26th Southampton (Swaythling) Scout Group Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 ## Contents |Reference and administration details|1| |---|---| |Structure, governance and management|3| |Objectives and activities|5| |Achievements and performance|6| |Financial review|9| |Declaration|10| |Appendix A 2024-2025 Financial Accounts|11| |Scrutineer’s report to the trustees|12| |Accounts 2024/25|13| ## Reference and administration details **Charity Name** **26[th] Southampton (Swaythling) Scout Group** **Registered charity number** **271294** **HQ registration number 19893** ## **Names of the trustees who manage the charity** |**NAME**|**OFFICE**|**DATESACTED WHERE NOTWHOLE**| |---|---|---| |||**YEAR**| |Ruth Hopgood|Group Chair|| |Isobel Stark|Group Secretary/Group Trustee|Change in role to Group Trustee| |||from 14 June 2024| |Justyn Jedrzejczyk|Group Treasurer|| |Allison Evans|Group Scout Leader/Group Trustee|Change in role to Group Trustee| |||from 14 June 2024| |Mark Pickering|Scout Leader/Group Trustee|Change in role to Group Trustee| |||from 14 June 2024| |Charlie Baker|Cub Scout Leader/Group Trustee|Ex officio Trustee appointment as| |||Change in role to Group Trustee| |||from 14 June 2024| |Amy Beach|Beaver Leadership Team/Group|Change in role to Group Trustee| ||Trustee|from 14 June 2024| |Christine Barter|Scout Parent Rep/Group Trustee|Change in role to Group Trustee| |||from 14 June 2024| |Emma Nichols|Beaver Parent Rep/Group Trustee|Change in role to Group Trustee| |||from 14 June 2024| |Peter Dockree|Nominated Member|1 April 2024-15 May 2024| |||(resigned)| |Chris Thompson|Nominated Member/Group Trustee|Change in role to Group Trustee| |||from 14 June 2024| |Ellie Thompson|Nominated Member/Group Trustee|Change in role to Group Trustee| |||from 14 June 2024| |James Williams|Co-opted member/Group Trustee|Change in role to Group Trustee| |||from 14 June 2024| Note: from the Annual General Meeting on 14 June 2024, the new rules of the Scout Association were applied. All Trustees are now appointed, not elected or nominated as previously. The named officers consist of the Chair and Treasurer; the Group Lead Volunteer holds an ex officio role as a Trustee. All other appointments to the Trustee Board now have the role of Group Trustee. 1 ## **Charity’s principal address** The Charity is registered at the Chair’s address, which can be made available on request subject to the agreement of the Trustee Board. ## **Charity’s scrutineer for the Annual Accounts** The scrutineer for the Annual Accounts was Rachel Goddard. 2 ## Structure, governance and management ## Governing documents 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. The Group 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 Group Constitution is the model group constitution of the Scout Association. This was formally readopted at the Group’s Annual General Meeting on 14 June 2024. ## Additional governance issues 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 Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer, Lead Volunteer (ex-officio) and up to nine additional Trustees who will either be appointed at the AGM or co-opted during the year to meet a specific need. The Trustee Board meets three to four times a year, normally at the beginning of each school term. Members of the Trustee Board are required to complete 6 training modules listed below, ‘Safety’ and ‘Safeguarding’ within 1 month and the other training within 6 months of being appointed for the first time. Trustees also carry out refresher training as required by the Scout Association. ‘Safety’ ‘Safeguarding’ ‘Creating Inclusion’ ‘Data Protection in Scouts’ ‘Who We Are and What We Do’ ‘Being a Trustee in Scouts’ The Group Trustee Board exists to make sure the charity is well-managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, equipment is in good working order, and everyone follows legal requirements and the organisation's policies and rules. Their support helps other volunteers run high-quality and safe programmes that gives young people skills for life. 3 ## 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 policy to ensure that insurable risks are covered. 