Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the 2" CHELMSFORD ISPRINGFIELDI SCOW GROUP (Charity Number 268683} I report on the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31°ma￿ 2028 whith are set out on pages 3 10 6 This report is made solely to the trustees in accordance wth Seth"on 145 of the Ch8ritses Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might slate to the tharty's trustees those matters l am required lo state to them in an Independent Examinerfs report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent perrnitted by law, I do not accept or assume responwbility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees foi my examinab.on work. R8sp•CtI￿ rospon8lbllltl•# of Truste0• and Examlngr The Group's trustees ere responsible for the preparnkn.on of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Seth'on 144 of the Charities Act 2011 {ts Chantsas Act)) and that an Indepgndenl examinab.on is needed. It Is my respon8ibllity lo.. Examine the 8cGounls {under Seth"on 145 of the Chanties Act).. To follow th¢ Pr￿edureS laid down In the Ger*rnl Oirections given by the Chanty Commissi￿ar$ lun¢Jer Section 1451511b} of the Charrties Act).. and To stale whether particular Matte￿ have come to my attention. Ba818 of Indopond•nt Examlnerf¥ rnport My examination was carried QLrt In accordance wlh Ihe General Directi¢M grven by the Ch8nty Commi8s10ners. An exarninalion indude8 a review of the accounb.ng records kept by the GrouplDi8tn"ct and a compari80n of the account$ presented wlh those records 1181so Ir￿ude9 considerabon of any unusual ilams or disclosures In the accounts. 8nd seeking explanabons from you as trustees conceming any suth matters. Tho procedure8 unt1ertaken do not prowde all the evidenea Ihal would te required in an audit. and con$oquently no opinion 18 given as 10 whether thè arxounts present a and fairf VI￿ and ts raport 18 limlted to those matter8 881 oul in the slalemenl below. Indopondent Ex•mln•e• stat•m•nt In connection wrth my examinakn'on, no matter has c¥An6 to my attentKJn'. 1. which glve8 ma rgasonable c8U8e lo believe that In. ary motsrial respect. the requirements to keep ac£ounb'ng records in accordance ¥￿th Secb'on 130 of the Charitie8 Act., and to wepare 8c¢ounts vhlith accc*d ￿ the a¢￿Un11n9 record8 and comply wrth the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have nol been metr, or 2. to which. in my opinion, attenti￿ should be drawn in ordér to en￿e a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached, or which gives me T8asonable cause lo believe that In arry matenaf resFecl the accounting rules of the sIDislnct's constitution have not been met. Name". Rob Lyon Qualification.. B.Ed (Hons) MA Adv DipFA ALIBF Address." 72. Fourth Ave Wckford Essex SS118RH Date.. ..30105r26.. Lf100006 (1st February 2017} ## **Trustees Annual Report** ## **2[nd]** ## **Registered Charity 268683** **For the Period** 01 April 2025 To 31 March 2026 **Sec�on A Reference and administra�on details** |**Principal Address**|Scout Centre|| |---|---|---| ||Lawn Lane|| ||Chelmsford|| ||Essex|CM1 7PP| ## **Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the charity** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Name Trustee Role Type Dates acted if not for
whole year
1 Christopher Dear Chair Elected 10/09/24 – 3 year term
2 Christopher Chapman Group Lead Volunteer Ex-Officio
3 Karen Cooper Elected 10/09/24 – 3 year term
4 Richard Spencer Treasurer Elected 10/09/24 – 3 year term
5 Kris Reynolds Elected 10/09/24 – 3 year term
6 Paul Wickers Elected 10/09/24 – 3 year term
7 Rebecca Puvanendran Elected 10/09/24 – 3 year term
8 Ben Hurrell Elected 12/07/25 – 3 year term
9 Robert Oliver Elected 12/07/25 – 3 year term
10 Vacant
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Sec�on B Structure, governance and management** ## **Descrip�on of the Charity’s trusts** |**Descrip�on of the Charity’s trusts**|| |---|---| |**Type of governing document**|The Group's governing documents are those of The Scout
Associa�on. They consist of a Royal Charter, which in turn
gives authority to the Bye Laws of the Associa�on and The
Policy,Organisa�on and Rules of The Scout Associa�on.| ||| |**How the Charity is cons�tuted**|The Group is a a registered charity and is established under
The Scout Associa�on Policy, Organisa�on and Rules (POR)
which are common to all Scouts.| ||| |**Trustee Selec�on methods**|
The Trustees have set the board size at 10

Group Lead Volunteer is an ex-ofcio role (Karen
Cooper is a joint Lead Volunteer but only 1 role
holder is ex-ofcio – Karen is an elected Trustee)

All other Trustees are recommended by the Group
Trustee Board following an open recruitment process.

