## **GSE UK (Scouts of Europe – United Kingdom)** **Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ending November 30 2025 Registered Charity Number: 1198968** ## **1. Reference and Administrative Details** **Charity name:** GSE UK (Scouts of Europe – United Kingdom) **Registered charity number:** 1198968 ## **2. Structure, Governance and Management** GSE UK is a registered charity governed by a charitable constitution. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the governing document and are responsible for strategic oversight, safeguarding, financial management, and compliance with charity law. This year, the charity initiated development of a **federated governance model** , enabling local groups to become independent charitable entities aligned under a unified national safeguarding and educational framework. Four national subcommittees were established: **1. Safeguarding Subcommittee** **2. Finance & Operations Subcommittee** **3. Formation & Training Subcommittee** ## **4. Communications & Outreach Subcommittee** Trustees have prioritised strengthening policies, systems and accountability to match the rapid growth of the association. ## **3. Objectives and Activities** ## **Charitable Objectives** The charity’s purpose is: **“To develop good citizenship, character and Christian beliefs among young people who are both self-reliant and useful to others by embodying the practice of scouting, as inherited from Robert Baden-Powell and enriched by Fr Jacques Sevin.”** ## **Public Benefit Statement** The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. All scouting activities—training, camps, formation, mentoring, and youth development—are provided for the public benefit without discrimination and support the physical, moral, and spiritual development of young people. ## **Core Activities** GSE UK provides: - Weekly scouting programmes for boys and girls aged 6–17 - Residential camps, pilgrimages, outdoor activities and service projects - Leadership formation rooted in Christian anthropology - Training for adult volunteers - Resources for families, parishes, and schools Funds are spent on: - Camp facilities and equipment - Leader training and safeguarding compliance - Programme materials and publications - National coordination, governance and insurance - Development of translated and standardised pedagogical resources ## **4. Achievements and Performance** ## **1. Rapid Growth of Membership** The association has grown from small pioneering groups to a national Catholic scouting movement. **2024–2025 membership: 275 young people and 54 leaders** across six active locations: - Gateshead - Bedford (I & II) - Kensington - Southwark - Birmingham - Surrey (emerging group) Growth has averaged **~40% per year** , driven solely by parental demand and organic parish outreach. ## **2. Expansion of National Structures** Significant progress was made this year in formalising national governance and strengthening operational capacity: - Creation of **four national subcommittees** - National safeguarding lead appointed - Standardised risk assessment processes introduced - New national onboarding pack for groups (launching 2025) - Migration to Google Workspace for GDPR-compliant national communication - Development of English-language scouting materials and translations ## **3. Safeguarding Strengthened** Safeguarding has been the highest priority: - Introduction of safeguarding minimum standards - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) appointed for each group - Safer recruitment practices, ID verification and DBS monitoring expanded - Leaders began NSPCC safeguarding training cycle - Engagement opened with Catholic diocesan safeguarding professionals - No safeguarding incidents reported during the year ## **4. National and Local Scouting Activities** Major activities included: - **Gateshead Summer Camp** - **Bedford Wolfcub Camp** - Local weekly troop activities, hikes, service projects - Leader training weekends with international FSE instructors - National magazine _Scouting Spirit_ published twice annually (2,000 copies) ## **5. Strengthening Church and International Relations** - Growing recognition in Catholic parishes and dioceses - Contact maintained with French, Irish, and other European associations - Planning underway for greater participation in international camps and training ## **5. Financial Review** ## **Income** Income was generated through: - Membership donations - Family contributions for camps - Grants and private donations - Sales of publications and materials ## **Expenditure** The main areas of charitable spend were: - Camps and outdoor activities - Training and safeguarding - Programme materials and translations - National administration and