## Trustees' Annual Report 

## For the period 

|From (start date)|**0**|**1**|**0**|**1**|**2**|**4**|**4**|**4**|**4**|**3**|**1**|**1**|**2**|**2**|**4**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||||||||||
|**Section A**|||**Reference and administration**|||||||**details**||||||
|Charity name<br>Other names the charity is known by<br>Registered charity number (if any)<br>HQ registration number<br>Charity’s principal address||||||||||||||||
||||1st Chopwell Scout Group|||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||||
||||1|1|8|7|8|4|1|||||||
||||1<br>1<br>6<br>6<br>5|||||||||||||
||||Lenin Terrace|||||||||||||
||||Chopwell|||||||||||||
||||Tyne & Wear|||||||||||||
||||Postcode||||||NE17 7EN|||||||



## 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)_ 

|1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15|**Trustee Name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not**<br>**for whole year**|
|---|---|---|---|
||James Houghton|Chair||
||Jenny Stubbs|Treasurer||
||Judith Alderson|Secretary||
||Brian Stubbs|Lead Volunteer||
||Donna Ion|||
||Jamie Ion|||
||Jon Morris|||
||Alistair Clamp||22/10-31/12|
||Bryan Ion||01/01-22/10|
||Sally Duffy||01/01-22/10|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||



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 

1  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



## **Section B** 

## **Structure, governance and management** 

|Description of the charity’s trusts<br>(e.g. trust deed, constitution)<br>Type of governing document<br>(e.g. appointed by, elected by)<br>Trustee selection methods<br>(e.g. trust, association, company)<br>How the charity is constituted||
|---|---|
||The Group's governing documents are those of the The<br>Scout Association. They consist of a Royal Charter, which in<br>turn gives authority to the Bye Laws of the Association and<br>The Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout<br>Association.|
|||
||The Group is a trust established under its rules which are<br>common to all Scouts.|
|||
||The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy,<br>Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.|



Additional governance issues (optional information but encouraged as best practice) 

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about: 

Policies and procedures adopted for: a) the induction and training of trustees; b) trustee' consideration of major risks and the systems and procedures to manage them 

The Group is managed by the Group Trustee Board, the 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. 

The Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer and 6 Trustees and meets every 6 months. 

Members of the Trustee Board complete Being a Scouts Trustee learning within the first 6 months of joining the Board. 

This Group 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 highquality and safe programmes that gives young people skills for life. 

2  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



|**Section B**|**Structure, governance and management (continued)**|
|---|---|
||The Group Trustee Board has identified the major risks to<br>which they believe the Group is exposed, these have been<br>reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate<br>against them. The main areas of concern that have been<br>identified are:<br>Damage to equipment. The Group has sufficient insurance<br>in place to mitigate against permanent loss, and on a new<br>for old basis.<br>Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members. The<br>Group through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout<br>Associations national accident insurance policy. Risk<br>Assessments are undertaken before all activities.<br>Reduced income from fund raising. The Group is primarily<br>reliant upon income from subscriptions and fundraising. The<br>group does hold a reserve to ensure the continuity of<br>activities should there be a major reduction in income. The<br>Board could raise the value of subscriptions to increase the<br>income to the group on an ongoing basis, either temporarily<br>or permanently.<br>Reduction or loss of trustees / leaders. The group is totally<br>reliant upon volunteers to run and administer the activities of<br>the group. If there was a reduction in the number of leaders<br>to an unacceptable level in a particular section or the group<br>as a whole then there would have to be a contraction,<br>consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst case<br>scenario the complete closure of the Group.<br>Reduction or loss of members. The Group provides activities<br>for all young people aged 4 to 18. If there was a reduction in<br>membership in a particular section or the group as whole<br>then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or<br>closure of a section. In the worst case scenario the complete<br>closure of the Group.<br>The group has in place systems of internal controls that are<br>designed to provide reasonable assurance against material<br>mismanagement or loss, these include 2 signatories for all<br>payments and a comprehensive insurance policies to ensure<br>that insurable risks are covered.|



