## **Brownsea Island Scout & Guide Heritage Trust Charity No. 1146810**
## **ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2023 – 2024**
## St. Mark’s Bothy
## Brownsea Island
The birthplace of world Scouting and Guiding
A Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature, Environment and Sustainability
**BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
## **TRUSTEES**
_Chairman_ Kevin Phillips _Secretary_ Dr Angela Salter _(also Trading Post Manager) Treasurer_ Douglas Bennett (retired 29 Feb 2024) Eddy Foster (appointed 29 Feb 2024) _Brownsea Island Friends of_ Christina Gabb _Guiding representative Brownsea Island Scout Active_ Michael Bowler _Support Unit representative_ Racheal Tattum Jennifer Read Simon Blake
## **BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE COMMITTEE**
**Trustees** as above Co-opted Members (voting) _Trading Post Manager_ Dr Angela Salter (also Secretary above) _Heritage Centre Curator_ Brian Woolgar _Trading Post Volunteers representative_ Valerie Marsden **Invited Members (non-voting)** _National Trust representatives_ Paddy Stennings — General Manager Brownsea Island Georgia Simpkin — Holiday Operations Manager Anna Padmore — Holiday Operations Assistant Manager
## **AGENTS AND ADVISERS**
**Bankers:** CAF Bank Ltd. CCLA Investment Management Ltd. _Independent Examiner_ Jan Crouch
2
## **BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
## **ANNUAL REPORT 2023 / 2024**
## **Introduction**
The Trustees' Annual Report for the year 2023/24 is presented in two parts. Part 1 deals with those aspects required by the Charity Commission on governance etc. and Part 2 summarises the tasks undertaken by members of the Committee and the supporting groups during the year to meet the objectives.
## **Part 1**
The registered title of the Trust is the Brownsea Island Scout & Guide Heritage Trust, No. 1146810 and can be contacted c/o The Outdoor Centre, Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset BH13 7EE.
## **Governance**
The governing document is the Declaration of Trust known as the Brownsea Island Scout & Guide Heritage Trust dated 5 April 2012.
## **Structure**
The business of the Trust is carried out by an unincorporated management committee known as the Brownsea Island Scout & Guide Heritage Committee, the members of which are listed within this document.
## **Purposes**
- (i) To advance the education of the public in the history of the Scout and Guide Movements in particular by the provision, operation and maintenance of a heritage centre.
- (ii) To promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities in particular, but not exclusively, by the provision of such activities and pursuits as the trustees may determine.
## **Management**
The management arrangements with the National Trust are through a written, but noncontractual, agreement known as the "Memorandum of Understanding" and by a lease on part of the building known as the
Baden-Powell Outdoor Centre. An Advisory Group provides an important channel for twoway communication between the National Trust and Scouting & Guiding.
## **Public Benefit**
The Brownsea Island Outdoor Centre offers camping and hostel facilities together with a range of self-led activities not only to members of the Scouting and Guiding movements, but also to members of the general public, managed by National Trust Holidays. Safety is taken very seriously and the benefits far outweigh any risks. Personal benefits are incidental, other than to participants.
## **Financial Review**
The Trading Post operates as a Limited Company, the profits of which are donated to the Scout and Guide Heritage Trust.
The Trading Post increased its sales for the year ending 31[st] December 2023 to £58,805 compared to £44,344 during 2022. The Trading Post Manager is to be applauded for the continued success but so too are all the volunteers who gave their time in selling the goods. The 'dreaded machine' was a drawback to many transactions but there were cash and web sales. The Trust was able to receive an income of £18,135 from the Trading Post.
The higher bank interest rate has increased the interest the Trust receives from its capital funds - £14,108, thus continuing its satisfactory progress with a Net Income of £12,193 compared to £11,623 the previous year.
At this stage it is hoped that 2024 will show even better results as the sales at Trading Post increase.
_Eddy Foster – on behalf of Treasurer Doug Bennett_
## **Register of interests**
All of the Trustees and Co-opted Committee members are members of either The Scout Association or Girlguiding.
3
## **BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
## **Part 2**
## **The Baden-Powell Outdoor Centre**
The Outdoor Centre comprises the original 1907 Camp Site, South Shore Lodge and the purpose-built Baden-Powell Buildings which include washing and toilet facilities and also houses the Heritage Centre and the Trading post.
## **Committee Membership**
The Committee has met on three separate occasions during the year with a high record of attendance. At these meetings the National Trust staff were also able to update members on the operation and requirements of the Centre, enabling the Committee to assess its annual contribution towards the costs of the Outdoor Centre.
