Ruislip Eastcote Northwood District Scout Council
Trustees Annual Report
For the year ended 31[st] March 2025
Reference and Administration Information
Registered Charity number 1066010 Scouts Registration number 10001049
Charity’s principal address c/o Mr Richard Plume 45 Hallowell Road Northwood Middlesex HA6 1DT
Trustee Name Office Tyler Skerton District Lead Volunteer Paul Catchpole Chair Helen Evans Secretary David Pinn Treasurer Nikhil Varodaria District Youth Lead and under 25 Kyle Fawcett District Youth Lead and under 25 Richard Plume Elected Member Margaret Sullivan Elected Member Marcus Victory Elected Member Paul Spencer Elected Member
Bankers: CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Adviser (Independent Examiner) Mr K Mulvaney 43a Hallowell Road Northwood Middlesex HA6 1DT Adviser (Financial Investments) I P S Capital LLP 4 Eastcheap London EC3M 1AE
Page 1 of 4 Board of Trustees Annual Report to 31[st] March 2025
Ruislip Eastcote Northwood District Scout Council
Trustees Annual Report
Report of the Trustees
Introduction
The Trustees present their Report for the year ended 31[st] March 2025
Structure, Governance and Management
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 Districts.
The Trustees are appointed at the AGM (and at other times) in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association. There is an open selection process in accordance with POR. There is a maximum time that individuals may serve.
The District is managed by the District Trustee Board, the members of which are the ‘Charity Trustees’ of the District which is an educational charity. As charity trustees they are responsible for complying with legislation applicable to charities.
The Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer and 8 Trustees (including 3 Ex Officio Trustees) and meets every 3 months. Trustees are elected or appointed according to POR.
Members of the Trustee Board complete “Being a Scouts Trustee learning” within the first 6 months of joining the Board.
There are 12 Groups within the District and are separate entities and have their own registration with the Scout Association and may be charities in their own right. However, the District has a responsibility to ensure that they comply with the appropriate charity regulations and POR.
This District Trustee Board’s main responsibility is to ensure the charity is well-managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and equipment are kept and maintained in good working order, that and Groups within the District follow legal requirements and the organisation's policies and rules.
Risk and Internal Control
The District Trustee Board has identified the major risks to which the District is exposed. These are regularly reviewed and systems established to mitigate against them.
Page 2 of 4 Board of Trustees Annual Report to 31[st] March 2025
Ruislip Eastcote Northwood District Scout Council
Trustees Annual Report
The District has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss. These are in accordance with the requirements of POR which is the framework which all Scout Districts and Groups are required to operate.
The District has robust systems in pace to ensure adventurous and hazardous activities are managed.
All groups within the District have completed a survey to establish compliance with POR and charity regulations. This has been reviewed and non-compliance will be addressed with individual Groups. One thing identified as common to all Groups is the need for risk register and a full set of risk assessments. The risk assessments relating to activities are in place but other risks may not be fully identified. The trustees will address this over the next twelve months.
Reserves Policy
-
The sum of money to which the policy applies in 2024/25 is £466,267.
-
£250,000 of this is a Designated Fund for interest earning, to allow the District to continue to financially support activities across all Groups and Sections.
-
Originally a sum of £300,000 was allocated as a Designated Fund for Capital Grants to Groups. This has reduced to £216,267 in 2023/24. No capital grants were made during 2024-25
-
The balance of £32,453 is considered to be available for current year spending.
The funds associated with the three Explorer Sections are not considered as part of the District reserves policy.
Investment Policy
The trustees use the services of IPS Capital to provide investment management services for approximately 30% of its capital. The remainder of the funds are in various interest earning accounts available for use at short notice. Full details are in the Financial Report.
Safety and Safeguarding
The Scouts have rigorous training and monitoring in all their activities. The Board of Trustees of individual Groups are responsible for the safety of their premises.
Page 3 of 4 Board of Trustees Annual Report to 31[st] March 2025
Ruislip Eastcote Northwood District Scout Council
Trustees Annual Report
Main events
The District has financially supported events including Hillwalking (Scouts) Sports days (Beavers and Cubs) and expeditions both in the UK and abroad so that no one is excluded on the grounds of affordability.
During the year we have replaced the District Van and maintained the climbing wall and other equipment which is available for all Groups to use free of charge.
The Scout Association has replaced the membership and compliance system (compass) with a new membership system. This incorporates changes that will allow all adult members easier access to their records and data. The key members of the District Team were well prepared for the change and although there have been some challenges, the new system has been adopted.
