## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** ## **From 1 April 2024 Period start date To 31 March 2025 Period end date** ## **Charity name: Ninth Dartford Scout Group** ## **Charity registration number: 271270** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**Ninth Dartford Scout Group is a trust**
**established under Scouting rules (see**
**detail on the background on this point in**
**the Governance section later in this**
**report) and its purpose is that which is**
**common to all scouts. The Aim of The**
**Scout Association is to promote the**
**development of young people in**
**achieving their full physical, intellectual,**
**social and spiritual potentials, 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.**| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**As with other Scout Groups Ninth**
**Dartford has the aim of promoting the**
**development of young people by**
**providing an enjoyable and attractive**
**scheme of progressive learning based**
**on the scout promise and law. The hall**
**is used for section nights and as a base.**
**The former includes developing new**
**skills such as cooking, sleep-overs and**
**art although there are external visits**
**such as ice skating and tobogganing.**
**The latter means that we have**
**somewhere to keep our many indoor**
**and outdoor games and, of course,**
**camping equipment. The support which**
**the Council provided in 2021 (see our**
**2022 report to the charity Commission)**
**has been used to ‘open up’ our outside**
**area for troop night use. We now have a**
**dedicated fenced off area for a firepit**| |||**and a large area for games. Safety**
**features - a dedicated cage for gas**
**canisters and a dedicated shed for the**
**mowing equipment- have also been**
**completed.**| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**The trustees have had regard to the**
**guidance issued by the Charity**
**Commission on public benefit**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other ## **Achievements and Performance** SORP reference |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**The year to March 2025 saw**
**improvements to the hall and grounds,**
**but the group also grew. The Squirrels**
**Scout section mentioned in the 2022**
**report is not just full but has a large**
**waiting list. Our wider support for the**
**community has, since the 2022 report,**
**including providing our hall for use by**
**the NHS Vaccination service and one-off**
**support to the local professional**
**Pantomime for costume facilities.**|| |---|---|---|---| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Achievements against
objectives set|
Para 1.41|| |---|---|---| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**This review takes the form of the annual**
**accounts, which have been provided to**
**the charity Commission and show that**
**the charity is solvent and has sufficient**
**reserves. But must be considered in**
**accordance with other information in**
**this section.**| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**The policy is to hold reserves of at least**
**£3,000, sufficient to cover at least three**
**months essential running costs.**| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**The balance sheet shows £36,067. This**
**is due, in part, to an increase in income**
**from renting out the Scout hall and the**
**fact that we have kept some Covid**
**assistance which we were still using to**
**keep the weekly subs at the same rate in**
**2025 and for 2026.**| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**Not applicable**| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**Not applicable**| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**There are none.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|
Para 1.47|
**Weekly subs (and their inherent Gift Aid**
**claim) along with parents contributions**
**towards some activities and our**
**aforementioned increase in hiring the**
**hall out are the principle sources of**
**income.**| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**The Group’s Trustee Board 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**
**concern that have been identified are:**
**Damage to the building, property and**
**equipment. The Group would request**
**the use of buildings, property and**
**equipment from neighbouring**
**organisations such as the church,**
**community centre and other Scout**
**Groups. Similar reciprocal arrangements**
**exist with these organisations. The**| **Group has sufficient buildings and contents insurance in place to mitigate against permanent loss. Indeed it had the hall revalued during 2025 to ensure that the insurance was adequate. Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members. The Group through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout Associations national accident insurance policy. Risk Assessments are undertaken before all activities. Reduced income from fund raising. The Group is primarily reliant upon income from subscriptions, hall hire and fundraising. The group does hold a reserve to ensure the continuity of activities should there be a major reduction in income. The Committee could raise the value of subscriptions to increase the income to the group on an ongoing basis, either temporarily or permanently. Reduction or loss of leaders. The group is totally reliant upon 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 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. As at 31 March 2025 the group provided activities for all young people aged 4 to 18. It still does. 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.** Other ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**The Groups governing documents are**
**those of the Scout Association . They**
**consist of a Royal Charter, which in**
**turns gives authority to the Bye Laws of**
**the Association and The Policy,**
**Organisation and Rules of The Scout**
**Association.**| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**The Group is a trust established under**
**its rules which are common to all scouts**| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**The Trustees are appointed in**
**accordance with the Policy Organisation**
**and Rules of the Scout Association**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|
Para 1.51|