Appointment is confrmed by the Group Council at
the AGM.

With efect from 1stApril 2024 a Trustee can only
serve for a maximum of 9 years (including any co-
op�on period served). Apart from the Group Lead
Volunteer

Co-opted Trustees are appointed by the Group
Trustee Board.| ## **Addi�onal governance issues** - The Group is managed by the Group Trustee Board. The charity trustees are responsible for governance of the charity in accordance with legisla�on applicable to chari�es as well as compliance with POR . This includes the registra�on, keeping proper accounts and making returns to the Charity Commission as appropriate. - This Group Trustee Board exists to provide Governance of the charity and is responsible for:- `o` Ensuring Group property is properly maintained and meets relevant Health & Safety requirements; - `o` The insurance of persons, property and equipment; `o` Group public occasions - Appoin�ng any sub commi�ees that may be required; - `o` Appoin�ng Group Administrators and Advisors other than those who are elected. - All Trustees are subject to ve�ng processes and undertake training as proscribed by The Scout Associa�on which includes Safety & Safeguarding. ## **Sec�on B Structure, governance and management (con�nued) Risk and Internal Control** exposed, these have been reviewed and systems have been established to mi�gate against them. - **Damage to the building, property and equipment** . - The Group would request the use of buildings, property and equipment from neighbouring organisa�ons such as the church, community centre and other Scout Groups. Similar reciprocal arrangements exist with these organisa�ons. The Group has sufficient buildings and contents insurance in place to mi�gate against permanent loss. - **Termina�on of Lease.** - The land on which the Scout Centre is built is subject to a 15 year lease from Essex County Council. The Group has maintained dialogue with ECC and there is no inten�on to break this. If the lease were terminated then an alterna�ve base would be sought, as above. - **Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members.** - All ac�vi�es are subject to relevant Risk Assessments as prescribed by POR - The Group through the annual membership fees contributes to the Scout Associa�ons na�onal Public Liability, accident insurance policy, Trustee Indemnity cover and has its own personal injury policy with Unity Insurance for non-member adults. - **Reduced income from fund raising.** - The Group is primarily reliant upon income from subscrip�ons and fundraising. The group does hold a reserve to ensure the con�nuity of ac�vi�es should there be a major reduc�on in income. The Board could raise the value of subscrip�ons to increase the income to the group on an ongoing basis, either temporarily or permanently. - **Reduc�on or loss of adult volunteers.** - The Group is totally reliant upon volunteers to run and administer the ac�vi�es of the Group. If there was a reduc�on in the number of adult volunteers to an unacceptable level in a par�cular sec�on or the Group as a whole then there would have to be a contrac�on, consolida�on or closure of a sec�on. In the worst case scenario the complete closure of the Group. ## **Risk and Internal Control** - The Group has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss, these include 2 signatories for all payments and a comprehensive insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered. ## **Sec�on C Objec�ves and Ac�vi�es** ## **Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document** ## **The Purpose of Scou�ng** - Scou�ng exists to provide young people and young adults with Skills for Life through our Place to Belong Strategy (recently launched through to 2035) by ac�vely engaging and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a posi�ve contribu�on to society. ## **The Values of Scou�ng** - 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 a�tudes. - friends. ## **The Scout Method** - Scou�ng takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scou�ng and: - enjoy