2024-03-31-accounts - Brunel District Scout Council

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Trustees' Annual Report

For the period

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Section A	Reference and administration details
Charity name Other names the charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) HQ registration number Charity’s principal address	Brunel District Scout Council 1 1 2 8 6 4 7 1 6 7 1 5
	50 Grove Road
	Fishponds
	Bristol
	Postcode	B	S	1	6	2	B	W

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

(These will be published in the annual report of the charity and the Charity Register if reporting for a Registered Charity with a charity regulator)

Trustee Name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Clive Lewis Syme Mason	District Commissioner
Nick Nelson	District Chair
Hugh Thorpe	District Treasurer
Martin Stuart Cush	District Secretary
Hazel Sperring
Paul Baker
Ben Shadbolt	District Explorer Scout Commissioner
Scott Warburton	District Network Commissioner
Jim Shadbolt		19/11/2023
Glen Mills		02/04/2024

Names and addresses of advisers (optional information but encouraged as best practice) (These will be published in the annual report of the charity)

Type of advisor Name Address

Section B Structure, governance and management

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Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document	The District's governing documents are those of the 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
(e.g. trust deed, constitution)	Association.

How the charity is constituted	The District is a trust established under its rules which are
	common to all Scouts.
(e.g. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods	The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy,
(e.g. appointed by, elected by)	Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
Additional governance issues (optional information but encouraged as best practice)
You may choose to include additional	The District is managed by the District Trustee Board, the
information, where relevant, about:	members of which are the ‘Charity Trustees’ of the Scout
	Group which is an educational charity. As charity trustees
	they are responsible for complying with legislation
	applicable to charities. This includes the registration,
	keeping proper accounts and making returns to the Charity
	Commission as appropriate.
Policies and procedures adopted for: a) the induction and training of trustees; b) trustee' consideration of major risks and the systems and procedures to	The Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer and 8 Trustees (including 2 Ex Officio Trustees) and meets every 2 months.
manage them	Members of the Trustee Board complete Being a Scouts
	Trustee learning within the first 6 months of joining the
	Board.
	This District Trustee Board exists to make sure the charity is
	well-managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings
	and equipment are in good working order, and everyone
	follows legal requirements and the organisation's policies
	and rules. Their support helps other volunteers run high-
	quality and safe programmes that gives young people skills
	for life.

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Section B	Structure, governance and management (continued)
	Risk and Internal Control The District Trustee Board has identified the major risks to which they believe the District is exposed, these have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate against them. The main areas of concern that have been identified are: Collapse of an Explorer or Network Unit, either through lack of volunteers or insufficient volunteers. The District would look to spread existing Explorer or Network members across existing sections if volunteers could not be found by other means. Damage to the building, property and equipment. The District would request the use of buildings, property and equipment from neighbouring organisations such as the church, community centre and other Scout Districts. The District has identified the need for sufficient buildings and contents insurance to mitigate against permanent los and is putting this in place. Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members. The District through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout Associations national accident insurance policy. Risk Assessments are undertaken before all activities. Ineffective control or loss of data. The risk of a regulatory breach has led the District to identify this as a key area for review and is identifying suitable resources to review all of its tools and systems to ensure both compliance and control is in place.

Section B

Structure, governance and management (continued)

Risk and Internal Control
The District Trustee Board has identified the major risks to
which they believe the District is exposed, these have been
reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate
against them. The main areas of concern that have been
identified are:
Collapse of an Explorer or Network Unit, either through lack
of volunteers or insufficient volunteers. The District would
look to spread existing Explorer or Network members
across existing sections if volunteers could not be found by
other means.
Damage to the building, property and equipment. The
District would request the use of buildings, property and
equipment from neighbouring organisations such as the
church, community centre and other Scout Districts. The
District has identified the need for sufficient buildings and
contents insurance to mitigate against permanent los and is
putting this in place.
Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members. The
District through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout
Associations national accident insurance policy. Risk
Assessments are undertaken before all activities.
Ineffective control or loss of data. The risk of a regulatory
breach has led the District to identify this as a key area for
review and is identifying suitable resources to review all of
its tools and systems to ensure both compliance and control
is in place.

Section C

Objectives and activities

The Purpose of Scouting

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development,

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empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

The Values of Scouting As Scouts we are guided by these values: Integrity - We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal. Respect - We have self-respect and respect for others. Care - We support others and take care of the world in which we live. Belief - We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes. Co-operation - We make a positive difference; we cooperate with others and make friends. The Scout Method Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting and: - enjoy what they are doing and have fun - take part in activities indoors and outdoors - learn by doing - share in spiritual reflection - take responsibility and make choices - undertake new and challenging activities - make and live by their Promise.