4 ## Objectives and activities ## 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 - We 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 ## Group Activities The Group has four sections covering the age ranges set out by the Scout Association: Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and Squirrels. We are also in partnership with the Wyvern Explorer Group. To fulfil the objectives stated above in ‘The Scout Method’ we provide weekly meetings during term time for each section with additional trips, overnight stays and camps. We also offer opportunities to gain badges and awards promoted by the Scout Association. ## Volunteers The Group is managed entirely by volunteers and we have no paid staff. All volunteers undertake training as required by the Scout Association appropriate to their role. All leaders, members of the Trustee Board and anyone whose role brings them in direct contact with young people are required to undergo a DBS check on appointment and every three years thereafter. ## Public benefit statement The Group meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings. 5 ## Achievements and performance ## Chair’s Report The Group continued to grow and deliver quality Scouting for our young people in 2024-25. We continued to provide Scouting through our Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts section for ages 4-14. Through our partnership with Wyvern Explorer Unit, there is an offering for 14-18 year olds in our neighbourhood. The Scout Association rules for Group governance were changed during year to be more in line with Charity Commission requirements. Instead of a Group Executive Committee we now have a Trustee Board and our focus has shifted specifically towards matters of governance: safety, legal and regulatory, data protection, finance, insurance, risk management and external matters affecting the Group. There is now a maximum term that Trustees can serve of 9 years. As the current Trustees can’t stay in role indefinitely, we will need to find new Trustees in the next few years. Due to some recent resignations, we have vacancies for up to 3 Trustees. If anyone is interested, please contact me at the email address below. Our main sources of income continue to be subs, fundraising, grants and corporate donations from the generous employers of some of our Scout families. We have made use of the Co-op’s scheme for applying for one food shop per year to provision one of our camps and also made use of one free camp per year at the Southampton City District campsite, Wilverley, in the New Forest. Grant applications are carried out by our Fundraising volunteers behind the scenes. Our young people themselves have been active fundraisers at a number of events including our spring plant sale and our Christmas Fair at St Albans, as well as selling raffle tickets at our family events throughout the year. From the money raised, the sections were able to offer a variety of activities to meet the objectives of Scouting both at our regular meetings and on trips and overnight experiences appropriate to the different age groups. These ranged from sleepovers for the younger sections to camps for the older groups including a summer camp at the Guernsey Jamboree for the Scouts. Our Group is run by volunteers who devote a lot of time and energy to giving our young people a quality experience. A huge thank you to our Lead Volunteer, Charlie, to all our leaders, Trustees and other volunteers such as our badge secretary, quartermaster, mini bus drivers, camp cooks and our fundraising team who apply for grants on our behalf, to mention but a few. Behind the scenes, there is much going on and I would strongly urge parents to get involved. There are roles available to suit everyone’s strengths and skills. Please get involved by talking to one of the leaders or contacting me or Charlie, our Lead Volunteer. ## **Ruth Hopgood Chair** **ruth.hopgood@southamptoncityscouts.org.uk** 6 ## Lead Volunteer’s Report It has been another successful and busy year for the group. Our young people have run, chased, and climbed their way through a busy programme of activities for all the sections and each section has gone from strength to strength. The Squirrel and Beaver team has grown in size and we have been delighted to welcome Natalie to the team who has supported the section over the last few months. Thank you also to the parent helpers who have so fantastically supported the team over the last few weeks to ensure that Squirrels and Beavers can take place. As a result of everyone who has given up their time our Squirrels and Beavers sections are bigger than ever before with 35 members between them - it has been so lovely to see everyone have a great time every week. The programme has been really exciting and they have earned plenty of badges looking at space, science, first aid, and…. potatoes which the Beavers and Squirrels were very keen to do! The team has got plenty of fun activities planned for the rest of the term and I’m sure the Squirrels