## **The Advisory Group**
The National Trust staff and members of the Committee in their representative roles work closely together on the Advisory Group to ensure that standards are maintained. The successful operation of this group reflects the strength of the relationships with the National Trust and with each other.
## **Heritage Centre**
The exhibition of Scouting and Guiding memorabilia in the Baden-Powell Centre continues to be of interest to all. Our special display this year focused on our sixty years celebration The display of scarves and badges records the memories of our many Scouting and Guiding visitors both from home and overseas.
## **B.I. Trading Post**
I am pleased that we took nearly £59,000 in 2023 season. We sold about £30,000 worth of stock and I am pleased that the new clothing sold well and neckers woggles badges and all the rest are still selling well. Although we are charged interest on the money loaned from BISGHT to buy £41,000 worth of goods the Net Profit money is just transfered back to BISGHT and counts as expense instead of profit. It means that the unit cost of items is less than it would be if we bought small amounts all the time.
Many thanks to all the volunteers who have volunteered all year and welcomed so many people to Brownsea.
The buggy works well as a means of transport most of the time. There is no requirement for retraining for driving this just familiarise yourself with the controls when you first drive it. Members of public can be taken on the buggy in any emergency situation or let NT staff borrow it again in any situation also can be used to carry NT volunteers or staff if space and needed. We ask volunteers to attend the NT briefing before going up to the outdoor centre. Usually there are enough NT parking permits at Sandbanks for us as well. We ask people to share a car when possible and those of us who can park at Shell Bay and come over on Sandbanks Ferry.
Maureen as ever has done well with the rota and with the new volunteers from last year we can fill more gaps. We thank Maureen for all that she has done doing the rota for so many years. We do need to recruit more volunteers and make it more straightforward for them and agreed that those who are on Girlguiding GO or happy to be put on GO, complete the safeguarding on GO and others complete the Scout safeguarding for which you don’t need to have a membership number, and let Kevin or Angela know they have done it. We are very pleased that Martin Terry has volunteered to take over the rota for 2025 and Eddy Foster will be taking over from Doug Bennett as treasurer for Trading Post and BISGHT.
Val Eddy and I put the neckers back up which several of us took home to wash and iron over the winter. Val has been coopted onto the BISGHT committee as a representative of volunteers as she knows most of the volunteers in both FOGBI and SASU.
New items are playing cards and new fridge magnets otherwise I just bought more of what we already have. The new Necker Badge looks good and is quite unusual so should sell well. A few things have increased in cost slightly, coloured woggles are now £1.50 and the enamel mugs £7.00.
4
## **BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
National Trust reception continue to sell some of our items particularly the squirrels and this works well. We thank them for doing this as it is very helpful for those not able to get as far as the outdoor centre.
Many thanks to everyone for all their hard work.
## _Angela Salter - Trading Post Manager_
## **SCENES Centre**
During 2023 we continued to prepare our submission to The World Scout Bureau for reaccreditation, The peer review is now scheduled to take place in April 2024
## **Friends of Guiding - FOGBI**
We are pleased to report that FOGBI continues to support BISGHT and the National Trust. This year many of our members helped at the Trading Post including some new members which we welcome. The members who volunteer at the Trading Post have enjoyed meeting Scouting and Guiding members from the UK and around the World also the public and promoting the campsite including what’s available on Brownsea Island.
We had a successful AGM at the Quay Hotel in Poole good to meet up with old and new friends and to celebrate our 30[th] Birthday joined by some of the original committee. During the year sadly Liz Smith our Membership Secretary stepped down, but we welcomed Cathy Williams as her replacement. We had a very enjoyable picnic on the Island in July on Church Field inviting Angela Cott NT Brownsea Island Manager to join us and presenting her with a retirement gift. Many of the members took themselves off for a walk and visited the Outdoor Centre and South Shore Lodge. We also enjoyed a fun social evening with a Newspaper Quiz and ploughman’s supper. We have for the first year offered small grants for Dorset Guiding units to come and enjoy Brownsea and few units have participated and enjoyed the magic of Brownsea.
We look forward to working with BISGHT and the National Trust in 2025.
_Chris Gabb – Chairman FOGBI_
## **Scout Active Support – BISASU**
The Unit met on four occasions in 2023 although numbers were small, however. the New Year Luncheon was well attended and a chance to get together with the Service Team (BIST). BIST were also busy on the campsite during the year and have helped with the redevelopment of St. Marks Lodge into a Bothy
## _Kevin Phillips - BISASU Manager_
## **National Trust - Outdoor Holidays**
2023 was a busy season for Brownsea Island campsite. We opened on the 1[st] April and we immediately welcomed a Scout group that had been waiting to visit us since before Covid.
We welcomed over 50 Scout and Guiding groups, including international groups from France, Germany, Portugal, Sri Lanka; and our general bookings were fantastic with many weekends over the summer being fully booked.
