationality, race, gender, marital or sexual tatus, mental or physical ability, political or religious belief.

In 2025 the District comprised of:

The 2025 Census showed the total number of youth members was 678 supported by c.200 Adult volunteers delivering quality Scouting based programmes and in support roles.

The overall membership was up 2% from 2024 to 2025 which is a great reflection of the dedication of the volunteers in the leadership teams.

Southend Estuary Census of Membership

Membership by year

2023 2024 2025
Squirrels 10 9
Beavers 180 170 165
Cubs 208 218 219
Scouts 189 187 211
Explorers 54 69 58
Network 11 10 16
Total Youth Members 642 664 678
Adult Members 166 196 200
Total 808 860 878

Structure, Governance and Management

Southend Estuary District Scout Council is the electoral body which supports and encourages the development of Scouting in the District and operates in accordance with a written Constitution (POR 5c.2). It is the body to which the District Trustee Board is accountable. Details of the District Trustees are shown on page 1.

2

Southend Estuary Scout District

Trustees are appointed annually at the Annual General meeting either by election or by nomination and may also be co-opted by the District Trustee Board during the year. From April 2024, changes were made as to 1) how Trustees are appointed, 2) term limits for Trustees, 3) who can be a Trustee and 4) how many Trustees there are, with these changes taking effect from the 2024 Annual General Meeting.

Trustees are made aware of their responsibilities and through specific online mandatory training.

During the year, the Trustee Board met 4 times and regularly communicated as a team to keep abreast of actions and requests.

The principal sources of the Scout Council’s income are membership subscriptions, fees paid by members for activities, income from the District Charity Shop together with grants and donations from public bodies and individuals.

A Trustee Board Sub-Committee was developed with the purpose of overseeing the management of the District Charity Shop. This group closely monitored the income and expenditure of the shop to assess its viability. Despite the best efforts of shop volunteer team, it was deemed no longer viable so in June 2025 the decision was made to close the shop due to rising costs and a lack of volunteers. The trustee board would like to thank all the many volunteers who have given their time to help in the shop over the years.

Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and overseeing our Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Trustees are responsible for making sure our financial statements give a true and fair view of the status of the charity. They also monitor incoming resources and the application of the District’s resources for the year. Law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

3

Southend Estuary Scout District

The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity. They must also help our Trustees to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Annual Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Objectives, Activities and Achievements

Our Mission

Scouts gives young people skills for life. Scouting actively engages and supports young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

In partnership with adults, young people take part in fun indoor and outdoor activities. They learn by doing, by sharing in spiritual reflection and by taking responsibility. They make choices, undertake new and challenging activities, and they live their Scout Promise.

Our Values

We act with care, respect, integrity, co-operation, exploring our own and others’ beliefs.

Our Goal

Scouting has / is undergoing Transformation to align with the needs of volunteers and adopting a team-based approach. We, as a district, are still working on this strategy and this will be a focus for the year ahead.

Our aim is to continue to grow, become more inclusive, to be shaped by young people and to make a bigger impact in our communities.

The District Trustee Board team are empowered to provide governance and resources to support the Groups/District’s Adult volunteers and Administrators.

The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the need in the Charities Act 2011 to demonstrate that our aims are for the public benefit. Our assessment is that we have met the public benefit criteria under both the Advancement of Education and the Advancement of Citizenship or Community Development

4

Southend Estuary Scout District

Achievements and Performance

During the year 2024-2025, the Trustee Board have made progress in implementing various actions.

Thank you.

Earlier this year, our current District Lead Volunteer expressed his intention to step down from the role due to work and family commitments. The Trustee Board, on behalf of Southend Estuary Scout Council, would like to thank Andrew Lewin for his leadership and support the last 4 years and wish him well on his next Scouting adventure.

We continue to see a shortage of adult leaders across the District, and it is vital we recruit new volunteers to develop and strengthen certain Groups in need. The Trustees acknowledge the contributions of all our amazing volunteers who dedicate their time and effort to support Scouting opportunities and adventures for young people of various ages.

Well done and thank you all.

Sonja Mackenzie

District Chair

5

Southend Estuary Scout District

Treasurers Report 2025

The District continues to operate on a sound financial footing.

The Accounts and Independent Examiner’s statement for the period 1[st] April 2024 – 5[th] April 2025 are available as a separate attachment .

The accounts were approved by the Trustee Board on 9 September 2025

District

The District shows a reduction in cash over the prior period of £17k. This is true but includes future period Capitation income and expenses. If the effects of Capitation were to be aligned to the period in question, then the District would have shown an increase in cash over the period of £11k. This would have reflected a £9k donation from Veolia towards the DHQ Refurbishment, £5k repayment of a loan, £2k DHQ Refurbishment costs and £2k other.