and Beavers are looking forward to seeing the fun activities for the rest of the term. The Cubs have also been busy this year. Like the younger sections they have completed their space badge but they have also visited St Mary’s stadium, been on many camps, learnt how to safely use a knife (something Akela definitely needs a lesson in), completed the cyclist badge, and taken part in laser tag. We were so pleased to award Ben and Joel their silver awards this year as well, and are especially proud of Joel who has completed all 54 of the Cub badges! We are looking forward to lots of fun activities over the rest of the term. Over the last year the Scouts section have had many adventures both near and far, last summer we took a group of 28 Scouts and Explorers to Guernsey to take part in the Channel Island jamboree. After summer with the darker nights we focused on some more traditional scouting skills and cooking, with a few camps spread over the term, to round off the term the Scouts enjoyed jumping from trees after dark at Go Ape. In the spring Scouts continued working on their map skill and pioneering, while also building huge campfires. And played board games at our local community café. As the days got brighter we moved to conducting more camps with Scouts enjoying district camp and taskmaster camp in the last term, and finally proving a Scout walks on their stomach by completing the chip shop navigation challenge. All the sections have pulled together for a number of joint activities. Group camp last April saw our Squirrels, Beavers, and Cubs head off to cricket campsite for a fun weekend away taking part in lots of different activities. They managed to have a go at caving, bouldering, a nature trail, crabbing, archery, and much, much more. We’ve also been hard at work fundraising for new equipment and lots of this money came from the sponsored walk last September. 30 young people walked from Netley all the way back home to the Church Hall and raised an incredible £750 towards buying new tents so everyone can go camping. These new tents were used at district camp this year and they were a great success! Thank you so much to all the young people for their effort with this. We’ve also had some success with district events this year as the 26th sent a delegation to the district cross country who took a clean sweep of the Beavers and Cubs competition. Well done to all the young people who took part, especially Joel, Nathan, Oscar, Oscar, Elias, and Charlie who took first and second in their respective competitions. Finally, we need to recognise the gargantuan efforts of all the volunteers at the group. There is more than meets the eye. Thank you to all the volunteers who give up their time, week in, week out to run exciting activities for all young people. Also thank you to all the volunteers who work tirelessly in the background to make sure everything runs smoothly, Ruth, Justyna, Ruth and Carlton Calver, Allison, Tracey, Chris and all the trustees. Whilst not working directly with the young people, your work is invaluable to ensuring the 7 group runs. Not only these people, but also to all the parent helpers who have stepped forwards to support where needed. Again, your help is essential, so thank you. We’ve got an exciting year coming up for the group, we’ve got the district’s 20th Anniversary, we’ve got Cubs survival camp, 110 years of Cub Scouts, as well as many more exciting activities. We’re also hoping to open a new Cub section on a Thursday evening. None of this can happen without volunteers so if you, or someone you know, has got time to lend a hand in the group then any help is always welcome. Volunteering is really flexible and it is as much or as little as you want to give. We have many different roles available so please get in contact if you are able to help at all. ## **Charlie Baker Lead Volunteer charlie.baker@southamptoncityscouts.org.uk** 8 ## Financial review ## 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 Trustee Board considers that the Group should hold a minimum of £1,000 in reserve. ## Investment Policy The Group does not have sufficient 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 using only mainstream banks or building societies. 9 Declaration The trustses declare that they have approved the trustees. report and financial accounts. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees: Signatures Full name Ruth Hopgood Jusytna Jedrzejczyk Position Chair Treasurer io Appendix A 2024-2025 Financial Accounts li Scrutineer's report to the trustees Scnrtineer's Report to the Trustees of th 26 Southampton (Swaythlingl Scout Group I report on the accounts of the GrOU￿OiStrict for the year ended 31 March 2025 As the Group'slDistrict's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts: you consider that neither the audit Tr)r independent examination requirements of the Charities Act 2011 apply. It is my responsibilty without carrying ￿Jt an audit or inde￿ndent examination to scnJtinise the accounts and to report to you. In accordance with the directions given in the Group'slDistrKt's constitution. I have scrutinised the records and the In my opIn￿n the accounts are in attordance with the records prthYu¢ed to me and comply with the Constitutio Name.. Address.. ..Rachel Goddard FCA 3 Wilmington CLose Southampton S018 2RD. Date-.-..-...-....05 June 2025 12 ## Accounts 2024/25 ## Charity No. 271294 ## Prepared by Treasurer Justyna Jedrzejczyk 13 # **26th Southampton (Swaythling) Scout Group (Charity no. 271294) Receipts and Payments Account** **For the year from** Year start date Year start date Year end date **01/04/2024 To 31/03/2025** ## **Receipts and payments** **2023-2024** **2024-2025** **Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Total funds £ £ £ £ £** ## **Receipts** |**Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**£**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Donations, legacies and similar**
**income**|||||||| |Membership subscriptions|**9,245.00**||||||| |Less: Membership subscriptions paid|**- .00**||||||| |
Donations|**962.00**||||||| |Corporate Donations|**- .00**||||||| |Legacies|**- .00**||||||| |Gift Aid|**- .00**||||||| |Other similar income|**- .00**||||||| |**Sub total**|**10,207.00**||||||| |**Grants**|||||||| |Maintenenace grant|**- .00**||||||| |Other grants|**1,682.20**||||||| |**Sub total**|**1,682.20**||||||| |**Fundraising events (gross)**|||||||| |Football Card 2025|**70.00**||||||| |BeatleDriveFeb2025|**146.13**||||||| |Pie and Pea 2024|**250.50**||||||| |Plant Sale - May 2024|**417.38**||||||| |Soton Running Festival|**300.00**||||||| |Other|**- .00**||||||| |**Sub total**|**1,184.01**||||||| |**Other Income**|||||||| |Events (general)|**- .00**||||||| |Events - Beavers|**- .00**||||||| |Events - Cubs|**- .00**||||||| |Events - Explorers|**- .00**||||||| |Events - Scouts|**- .00**||||||| |Events - Squirrels|**- .00**||||||| |Uniform Sales|**- .00**||||||| |Cash Deposit - Barclays Bank|**-**||||||| |Rent Donation|**- .00**||||||| |**Sub total**|**-**||||||| |**Investment income**|||||||| |Bank interest|**- .00**||||||| |Building Society interest|**- .00**||||||| |The Scout Association Short Term|**- .00**||||||| |Other investment income|**- .00**||||||| |**Sub total**|**-**||||||| |**_Total Gross Income_ **
**Asset and investment sales, etc.**
**_Total receipts_**|||||||| ||**-**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**| ||**13,073.21**||**12,781.65**||**- .00**||| ||**13,073.21**||**12,781.65**||**- .00**||**25,854.86**| ## **26th Southampton (Swaythling) Scout Group (Charity no. 271294) Receipts and Payments Account** Year start date Year end date **For the year 01/04/2024 To 31/03/2025 from** ## **Receipts and payments** |
**Payments**|
**Unrestricted**
**£**|
**Unrestricted**
**£**|**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**£**
**£**
**2024-2025**|**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**£**
**£**
**2024-2025**|**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**£**
**£**
**2024-2025**|**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**£**
**£**
**2024-2025**|**Total funds**
**£**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**1,049.33**
**378.77**
**169.30**
**829.80**
**261.62**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**1,031.06**
**6.54**
**2,475.85**
**115.00**
**8,806.84**
**9.40**
**200.16**
**417.88**
**215.09**
**346.44**
**64.98**
**79.27**
**109.55**
**4,148.00**
**2,987.00**
**1,137.79**
**24,839.67**
**9.77**
**9.77**
**24,849.44**
**- .00**
**24,849.44**
**1,005.42**|**Total funds**
**£**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**1,049.33**
**378.77**
**169.30**
**829.80**
**261.62**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**1,031.06**
**6.54**
**2,475.85**
**115.00**
**8,806.84**
**9.40**
**200.16**
**417.88**
**215.09**
**346.44**
**64.98**
**79.27**
**109.55**
**4,148.00**
**2,987.00**
**1,137.79**
**24,839.67**
**9.77**
**9.77**
**24,849.44**
**- .00**
**24,849.44**
**1,005.42**|**2023-2024**
**Total funds**
**£**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Charitable Payments**|||||||||| |Activity