I" Compton Scout Group Scouts Trn$tee's Annual RqxTrrt For the peri] from 1° April 2022 31°hlarch 2023 1st Compton A. RefereDee and gdmiDi8tr#tlon detsi Charity name: I st Compton Scout Group Registered Charity Number: 285980 Charity's principal address: Wamham Lane, Compton, Newbury. Berkshire. RG20 7PL Names of the Charity Tnutees who managed the charity during the year (the "Group Executive Committee"): E¥-offlcl&et¢ Smith Chttir members Lucie Foot Trur Claitt Prilchett Se Kelth %imms Group SCO Ler Drew l.irnbert Scoui l.ethr Fay 8later Beaver Scout Leadefjl.04.22- 31.1222 Elecied Rebe¢¢a GraYn meTrthrsRi¢hard Spra8eii Julian'lliru55ell Jnvitedio c¥iend Fmma PuliÈng¢r Explorer S¢xJuts Bankers: HSBC plc, Newbury Independent Scrutineer for the Annual Accounts: Sarah Marshman B. stCtUre? govern4n¢e and management The Group's governing documents are those of The Scout Association (Registered Charity number 306101). They consist of a Royal Charter. which in turn gives authority to the Bye Laws of the Scout Association and the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association. The Group is a trust established under The Scout Association's rules, which are common to all Scout undertakings in the United Kingdom. In accordance with those rules, the Group is an
educational charity which is also registered with the Charity Commission. The Group Exttudvt Commlttee The Group is managed by the Group Executive Committee, the members of which are the Charity Trustee.Y of the Scout Group and are appointed in accordance with the rules of The Scout Association. The Committee consists of: . three independent representatives - ChairmaEL Treasurer and Secretary the Group Scout Leader and any Section Leaders who have expressly indicated that they wish to be a Trustee Parents of Group members elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Group Scout Council. The Group Executive Committee meets three or four times each year and exists to support the Group Scout Leader in meeting the responsibilities of their appointment. Members complete 'Essential Infonnation for Executive Committee Members, training when they join the Committee. Members of the Group Executive Committee must act L'ollectively as thc Charity Tn43tees of the Scout Group* and in the best interests of its members to: Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation" Comply with the Policy, OaniSatiOn and Rules of The Scout Association; • Protect and maintain any property and equipment owned or used by the Group; . Manage the Group fmances; Provide insurance for people, property and equipment; Provide sufficient resources for Scouting to operate. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting recruitment, other adult suppory and fundraising activities; . Promote and support the development of Scouting in the local are Manage and implement the Safety Policy locally: Ensure that a positive image of Scouting exists in the local community" . Appoint and manage the operation of any other sub- Committees, including appointing a Chair to lead each sub-committee"
. Ensure that Young People are meaningfully involved in decision making at all levels within the Group. . ope close and amalgamate Sections within the Group as necessary. The Group Executive Committee must also: . Appoint Administrators. Advisers, and Co-opted members of the Executive Committee: . Approve the Annual Report and Annual Accounts after their examination by an appropriate independent examiner or scrutineer. . Present the Annual Report and Annual Accounts to the Group Scout Council at the Annual Generdl Meeting and file a copy with the District Executive Committee, and with the Charity Commission if their rules require it. • Maintain confidentiality with regard to appropriate Executive Committee business. The Group Executive Committee has in place systems of interna] controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss of the Group's property and rnon¢y" these include two authorisations for all bank payments. C. Objeetives and adivitles The objectives of the Group are achieved by operating in accordance with the Purpose. Values and Method of Scouting and The Scout Association 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 Purpose of Scouting, and therefore the Group, is for public benefit and encompasses several of the charitable purposes required by the Charities Act and Commission. The public benefit requirement, which applies to all charities, is most specifically met by our charitable pUOseS to: advance the education (personal development) of young people; to advance citizenship and community development. The Values that guide Scouts are Integrity, RespecL Care, Belief and Co-operation. The Scout Method takes place when young people, in parthership 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. This Method is delivered mainly at Section level, through a weekly training programme and regular camps and activities for each age group. The Group supports this delivery mainly by providing progranllne advice and guidance for Section leaders (from the Group Scout Leader) and by providing the physical, fmancial and human resources needed to operate the Sections. The Group also provides some joint camps, activities and fund raising opportunities for all Sections in the Group. D. A¢bievem¢nts and performance The year ending 31 March 2022 was another good one for the Group, with each section having a strong membership, there are further young people who would like to join and there has once again been a wide range of Group activities. A¢¢lvltks The exciting weekly programme of activities for each Section in the Cjroup continues to deliver fun, challenge and adventure for our members. Many Sections have outings away from their meeting places each month and several meet outdoors throughout the summer tern], which brings out the full ethos of the Scout Method. Most Sections also have summer camps or expeditions which develop many new skills and lifelong friendships. The highlights of the year (1° April 2022- 3 1st March 2023) were: Beavers Beaver Wat¢rswrts Day RAf muTll Trip Secret Spy C&mp District Archery . RAF IleD(kJn Trip Winchester Sete¢ Cuxtre gkwver
Cubs . Drn8on Iloatiti8 2 nWJt Practicc Camp 3 ni8M SuEllfller Camp Districi ATdJery . Youlbwy Winter sk¢ver ' Hut CJrcAuKL8 day Scouts 2022 NaiioTwI Arc Dowm Sthx)I Swnm¢r Flir BIIQ C¢kin8 4 night Summcr Camp- Lakes • DiAtrict Arth Chtp Lhailet)8¢ ' District Rill¢ SIMX)s Competition Wini¢r Freez¢r Comp D2 M•mb•Ystslp n¥mb• Our Purpose to actively engage and support young people in their personal development can only be achieved by providing quality Scouting for more young peopl¢ each year. The Group continued to have a good membership with just below l 00 youth members. We have just enough adult support to run a full progrdmme for the existing Sections. However, we really need additional Beaver Section support and there is an inevitable turnover of volunteers each year. We must therefore increase our efforts to recruit new Leaders and retain those that are already involved. Beavers. At the end March 2023 there were 18 Beavers. Cubs. Continue to be strong. again with 39 young people enrolled and a number on the waiting list Scouts. Has also continued to be a strong section and have maintained a good number of young people attending and wishing to complete their training. As of the end of March 2023 their numbers were 34.