Summary of the main activities in relation See section D for further details of activities undertaken. to these objects

Additional details of the objectives and activities (optional information but encouraged as best practice)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
contribution made by volunteers;
policy on investments.

Public benefit statement The District meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings.

Section D	Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
	The District has recruited a number of new Trustees to the Board to increase the diversity of throught in decision making and act as a challenge. A risk register has been introduced and scored with trustee leads in place to identify and manage mitigation actions. Regular meetings are in place using modern facilities to improve decision making and highlight to potential trustees our professional approach.

Section D

Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of
the charity during the year

The District has recruited a number of new Trustees to the
Board to increase the diversity of throught in decision
making and act as a challenge.
A risk register has been introduced and scored with trustee
leads in place to identify and manage mitigation actions.
Regular meetings are in place using modern facilities to
improve decision making and highlight to potential trustees
our professional approach.

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The attached annual census extract (stats/graph) details the membership numbers for the reporting year and can be summarised as follows... • Overall increase in District membership...with a 4.2% increase in Young People and a 6.1% increase in volunteer numbers.

• With the exception of the Beaver age group (down 4.5%), numbers continue to steadily increase (post COVID pandemic) and the overall District membership is now the highest it's ever been with 1469 young people supported by 467 adult volunteers. • At the time of census, the overall waiting list of 721 young people wanting to join (between 4-14yrs) remains as a barometer of the continued huge demand for Scouting in Brunel District . Despite development efforts, the lack of available sections, volunteers and meeting places unfortunately means they can't when they want to. Nonetheless, the District Lead Volunteer supported by the Board of Trustees will continue to endeavour to identify and support development opportunities. • Worthy of note is the steady increase in the number of Explorer Scout Unit sections (14-18yrs) reflected in the move from 106 to 130 Explorer Scouts in the District. • Along with the rest of the organisation, the District has been preparing itself for the forthcoming 'transformation' changes. The District is in a strong position to adopt the new way of Scouting delivery which through the rest of 2024 and into 2025 will... OCreate a warmer welcome for new volunteers OSimplify volunteering with changes to roles and team structures OMake learning more valuable and convenient OProvide a new digital experience for managing adult membership data

Section E	Financial Review
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on
reserves	Reserves Policy
	The Districts policy on reserves	is to	hold	sufficient
	resources to continue the charitable	activities of		the group
	should income and fundraising activities		fall short. The
	District Trustee Board considers that the District should hold
	a sum equivalent to 6 months running costs, circa £15,000.	a sum equivalent to 6 months running costs, circa £15,000.	a sum equivalent to 6 months running costs, circa £15,000.	a sum equivalent to 6 months running costs, circa £15,000.
	The District held reserves in excess of £50,000 against this
	at year end. This is above the level	required for		operating
	expenses. However this can be explained by and			is held to
	support development of Groups across the		District through
	either grants or loans.
Quantify and explain any designations

Details of any funds materially in deficit
(circumstances plus steps to eliminate)

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Further financial review details (optional information)

Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant, about: • investment policy and objectives; • how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; • the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);	The principle source of funding are subscription payments made direct to the charity by Explorer Units or through annual capitation payments by all Group's across the District for other members. The Group does not have sufficient funds to invest in longer term investments. The Group has therefore adopted a risk averse strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks or building societies. Key expenidture items are the adminstrative costs of running a charity including premises, insurance, IT costs and training. The Charity also has substantial receipts and payments on a broadly breakeven basis for specific events that are charged separately to annual subscriptions. Investment Policy

Section F	Other Optional Information
Plans for future periods (details of any significant activities planned to achieve them)


Section G	Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees



Nicholas Nelson						Hugh Thorpe

Chair						Treasurer
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Brunel District Scout Council Receipts and Payments Account To 31*r44 Receipts and payments 11D

Brunel District Scout Council Receipts and Paynts Account ••43 To Receipts and paymeiits X124 4411 14&77S

Brunel District Scout Council Receipts and Payments Account To 314Aèr44 Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year ¥.7 51.719 U16

Brnnel District Scout Council Receipts and Payments ACUnt è5t?SYX TdJ1179WQ318

Brunel District Scout Council Receipts and Payments Account To 31*r44 Receipts and payments 11D

Brunel District Scout Council Receipts and Paynts Account ••43 To Receipts and paymeiits X124 4411 14&77S

Brunel District Scout Council Receipts and Payments Account To 314Aèr44 Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year ¥.7 51.719 U16

Brnnel District Scout Council Receipts and Payments ACUnt è5t?SYX TdJ1179WQ318