3  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



|**Section C**|**Objectives and activities**|
|---|---|
|Summary of the objects of the charity set<br>out in its governing document|**The Purpose of Scouting**<br>Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people<br>in their personal development,<br>empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.<br>**The Values of Scouting**<br>As Scouts we are guided by these values:<br>**Integrity -**We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy<br>and loyal.<br>**Respect -**We have self-respect and respect for others.<br>**Care -**We support others and take care of the world in<br>which we live.<br>**Belief -**We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes.<br>**Co-operation -**We make a positive difference; we co-<br>operate with others and make friends.<br>**The Scout Method**<br>Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with<br>adults, work together based on the<br>values of Scouting and:<br>- enjoy what they are doing and have fun<br>- take part in activities indoors and outdoors<br>- learn by doing<br>- share in spiritual reflection<br>- take responsibility and make choices<br>- undertake new and challenging activities<br>- make and live by their Promise.|



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

|You**may choose**to include further<br>statements, where relevant, about:<br>• policy on grantmaking;<br>• contribution made by volunteers;<br>• policy on investments.<br>Public benefit statement||
|---|---|
|||
||The Group meets the Charity Commission's public benefit<br>criteria under both the advancement of education and the<br>advancement of citizenship or community development<br>headings.|



|**Section D**|**Achievements and performance**|
|---|---|
|Summary of the main achievements of<br>the charity during the year||
||2024 was a busy year for us. We had a large grant from the<br>Youth Investment Fund to allow a new accessible toilet,<br>solar panels, heating and insulation. This has improved our<br>building for the future. Our ~40 members have attended<br>weekly meetings, undertaken camps and joined in with<br>district, county and national events.|



4  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



|**Section E**|**Financial Review**|
|---|---|
|Quantify and explain any designations<br>Details of any funds materially in deficit<br>(circumstances plus steps to eliminate)<br>Brief statement of the charity’s policy on<br>reserves|The Group held reserves of approximately £20,000 against<br>this at year end. This is above the level/below required for<br>operating expenses. However this can be explained by grant<br>funding remaining in the account due to be paid in January<br>2025.<br>**Reserves Policy**<br>The<br>Group's<br>policy<br>on<br>reserves<br>is<br>to<br>hold<br>sufficient<br>resources to continue the charitable activities of the group<br>should income and fundraising activities fall short. The<br>Group Trustee Board considers that the group should hold a<br>sum equivalent to 12 months running costs, circa £2000.|
|||
|||



Further financial review details (optional information) 

You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about: • the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); The Group's Income and Expenditure is very small and as a consequence does not have sufficient funds to invest in longer-term investments such as stocks and shares. The Group has therefore adopted a low risk strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks or building societies. • how expenditure has supported the key The Group Trustee Board regularly monitors the levels of objectives of the charity; bank balances and the interest rates received to ensure the group obtains maximum value and income from its banking arrangements. Occasionally this may involve using an account that requires a period of notice before funds may be withdrawn, before doing so the Group Trustee Board considers the cash flow requirements. • investment policy and objectives; 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. 

**Section F Other Optional Information** 

5  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



Plans for future periods (details of any significant activities planned to achieve them) 

Spend remaining grant funding and donations on kitchen and improved outdoor space. Continue to run a great programme for our young people. 

6  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



## **Section G** 

## **Declaration** 

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees 

|Signature(s)<br>Full name(s)<br>Date<br>Position (eg Secretary, Chair)||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||
||James Houghton||||||JennyStubbs|
|||||||||
||Chair||||||Treasurer|
||D<br>D<br>M<br>M<br>Y<br>Y|||||||
||D|D|M|M|Y|Y||