communications ## **Reserves Policy** The trustees aim to maintain reserves sufficient to ensure: - Programme continuity - Compliance with safeguarding and training obligations - Ability to respond to rapid growth in demand ## **Risk Management** Key risks identified and actions taken: - **Safeguarding:** strengthened policies, DSL network, audit plan - **Governance:** migrating to federated model to reduce trustee liability - **Volunteer capacity:** new formation pipelines for leaders - **Documentation and pedagogy:** major translation and standardisation project underway ## **6. Plans for Future Periods (2025–2026)** The charity has entered a phase of consolidation and professionalisation. Planned priorities include: - Implementing the federated governance model - Completing a full national safeguarding audit - Publishing the national onboarding and training pathway - Appointing Yellow/Green Branch Commissioners - Establishing a national religious advisor team - Launching national training camps - Growing to **6–8 fully operational groups nationwide** - Running the **National Camp 2026 (North Yorkshire)** - Enhancing visibility within the Catholic Church in the UK ## **7. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities** The trustees are responsible for: - Ensuring the preparation of proper accounting records - Safeguarding the charity’s assets - Preparing financial statements that comply with the Charities Act 2011 - Ensuring the charity operates for public benefit - Managing risks, including safeguarding and financial oversight ## **8. Approval** This report was approved by the trustees on: **Wednesday 26 November 2025** **Signed on behalf of the Board: Name: Robert Colquhoun Position:** Trustee **Signature: Robert Colquhoun** ## **GSE U.K** **Statement of financial activities** (incorporating an income and expenditure account) |||**For the**|**year ended 31**| |---|---|---|---| |**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Admin
Books
Equipment
Events
Food & Drink
Insurance
Postage
Print
Safeguarding
Stationery
Stipend
Training
Travel
Uniform
Venue Hire
Website
**Total expenditure**
**Net income / (expenditure) for the year**
Transfers between funds
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
**Net income / (expenditure) before net**
**gains / (losses) on investments**|**Unrestricted**
£
2,756
33,937
-|**Restricted**
£
-
-
-|**2025**
**Total**
**£**
**2,756**
**33,937**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**36,693**
**4,191**
**838**
**11,484**
**2,474**
**1,981**
**349**
**105**
**278**
**111**
**(15)**
**310**
**200**
**664**
**4,420**
**3,351**
**393**
31,133
**5,560**
5,560 -
**-**
**5,560**
**(1,387)**
**4,173**| ||36,693|-|| ||4,191
838
11,484
2,474
1,981
349
105
278
111
(15)
310
200
664
4,420
3,351
393||| ||31,133|-|| ||5,560|-|| ||4,173|-|| All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. **GSE U.K** ## **Balance sheet As at 31st January 2024** |**Fixed assets:**
Tangible assets
Intangible assets
Investments
**Current assets:**
Debtors
Short term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
**Liabilities:**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets**
**The funds of the charity:**
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds:
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
**Total charity funds**|**£**
**500**
**-**
**5,335**|**2025**
**£**
**2,852**
**-**
**-**|**£**
**-**
**-**
**4,485**|**2024**
**£**
**1,852**
**-**
**-**| |---|---|---|---|---| |||**2,852**
**1,321**||**1,852**
**(3,239)**| ||**5,835**
**(4,514)**||**4,485**
**(7,725)**|| ||**4,173**||**(1,387)**|| |||**4,173**||**(1,387)**| |||**4,173**||**(1,387)**| |||**-**
**4,173**||**-**
**(1,387)**| |||||| |||**4,173**||**(1,387)**| |||**-**||| Approved by the trustees on xxxxxxxx and signed on their behalf by **GSE U.K** ## **Statement of cash flows** ## **For the year ended 31 January 2025** |**2025**
**£**
**£**
**Cash fows from operating activities**
Net income for the reporting period
**5,560**
(as per the statement of fnancial activities)
Depreciation charges
**-**
Losses/(Gains) on investments
**-**
Dividends, interest from investments
**-**
(Proft)/loss on the disposal of fxed assets
**-**
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
**(500)**
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
**(3,210)**
**Net cash provided by operating activities**
**1,850**
**Cash fows from investing activities:**
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
**-**
Purchase of fxed assets
**(1,000)**
Purchase of investments
**-**
**Net cash (used in) investing activities**
**(1,000)**
**850**
**11,840**
**12,690**
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents and of net debt**
**Cash fows**
£
£
