## **1[st ] Hellingly Scout Group**
## **Hailsham & Heathfield District**
## Trustees’ annual report for the year ending 31 March 2024
## Reference details
Registered charity number: 277158
Scout Association registration number: 10012176
Website: www.hellinglyscouts.org.uk
Address of headquarters: Crouch Hall, Horsebridge, Hailsham, East Sussex (off A271)
## Objectives and activities
1st Hellingly Scout Group (“the Group”) is part of the National Scout Association[1 ] and operates within the framework given in its “Policy, Organisation and Rules” (P.O.R.)[2] .
The purpose of Scouting is to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.
The aims of the Scout Association are achieved by providing an enjoyable and attractive program of progressive training, which is guided by the following 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 cooperate with others and make friends.
The Group operates for the benefit of young people, between the ages of 6 and 18 years, from any background, regardless of gender, faith or personal circumstances, and thus meets the Charity Commission’s public benefit criteria.
We have two Beaver sections (6 to 8 years), two Cub sections (8 to 10½ years) and one Scout section (10½ to 14 years) and one joint Explorer unit (14 to 17 years). Each section is overseen by an adult leadership team which, in consultation with the young people, devises an enjoyable program of training that delivers the purpose and is relevant to the age-group. This enables the young people to attain the Scout Association awards relevant to their section.
The principal awards are divided into two groups:
- Challenge Awards: these are core badges that cover areas such as outdoor and indoor skills, teamwork, leadership, world-awareness and adventure.
- Activity Badges: a wide range of badges enabling the young person to show proficiency in almost any sport or hobby that might interest them, or additional skills in areas such as camping, navigation and first-aid.
Attaining all the Challenge Awards and a sufficient number of Activity Badges for their age-group leads to the Chief Scout Award for their section, Bronze, Silver or Gold for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, respectively.
An Explorer Scout section (14 to 17 years), which is the responsibility of the Scouting District, meets at our HQ and links with us through a partnership agreement. The Group also oversees a sub-section that engages in the Young Leader program.
## Achievements and performance
The following is a summary of the year. Further information can be found on our website.
- The section leaders continue to provide active programs, resulting in the award of many Activity Badges.
- Owing to the residual effect of Covid-19 restrictions, over the past few years the young people have not been able to achieve as many Challenge Badges and Chief Scout Awards. However, the sections have been busy rectifying this situation.
- The Group held its first Group Trail Jamboree hike, when all our young people, leaders and non- uniformed supporters were invited to join. This was highly successful, being enjoyed by all sections, and so will become an annual event.
- At the time of the January 2024 census we recorded a total of 134 youth members and 24 adults holding active roles in scouting. With 158 members we are one of the largest Groups in Hailsham & Heathfield Scout District.
- Gaining new leaders in various sections has helped us to provide an engaging program for our young people. However, having a few more leaders in our younger sections would be beneficial and we are actively looking for new volunteers for our group.
- Besides the fantastic work they do locally our leaders actively support Scouting outside of our Group: several are Assistant District Commissioners, leading the organisation of District-wide events for their section.
- The Group Trustee Board has overseen the administration and practical running of the HQ. Besides routine matters, the following projects were / are being undertaken:
- New security & fire alarm systems have been installed & upgraded.
- In addition to regular maintenance tasks, some re-painting has been undertaken
- Several ageing tents have been replaced and additional ones purchased to accommodate the growing Group
- The leaders and Trustee Board are grateful to all those who have supported our
- maintenance and fund-raising events and those who have provided additional financial support during this sometimes challenging, but always successful, year.
## **Structure, governance and management**
1st Hellingly Scout Group is governed by the Policy, Organisation and Rules (P.O.R.)[2 ] of the Scout Association, which provides the framework in which all UK Scouting operates. As a charity the Group is also governed by Charity Commission legislation. Note that between 2023 and 2025 the National Scout Association is introducing changes to the structure which are designed to enhance the governance arrangements of Scout Groups, at the same time creating more flexible opportunities for adults to participate.
Most of the new changes will take place from the AGM to be held in September 2025; the following is the situation as it stands on 31 March 2024.
