1[st] Poulner Scout Group
Report to 2025 AGM from Chair
2024 to 2025 is another year with no reportable accidents or close calls among the young people and the leaders should be congratulated for ensuring their safety. However, this does not imply a lack of activity – far from it. Some successful camps including a very well attended St George’s Day Camp at Braggar’s Wood and an excellent summer camp in the West Country brought all those amazing benefits that such a wild camp gives - to the cubs, scouts and explorer scouts who attended.
So, the programme of activities at 1[st] Poulner Scout Group continues apace. Unfortunately, there are now some very big challenges, the most notable being the paucity of active leaders and helpers. Since the Covid lockdowns it is very evident that there are just not the volunteers out there who aspire to scout leadership. This in itself is disappointing, but even more so when there have been no effective steps by District or County hierarchy to help with recruitment – and this may be because this is part of a wider malaise.
The effect on the young people and the organisation cannot be understated. With the loss of leaders, the group has had to close one beaver colony and it is likely that within the next year a cub pack will be closed, leading inevitably to the closure of one of the 2 scout troops. This all comes after 30 years of growing numbers at 1[st] Poulner Scout Group, and does not seem to be attributable to just a local downturn.
That being said, it is clear that following the problems caused to children from the lockdowns, activities such as scouting may be seen to be exactly the sort of activities that are needed by the young in helping them to socialise in a carefully balanced challenging environment. It is with great concern that the members of the Board see this reduction and they will continue to work with the leaders of the Scout Group to see how the falling number of leaders might be addressed.
As for finances, it is to the credit of the Board that they have conserved sufficient reserves to weather a considerable period of lower income. It is notable that hall lettings are down, and that there are financial pressures in the local community and among parents of our young people. The Group continues to be well managed financially thanks to our long serving outgoing treasurer Paul Assheton. Nicki Best who takes over is well qualified and experienced to take on this important mantle.
I would also like to offer my thanks to the Board, for all their unheralded and unstinting support. The Group is in very safe hands. That of course is partly because of the excellent leadership shown by the leaders of the group. I know the Board will join me in thanking each and every one of them for their contribution to Scouting in Poulner
Colin Andrews
Chair
Apr 24 - Mar 25
| Income Bank Interest Events - Explorers Events - Scouts Explorer transfer Hall rental Membership Fees Minibus Hire Dave Watt Leaving Donation Donation Total Income Expenses Equipment Activity Equipment Camping Equipment Capitation Capitation Other expenses Carnival Donation for trip Alyce Tate Leaders Meal Section costs Events Events - Beavers Events - Cubs Events - Scouts Explorer transfer gocardless fees Meetings - Beavers Meetings - Cubs Meetings - Explorers Meetings - Scouts OSM Subscritions Ski Trip 2026 St Georges Camp Summer Camp Summer Camp 2025 Training Training Hall costs Hall Cleaning Insurance Insurance Utilities Vehicle Cost Vehicle Fuel Vehicle Maintenace Venue Maintenance |
. 20.00 . 150.00 . 1,699.16 . 11,313.82 . 27,218.61 . 3,225.00 . 135.00 . 755.75 . £44,517.34 1,366.02 . 1,139.01 8,514.00 951.58 . 1,000.00 204.48 265.00 391.63 . 4,581.22 . 330.80 . 3,118.16 . 0.00 . 698.83 . 314.70 . 306.44 . 458.51 0.00 . 1,641.60 0.00 . 5,597.65 . 0.00 . 741.00 . 1,028.15 3,721.75 1,830.30 3,585.44 . 885.58 . 3,071.34 2,434.71 . £48,177.90 |
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| Total Expenses Net Income Account balances 1st Poulner Scouts - Main Account balance brought forward Total income Total expenditure Net income Account balance carried forward Barclays (MAC) Account balance brought forward Total income Total expenditure Net income Account balance carried forward Barclays (Reserve) Account balance brought forward Total income Total expenditure Net income Account balance carried forward NATWEST (Explorer) Account balance brought forward Total income Total expenditure Net income Account balance carried forward |
. . . -£3,560.79 24,622.66 44,517.34 48,177.90 -3,660.56 20,962.10 52.21 71.510.74 79.068.37 £100.00 |
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees 157 k,/_L è 3/97 MW/ lyC)- On accounts for the year ended Charfty no lif any) 2goZ Set out on pages I report to Ihe trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust.) for the year ended Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan with the requirements ofthe Charities Act 2011 ('the Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 ofthe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)Ib) of the Act. Independent lThe charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to examinerfs statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of linsert name of applicable listed bodyll. Delete [ l if not appliGable. I have completed my examination. I conftrm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below") which gives me cause lo believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the a¢counts did not a¢¢ord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements con¢eming the fom and content of accounts set out in the. Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no cOnrnS 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 aGGounts to be reached. e delete the w s in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: gTEPlleAI QOBER LEOAlrI Relevant professional qualificalionls) or body IER Oct 2018
lif any).. Address: Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of COnM (see CC32, Independenl examination of charty accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief detsils of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oet 2018