REPORT & ACCOUNTS for the year ended 31 March 2024
TRUSTEES - Nominated Chairman Peter Johnson District Commissioner Clare Clarke (resigned 31 July 2023 ) Tom Johnson (from 1 August 2023) TRUSTEES - Elected Treasurer Richard Pearce Secretary Lisa Jay (from 26 September 2023) Appointments Committee Chairman Chris Kingham Liz Johnson Jim Casper (from 13 June 2023) Natalie Dell (from 26 September 2023) Martin Summerhayes (from 26 September 2023)
TRUSTEES – Appointed Assistant District Commissioner (Beavers) Sarah Stallwood Deputy District Commissioner Ian Harris District Explorer Scout Commissioner Tom Johnson (resigned 24 July 2023) Sarah Tedder (from 1 August 2023) BANKERS HSBC Bank plc 1 Corn Market High Wycombe REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1138152 REGISTRATION NUMBER 10612 CONTACT NAME AND ADDRESS Richard Pearce District Treasurer Langdale, Crowbrook Road, Monks Risborough, HP27 9LP
CHILTERN VALE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
District Commissioner’s Report
My first 9 months as District Lead Volunteer has been a massive learning experience for me. Moving from Explorer Scout Commissioner into Lead Volunteer has been a challenge: leaving behind my Unit to fill the shoes left by Clare has been daunting.
During the last year, the number of young people has grown, and the demand for Scouting in Chiltern Vale has continued to expand. It has been my pleasure to see some of the amazing activities offered to young people of all ages across the district, and my thanks go out to all the leaders and all those who support behind the scenes to make this happen.
St George’s Day was a lovely event, with a theme taken from our promise of “doing your best”. Seeing all the young people parading down the High Street was brilliant. We collected food for three local food banks, and the District responded wonderfully, with three large bags being taken out. Chiltern Vale continues to set trends, as other Scouters have commented on how good an idea it was (thank you Clare!) and are planning their own collections.
At the county award ceremony, Chiltern Vale were well represented, with award going all the way from the Bronze award being given out to our Beavers, all the way through to a Platinum award being given out to one of our Explorers.
We have seen the very first Squirrel Drey open up at 1st Bernwood Forest, meaning scouting can now offered from ages 4 to 18 in the District. I look forward to seeing more Drey’s open over the coming year, and my thanks go out to Bernwood for allowing me to be a part of the investiture of our first Squirrels.
Camping has been in full force this year, with trips being planned both near and far. The effort shown by leaders in setting up these camps shows the true spirit of scouting, as to quote Baden-Powell: “A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room”.
Chiltern Vale continues to be a model for our training, consistently leading the Buckinghamshire County in our relentless pursuit to uphold our safety and safeguarding duties. My thanks to all the Group Lead Volunteers for all your support in keeping our young people safe in Scouting.
Thank you to my District team for helping me out, supporting me in my difficulties, and helping me when I have made mistakes. It would not be possible to lead Chiltern Vale without the support of the Trustees, the District Leadership Team, and the Group Lead Volunteers. I would like to single out Richard Pearce, who is retiring as District Treasurer after 25 years at the post. In his time, he has seen 10 District Commissioners serve their time, including all the Commissioners of Chiltern Vale. I hope that he enjoys his retirement from District and hope he doesn’t mind the occasional call from me to solicit his advice.
We have spent much of the year preparing for transformation, and Chiltern Vale is well prepared for the switch over to the new system. As our District team continues to evolve and adapt, we will face the challenges in the future of Scouting with great enthusiasm!
Tom Johnson
District Lead Volunteer
Chiltern Vale
Reserves Policy
The Trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds neither designated nor invested in tangible fixed assets should be maintained at a level sufficient for them to be able to continue the current activities of the District Scout Council in the event of a significant drop in funding. It would obviously be necessary to consider how funding would be replaced or the level and type of activity changed. The Trustees consider that the level of free reserves required should be equivalent to between 12 and 18 months of the annual budget income, together with funds to meet commitments in respect of forthcoming World Jamborees and European activities and . At present the free reserves exceed £20,000, with the Designated Fund to support participants in the World Scout Jamborees and European activities being at £12,600. Restricted funds relating to the assets of 1[st] Longwick Scout Group amount to £23,980. The Trustees consider these positions to be satisfactory.
Investment Policy
The Trustees considered the most appropriate policy for investing surplus funds and have decided that apart from keeping working capital in the bank current account, the surplus funds should be invested with HSBC Bank and the Charities Official Investment Fund, which provide a level of income at an acceptable level of risk.
Risk Review
The Trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which the District Scout Council is exposed and action taken to mitigate these risks. External risks to funding include a decrease in membership and a reduction in demand for the activities provided. The level of membership is under regular review and action is ongoing to maintain and increase membership. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures under the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association for the authorisation of all transactions and projects, and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the District Scout Council. These procedures are reviewed periodically to ensure that they still meet the needs of the District Scout Council.
Responsibilities of the Trustees
The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the District Scout Council as at the balance sheet date and of its income and expenditure for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees should follow best practice and
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the District Scout Council will continue on that basis.
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the District Scout Council and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements meet the requirements of the Charity Commission. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the District Scout Council and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The District is a Trust established under its Rules that are common to all Groups/Districts. The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of the Scout Association.
