2021-12-31-accounts - 5th Ampthill And Woburn (Thriftvale) Scout Group

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Thriftvale Scout Group Trustees’ Annual Report

For the period 01/01/21 – 31/12/21

– Section A Reference and administration details Charity Name: 5[th] Ampthill & Woburn (Thriftvale) Scout Group

Registered Charity Number:

268119

Charity’s principal address:

Cranfield Scout Hut, Merchant Lane, Cranfield, MK430DA

Charity’s principal address: Cranfeld Scout Hut, Merchant Lane, Cranfeld, MK430DA	Charity’s principal address: Cranfeld Scout Hut, Merchant Lane, Cranfeld, MK430DA
Names of the charity trustees who managed the charity during the year: Trustee Name Ofce (if any) Nicola Preston Chairman (outgoing) Helen Ranger Secretary (outgoing) Hayley Reardon Secretary (incoming) Sharon Davis Group Scout Leader (outgoing) Georgia Gritton Treasurer (outgoing) Heather Hill Sarah Dixon (outgoing) Tim Chick (Beaver Leader) Jenny Worthington (Beaver Leader)
Trustee Name	Ofce (if any)
Nicola Preston	Chairman (outgoing)
Helen Ranger	Secretary (outgoing)
Hayley Reardon	Secretary (incoming)
Sharon Davis	Group Scout Leader (outgoing)
Georgia Gritton	Treasurer (outgoing)
Heather Hill
Sarah Dixon	(outgoing)
Tim Chick	(Beaver Leader)
Jenny Worthington	(Beaver Leader)

The ownership of the buildings of the Group are vested in The Scout Association Trust Corporation who must act in the best interests concerning the property in accordance with Charity Law.

– Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document (e.g. trust deed, constitution)

The Group'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.

How the charity is constituted (e.g. trust, association, company)

The Group is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts.

Trustee selection methods (e.g. appointed by, elected by)

The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.

The Group is managed by the Group Executive Committee, 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 Committee consists of 3 independent representatives (Chair, Treasurer and Secretary) together with the Group Scout Leader, individual section leaders, parents’ representation and other committee members. The Committee normally meets at least once every 3 months and can communicate in between by email or a dedicated WhatsApp group.

The Group Executive Committee exists to support the Group Scout Leader in meeting the responsibilities of the appointments and is responsible for:

The maintenance of Group property;
The raising of funds and the administration of Group finance;
The insurance of persons, property and equipment;
Group public occasions;
Assisting in the recruitment of leaders and other adult support;
Appointing any sub committees that may be required;
Appointing Group Administrators and Advisors other than those who are elected.
Controlling personal information in line with GDPR Risk and Internal Control

The Group Executive Committee has identified the major risks to which they believe the Group is exposed. These have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate against them. The main areas of risk that have been identified are:

. Damage to the building, property and equipment The Group has buildings and contents insurance in place to mitigate against permanent loss.

. Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members

The Group through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout Association’s national accident insurance policy. Risk Assessments are undertaken before all activities. Leaders are appropriately trained, including in First Response.

Health and safety matters form a standing agenda item for Committee meetings and maintenance is undertaken to the premises as required to address identified health and safety issues and other building defects. Annual testing is undertaken of fire safety equipment and gas appliances, and at regulatory intervals for electrical equipment.

Reduction or loss of leaders .

The group is totally reliant on volunteers to run and administer the activities of the group. If there was a reduction in the number of leaders to an unacceptable level in a particular Section or in the group as a whole then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst-case scenario, the complete closure of the Group.

Reduction or loss of members .

The Group provides activities for all young people aged 6 to 14. If there was a reduction in membership in a particular Section or the group as whole then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst-case scenario, the complete closure of the Group.

. Reduced income from fund raising

The Group is primarily reliant upon income from subscriptions and fundraising.

Fortunately the group was able to secure numerous grants from the local authority during the pandemic, and therefore was able to halve the monthly subscriptions to take into account that no face to face meetings could be held, to £9 per month, per young person, up to October 2021. The committee felt that fundraising from parents / the local community would not be appropriate / possible during the pandemic.