The District has not been called on to assist individual Groups either with building or other projects but has funds available.
We are also pleased to support leaders to achieve skills based qualifications so that they can lead adventurous activities.
Conclusion
The leaders and other helpers work tirelessly to provide a high quality programme for all young people in REN and the Trustees express their thanks to everyone for making this another successful year.
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report above.
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees
Signatures …………………………… ……………………………………..
Full names .. ………………………… …………………………………….. Position …………………………… ……………………………………..
Date ……………………………………
Page 4 of 4 Board of Trustees Annual Report to 31[st] March 2025
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Ruislip Eastcote Northwood District Scout Council
Receipts and Payments Account
Year start date Year end date
For the year
01/04/2024 31/03/2025
from
Receipts and payments
2024/25 2023/24
Unrestricted Designated
Total funds Total funds
funds funds
£ £ £ £
Receipts
Income Squirrels Activities
Income Beaver Activities
352
352
Income Cub Activities
2,875 2,875 4,765
Income Scout Activities
8,917
8,917 4,624
Income Explorer Activities - -
Income mixed Activities - 7,513
District Van
7,253 7,253
Members Subscriptions (Note 7) 52,900 - 52,900 2,679
Explorer Units Income 73,738 - 73,738 33,952
Other Income (Note 13)
375
Sub total 146,035 - 146,035 53,908
Grants -
- -
Sub total - -
Fundraising (gross) -
Donation Legacy - -
Sub total - - -
Investment income -
Investment income (Note 3)
11,007 11,007 9,123
- -
Sub total 11,007 - 11,007 9,123
-
Total Gross Income 157,042 - 157,042 63,031
Profit on Investment Assets (Note 9) 8,751 8,751 12,862
-
Total receipts 165,793 - 165,793 75,893
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Ruislip Eastcote Northwood District Scout Council
Receipts and Payments Account
Year start date Year end date
For the year
01/04/2024 31/03/2025
from
Receipts and payments
2024/25 2023/24
Unrestricted Designated
Total funds Total funds
funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Payments
Leader Training - 1,167 - 1,167 - 3,397
Transport Subsidies for Groups (Note 5) - 623 - - 623 - 1,644
Expenditure Squirrels - 500
Expenditure Beaver Activities - 1,317 - - 1,317
Expenditure Cub Activities
- 2,746 - - 2,746 - 7,557
Expenditure Scout Activities
- 13,464 - - 13,464 - 6,774
Expenditure Explorer Activities
- 2,600 - - 2,600 - 460
Expenditure Mixed Activities
- 3,522 - - 3,522 - 6,361
Capital Grant (Note 4)
- - 2,500
Members' Subscriptions Paid (Note 7)
- 52,459 - - 52,459 - 24
District Van costs
- 25,416 - - 25,416 - 1,647
Admin, Insurance, fees, badges (Note 12)
- 1,549 - - 1,549 - 3,994
Explorer Units
- 79,212 - - 79,212 - 28,325
Uniform Subsidy
- 478 - - 478 - 935
Other Expenditure (Note 13)
- - 2,500
Sub total
- 184,553 - - 184,553 - 66,618
Fundraising expenses -
Sub total -
-
Total Gross Expenditure - 184,553 - - 184,553 - 66,618
-
Asset and investment purchases,
etc. - -
-
Total payments - 184,553 - - 184,553 - 66,618
-
Net of receipts/(payments) - 18,760 - 18,760 9,275
Transfers between funds - -
Total funds last year end 517,510 517,510 508,235
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Total funds this year end 498,750 - 498,750 517,510
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Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year
31st March
31st March 2025
2024
Unrestricted Designated Total funds Total funds
funds funds
£ £ £ £
Cash funds
CAF Cash (current account, Note 8 428 - 428 638
CAF Gold (deposit account, Note 8 7,858 7,858 5,143
Close Bros 1 (notice account) 90,987 90,987 87,051
Cambridge & Counties bank (notice
6,424 45,839 52,263 84,832
account)
United Trust Bank (notice account) - 92,510 92,510 88,094
Other unrestricted accounts Note 8
:
Poindextor Explorers 11,035 11,035 17,233
Pathfinder Explorers 105 105 - 16
Ruislip Explorers 4,003 4,003 3,400
Network -
Jamboree - -
Total cash funds
29,853 229,336 259,189 286,375
Other monetary assets - -
Loan to 6th Eastcote (Note 10)
2,600 2,600 2,925
Sub total 2,600 - 2,600 2,925
Investment assets - -
Quoted Investments - IPS Capital
236,961 228,210
(Note 9) 236,961
Sub total - 236,961 236,961 228,210
Non monetary assets for charity's
- -
own use
All written down to zero (Note 11) - - - -
Sub total - - - -
Liabilities - -
None - - - -
Sub total - - - -
Total Cash & Cash Equivalent
Assets 32,453 229,336 261,789 289,300
Total Assets 32,453 466,297 498,750 517,510
The above receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the
Trustees on 9th July 2025 (the date of the Trustees meeting that approved the accounts) and signed on
their behalf by
Signature
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Notes to the Accounts
For the Year ended 31[st] March 2025
1. Accounting Policies
a. The financial statements have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis, and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), together with Update Bulletin 1.