Our facilities had a small revamp over winter, including the campsite reception, toilet and shower blocks and were looking fresh and ready for ready for a new season.
We have had several challenges including 50mph winds, blocked toilets, and unusual requests but we had happy campers throughout the season and lots of lovely reviews:
_“The staff and volunteers were wonderful and so very helpful. The site is great and feels very safe for children - and we had a lovely time! We particularly valued and enjoyed the things available for children to do at no extra cost!”_
_“Fabulously helpful staff, and excellent facilities, all on a tremendous island, what more can you ask?”_ Our volunteer teams were very busy helping to keep the campsite looking it’s best and supporting the staff team to provide a warm welcome to everyone who comes to stay.
In June 2023, the National Trust podcast team came to Brownsea Island to record the Wild Escapes podcast which featured the campsite, wildlife on the island and Scouting.
5
## **BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
Projects for the winter of 2023 included renovating St Marks so it could be opened as a Bothy for the 2024 season. What is a bothy?! Bothies offer stripped back accommodation in remote locations. Normally close to walking trails and national parks, they’re a great option for walkers and people who want to get away from it all. Simple brick or stone structures, bothies offer a 'camping with walls' experience. Bothies are also usually self-clean and do not include caretaking. The plan is for St Marks to be a slightly elevated version of the above and will provide a basic accommodation option for those that would like a bit more than camping but a bit less than a bunkhouse! St Marks is now open, and it is fantastic having this building back in use.
This year, we partnered with The Watersports Academy for the season to offer paddleboarding and kayaking from the island. They were based on the island outside the campsite reception and have a small desk and gazebo set up ready to chat to everyone about what they do.
There was an exciting event programme this year and camping was offered as a tag on for many of the events such as ‘Supper and Safari’, ‘Early bird walks’, and ‘Early morning yoga and breakfast’.
Camping was also a highlight in some other events such as the ‘Family Wild Adventures weekend’ which incorporates wildlife, water sports and camping over a weekend in July.
South Shore Lodge continued to be available for up to 12 people if you are coming as a family or friend group, but we also have additional capacity for Scouting and Guiding associated groups.
These groups can have up to 16 stay in South Shore Lodge which gives a great discount of 25%.
## **Chairman's Review**
2023 was a busy year with around 50 groups on the campsite including a number of international groups. Day visitor numbers have also been good which is reflected in increased sales in the Trading Post.
In July, Angela Cott retired as National Trust General Manager, Brownsea Island. Angela joined us in 2007, and her baptism of fire was of course the completion of the Outdoor Centre in time for the Scout Centenary Celebrations on the island. Over the last 16 years Angela worked closely with the Scout & Guide Heritage Trust to secure our relationship with the National Trust. She helped steer us through the many changes and development of the Outdoor Centre and campsite. In October we welcomed Paddy Stennings as the new National Trust General Manager,
At the end of February 2024 Doug Bennett retired as our Treasurer. Doug was appointed in 2003 and played a key role in the transfer from the South Shore Lodge Trust to the Brownsea Island Scout and Guide Heritage Trust and our registration with the Charity Commission We thank Doug for his continued support, diligence, meticulous care and attention to detail over the past 21 years. I am pleased to welcome Eddy Foster, both as a Trustee and our new Treasurer.
As trustees of the Heritage Trust, we look to the achievement of our purpose and objectives. "To advance the education of the public in the history of the Scout and Guide Movements and to promote the development of young people who visit the island.
Finally, my thanks for the support that we receive from Friends of Guiding (FOGBI) and the Scout Active Support Unit (BISASU) volunteers, both in the Trading Post and on the campsite.
_Kevin Phillips - Chairman_
_Georgia Simpkin, Outdoor Holidays Manager — Dorset and Wiltshire_
6
## **BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 29 February 2024**
|**Notes**
**Income & Expenditure**
**Income:**
B.I.Trading Post
9
Interest Receivable
Donations
**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
Camp Site
2
Administration
3
**Other Expenditure**
Governance
4
**Total Expenditure**
**Net Income/(Expenditure) for the year**
**Fund balances brought forward**
**Fund balances carried forward**|**General Funds**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
18,135
23,854
14,108
5,233
4,100
5,548
36,343
34,635
15,400
13,936
8,371
8,715
23,771
22,651
379
361
24,150
23,012
12,193
11,623
446,321
434,698
458,514
446,321|**General Funds**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
18,135
23,854
14,108
5,233
4,100
5,548
36,343
34,635
15,400
13,936
8,371
8,715
23,771
22,651
379
361
24,150
23,012
12,193
11,623
446,321
434,698
458,514
446,321|
|---|---|---|
|||34,635|
|||13,936
8,715|
|||22,651|
|||361|
|||23,012|
|||11,623
434,698|
|||446,321|
The notes on pages 9 and 10 form part of these accounts.