Equipment|**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**32.00**| |Admin|**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**10.01**| |Badges|**1,049.33**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**1,049.33**||**636.34**| |Bank Fees|**378.77**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**378.77**||**- .00**| |Bank Fees - Restricted|**- .00**||**169.30**||**- .00**||**169.30**||**- .00**| |Camping Equipment|**829.80**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**829.80**||**1,190.53**| |Camping Equipment - Restricted|**- .00**||**261.62**||**- .00**||**261.62**||**- .00**| |Card Expenses - Beavers|**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**145.84**| |Card Expenses - Cubs|**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**20.27**| |Card expenses - Scouts|**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**134.04**| |Cash Deposit - Barclays Bank|**-**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**| |Events|**- .00**||**1,031.06**||**- .00**||**1,031.06**||**1,405.52**| |Events - Beavers|**- .00**||**6.54**||**- .00**||**6.54**||**433.09**| |Events - Cubs|**- .00**||**2,475.85**||**- .00**||**2,475.85**||**2,590.88**| |Events - Explorers|**- .00**||**115.00**||**- .00**||**115.00**||**- .00**| |Events - Scouts|**- .00**||**8,806.84**||**- .00**||**8,806.84**||**6,805.59**| |Events - Squirrels|**- .00**||**9.40**||**- .00**||**9.40**||**- .00**| |General Group expenses|**200.16**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**200.16**||**361.21**| |Grants|**- .00**||**417.88**||**- .00**||**417.88**||**- .00**| |Insurance|**215.09**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**215.09**||**210.21**| |Meetings - Beavers|**346.44**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**346.44**||**185.01**| |Meetings - Cubs|**64.98**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**64.98**||**87.73**| |Meetings - Scouts|**79.27**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**79.27**||**170.84**| |Meetings - Squirrels|**109.55**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**109.55**||**12.28**| |Membership Costs|**4,148.00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**4,148.00**||**3,575.00**| |Rent|**2,987.00**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**2,987.00**||**2,202.00**| |Uniform|**199.39**||**938.40**||**- .00**||**1,137.79**||**382.98**| |**Sub total**|**10,607.78**||**14,231.89**||**- .00**||**24,839.67**||**20,591.37**| |**Fundraising expenses**|||||||||| |Detail 1|**9.77**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**9.77**||**178.55**| |**Sub total**|**9.77**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**9.77**||**178.55**| |**_Total Gross Expenditure_ **
**Asset and investment**
**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**Transfers between funds**
**Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_**|||||||||| ||||||||||**20,769.92**| ||||||||||| ||**-**||**-**
**.00**||**-**
**.00**||**- .00**||**-**
**.00**| ||**10,617.55**
**2,455.66**
**- 1,450.24**
**4,916.04**
**5,921.46**||**14,231.89**
**- 1,450.24**
**1,450.24**
**- .00**
**0.00**||**- .00**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**- .00**
**- .00**||||| ||||||||||**20,769.92**| ||||||||||| ||**2,455.66**||**- 1,450.24**||**- .00**||**1,005.42**||**2,638.17**| ||**- 1,450.24**||**1,450.24**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**- .00**| ||**4,916.04**||**- .00**||**- .00**||**4,916.04**||**2,277.87**| ||**5,921.46**||**0.00**||**- .00**||**5,921.46**||**4,916.04**| 26th Southampton Iswaythling) Scout Group (Charity no. 271294) Receipts and Payments Account For th• y•ar 0110U2024 To 31ffj312025 Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year 2023-2024 Totsl lund• Total lund* C•?h fund• èank currnnl account &3n.53 4.701.34 .00 8•nk d•poJrt account 8ulldlng aodoty ai£oufit 324.80 217.13 214.70 C•$hlFloot8 217.11 Total ¢Mh fimd• Oth•r mon•tsry •u•ts T•x d•lm Iniur4nc• CL9 Sub totsl Inv￿lm&nI a•••ts Invg8iment proporty- d•t4M Quot¢d In¥tslmènt4 ¢Jher In¥￿tr￿0nts- d•ts4 Sub tot•1 14on mon•t•ry A•••ts for Badge Btoc* Shop It￿k Olhar stock L¥nd buihtlng• Motor ￿hIck￿l Scoutln9 8qulpm•nt, fvmiturn •t¢ Olh•r -00 8ub totyl U*bllltl•• Account• not y•t p•¥J Exwns•8 in¢urrn¢ but not in¥ot•J Subscriplioni not y•t p•AI Lo*n- dfrtlil Oth•r Ihblllt Sub totsl Tot*1 not *Mots Th• •bov• rnc•lpts Ind pym•nts I¢￿Unt •nd •tst•m•nt ol •M•ts ind Ilabllltb•• w•r• approved by th• Tru•ts•• on 19th Jun• 2025 (th• d•ts ofth• Tnth Board m••tlrw that •pprov•d lh• •¢¢wnt•l •nd •lgn•d on th•lr b•hall by nature Print Narn 11 HOPfiooJ) CZ Chalr Treasurer