SECOND BENGEO GROUP TRUST BOARD ANNUAL REPORT
I welcome you to the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the 2[nd] Bengeo Scout Group Trust Board.
As always when I write this, I reflect on my comments from a year ago and the many challenges that we faced as a group. It is reassuring to see great progress with both the operation of Scouting activities and the behind-the-scenes work in terms of maintenance of the Scout group, but most importantly, huge achievements in terms of fundraising. We have much to thank Pauline Page for her time and commitment to securing significant donations from a wide range of bodies that now support Scouting.
Managing a large but old building is a “Fourth Road Bridge” project – the repair and maintenance never ends…. Without the support of everyone within the group, leaders, volunteers who support Scout groups, and everyone on the Trust Board, we could not function so successfully. We are hugely fortunate to have a wide range of skills to support the group, from fundraising through to managing the statutory legal responsibilities that we have as a Trust Board.
Once again, we have collectively shown that the Second Bengeo Scout Group is strong, resilient and able to continue Scouting activities in all its forms. We are prepared. Nonetheless, and as always, we would welcome more volunteers to both support Scouting activities and the trust Board because challenges do remain. The most important of which is group leadership. At present we have vacancies for more Team members (Assistant leaders & helpers) in Scouts, Thursday Cubs and both Beaver Colonies.
Without Leaders, Scouting cannot happen. Therefore, my primary message again is to urge every parent/carer of our young people to consider if they are able to step up and offer to support our activities. Everyone who has been involved as a Leader will tell you how incredibly rewarding it is working with young people. If you have any questions about what the roles involve, please talk to Debbie Ryan, our Group Scout Leader. You can contact her by phone on: 07802 376198
Moving onto other matters, 8 years ago in 2017 we made the important announcement that we had secured a 40 year lease on our Scout hut. That means the future of Scouting is as good as 100% secure on the site for at least as long as I will be involved in Scouting. However, that has come at a cost and we now pay a rent of £3000 per year. We could not afford to pay this if it were not for the fundraising activities.
Moving on, we should pay our usual tribute to the many leaders and supporters who ensure that your children have high quality, high value activities, including the evening meetings, camps and other trips. The Scout group is a collective of many willing and enthusiastic individuals, particularly those who run the many Scouting groups under the 2[nd ] Bengeo umbrella. They put in huge amounts of time to provide varied and fun activities for all our members. I would like to extend our thanks to them in the usual manner.
Despite everything, the Group continues to maintain its very healthy roll, having grown considerably in previous years. This is a particular tribute to the great programmes of activities organised by the leaders. We are especially pleased that we now have two Beaver packs and that is a recognition of the continued enthusiasm for Scouting. It is also good news for the overall health and longevity of our Scout groups as the young Scouts work their way through various tiers of Scouting.
Scouting is a not-for-profit organisation; the leaders are unpaid, there are no profits and any surpluses generated from your child’s subscriptions are ploughed straight back into the Group and invested into new equipment, energy costs and general maintenance costs associated with our building. Without your payment of the very modest subscriptions, Scouting could not continue.
I would also take this opportunity again to remind parents of the East Herts lottery, where 50p of every ticket purchased goes straight to the group.
The Trust Board members through the year have been Laura Wyer (Secretary), John Alflat (Treasurer), Jon Durbin (Chair), Simon Green, Garry Fawbert, Pauline Page and, in the role of Lead Volunteer, Debbie Ryan. Our thanks go also to others who help with the maintenance and housekeeping of the building and grounds.
One of the formalities of the meeting is elect the chair, Treasurer and Secretary. The existing appointees will be asked to confirm if they wish to stand again, and any persons wishing to seek appointment to those posts can also put themselves forward at the meeting
Other formalities we will cover at the meeting include voting to confirm the Group’s constitution.
If you have any suggestions about any matter relating to the running of the committee or the Group, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Thank you.
Jon Durbin, Chair - On behalf of the 2[nd] Bengeo Scout Group
Charity number 1146889
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Page | 1
2nd Bengeo Scout Group
Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
- CONTENTS Page 3 Treasurer’s Report 6 Independent Examiner’s Report 7 Statement of Income and Expenditure 8 Balance Sheet 9 Notes to the accounts
Page | 2
2nd Bengeo Scout Group
Treasurer’s Report for the year ended 31 December 2024
I am pleased to present the unaudited accounts for the Group for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 9.
Financial position
The group ended 2024 with cash balances of £37,040 (2023: £28,213), an increase over the year of £8,827. This excess of income over expenditure was largely due to the receipt of 3 separate grants from the council totalling £16,549.
Of these grants, £10,759 directly supported a significant amount of repairs and maintenance relating to new gates and perimeter fencing, with the remainder intended for future projects.