7  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



## **1st Chopwell Scout Group** 

_**1st January 2024 - 31st December 2024 Accounts**_ 

|**Receipts and Payments**||**Page 1**|
|---|---|---|
|**Fund Raising**<br>**Activities**<br>Sale of GroupScarves<br>Gift Aid HMRC<br>Beaver Picnic<br>Confido Scout Camp<br>Radio Hire<br>Youth Investment Fund<br>District Pantomime<br>Night Hike<br>Pete SwinneyTrophy<br>District Cub Camp<br>Beaver/Cub BigDayOut<br>Christmas Raffle<br>Christmas Crash<br>**Sub total**<br>EasyFundraising<br>**Donations, legacies & similar income**<br>Donations<br>**Sub total**<br>**Receipts**<br>Amazon Smile<br>Groundworks(Tesco)<br>**Sub total**<br>Savings Account Interest<br>**Investment Income**<br>Membershipsubscriptions<br>**Sub total**<br>**Grants**<br>**Sub total**<br>GroupMerchandise<br>Gateshead Council PlanningPermission Refund<br>Cubboree<br>Kayaking<br>Winter CampFees<br>Solar Panel Export<br>**_Total receipts_**|**Unrestricted funds**<br>**2024**<br>£<br>3,270.00<br>5465.25<br>8,735.25<br>0.00<br>43,917.50<br>740.30<br>44,657.80<br>57.34<br>0.00<br>40.00<br>97.34<br>405.00<br>459.00<br>0.00<br>25.00<br>205.00<br>0.00<br>0.00<br>0.00<br>380.00<br>0.00<br>40.00<br>326.00<br>431.00<br>825.00<br>81.15<br>293.00<br>3,470.15<br>102.20<br>102.20<br>57,062.74|**Unrestricted funds**<br>**2023**<br>£|
||||
|||3,190.00|
|||320.53|
|||3,510.53|
||||
||||
|||1,482.00|
|||0.00|
|||741.22|
|||2,223.22|
||||
||||
|||105.33|
|||49.11|
|||44.50|
|||198.94|
||||
||||
|||0.00|
|||610.50|
|||66.00|
|||40.00|
|||445.00|
|||120.00|
|||409.00|
|||54.00|
|||540.00|
|||40.00|
|||0.00|
|||0.00|
|||0.00|
|||0.00|
|||0.00|
|||0.00|
|||2,324.50|
||||
||||
|||80.65|
|||80.65|
||||
||57,062.74|8,337.84|





## **1st Chopwell Scout Group** 

_**1st January 2024 - 31st December 2024 Accounts**_ 

|**Receipts and Payments Continued...**|||**Page 2**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Misc Payments**<br>Cub Scout Blaydon District Fees<br>**Sub total**<br>Confido CampFees Scouts<br>Consumables<br>Christmas Crash<br>**_Total payments_**<br>**_Net of receipts / (payments)_**<br>**Transfers between funds**<br>PoppyWreath<br>**Sub total**<br>**Payments**<br>Insurance<br>**Total last year end**<br>**_Total Cash funds this year end_**<br>Christmas Raffle<br>Cubboree<br>Halloween Party<br>Electricity<br>Water<br>Premises Maintenance<br>LotteryLicence<br>Trainingand Competitions Pete SwinneyTrophy<br>Beaver/Cubs Fees BigDayOUT/Picnic<br>District Pantomime<br>Premises Improvements<br>**Sub total**<br>**Events & Activities**<br>**Premises/ Improvements**<br>Miscellaneous<br>Winter Cub / Scout Camp<br>Flo Gas<br>Night Hike<br>Membershipsubscriptionspaid to District<br>**Charitable Payments**<br>**Sub total**<br>Group,Scout,Cub and Beaver Programmes<br>KayakingFees<br>New Equipment Purchases|**Unrestricted funds**<br>**2024**<br>£<br>1,224.00<br>1,224.00<br>822.23<br>530.84<br>266.00<br>76.88<br>863.00<br>44,573.50<br>47,132.45<br>1,119.43<br>0.00<br>459.00<br>40.00<br>0.00<br>166.23<br>30.00<br>0.00<br>336.00<br>0.00<br>0.00<br>445.00<br>0.00<br>0.00<br>450.00<br>817.51<br>3,863.17<br>21.03<br>188.47<br>209.50||**Unrestricted funds**<br>**2023**<br>£|
|||||
||||1,455.00|
||||1,455.00|
|||||
|||||
||||466.45|
||||247.67|
||||215.64|
||||270.64|
||||384.00|
||||0.00|
||||1,584.40|
|||||
|||||
||||538.60|
||||35.57|
||||610.50|
||||120.00|
||||20.00|
||||40.00|
||||30.00|
||||1,589.83|
||||0.00|
||||445.00|
||||149.00|
||||540.00|
||||72.05|
||||52.60|
||||0.00|
||||0.00|
||||4,243.15|
|||||
|||||
||||0.00|
||||236.24|
||||236.24|
|||||
||52,429.12||7,518.79|
||4,633.62||819.05|
||0.00||0.00|
||17,154.57||16,335.52|
||21,788.19||17,154.57|