what they are doing and have fun - take part in ac�vi�es indoors and outdoors - learn by doing - - take responsibility and make choices - undertake new and challenging ac�vi�es - make and live by their Promise. ## **Summary of the main ac�vi�es in rela�on to these objects** - Each youth sec�on meets weekly during term �me with a programme of ac�vi�es organised by the sec�on team in advance. Each youth sec�on is encouraged to arrange at least one camp or sleepover per year. Other ac�vi�es include handicra�, badge work, hikes, visits to museums and public services, and outdoor ac�vi�es at our Ri�ams woodland site. The Group par�cipates in District and County scou�ng events. ## - advancement of educa�on and the advancement of ci�zenship or community development headings **.** ## **Sec�on D Summary of the main Objec�ves and Ac�vi�es** - delivered at our weekly sec�on mee�ngs (plus the weekend ac�vi�es and camping/sleepovers). - We have a good level of reserves available to us which will enable the Group to fund further improvements (the main roof was replaced in 2022). - During the year we - Con�nued to keep up to date with maintenance - During an annual inspec�on and prior to the year end our hea�ng system was deemed unsafe so it has been decommissioned. We are looking at alterna�ves and costs. - Our fundraising team do an excellent job and in the past year raised nearly £9,000 through a schedule of 5 events during the year. This is a super contribu�on to allow us to keep membership fees as reasonable as possible as well as contribu�ng to programme and the premises. - As always Scou�ng does not happen without the dedica�on of our adult volunteers and the Trustees express their thanks for the work involved in planning and delivering exci�ng programmes. |**Sec�on E**
**Financial Review**|| |---|---| |Brief statement of the
charity’s policy on reserves|The Group's policy on reserves is to hold sufcient resources to
con�nue the charitable ac�vi�es of the group should income and
fundraising ac�vi�es fall short. The Group Trustee Board considers
that the group should hold a sum equivalent to 12 months running
costs,circa £20K.| |Details of any funds materially
in defcit|There are no funds in defcit| |Investment policy and
objec�ves|The Group does not have sufcient 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
deposits.| **----- Start of picture text -----**
Sec�on F Other Informa�on
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**Sec�on F**
**Other Informa�on**|**Sec�on F**
**Other Informa�on**| |---|---| ||| |Plans for
future
periods|As outlined above we intend to con�nue to improve and maintain our building in the
next fnancial year.
Our major capital project will be the hea�ng system.
We intend to bolster our Trustee Board by recrui�ng a more diverse range of skills up
to the maximum number of Trustees (10)| Section G Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the twstees. report above. Signed on behalf of the charity'5 trustees Slznatures QCUJ Names Richard Spencer Treasurer Chris Dear Chair Date .i.z 2nd Chelmsford (Springfield) Scout Group Receipts and Payments Account Page1 of3 For the year from 01-Apr-25 31-Mar-26 Receipts and payments 2025126 2024125 Receipts Subscriptions & "Scouting" in¢ome Membership subscriptions Note 1 11,327.87 9,747.90 Gift Aid 2,409.61 2,206.50 Gang Show 173.00 203.00 Youth programtlle and ?ctivilies excluding camping 2,856.70 894.43 Camping Income 2,849.40 2,929.12 Springaree Group Camp 2025 4,B79.