Within the Group there are a number of adult leaders and supporters, who give their time and expertise voluntarily, without remuneration, to help the development of young people. The Group is led by the Group Scout Leader, whose role is to co-ordinate the Group’s activities and to ensure continuity and development.
All leaders and trustees are subject to satisfactory DBS checks and are required to undergo training appropriate for their role. This includes ongoing refresher courses in safety and safeguarding every 3 years. In addition, leaders are required to have first aid training (First Response) every 3 years. Completion of training modules is recorded on a national database, which is constantly monitored to ensure that standards are maintained.
## Trustees
In accordance with the changes mentioned above, the Group’s Executive Committee will be renamed the Trustee Board, which better reflects its responsibilities in that area. The Board currently consists of the Group Scout Leader (GSL), the Leader of each of the Group’s sections, the Leader of the Explorer Scout Unit that is linked with the Group, and other members who are appointed in accordance with the rules and guidance of the Scout Association[3] . Further changes will take place from the 2024/25 AGM[4] .
Between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 the Board met 4 times to act collectively as charity trustees of the Scout Group, and in the best interests of its members to:
- comply with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association;
- comply with Charity legislation;
- protect and maintain the property and equipment owned by and/or used by the Group;
- manage the Group’s finances;
- arrange appropriate insurance for people, property and equipment;
- provide sufficient resources for Scouting to operate and thrive. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting recruitment, other adult support and fundraising activities;
- promote and support the development of Scouting in the local area;
- manage and implement the Safety Policy locally;
- ensure that a positive image of Scouting exists in the local community;
- ensure that Young People are meaningfully involved in decision making at all levels within the Group.
The following served as trustees during the year ending 31 March 2024. Unless otherwise indicated they were appointed prior to 1 April 2023.
|Name|Principal role on the
Committee|Dates of
service if not
for the whole
year|Individual or body entitled to
appoint person as Trustee|
|---|---|---|---|
|Mr James Skinner|Chair (acting)||_Ex officio._Nominated by
the GSL, and approved by
the GroupCouncil5|
|Mrs Georgina Hill|Treasurer|Stepped down
10/23|_Ex officio._Elected by the
GroupCouncil|
|Mrs Sam Taylor|Secretary|Stepped down
12/23|_Ex officio._Elected by the
GroupCouncil|
|Mr James Skinner|Group Scout Leader
& Trustee||Ex Officio|
|Mr Russ Morgan|Asst. Group Scout leader||Ex Officio|
|Mr David Gorringe|Cub section leader
(Seeonee Pack) & Trustee||Ex Officio|
|Miss Zoe Tester|Beaver section leader
(Manitoba Beavers)||_Ex officio_|
|Mrs Joe Quigly|Beaver section leader
(Saskatchewan Beavers)||_Ex officio_|
|Miss Martine Dancey|Cub section leader
(Mowgli Pack) & Trustee||_Ex officio_|
|Mr Warren Smith|Scout section leader
(Cuckmere Troop)||_Ex officio_|
|Mr Dean Layern|Young Leader Section||_Elected by group council_|
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## Financial review
Further information is given in the annual accounts, but a summary of receipts and payments for the year ending 31 March 2024 is:
||Unrestricted funds
2023 - 24|Restricted Funds
2023 - 24|Total
2023 - 24|Total
2022 - 23|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Receipts|£38,348.00|£0,000.00|£38,384.00|£19,303.50|
|Payments|£24,817.00|£0,000.00|£24,817.00|£17,706.22|
|Cash funds at
31 March|£38,314.00|£0,000.00|£38,314.00|£26,223.89|
## 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 of running costs. The trustees consider that the Group should hold a sum equivalent to 4 to 6 months of running costs in the General Fund to cover imminent payments and urgent building repairs should they arise.
At 31 March 2024 the balance as agreed stood at £8,000.00, which satisfies this policy with a considerable additional margin.
The Group Trustee Board also considers it prudent to hold just one “designated” fund to ensure that there are adequate reserves to maintain the HQ and equipment to satisfactory standards, as detailed in the notes to the accounts.
