## **Trustees Annual Report For the financial year ending 31[st] March 2023** ## **Charity Name: Charity Number** Maidstone East District Scout Council 1022013 ## **The District Trustee Board** District Chair Pam Mead District Commissioner Linda Waring District Treasurer Patrick Mayo District Secretary Ian Wickenden DECS Mark Price District Youth Commissioner Vacant District Network Commissioner Ben Homewood Trustee Julie McGowan Trustee Jane Griffiths Trustee Matthew Paramor Trustee Victoria Bagley The District’s governing documents are those of 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 Association. The District is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts. The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy Organisation and Rules of the Scout Association. The District is managed by the District Trustee Board. The members of which are the charity trustees of the District 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 board consists of 3 independent representatives, Chair, Treasurer and Secretary together with the individual section leader Explorer Units and meets every 3 months. Members of the Trustee Board complete Essential Information, Safety, Safeguarding, GDPR and Trustee Introduction training within the first 5 months of joining the Board. The District Trustee Board exists to support the District Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of the appointment and is responsible for: - The maintenance of property, if applicable - The insurance of persons, property and equipment, where appropriate - The administration of District finance - Assisting in the recruitment of leaders and other adult support - Appointing any sub-committees that may be required - Appointing Administrators and Advisors other than those who are elected ## **Risk and Internal Control** The District has in place systems of internal control that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss; these include 2 signatories for all payments and where comprehensive insurance cover is provided by the Scout Association. ## **The Purpose of Scouting** Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, 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 – make a positive difference; we co-operate 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 Maidstone East District encourages both young people and adults to challenge themselves to explore new and exciting activities within their sections and overseas. Where appropriate the district will make a financial contribution. 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. Recent changes in management of the District is a continuing process as appropriate ## **Financial Review** The District’s policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the District to support its member Groups should anything happen to require such support. Income and Expenditure is monitored regularly, reconciled monthly and reported to every meeting of the Trustee Board. The Trustee Board ensured that the Districts HQ was fit for purpose which incurred extra expense in this financial year. This enable the building to be used for more activities plus more units using the facilities on a weekly basis. Future plans are to increase usage of the HQ. Growth in the district will increase in 2023/24 having opened 3 new sections called Drey’s for 4-6 years old in February 2023 and a further 2 will be opened in September 2023. As well as reducing waiting lists by recruiting new leaders The Trust continues to keep up to date with the governance in the district for the young people and leaders. Pamela Mead Chair Trustee Board 24 August 2023 Registered Charity No. 1197778 |**INCOME**|||**EXPENDITURE**|| |---|---|---|---|---| |Opening Balance|1741.80||H3G Mobile|144.40| |Cash in Hand||17.60|Plusnet Broadband|453.36| |Transferred to bank account|||Access Insurance Brokers|378.94| ||||PPL - Music Licences|454.80| |LankyKats||500.00|HBA Membership Subscription|50.00| |G.S Sykes – donation||20.00|Ofcom Annual Licence|350.00| |Cash donations for OBs||60.00|Mixer desk|211.34| |Refund for LED Display||99.99||| |from Amazon||||| |Just Giving M. Morris||530.00||| |Closing Bank Balance|1176.55| |---|---| |Cash in Hand|0.00| ---------2969.39 ---------- ---------2969.39 ---------- Income over Expenditure |Income|1227.59| |---|---| |Expenditure|1792.84| ||----------| |Loss for the Year|565.25| ||----------| I have examined the books and other records maintained by the treasurer and confirm that the accounts presented agree therewith. Signature Date Page 1