$6 Clothing Income 693.21 Sub total 25,189 1498IL9 Donations & Grants Donations from Stste St￿1 volunteer lime matching scheme 6,586.73 6,222.10 Essex Communty Foundation 1,500.00 Rotary Club Grant 400.00 Essex County Scouts (Roof Grant) 2,000.00 Waher Farthing Trust 2,500.00 Springfield United Ch8rilies 750.00 (MhÈr Donation8 61.74 56.00 Sub total 8.518A7 11.52&1 Fundraising Igrossl Jumble Sale 5,398.51 4,$58.66 May Fayre 1,729.46 1,513.B2 Christmas Bazaar I Chr181mas Raffle 1,935.87 1,796.48 Soa81 Events 443.39 408.00 Olherfun(Irai5ing activities 21.48 17.23 Sub total lftvèstment ineoma Bank interest 55.31 89.19 In¢omÈ for use of hall 1,280.00 1,516.00 Olher investment income Sub total 1,33&31 1,60&1 Total Gross Income 44,801 37.40& Asset and investment sales, etc. Total receipts 44,601 37,40& 2nd Chelmsford (Springfield) Scout Group Receipts and Payments Account Page2of3 For the year from 01 ￿pr-25 To 31￿laT-26 Receipts and payments 2025126 2024125 Payments "Scoutlng" expenses Membership subscriptions paid on IN8tionaVCountylArealDi5trictl Note 1 5,650.00 8,635.00 Youih programme and 8ciivilies excluding camping 6,892.23 4,763.42 Contribution lo camp costs 3,091.54 3,766.06 Springaree 2025 expenses 4,740.80 50.00 Gang Show 207.00 185.50 Materials and equipment 2,221.83 1,039.91 Clothing expenses 660.50 Sub total 23.463.90 1443&8 Property expen$e8 recurring Lease payment Note 4 400.00 400.00 Water and Sewerage 53.61 139.82 Eleclrioly and Gas 1,596.72 2,928.00 Communications 1,475.00 1,157.24 Insurance 2,B2S.28 3,S6S.48 Repairs and Maintenance 5,688.42 4,166.90 Sub total 12.439 1I3S7.41 Property expen$e8 non-recurring R8n8wals 3,598.81 1,543.39 Land Registry Door Repla￿ment Rendering RÈpla¢ÈmÈnl Roof Replacement soo.00 9,253.58 18,440.00 16,440.00 Sub total Charity running expenses AGM and trustee èxpenses 118.21 General admin expenses 296.$6 290.62 Sub total 41 Fundraising expenses May Fayre 65.21 Christmas Bazaar 0.78 7.B9 So¢i81 Events 20.39 Sub total Total Gross Expenditure A$$g1 and invgstmgnt purchases. et¢. 7717 Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Net assets from last year end Net Assets this year end 40,502.89 73.T12.78 4098.915 36.364.315 34,599.27 70,693.62 38,698.22 34.329.27 2nd Chelmsford (Springfield) Scout Group Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year 31st March 2026 PagÈ3of3 31st March 2025 Cash funds 8•nk ￿rrent account- Saniènder 18.211.22 rJ,687A8 Bank Current account- CAF 24.168.84 13,041A2 Bank deposit account Thg ScoLrtA680aalh)n ShortT8mi Ikhwkneni Sets Group Cash AccoLml s26￿3 461.34 SectSon Petty Ca 802A2 618.23 Totsl cash lund• 43,196.71 37,719.2 Other monotary a$$•ts T8x clg Insur•nc8 Sub total Non monotsry a88•ts tor ¢harlty* own u L4nd and t￿11￿1￿8 Scoulhg 6quipm•n¢. lurrknr88lc Oth81 8ub totsl Ltabllltios Expense6 Incurfed but not SrNdcad. Lw¢ 4.$00 00 4,200.00 Unclaimed Expo￿01 Othar list￿1￿￿5 97.49 Sub tol•1 4,497.4 4,200.0 NET ASSETS 38.698.2 X599. Th• •bov• rncelpt• •nd payffl•nts a¢¢owrt and •latwn•nt of atsots and Ilabllltlob wor• approvod by thg Tru•t•e• on and #lgngd on th•lr b•half by: nature Print Name date Chrrd Oear, Cha dat• RKtsrd Sp&Trcer, Tmasur•r Note 1 From 2025-26 ￿Mbersh￿ 8Lt)$fxybons to D6tncthntylNational a￿ Iwted è$ 8n expense, nol Tr8tted olf against subscrptions rer*wed (in line with PORI. For ccmpanson purposes 202&26 figures li￿1n9 pa￿1 and receip¢ lotsbl have been Ir8at8d in th6 samè way. $0 ￿111 Sh￿ drf18I8Tht tota￿ the 2024-25 accounts. Note 2 Th8 Group benefits Irom 8 lease dated 29th Sepknber 2016 behveen Essex County CouncAI and Th• Ass¢aation over larKI to tt)e east of Lawn Lane. Skyiryfiekl. Tl* tem) ol knase Y6 bl 29th Sept￿bar 2031. The ￿a&8 B subJ8¢t to various restricti￿ covènants Ythich 8888nbe￿ of th8 ￿ase trAJ1klin￿ lher￿￿ to the current purpose onfy On 16th July 2025 the Insured value of buikJing5 wa$ £￿,(￿ Tle (>ow) a150 OWT* Ihe freehokl on wotyjland at Rrffftams. Danbury. The WOOd￿n￿ 1$ overseen by EnglLSh Naiure sutr4ect to restrtl rts tts th8 ￿l￿ent purp)$0 ow. Therefore no rnontetsry Val￿ is attributed In the ac¢ounts arxl any eX￿ndrtUre Note 3. The Group hokJ$ earn￿￿ aTvJ ¢kn equipn*rt whth the Tnjstees [￿*Sary lo achw• rts aims. Du8 to tho latwely 5pecialksed nature of the Ihe Tr￿ not to atth￿￿te any MOn￿ary value in th8 accounts ark1 any expeTh4ilure ts not ca￿¥16•d. The 8qupm8nt B Curr￿ (x) a fcf olj bass 06,505 Note 4" The annual £400 lease payment thie unthrthe kne ha$ not teen invoK￿j by the F¥eehol*r but has tr*en &xpon$ed through the accounts each year Nota 5. EX￿r￿88 Ir￿￿re￿ by sec*ons bul Th)t rBp8bJ untl FY 202&27