Shop

The Shop lost money. Its costs have increased faster than income, which has wiped out any realistic chance of it returning to “profit” despite the hard work of the shop staff.

I would like to thank everybody for all the hard work they have put in to ensure the District remains financially viable.

David Keeler

District Treasurer

6

Southend Estuary Scout District

DISTRICT LEAD VOLUNTEER REPORT 2025

Our focus points within the District have been Scout knowledge for Leaders, Recruitment of young people and adults, Permits for Activities, Young Leaders, Network (18 to 25 year olds).

This is my last year as District Lead Volunteer. We are all welcoming Paul Stibbards and Lynn Morris to their joint role as District Leads. I look forward to both leading the District with them both having history within Estuary. Their new plan will see a focus on what the District needs for its next stage.

As I look at the achievements of the last year it is good to see that the District has grown in number of both young people and leaders. The new system where learning is online has been become part of the onboarding process for leaders and renewal of training. Thank you to Jo Bushnell and Richard Phillips who has led the imbedding process for the new system.

I would personally like to thank the Trustees and the teams running activities within the District. Their commitment to the District has made sure that young people can experience activities together as a District.

Thank you Daryll Chase for running indoor activity camp, outdoor activity camp and camping comp in Scouts which has been well attended by the District groups. It’s great to see how competitive all the Scouts can be on camp.

The Cub leaders have all come together to run the District events. District Cub camp (with a welltimed grant for Belchamps and the groups attending) means that Cub groups have been able to complete the necessary activities to obtain their Silver badges. Carol’s games activity and Kaye’s Cubs sports day had huge support and was a great experience. It was great being carried by my games activity team when I was asked to participate at the last moment.

Claire Brown beaver team has done so many things this year. Carol concert, panto, Art Attack, sports night, Boydell farm and District hike.

This year we see the closing of 2[nd] Prittlewell. Rebecca Routh has kept the Scout group together with her team but with leaders all needing to leave at the same time it was decided by the group to close. They will be missed as they have been a core part of District events.

This year we have closed the Scout Charity Shop. This shop has a long history in the District and it’s been an important means of raising funds. It’s unfortunate that the Shop costs have increased to mean this is no longer viable. I like to thank Pam and all the Scout Charity Shop staff who have taken on the District uniforms and badges and we will be looking at how this will be done in the future.

In more positive news 10[th] Southend will be opening a Squirrel Dray with 40 young people already signed up. This adds to the 3[rd] Shoeburyness Squirrel Dray and means that we are adding more Scouting experiences for Southend.

7

Southend Estuary Scout District

Thank you to all Leaders for your efforts this year. Scouting is a major advantage for young people giving them confidence, experience, and skills for their future.

Andrew Lewin

District Lead Volunteer

Southend Estuary

8

Southend Estuary Scout District

DISTRICT BEAVER LEADER REPORT

The Beaver section have had another good year full of activities.

We enjoyed a carol concert at the salvation army in Southend, All the leaders in their Christmas jumpers and all the Beavers in there lovely Christmas hats.

We had our annual trip to see the panto put on by Southend Drama Society to see their production of Snow White.

Earlier this year we had our annual Art Attack which each group brings 4 Beavers, and they make crafts to add to a base made by everyone in the group. This year’s theme was Space and all the groups that attended made such good bases.

In June we had our annual sports night, which is always good fun, we realise that children these days don’t know how to leapfrog, that was very funny.

We had a lovely district day out to Boydell’s dairy farm, ascending on them with a double decker coach holding 70 people. They did an enjoyable day out for us, feeding baby lambs, holding baby chickens, feeding the cows, goats, lambs, and donkeys. It was a lovely day out.

Last of our district activities was our district hike, this year at Belfair’s woods.

Lots of badge work has taken place this year including lots of Chief Scout Bronze awards. Well done everyone.

We have said goodbye to Helen Moore and 5th Southchurch and 2nd Prittlewell Beavers and to Becky and Jo Routh, however I am hoping to keep Becky helping at other groups if she can.

Thank you to all the leaders for all the hard work you put in to planning and running Beavers each week, your all stars.

It has been a hard year, I have had health issues, and all the leaders have rallied around and helped and supported me. Thank you to you all.

Look forward to another year of great district activities.

Claire Brown

District Beaver Leader

9

Southend Estuary Scout District

District Explorer Scouts Report 2025

A Year of Adventure, Achievement and Wonderful Memories

2024–25 has been another amazingly successful, enjoyable, and adventurous year for Explorer

Scouting in Southend Estuary. We’ve seen strong numbers across all three units , with large numbers moving up to Network. All our young people embraced opportunities to learn, lead, and challenge themselves.

Here are some of the highlights from an unforgettable year…

District Activities

Our District programme brought Explorers together for fun, friendship, and new challenges:

A few Explorers are now giving back by helping local Scout Groups – a vital part of the Scouting journey. However, Young Leaders as a section is weak and currently seeking a new YL leader. Nore and Columbus are both struggling with shortage of regular leaders.