## Investment policy
The Group has adopted a low-risk strategy to investment, keeping funds in mainstream banks. On 31st March 2024 £38.314.87 was held in a Barclays Business current account, no saving accounts are utilised by the group.
## Signatories to bank accounts
Payments or withdrawals from the Group’s bank accounts require authorisation by two of the following: Barclays current account: Any two from: James Skinner, Martine Dancey, Ken Elphick, John Hole
## Independent examiner of accounts
Mr James Pollard FCA The Old Farm Trolliloes Cowbeech East Sussex BN27 4QR
## **Declaration**
The Trustees declared that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Paper version signed by James Skinner (Group Scout Leader)
_Approved at the meeting of the Trustee Board held 6th Jan 2025*_
Name: James Skinner Position: (Acting) Chair of Trustee Board, 1st Hellingly Date: 6th January 2025
## **Glossary and references**
1. The Scout Association: https://www.scouts.org.uk/ 2. Policy, Organisation and Rules: https://www.scouts.org.uk/por/
3. Scout Association rules and guidance concerning Trustee Boards:
- https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/teams/trustee-boards/
4. https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/volunteer-experience/volunteering-together/what-this-means-foryou/moving-to-trustee-boards/
5. The Group Scout Council is the electoral body which supports Scouting in the Scout Group, and is the body to which the Group Trustee Board is accountable. Its membership consists of parents of the youth members of the Group; the Group’s leaders; patrol leaders (youth members) of the Scout section; the leaders of the Gemini Explorer Unit; other eligible supporters; the Hailsham & Heathfield District Commissioner and the Hailsham & Heathfield District Chair of Scouting.
# **1st HELLINGLY SCOUT GROUP ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of 1[St] Hellingly Scout Group**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 1[St] Hellingly Scout Group for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the 1[st] Hellingly Scout Group accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns 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.
Signed:
Name: Mr James Pollard FCA
Address: C/O James Pollard Limited, The Old Farm, Trolliloes, Cowbeech, East Sussex, BN27 4QR Date: 13/01/2025
|**1st HELLINGLY SCOUT GROUP**
**INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31/03/2024**
**INCOME**
Section Refunds
Subscriptions Received
Badge refunds to section
Joining Fees
Investiture Fees
Donations received
Scout Association Early payment refund
Fund Raising - JOTT
Fund Raising - Easy fund raising
Fund Raising - Fire work Evening
Fund Raising - Wealden Lottery
Fund Raising - Sumup
Fund Raising - Amazon
Income Trips Sleepovers Camps Jamboree
Income for Scout Programmes
Bank Interest Received
Uniform refunds to section
Grants
Lottery Grant
Gift Aid Receipts
**LESS EXPENSES**
Scout Membership Fees
Broadstone Fee
Cost of Uniforms
Cost Trips Sleepovers Camps &Jamboree
Cost of Scout Programme and Activities
Cost of Group Activities
Cost of Badges Investitures POR
OSM
First Aid Supplies
Equipment
Insurance
Electricity
Camp refunds to parents - Summer
Tommy
Donations made
Rates Refuse and Water
Repairs & Maintenance
Website and hosting
Stationary
Van Rental
Bank Charges
Sundry/Cash Payments
**SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**|**BEAVERS**
**BEAVERS**
**CUBS**
**CUBS**
**TOTAL GROUP**
**GROUP**
**SCOUTS**
**EXPLORERS**
**MANITOBA**
**SASKATCHEWAN**
**MOWGLI**
**SEEONEE**
**YEAR ENDED**
**YEAR ENDED**
**YEAR ENDED**
**YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED**
**YEAR ENDED**
**YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED**
**31/03/2024**
**31/03/2024**
**31/03/2024**
**31/03/2024**
**31/03/2024**
**31/03/2024**
**31/03/2024**
**31/03/2024**
0.00