_**1st January 2024 - 31st December 2024 Accounts**_ 

## **1st Chopwell Scout Group** 

|**Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 December 2024**|**Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 December 2024**|**Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 December 2024**|**Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 December 2024**|**Page 3**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Non Monetary assets**<br>**Cash funds**|Solar Panels & Battery<br>Badge Stock<br>Group Scarves<br>Fixtures & Fittings<br>Technology<br>Scout Trailer<br>Camping Equipment<br>Scout HQ<br>Current Account<br>Savings Account<br>**_Total cash funds_**<br>**Details**<br>Tents & Shelters<br>**Details**|**Unrestricted funds**<br>**2024**<br>£<br>12,439.87<br>9,348.32||**Unrestricted funds**<br>**2023**<br>£|
|||12,439.87||7,908.45|
|||9,348.32||9,246.12|
|||21,788.19||17,154.57|
|||Current value<br>127,839.00<br>1,500.00<br>1,271.25<br>35.66<br>383.19<br>38.70<br>68.42<br>20.00<br>8,347.50<br>Amount due||2023|
|||||127,839.00|
|||||1,500.00|
|||||1,528.25|
|||||164.70|
|||||569.45|
|||||140.61|
|||||52.95|
|||||45.00|
||||||
|||||2023|
||||||



## **Liabilities** 

The above receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by 

||Signature|Print Name|Date of approval|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|**Notes to accounts**|||**Page 3**|



£2500 Reserved towards 1 year of group running costs 

£1000 Reserved for group development / advertising / growth 



Group
I report to the trustees on my eXa￿natiOn of the accounts of the Chopwell
Scout Group for the year ended 31 Dec￿))er 2024.
R•$pons￿lI￿￿•￿ and b•8iS 0£ r•port
As the charity trustees of the Chopwell Scout Group you are iesponslble for the
preparation of the accounts in accordance with the require￿entS of the
Chaiities Act 2011 1.the Act, ).
Eeport in re3pect of ]rLy examination of the ChoFwell Scout Group accounts
carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my
exarrination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity
Co]trrission un¢Jer section 145151 Ib) of the Act.
I have completed rny exajoination. I confixm that no ￿￿terIal ]tÉtters have come
to ]ny attention in conneetion with the exa￿nation giving rne cause to believe
that in any material respect:
accounting Eecords were not kept in respect of the Chopwell Scout Group
a5 required by section 130 of the Act." or
the acCoL￿tS do not accotd with those records: or
the accotsnts Ik> not ccryllply with the applicable requirements eoncerning
the forn and content of accounts set out ￿ the Charitie5 IAccount$ and
Reports) Regulations 2008 othÈE than any req￿lreTrent that the accounts
give a 'true and fair View which is Dot a Trattet considered a5 part of
an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have ccone across no other matters in connection with the
Èxarnination to attention should be drawn in this rewrt in order to
enable a proper widerstanding of the accounts to be rea¢hed.
Signed:
Name: Graha]n Elder
Address: I Cloverhill Drive, Crawcrook. Tyne and Wear.
Date: 20 octoE￿r 2025