Unit Highlights

Nore ESU

10

Southend Estuary Scout District

Columbus ESU

Patriot ESU

SEMAC – A District Explorers and Network

Our legendary Multi-Activity Camp at Biblins in the stunning Wye Valley, Monmouthshire was an enormous success, with over 50 Explorers and Network members enjoying an action-packed weekend of:

Challenges and Opportunities

Our District Minibus has been a vital lifeline—transporting Explorers for more than one million passenger miles —but it now urgently needs replacing. We have ongoing fundraising and Essex Scouts have kick-started the grant process, but we need everyone’s help to make this happen. We were extremely fortunate to boost our minibus replacement funds with a £3,000 donation from Andy Weight – Barratt and David Wilson Homes.

11

Southend Estuary Scout District

Celebrating Our Volunteers

John Bearman has given outstanding service to Columbus ESU, Thorpe Bay Beavers, Southchurch special needs group, and the wider District and we are sorry to see him leave us, John will be sadly missed by us all.

Looking Ahead

This year our explorers had opportunities to join an incredible list of activities each encouraged by a team of very dedicated enthusiastic leaders, assistants, and supporters for which we are all extremely appreciative and thankful. With such a great leadership team, I am confident that the rest of 2025 and 2026 will be equally adventurous and bring even more opportunities for our young people.

Mark Chapman

District Explorer 14-18 Lead (District Explorer Scout Commissioner)

SEMAC Wye Valley 2025

12

Southend Estuary District Scout Council

Charity Registration 1045298

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees for the period 1 April 2024 to 5 April 2025

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s 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’s trustees, as a body, for my work or for this report.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) and you consider that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and an audit requirement does not apply.

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

  1. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

  2. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.

Signed:

Ian P Chapman

Dated: 5 September 2025

Southend Estuary District Scout Council District Assets

Note
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets
District Headquarters (as insured)
Marine Assets inc trailers (as insured)
Minibus (2024 as insured, 2025 NBV)
Contents of Buildings (as insured)
Curent Assets
Stock of badges & scarves
Cash at bank and in hand
District Main Account
Shop Account
Explorers Accounts (x5)
Network
Loan to Belchamps 17.3.20
Total at bank and cash in hand
Total Current Assets
Current Liabilities
Net Assets		 As at 31st
March 2024
Total
£
728,523
12,140
15,000
73,788
829,451
1,000
38,673
15,012
50,741
1,528
5,000
110,953
111,953
-
941,404		 As at 5th
April 2025
Total
£
764,949
12,140
1,400
39,924
818,413
4,533
21,265
13,778
64,831
5,341
-
105,215
109,748
-
928,161

Other Scout organisations in which the District has a Notional Percentage Ownership

Belchamps Scout Centre

There is an interest in the centre which is jointly owned by Castle Point, Crouch Valley, Southend Estuary and Southend West Scout Districts.

Southend Scout & Guide Gang Show

There is an interest in the show

Southend Estuary District Scout Council Receipts and Payments Summary 1 April 2024 -5 April 2025

A/C Name
Current A/C
Shop A/C
Net Total
Loan to Belchamps
Net District
Columbus
Nore
Patriot
Mariners
Explorer Units
Explorer District
Net Explorer
Network
Net Southend Estuary District Scout Council
Reduction in Valuation of Assets
Total Southend Estuary District Scout Council		 Total
Restricted
Non
Opening
Restricted
Balance
-
38,673
38,673
-
15,012
15,012
-
53,684
53,684
-
5,000
5,000
58,684
58,684
-
4,755
4,755
-
3,836
3,836
-
3,939
3,939
-
402
402
-
12,932
12,932
-
37,809
37,809
-
50,741
50,741
-
1,528
1,528
-
110,953
110,953
-
110,953
110,953
Opening Balance		 Restricted
Non
Intra
Restricted
Group
-
46,684
7,737
-
19,081
8
-
65,765
7,745
-
-
-
-
65,765
7,745
-
225
314
-
3,719
1,000
500
11,374
-
-
-
-
500
15,317
1,314
2,000
23,424
3,143
2,500
38,742
4,457
-
10,266
143
2,500
114,772
12,344
2,500
114,772
12,344
Income		 Restricted
Non
Intra
Restricted
Group
-
(71,614)
(214)
-
(19,330)
(993)
-
(90,945)
(1,207)
-
-
(5,000)
-
(90,945)
(6,207)
-
(1,687)
(247)
-
(2,098)
(278)
(500)
(8,601)
(1,265)
-
-
-
(500)
(12,387)
(1,790)
(45)
(13,963)
(2,923)
(545)
(26,350)
(4,713)
-
(5,170)
(1,425)
(545) (122,465)
(12,344)
(545) (122,465)
(12,344)
Expenditure		 Total
Restricted
Non
Closing
Restricted
Balance
-
21,265
21,265
-
13,778
13,778
-
35,043
35,043
-
-
-
-
35,043
35,043
-
3,360
3,360
-
6,179
6,179
-
5,446
5,446
-
402
402
-
15,387
15,387
1,955
47,489
49,444
1,955
62,876
64,831
-
5,341
5,341
1,955
103,260
105,215
(7,505)
(7,505)
1,955
95,755
97,710
Closing Balance		 Movement
(17,407)
(1,234)
(18,641)
(5,000)
(23,641)
(1,395)
2,343
1,507
-
2,455
11,635
14,090
3,814
(5,737)
(7,505)
(13,242)