The Accounts have been drawn up on the Receipts and Payments basis and prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by
Peter Johnson Tom Johnson District Chairman District Lead Volunteer
Richard Pearce District Treasurer 21 May 2024
CHILTERN VALE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 March 2024
| MONETARY ASSETS Bank - Current Account Bank - Savings Account Charities Official Investment Fund [COIF] General Fund re WSJ Fund Designated Funds OTHER ASSETS Debtors LIABILITIES HQ Capitation and County Levy, due for payment in April NET ASSETS |
This Year 218.55 £ 46,544.88 £ 20,185.24 £ 12,655.21 £ 23,980.96 £ 103,584.84 £ - £ 44,061.00 £ 59,523.84 £ |
Last Year 2,938.18 £ 44,401.43 £ 15,814.31 £ 11,298.96 £ 322.76 £ |
|---|---|---|
| 74,775.64 £ - £ 41,958.00 £ |
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| 32,817.64 £ |
CHILTERN VALE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
Receipts for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
| Receipts for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| HQ CAPITATION & COUNTY and DISTRICT LEVIES HQ Capitation and County Levy District Levy Less Prompt Payment refunds Less Capitation due to County INVESTMENT INCOME RECEIVED Bank interest Charities Official Investment Fund : General : WSJ Fund : re Designated Funds DEVELOPMENT World Scout Jamboree 2023-participant contributions BucksGrandTour 2023-participant contributions First Aid training courses ACTIVITIES St George's Day collection SUNDRY INCOME 1st Longwick ~ Designated Funds ESU Scarves Gift Aid Income received & due to ESUs TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR |
This Year £ 44,332.50 £ 3,885.00 £ 48,217.50 £ 388.50 £ 47,829.00 £ 44,061.00 £ 3,768.00 £ 123.95 £ 920.93 £ 514.25 £ 769.45 £ 2,328.58 £ 892.00 £ 410.00 £ - £ 1,302.00 £ - £ - £ 22,888.75 £ 172.70 £ 333.31 £ 23,394.76 £ 30,793.34 £ |
Last Year £ 42,346.50 £ 3,595.00 £ |
| 45,941.50 £ 364.00 £ |
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| 45,577.50 £ 41,958.00 £ |
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| 3,619.50 £ 51.17 £ 269.86 £ 237.17 £ 22.92 £ |
||
| 581.12 £ 7,413.00 £ 3,970.00 £ 2,090.00 £ |
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| 13,473.00 £ 377.11 £ |
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| 377.11 £ 3,400.00 £ 194.00 £ 229.09 £ |
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| 3,823.09 £ |
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| 21,873.82 £ |
CHILTERN VALE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
Payments for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
| DISTRICT ACTIVITIES St George's Day St George's Day donations AGM ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES Insurance DEVELOPMENT Payments re World Scout Jamboree 2023 Payments re Bucks Grand Tour 2023 1st Longwick transfer premium payments Payments to groups re Ukranian scouts Training & Development costs First Aid training costs Website costs Scarves & uniforms SUNDRY PAYMENTS Gratuities Retirement gift Bank charges Travel Gift Aid payment received & due to ESUs TOTAL PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR |
This Year £ - £ 200.00 £ - £ 200.00 £ 52.00 £ 52.00 £ 1,980.00 £ 1,200.00 £ - £ - £ 17.99 £ - £ 35.98 £ 38.50 £ 3,272.47 £ 25.00 £ 118.00 £ 60.80 £ 25.56 £ 333.31 £ 562.67 £ 4,087.14 £ |
Last Year £ 58.98 £ 600.00 £ 116.82 £ |
|---|---|---|
| 775.80 £ 52.00 £ |
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| 52.00 £ 12,700.00 £ 5,800.00 £ 3,100.00 £ 150.00 £ - £ 2,090.00 £ 59.74 £ |
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| 23,899.74 £ 37.05 £ - £ 65.51 £ 14.26 £ 229.09 £ |
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| 345.91 £ |
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| 25,073.45 £ |
CHILTERN VALE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 March 2024
| MONETARY ASSETS Bank - Current Account Bank - Savings Account Charities Official Investment Fund [COIF] General Fund re WSJ Fund Designated Funds OTHER ASSETS Debtors LIABILITIES HQ Capitation and County Levy, due for payment in April NET ASSETS |
This Year 218.55 £ 46,544.88 £ 20,185.24 £ 12,655.21 £ 23,980.96 £ 103,584.84 £ - £ 44,061.00 £ 59,523.84 £ |
Last Year 2,938.18 £ 44,401.43 £ 15,814.31 £ 11,298.96 £ 322.76 £ |
|---|---|---|
| 74,775.64 £ - £ 41,958.00 £ |
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| 32,817.64 £ |
Scrutineer's Report to the Trustees of the Chiltern Vale District Scout Council
I report on the accounts of Chiltern Vale Scout District for the year ended 31 March 2024
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Scrutineer
As charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”) ; you consider that neither the audit nor independent examination requirements of the Charities Act 2011 apply.
It is my responsibility without carrying out an audit or independent examination to scrutinise the accounts and to report to you.
Basis of Scrutineer's Statement
In accordance with the directions given in the District's constitution, I have scrutinised the records and the accounts set out on pages 1 to 4.
Scrutineer'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 the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act nor that 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 th D Thorntone accounts to be reached.
M D Thornton
Name: Mr M D Thornton
Address: 15 Copes Shroves Hazlemere High Wycombe HP15 7AG
Date: 30 April 2024