Income
Income for 2024 was £44,073 compared to £28,132 in 2023. Income from subscriptions is the main regular source of income and contributed £15,874 (2023: 12,845). Income was helped by fundraising income and gift aid collections, and most significantly grants received this year of £16,549 (2023: £nil).
As well as vitally important subscription income, the group raised income from other sources, including hiring out the scout hut £1,789 (2023: £1,168), donations £700 (2023: £1,527) and fundraising £1,840 (£3,667), analysed further on.
Main sources of income by percentage 2024 v 2023 are shown below
Page | 3
The fundraising is analysed as follows:
Expenditure
The main sources of expenditure (net of the offset from income received) in 2024 and 2023 are shown in the following table. The key difference in 2024 compared to 2023 is that repairs and maintenance was significant, with perimeter fencing and gates (being covered by grant income) and guttering and fascia works having been carried out.
How your subs were spent in 2024:
The chart below shows how this expenditure is covered by income from subscriptions and gift aid collections. This is useful in showing the extent to which the group’s basic requirements are covered
Page | 4
in this way, and that fundraising and donations are required to finance any special projects and ensure sustainability.
As can be seen above, whilst subs are a significant source of income, the costs of running the group and maintaining the premises need to be further supported by additional fundraising. Scout leaders and trustees are all volunteers and do not get paid.
The accounts for the group are set out on the following pages.
John Alflatt
Group Treasurer
1[st] March 2025
Page | 5
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Independent examiner's report to the Trustees
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2024.
This report is made solely to the Group's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Group'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 Group and the Group's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the Trustees of the Group you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). I report in respect of my examination of the Group'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 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Group as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
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.
Name: Andrew Lane
Relevant professional qualification or body : ACCA
Address: 238 Station Road, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2PS
Date: 22 September 2025
Page | 6
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Page | 7
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
Page | 8
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP
NOTES TO ACCOUNTS
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
- Accruals
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent duepaid in subsequentperiod | 750 | 750 |
Page | 9
Charity number 1146889
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Page | 1
2nd Bengeo Scout Group
Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
- CONTENTS Page 3 Treasurer’s Report 6 Independent Examiner’s Report 7 Statement of Income and Expenditure 8 Balance Sheet 9 Notes to the accounts
Page | 2
2nd Bengeo Scout Group
Treasurer’s Report for the year ended 31 December 2024
I am pleased to present the unaudited accounts for the Group for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 9.
Financial position
The group ended 2024 with cash balances of £37,040 (2023: £28,213), an increase over the year of £8,827. This excess of income over expenditure was largely due to the receipt of 3 separate grants from the council totalling £16,549.
Of these grants, £10,759 directly supported a significant amount of repairs and maintenance relating to new gates and perimeter fencing, with the remainder intended for future projects.
Income
Income for 2024 was £44,073 compared to £28,132 in 2023. Income from subscriptions is the main regular source of income and contributed £15,874 (2023: 12,845). Income was helped by fundraising income and gift aid collections, and most significantly grants received this year of £16,549 (2023: £nil).
As well as vitally important subscription income, the group raised income from other sources, including hiring out the scout hut £1,789 (2023: £1,168), donations £700 (2023: £1,527) and fundraising £1,840 (£3,667), analysed further on.
Main sources of income by percentage 2024 v 2023 are shown below
Page | 3
The fundraising is analysed as follows:
Expenditure
The main sources of expenditure (net of the offset from income received) in 2024 and 2023 are shown in the following table. The key difference in 2024 compared to 2023 is that repairs and maintenance was significant, with perimeter fencing and gates (being covered by grant income) and guttering and fascia works having been carried out.
How your subs were spent in 2024:
The chart below shows how this expenditure is covered by income from subscriptions and gift aid collections. This is useful in showing the extent to which the group’s basic requirements are covered
Page | 4
in this way, and that fundraising and donations are required to finance any special projects and ensure sustainability.
As can be seen above, whilst subs are a significant source of income, the costs of running the group and maintaining the premises need to be further supported by additional fundraising. Scout leaders and trustees are all volunteers and do not get paid.
The accounts for the group are set out on the following pages.
John Alflatt
Group Treasurer
1[st] March 2025
Page | 5
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Independent examiner's report to the Trustees
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2024.
This report is made solely to the Group's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Group'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 Group and the Group's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the Trustees of the Group you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). I report in respect of my examination of the Group'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 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Group as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
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.
Name: Andrew Lane
Relevant professional qualification or body : ACCA
Address: 238 Station Road, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2PS
Date: 22 September 2025
Page | 6
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Page | 7
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
Page | 8
2[ND] BENGEO SCOUT GROUP
NOTES TO ACCOUNTS
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
- Accruals
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent duepaid in subsequentperiod | 750 | 750 |
Page | 9