Southend Estuary District Scout Council

Charity Registration 1045298

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees for the period 1 April 2024 to 5 April 2025

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s 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’s trustees, as a body, for my work or for this report.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) and you consider that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and an audit requirement does not apply.

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

  1. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

  2. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.

Signed:

Ian P Chapman

Dated: 5 September 2025

Southend Estuary District Scout Council District Assets

Note
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets
District Headquarters (as insured)
Marine Assets inc trailers (as insured)
Minibus (2024 as insured, 2025 NBV)
Contents of Buildings (as insured)
Curent Assets
Stock of badges & scarves
Cash at bank and in hand
District Main Account
Shop Account
Explorers Accounts (x5)
Network
Loan to Belchamps 17.3.20
Total at bank and cash in hand
Total Current Assets
Current Liabilities
Net Assets		 As at 31st
March 2024
Total
£
728,523
12,140
15,000
73,788
829,451
1,000
38,673
15,012
50,741
1,528
5,000
110,953
111,953
-
941,404		 As at 5th
April 2025
Total
£
764,949
12,140
1,400
39,924
818,413
4,533
21,265
13,778
64,831
5,341
-
105,215
109,748
-
928,161

Other Scout organisations in which the District has a Notional Percentage Ownership

Belchamps Scout Centre

There is an interest in the centre which is jointly owned by Castle Point, Crouch Valley, Southend Estuary and Southend West Scout Districts.

Southend Scout & Guide Gang Show

There is an interest in the show

Southend Estuary District Scout Council Receipts and Payments Summary 1 April 2024 -5 April 2025

A/C Name
Current A/C
Shop A/C
Net Total
Loan to Belchamps
Net District
Columbus
Nore
Patriot
Mariners
Explorer Units
Explorer District
Net Explorer
Network
Net Southend Estuary District Scout Council
Reduction in Valuation of Assets
Total Southend Estuary District Scout Council		 Total
Restricted
Non
Opening
Restricted
Balance
-
38,673
38,673
-
15,012
15,012
-
53,684
53,684
-
5,000
5,000
58,684
58,684
-
4,755
4,755
-
3,836
3,836
-
3,939
3,939
-
402
402
-
12,932
12,932
-
37,809
37,809
-
50,741
50,741
-
1,528
1,528
-
110,953
110,953
-
110,953
110,953
Opening Balance		 Restricted
Non
Intra
Restricted
Group
-
46,684
7,737
-
19,081
8
-
65,765
7,745
-
-
-
-
65,765
7,745
-
225
314
-
3,719
1,000
500
11,374
-
-
-
-
500
15,317
1,314
2,000
23,424
3,143
2,500
38,742
4,457
-
10,266
143
2,500
114,772
12,344
2,500
114,772
12,344
Income		 Restricted
Non
Intra
Restricted
Group
-
(71,614)
(214)
-
(19,330)
(993)
-
(90,945)
(1,207)
-
-
(5,000)
-
(90,945)
(6,207)
-
(1,687)
(247)
-
(2,098)
(278)
(500)
(8,601)
(1,265)
-
-
-
(500)
(12,387)
(1,790)
(45)
(13,963)
(2,923)
(545)
(26,350)
(4,713)
-
(5,170)
(1,425)
(545) (122,465)
(12,344)
(545) (122,465)
(12,344)
Expenditure		 Total
Restricted
Non
Closing
Restricted
Balance
-
21,265
21,265
-
13,778
13,778
-
35,043
35,043
-
-
-
-
35,043
35,043
-
3,360
3,360
-
6,179
6,179
-
5,446
5,446
-
402
402
-
15,387
15,387
1,955
47,489
49,444
1,955
62,876
64,831
-
5,341
5,341
1,955
103,260
105,215
(7,505)
(7,505)
1,955
95,755
97,710
Closing Balance		 Movement
(17,407)
(1,234)
(18,641)
(5,000)
(23,641)
(1,395)
2,343
1,507
-
2,455
11,635
14,090
3,814
(5,737)
(7,505)
(13,242)