Cash at bank and in hand
4,485
850
**Total cash and cash equivalents**
4,485
850
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the**
**year**
year
**year**
**At 1st**
**Febnruary**
**2024**|**2025**
**£**
**£**
**Cash fows from operating activities**
Net income for the reporting period
**5,560**
(as per the statement of fnancial activities)
Depreciation charges
**-**
Losses/(Gains) on investments
**-**
Dividends, interest from investments
**-**
(Proft)/loss on the disposal of fxed assets
**-**
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
**(500)**
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
**(3,210)**
**Net cash provided by operating activities**
**1,850**
**Cash fows from investing activities:**
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
**-**
Purchase of fxed assets
**(1,000)**
Purchase of investments
**-**
**Net cash (used in) investing activities**
**(1,000)**
**850**
**11,840**
**12,690**
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents and of net debt**
**Cash fows**
£
£
Cash at bank and in hand
4,485
850
**Total cash and cash equivalents**
4,485
850
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the**
**year**
year
**year**
**At 1st**
**Febnruary**
**2024**|**2025**
**£**
**£**
**Cash fows from operating activities**
Net income for the reporting period
**5,560**
(as per the statement of fnancial activities)
Depreciation charges
**-**
Losses/(Gains) on investments
**-**
Dividends, interest from investments
**-**
(Proft)/loss on the disposal of fxed assets
**-**
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
**(500)**
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
**(3,210)**
**Net cash provided by operating activities**
**1,850**
**Cash fows from investing activities:**
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
**-**
Purchase of fxed assets
**(1,000)**
Purchase of investments
**-**
**Net cash (used in) investing activities**
**(1,000)**
**850**
**11,840**
**12,690**
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents and of net debt**
**Cash fows**
£
£
Cash at bank and in hand
4,485
850
**Total cash and cash equivalents**
4,485
850
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the**
**year**
year
**year**
**At 1st**
**Febnruary**
**2024**|**2024**
**£**
**£**
**3,750**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**7,725**
**11,474**
**-**
**(1,852)**
**-**
**(1,852)**
**9,622**
**2,218**
**11,840**
£
**£**
-
**5,335**
-
**5,335**
**Other**
**non-cash**
**changes**
**At 31st**
**January 2025**|**2024**
**£**
**£**
**3,750**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**7,725**
**11,474**
**-**
**(1,852)**
**-**
**(1,852)**
**9,622**
**2,218**
**11,840**
£
**£**
-
**5,335**
-
**5,335**
**Other**
**non-cash**
**changes**
**At 31st**
**January 2025**| |---|---|---|---|---| |||**1,850**
**(1,000)**||**11,474**
**(1,852)**| ||||£
-
**Other**
**non-cash**
**changes**|| |||**850**
**11,840**||**9,622**
**2,218**| |||**12,690**||**11,840**| |||**Cash fows**
£
850

||**£**
**5,335**


**At 31st**
**January 2025**| ||4,485|850|-|**5,335**| CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts SeGtion A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees GSE U.K. On accounts for tha year ended 31 January 2025 Charity no lif any) 1198968 Set out on pages 1-2 hereof I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 31 0 I Z Czr As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the acGounts in accordance wsih the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Acr}. I report in re$F￿ of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have foll0v￿1 all the applicable Dirertions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. Responsibilities and basis of report Independent I have completed my examination. I confiryn that no material matters have examiner's statsment come to my attention in connedion wth the examination gives me Cause to believe that in, any material respect". the a¢counting records were not kept in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Charities Ad,. or the arxounts did not accord wth the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements On￿rnIng the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requiremenl that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems 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. Signod: Date: 26 November 2025 Name: Christopher Dale Relevant professional qualification{sl or body (rf any): SRA Address: Grove Fami House. Turvey, MK43 8EX. BEDS Oct 2018 IER Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of con￿rn (see CC32, Independent examination of charty accounts". directions and guidan￿ for examiners). Give here brief detsils of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018