**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 Committee consists of 3**
**independent representatives,**
**Chair, Treasurer and Secretary together**
**with the Group Scout**
**Leaders, individual section leaders and**
**parent’s representation**
**and meets every 2 to 3 months.**
**This Group Trustee Board 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;**
**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.**| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|| |Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|**Ninth Dartford Scout Group**| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|**Informally it uses‘9th Dartford Scout Group’**| |Registered charity number|**271270**| |Charity’s principal address|**The Charity is a part of the Scouting Organisation.**| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**Simon Sear**|**Chair**||| ||**Julie Southcott**|**Group Lead Volunteer**||| ||**Philip Hamblin**|**Group Treasurer**||| ||**Shaun Ford**|**Trustee**||| ||**Wilson Couchman**|**Trustee**||| ||**Neil Gearing**|**Trustee**||| ||**Desmond Harris**|**Trustee**||| ||**Pauline Daly**|**Trustee**||| ||**Liam Fensome**|**Trustee**||| ||**Jack Ford**|**Trustee**||| ||**Leigh Hunter**|**Trustee**||| ||**Justin Watson**|**Trustee**||| ||**Sarah Gull**|**Trustee**||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name Not applicable** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|| |---|---|---| ||**Not applicable**|| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets **None** held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** |**Type of**
**adviser**|**Name**
**Address**|**Name**
**Address**| |---|---|---| |||**Not applicable**| |||| |||| |||| ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details **Not applicable** ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s)** Simon Sear **Full name(s)** Philip John Hamblin **Position (eg Secretary,** Treasurer Group Chair **Chair, etc)** **Date** 30 January 2026 ## **9th DARTFORD SCOUT GROUP** ## **Accounts** **Year Ending 31st March 2025** **9th DARTFORD SCOUT GROUP** ## **Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2025** |**Income**||£|£|**Expenditure**||£| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||**Group expenses**||| |**Group Subscriptions with national capitation payments**||||Section night costs;|Squirrels|562| |Squirrels||2,340|||Beavers|1,027| |Beaver Section||3,200|||Cubs|424| |Cub Section||2,812|||Scouts|1,135| |Scout Section||1,676|||Explorers|377| |Explorers||653|||Joint (bouncy castle)|205| |||10,681||||3,730| |Total subscriptions for group|||5,693|||| |Total payments for capitation|||4,988|**Capitation**||| ||||10,681|Group||4,675| |||||Explorers||313| |||||||4,988| |**Fund Raising & Donations**||||**Other expenses**||| |Hall rental|||9,157|Camps (including Group camp)||1,891| |Gift aid (for year ending 5 April||2023)|2,191|Clothing (new logo this year)||1,217| |General donations|||1,370|Cleaning||1,370| |Bizarre|||587|Hall safety checks and equipment||927| ||||13,305|Badges||747| |||||Bizarre and St Georges day Parade||740| |||||AGM, group Software, leader expenses||471| |||||||7,363| |||||**Overheads**||| |Camp contributions||||Gas||1,868| |||||Insurance (hall)||1,260| |**Other income**||||Rent (land)||1,000| |Section night contributions|||1,174|Water rates||370| |Family camp contributions|||1520|Electricity||324| |Camp contributions|||724|Performing rights society||316| |Clothing sales (excluding camp clothing)|||649|||5,138| ||||4,067|**Group improvements/repairs**||| |||||New concrete base||1,869| |||||Equipment||1,695| |||||Repairs||80| |||||||3,644| |||||**Prepayments for camps**||| |||||Summer 2025 Kent International Jamboree||750| |||||CampBeaver camp April 2025||735| |||||Gilwell camp, November 2025||211| |||||||1696| |||||||| |**GROSS INCOME**|||28,053|**TOTAL EXPENSES**||26,559| |**Opening Balance 1st April 2024**|||£|**Bank and cash reconciliation at 31 March**||**2025**| |Bank current accounts and money on Hypercard|||33,641|Cash and cheques on hand;||£| |Bank deposit account|||89||Squirrels|39| |Cash in hand|||843||Beavers|48| ||||34,573||Cubs|285| ||||||Scouts|0| |Plus Income|||28,053||Explorers|71| |Total|||62,626||Hyperjar card|910| |||||||1,353| |Less expenditure|||26,559|Cash in current accounts||34,624| |||||Cash in deposit account||90| |**Closing balance at 31 March 2025**|||36,067|**Closing balance at**|**31 March 2025**|36,067| |Signed
……………|_Simon Sear_||Simon Sear|||| ||||Group Chair|||| |Dated||1/30/2026|Page 1 of 2|||| ## **9th DARTFORD SCOUT GROUP** ## **Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2025** ## **Notes to Accounts & Treasurers Report** ## **Records and accounts** As with earlier years I would like to thank the Section Lead volunteers and hall-hire manager for their excellent records. Last year I reported the efforts, mainly sorted by Shaun Ford, to reduce the Gas Bill from over £4,000. The reduction to under £2,000 was helped by all leaders but primarily from Shauns suggestions and a new contract. The increase in the Performing Rights Society expenditure is due in part to the fact that some of the 2024 dues were paid during the 2025 year but also to the increase in hall rental income between 2023 and 2024. I expect that we will experience a similar increase next year. ## **Donations** National and local bodies have been generous this year, and we would like to thank them all, including; The Scout section enjoyed a November Gilwell camp which was funded by Scout Headquarters. PP Catering donated £145 from one of their raffles. Jim Trott for his donation of £300 to be used for a gardening tools shed which Jim will be pleased to know that it was put into position in September 2025. The generous donation of £800 from the Bird in Hand is to be used for the benefit of all who attend the Group Camp in July 2026. ## **Scout Bank** There were no movements in this year so the Scout Bank remained at £1,188 throughout. ## **The Group** Improvement expenses include Hi Viz Jackets, games - both indoor and outdoor as well as improvements on the premises including the concrete base in the grounds and almost £1,000 worth of tables. ## **The Hall** The hall continued to be used by non-scouting organisations, including a knitting & crochet club, a dance club and the NHS Immunisation team as well as being a polling station for elections. Due to egregious behaviour including abuse and fly tipping from a small minority of users we are limiting the categories of people to whom we allow access to the hall. ## **Statement of assets and liabilities** |Opening funds
Income
Expenses
Closing funds
Increase in funds
Assets
New equipment costs
Hall improvement costs
Taken to P+L account
Net improvement costs
Deposit account
Current accounts
Cash and cheques in hand|£
1,695
1,869|£
34,573
28,053
26,559
36,067
Signed
_P.Hamblin_ Philip Hamblin
Treasurer
Date
30-Jan-26
90
34,624
1,353
36,067
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