Other financial risk.

The continuing economic situation is expected to have long-term adverse impacts on the Group’s finances. There remains a reduction in interest rates affecting bank interest received throughout 2021 and will continue to have a significant impact on this source of income for the foreseeable future.

Financial controls.

The Group has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss, these include: two signatories required for all cheques and authorisation of internet transactions; all bank accounts are held in the name of the Thriftvale Scout Group; Group accounts are subject to independent examination; and examined annual accounts are sent to the Charity Commission and the Scout Association.

Section C – Objectives and activities Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

The objectives of the Group are as a unit of the Scout Association.

The Aim of The Scout Association is 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. The method of achieving the Aim of the Association is by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and Law and guided by adult leadership.

Public benefit

Subscriptions are charged for membership to cover immediate running costs of the Group and these do not unduly restrict membership. The Group follows the principle that no one should be excluded because of their inability to pay membership subscriptions. Two key principles demonstrating that Scouting's aims are for the public benefit are that through the Scout method young people develop towards their full potential and that there is a clear link between the benefits for young people and the purpose of Scouting. The safety of young people is taken very seriously and the benefits Scouting activities provide far outweigh the risks. Any private benefits from Scouting are incidental, other than to those as a beneficiary.

Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects

Thriftvale Scout Group aims to achieve these objectives by providing an enjoyable and attractive programme, which was able to continue running throughout the pandemic by utilising technology such as Zoom. We run Cubs on Mondays and Wednesdays, Beavers on Monday and Thursday, and Scouts on Thursdays.

Section D – Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year.

All of our meetings have now been back face to face in the huts. We are still running at capacity in our beaver and cub groups with waiting lists in place too. Scouts are still running on lower numbers and we do not have an explorers group at Thriftvale at present.

All of our groups have made the most of the dry, warm weather this summer and lots of our sessions have taken place outdoors. Moving into the autumn term, both of the beaver groups have sleepovers planned and the cubs are taking part in a 2 night camp.

With a couple of new members on the committee, some renewed energy has been put into recruiting more people to join us; however, we haven’t had much luck. We did manage to recruit a new scout leader, which is fantastic! We have finally found a replacement for our treasurer, who has been wanting to step down from the role for quite some time now. We were also successful in securing a couple of grants and this is an area that we would like to focus on in the coming year to try and gain some much needed funds for upgrades to both of the huts.

Plans for future activity includes continuing to try and recruit more volunteers to join the committee and to look for some new cub leaders to join the Saturn cub pack (1 leader and 1 assistant leader left at the end of the summer term).

Section E – Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

Reserves Policy

The Group's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the group should income and fundraising activities fall short. The Group held reserves of approximately £32,000 at year end, mostly due to the local government grants received. This is above the level required for operating expenses. However, the Group is dependent on these sources of income to meet both annual costs, and capital expenditure, including the costs of maintaining the premises. The Group Executive Committee has therefore agreed that funds surplus to the day-to-day requirements of the Group should be designated as a Fund to cover any major repairs and planned maintenance and to cover the costs of running the Group should there be substantial reduction of income.

Quantify and explain any designations

In 2021, total receipts were £40,816 and payments totalled £33,330. The surplus is £32,013.

The increased surplus is due to the local government grant received during the pandemic. Some of this has now been spent on replacing the flooring at both huts, and replacing the kitchen at Marston, and some has been put aside for membership fees for next year.

Investment Policy

The Group has adopted a risk averse strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks.

Section F – Declaration

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

Georgia Gritton Hayley Reardon Amanda Clawson Treasurer Secretary Treasurer (incoming 2022)