7
## **BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
## **Balance Sheet as at 29 February 2024**
|**Notes**
**Fixed Assets**
5
**Current Assets**
Cash at Bank and in Hand
Deposit Account
Current Accounts
B.I.Trading Post account
Debtors and Prepayments
6
**Current**
**Liabilities**
Sundry Creditors
7
**Net Current**
**Assets**
**Net Assets**
represented by
**Funds**
General Purposes|**2024**
**£**
112,139
281,000
36,397
317,397
34,877
2,538
354,812
8,437
346,375
458,514
458,514|**2023**
**£**
126,409|
|---|---|---|
|||281,000
20,939|
|||301,939
25,470
1,013|
|||328,422
8,510|
|||319,912
446,321|
|||446,321|
Approved by the Trustees on 26[th] October 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
KEVIN PHILLIPS
Chairman
EDDY FOSTER on behalf of DOUGLAS BENNETT Treasurer
The notes on pages 9 and 10 form part of these accounts.
8
**BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year to 29 February 2024**
## **1. Accounting Policies**
## **1a. General**
These Accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention, in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting by Charities (Charities SORP 2005).
## **1b. Fixed Assets**
Equipment costing less than £500 per individual item is written off to the income and expenditure account in the period of acquisition. All other equipment is capitalised at cost and depreciated over its expected useful life by equal amounts each year at the rate of up to 20%.
On 21st February 2008, a twenty-five-year lease was granted by the National Trust to South Shore Lodge Trust in respect of the Baden-Powell Outdoor Centre. The cost of the building was shared between South Shore Lodge Trust and the National Trust. The lease has now been transferred to this Trust and the costs of the building (including fixtures and fittings) not already written off by South Shore Lodge Trust is being amortised over the remainder of the lease.
|**2. Camp Site Expenses**
Maintenance and Equipment
Lease Amortisation
Depreciation
Insurance
Display costs
Miscellaneous
**3. Administration**
National Trust Management
Travel expenses
Printing, stationery and postage
Telephone
Bank charges
Council Rates
Miscellaneous
**4. Governance**
Annual General Meeting|**2024**
**£**
0
11,623
2,647
1,068
0
62
15,400
**2024**
**£**
8,000
255
0
0
82
22
12
8,371
**2024**
**£**
379|**2023**
**£**
0
11,623
2,313
0
0
0|
|---|---|---|
|||13,936|
|||**2023**
**£**
8,000
432
46
102
99
36
0|
|||8,715|
|||**2023**
**£**
361|
9
## **BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year to 29 February 2024 (Continued)**
|**5.**
**Fixed Assets**
**Cost or Valuation**
At 1 March 2023
Additions during Year
At 29 February 2024
**Amortisation &**
**Depreciation**
At 1 March 2023
Charge for period
At 29 February 2024
**Net Book Value**
At 1 March 2023
At 29 February 2024
6.
**Debtors**
Prepayments
Sundry debtors
7.
**Creditors**
Sundry creditors
National Trust|**Leasehold**
**Property**
£
232,206
0
232,206
116,233
11,623
127,856
115,973
104,350|**Campsite**
**Equipment**
£
18,946
0
18,946
8,510
2,647
11,157
10,436
7,789
**2024**
**£**
0
2,538
2,538
**2024**
**£**
437
8,000
8,437|**Total**
£
251,152
0|
|---|---|---|---|
||||251,152|
||||124,743
14,270|
||||139,013
126,409|
||||112,139|
||||**2023**
**£**
0
1,013|
||||1,013|
||||**2023**
**£**
510
8,000|
||||8,510|
## 8. **Trustees' Remuneration and Expenses**
A total of £1,615 (2023 £1,025) expenses was incurred by two (2023 two) trustees during the year. These expenses were for amounts paid out on behalf of the Trust and travelling costs in attending to Trust business. None of the Trustees nor any person connected with them has received or is due to receive any remuneration for work done for the Trust.
## 9. **Contingent Liability**
B.I.Trading Post, a company limited by guarantee, is a subsidiary of this Trust. In the event that the company is wound up whilst this Trust is a member or within one year after ceasing to be a member, this Trust has agreed to pay up to £1 towards the company's assets.
10
## **BROWNSEA ISLAND SCOUT & GUIDE HERITAGE TRUST Charity No. 1146810**
## **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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept by the Trustees as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the 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 accounts to be reached.
JB CROUCH
Date: 6/10/2024
11