-2,072.00
518.00
518.00
518.00
518.00
22,358.54
5,610.00
16,748.54
21.87
21.87
0.00
0.00
150.00
150.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
69.00
69.00
0.00
43.37
43.37
5,191.39
696.09
782.05
1,530.00
2,183.25
9.25
9.25
6.25
6.25
23.75
23.75
0.00
0.00
10,475.16
10,475.16
38,348.58
5,685.25
25,195.07
0.00
1,214.09
1,345.67
2,198.00
2,710.50
7,056.00
7,056.00
650.00
650.00
1,092.00
996.25
48.00
47.75
5,433.95
775.00
668.63
1,814.46
2,175.86
3,033.63
601.25
412.80
429.95
318.07
462.47
809.09
228.63
78.63
150.00
1,598.38
161.00
862.08
179.81
188.40
150.84
56.25
188.31
63.00
43.00
41.06
41.25
0.00
611.05
-2,200.44
2,811.49
774.14
774.14
2,208.72
1,024.20
1,184.52
617.00
605.00
12.00
-135.00
-135.00
190.00
190.00
894.62
45.08
849.54
798.33
798.33
90.00
90.00
2.60
2.60
306.48
123.48
183.00
88.39
88.39
530.37
26.11
470.53
3.52
30.21
26,257.60
-201.89
17,510.34
470.53
1,436.28
1,460.85
2,499.04
3,082.45
**12,090.98**
**5,887.14**
**7,684.73**
**-470.53**
**-222.19**
**-115.18**
**-301.04**
**-371.95**|**TOTAL GROUP**
**YEAR ENDED**
**31/03/2023**
0.00
16,046.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
50.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
825.00
0.00
367.76
34.24
10,917.50
2,227.25
11.89
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00|
|---|---|---|
|||30,479.64|
|||5,719.00
765.26
9,365.54
4,862.70
839.39
1,530.98
167.00
23.39
3,256.03
593.19
1,771.64
0.00
0.00
60.00
229.60
1,195.52
6.59
332.25|
|||30,718.08|
|||**-238.44**|
## **1st HELLINGLY SCOUT GROUP**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31/03/2024**
|**1st HELLINGLY SCOUT GROUP**
**INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31/03/2024**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**
Business Current Account (Closed)
Community Account (Closed)
Saver Account (Closed)
Cash In Hand
Explorers- Mill Troop Bank
Explorers- Mill Troop Cash (Closed)
Scouts- Bank
Scouts- Cash
Beavers - Manitoba Bank
Beavers - Manitoba Cash
Beavers - Saskatchewan Bank
Beavers - Saskatchewan Cash
Cubs - Mowgli Bank
Cubs - Mowgli Cash
Cubs - Seeonee Bank
Cubs - Seeonee Cash
**CURRENT LIABILITIES**
Deferred Income
Refunds due on Camps cancelled
**RESERVES**
Retained Income/(Loss)
Net Profit/Loss this year|**31ST MARCH 2024**
0.00
0.00
0.00
442.50
0.00
35,835.23
-63.95
231.93
-1,092.86
994.13
-2.93
1,642.20
-254.93
583.55
0.00
38,314.87
0.00
0.00
**38,314.87**
26,223.89
12,090.98
**38,314.87**|**31ST MARCH 2023**
2,518.26
17,892.24
2,055.57
-2,200.44
894.76
18.27
1,997.73
-63.95
450.60
-1,089.34
1,109.31
-2.93
1,871.78
-183.47
955.50
0.00
26,223.89
0.00
0.00
**26,223.89**
26,462.33
-238.44
**26,223.89**|**31ST MARCH 2022**
1,635.81
10,514.60
9,442.82
-681.23
644.76
18.27
3,214.53
-63.95
822.20
-1,193.51
507.64
-2.93
1,188.94
-482.67
897.05
0.00|
||||26,462.33
0.00
0.00|
||||**26,462.33**|
||||24,865.05
1,597.28|
||||**26,462.33**|
I have prepared the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 from information and explanations supplied to me from the Scout Leaders and do not verify their accuracy or completeness
James Pollard FCA
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of 1St Hellingly Scout Group
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 1St Hellingly Scout Group for the year ended 31st March 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the 1st Hellingly Scout Group accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns 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.
Name: Mr James Pollard FCA Address: C/O James Pollard Limited, The Old Farm, Trolliloes, Cowbeech, East Sussex, BN27 4QR Date: 13/01/2025