Date 5 September 2022

Ind•pend•nt Examimfs Report to the Tfu¥t•M of 5th Ampthill and Wobum IThriftval•l Scout Group for the year •ndod 31$t D•e•mb•r 2021 I report to the trustees on my exafflinat of the accounts of 5th AmMhiM aTrJ Wolxn (Thrfftvalel Scout Group Re•pon¥ibllitlM and ba•ls of rnport As the charity Injstees of the Trust yw are respcfflgble lor the prep ol tr accounts in acCOrdar wrth the requirements of chartt Act 20111ts Act'i I report In respecl of my examinth'on of the TnAI's xcounts carrd wt 145 01 the 2011 Ad and In carying out my examination I have follty•rtd all the appkabl• Direcutsns given by Ihe Chanty Commission undw sectw)n 14515llbl of AL1. Ind•p•nd•nt •xamin•rf• 8tat•m•nt I have ccrtnpe my examinat I confim that no matenal matters have come lo my attention In nnects with Ihe examinati gMThJ me cause lo bel that In matenal resFect 1. ac£ourrting rttords V•re rKA kep¢ in re¥ecl of the Tnjst as requw•J by 130 01 the Aet. or 2 the ac£ounls do not accord wth records. 3. the acttsjnts do comply wrth applicab wrOmnIS crywning frym ar content ol aecounts sel Lwt In the chant IAccounls and Reports) Regulations 2CQ8 other than any requirerrnl that the actnts give a Irue ar laff whth B not matter COnse a$ part ol an independenl examination. I have no conc•ns and have com• afXOSS dher mattern in connectim wth examination to which attention should be dfavm in this feport in Ofd•r to enab 8 proF urJ•rntandityJ of the accounts lo be rexhwj Srnd.. Date V Juty 2022 Natal Cokman FCCA Chartered Cert¥fied Account•nl 24 Dew Pond Road. FIfvKk. Bods

5th Arnpthill and Wthrn lThriftvalel Scoui GfCWP Receipts and Payments kwunt Summarylor ytar endiw 31st December 2021 and Totsl Fund 2021 70 Total Receipts lor the year 4l16 34018 Total pwnents for the year 33330 14197 litt keceipts for the year 19821 Cash. blnk Ind 51md•r fvnds bmu8ht forwa 24527 47C6 b•Thk •nd sifftil•r fundscwled lorw•rd 32013 24527

5Th AMPTHILL & WOBURN (THRIFtVALEI SCOUT GROUP Reteipts for the yeareThled 315t Dmb¢r 2021 Thls Year UnrestfKted & Total Fund 31.12.21 last Year Unrest¢ed & Total Furxl 3112.20 MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS Received Less Paid 8992 -2025 12746 .3303 9443 INVESTMENT INCOME RECEIVED lall Hire The kout Assoc'n Short Temi In¥esiment Sery 597 597 DONAnoNSIGK4NTS L(Kal Councsl 33814 22830 22130 33814 FVND PAISINGlgrossl Arnazon Srnile 35 35 OTrER INCOME Income Tax reco¥ered- subscriptitin5 and donations on drythnds and intere SUNDRY RECEIPTS Uniform Sale 8ad8e Receipts Other 1108 1108 TOTAL RECEIPTS 41x16 34018

5Th AMMIILL & WOBURN IThRIFTVAiEI SCOUTGRaJP Exp•tMM for th• y••r Ond 31st O•cthnb•r 2021 Year Unrestricted & Toial Fund 31.1121 Last Ye¥ Vnre5trined & Total Fund 31.1120 PREMISES Reni Insurance Heat & light Water Repairs & Renewals TÉlephe Ckniry & ftefuse 1%5 2597 525 16472 1713 31 3734 302 3U61 403 44> C()NAmoNS AP40 GRAtr4TS AcnvinES Camp Irelundsl Serttrffj Floats 1102 1102 1415 1855 FU14D M151NG EXPENSES Cub5 Panto 13 13 ADM1141STAAIION EXPENSES 81 150 Websiie Maintenlnct CKffj*n 18 279 330 AGM Tralnlr Post & Sutlonery EQU1 163 163 TRLISTEE EXPENSES Audit & Accounts Health & Saffety OTHER EXPENSES Purchase ol & Vnrforni Sundry Payrnpni PAISC TOTAL PAYMEiirs 14197

11¥5Yew T(rt•lfw Ji.1 MONEfthA55 141) 461 451 J21&J 24874 OThÉh MONEfAAY*SS fvr 147 147 413 147 Jknj coMriiiGEiifLLWLmESAND FiMmE0BLK1lJll5