- b. Depreciation. Since 2011/12 the value of fixed assets has been zero.
2. Reserves Policy
a. The funds associated with the various Sections (Explorer Scouts and Network) are considered as current year spending for those sections and are not part of District Reserves Policy.
b. The sum of money to which the policy applies in 2024/25 is £466,267
c. £250,000 is a Designated Fund for interest earning, to allow the District to continue in perpetuity to support activities across all Groups and Sections.
d. Originally a sum of £300,000 was allocated as a Designated Fund for Capital Grants to Groups. This reduced to £216,267 in 2023/24, as Capital Grants were paid. No Capital Grants were paid in 2024/25.
e. The balance of £32,453 is considered to be current year spending.
3. Investment Income
All investment income, whether from Unrestricted Funds or Designated Funds is taken as Income into the Unrestricted Funds.
This is made up as follows: CAF Cash £8 CAF Gold £215 Close Brothers £3,936 Cambridge and Counties Bank £2,431 United Trust Bank £4,417 Total Interest Earned £11,007
4. Capital Grants
The cost of Capital Grants this year was zero The cost in 2023/24 was £2,500.
5. Transport Subsidies for Groups
Under the Fund Management Policy, the District offers to pay for 80% of the hire costs for a minibus for Group camps. The cost of subsidies paid in 2024/25 was £623. For 2023/24 this figure was £1,644
6. Subsidies for District Events
Under the Fund Management Policy, the District offers to pay subsidies on an agreed basis for District-organised events. In 2024/25, the cost of subsidies across all sections was £11,505. In 2023/24, the cost of subsidies across all sections was £4,750.
7. Membership Subscriptions
Net Income on Members' Subscriptions for 2024/25 was £441. For 2023/24 this figure was £2,655. The net income this year arises mainly because one Group paid for year ending March 26 in the current year.
8. Unrestricted Accounts
Accounts under this sub-heading are the CAF Cash (the District’s main current account), CAF Gold, and the three District Explorer current accounts; one account is used for Poindextor Explorers, one for Ruislip Explorers and one for Pathfinder Explorers
9. Investment in Equities and Bonds
Prospect Wealth Management merged with IPS Capital during 2021/22 and the joint company now trades as IPS Capital.
The Finance Subcommittee invested £127,323 of the District funds on 15th July 2011 in an investment portfolio including equities and bonds, through a company called Prospect Wealth Management. There is no fixed term on this investment, although it is viewed as medium to long term (4 years plus). In April 2022 we invested a further £40,000 in this portfolio.
Market valuation at 31st March 2025 was £236,931, an increase of £8,751 on the 2023/24 valuation. No dividends or interest are payable; any such gains are included in the valuation at any point in time.
10. Loan to 6th Eastcote Group
In 2012/13 the District made an interest-free loan of £6,500 to 6th Eastcote Group, to allow them to pay off a long-standing debt that arose from major works to their Scout Headquarters in 2003. The loan was made under a signed agreement and will be paid off by the Group over 20 years in 20 equal annual instalments of £325. The first of these instalments was paid in 2013/14, and the annual payments continue.
11. Fixed Assets
There are no fixed assets with any book value. The District owns the District Van, purchased in April 2024, but it has been written down to zero value. The price paid was £21,594, and we received £7,253 for the old van as part of the Greater London ULEZ Scrappage Scheme.
12. Administration, Insurance, Fees and Badges
Included in this expenditure is the following: Insurance for equipment, cost of badges Other Administration costs
13. Other Income and Expenditure
None
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Charity Name
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of RUISLIP EASTCOTE & NORTHWOOD DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Charity no (if any)[1066010] Set out on pages 1-5 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 03 / 2025 .
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: K F Mulvaney Name: K F Mulvaney Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 43A Hallowell Road Northwood HA6 1DT
Date: 09/ 07/2025
October 2018
1
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
October 2018
2
IER