DJ Group mInistra0 The Chairman has worked closely with the Group Scout Leader and other members of the Group Executive Committee during the year to ty and ensure that we have a clear framework for managing and supporting the Group. The Group Executive Committee continued to apply careful scrutiny to the management of our fmances, as described below. DA GTOUP he•dquart¢TS The Scout Group is jointly responsible, with the Compton Guide Company and Brownie Pack, for the management of the "Scout Hut" in Compton village. The Hut is leased from the landowners - Beeswax Dyson Farn]ing to whom we are grateful for all their help & support over the last year. The day-to-day management of the Hut is delegated to a management committee, chaired by local resident Rob Hill. The Section Leaders and Assistant Group Scout Leader are members of the committee and meet regularly to discuss and plan the maintenance and development of the facility. The Group Executive provide the necessary funds to meet the Scout Group's share of the upkeep and management costs. We are very grateful to Rob for his continuing leadership of this important management committee on behalf of the Scout Group. D3 Gmup fuDd r•tsiDg As a result of COVID restrictions being lifted, we were in a position to undertake more fundraising. However, the Group has a healthy bank balance and we expect to be able to support most of our equipment needs from the existing funds for the forthcoming year. Fundraising will continue to be an on-going issue in order to support the group and contribute to the maintenance of the hut. Any fundraising ideas would be gratefully received. E. FiDanfial Review The annual Receipts and Payments statement of accounts for the Group is attached. It has been prepared by the Group Treasurer and approved by the Group Executive Committee in accordance with the legislation applicable to charities and the guidelines published by The Scout Association. This year, the Group's accounts will be examined by an
independent examiner as the gross income for the year to 31" March 2023 rises above the threshold of £25,000. The Group's principal source of funds is a membership fee charged each temi for every youth member in the Group. The membership fee for the year ending 31° March 2023 was £132 per member for the year - in order to maintain the unallocated reserves whilst covering the routine running costs of the Scout Group. These routine costs include the upkeep of the Scout Hut and annual membership fees for the Scout DistricL County and Headquarters. The membership fees due to Taceham Hundred Scout District, Berkshire Scout County and The UK Scout Association were collected during the year and paid to thern in April 2023. Overall, the accounts for this year show a small loss of £749, compared to a loss of £260 in the preceding year. The year-end cash funds are £11,746. The accounts this year reflect a full year of meetings and activities following a couple of years of disruption due to the pandemic. The group has been very fortunate to receive regular donations from our GSLS employer who run a volunteering incentive. This has enabled the group to invest in new equipment and make improvements to the premises. It is often diificult to separate the Group's real operating expenses from the "cash flow" caused by money being collected and then paid on for events and equipment. This year the pre-payments (and costs) for future events were around £260 at the year-end. We estimate that the underlying operating expenses of the Group are approximately £4,250 per year - plus a turnover in the Sections of £13,200 per year for membership fees and weekly programme activities. The Group Executive Committee regularly monitors the levels of bank balances and the interest rates available to ensure the Group obtains good value and income from its banking arrangements, whilst maintaining a low risk and minimum effort investment Strategy. In the current economic climate invesiment incomes are starting to increase. The Executive Committee are continuing to rnonitor the situation.
All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks or building societies, currently HSBC. The Group Executive Committee continues to enforce our policies to have three appropriate and unrelated signatories on the bank account mandate and to ensure that neither of the signatories for any payment is related to the payee. Ki Reserves policy The Group's policy is to hold sufficient financial reserves to continue the minimal charitable activities of the Group should membership, income and Section expenses fall. The Group Executive Committee therefore considers that the Group should hold a sum equivalent to a year's operating expenses. As stated above, the underlying operating expenses are estimated as £4,250 per year and the Group Executive Committee have therefore agreed that we should aim to hold unallocated reserves of £4,250. The Group held unallocated reserves of approximately £11,750 against this at year end. This is above the level of agreed reserves to support one year's operating expenses. Thr Compton Scout FJmJly sel up inJLth¢ 2022 ruDthfWtrW) mly nmd gon finaneiDi help withth¢ coA0r1 Jbx limited lo m#Db¢rth'p rtes Thu has all¢a*d £5(#J ULilidly fr¢mthe unoiloca¢cdT¢rn For the year0ths51. M¥th2023. w¢ dlout¢d £440 of this to Wp with tennly Dtr5kn.p f¢¢5 plw £52 i¢w. F. Plall5 for p¢riod gnd other inforni2tion The coming year includes several Group activities which will be supported by the Group Executive Committee, including: . Gilwell Fun Day (Beavers) . Scout Summer Camp . Cub Summer Camp Producing Reindeer decorations with the Explorers, as a Group Event . JOTI sessions for Cubs and Scouts . Cubs Winter Youlbury Sleepover . Scouts Winter Freezer camp Adult recruitment campaign in Compton during the
autumn The Group Executive Committee will continue to support the leadership of the Gmup, including the partnership with Apollo Explorer Scout Unit. The Group Executive Committee will also continue to manage The Scout Association's Safety policy within the Group and support the other development and administrative needs of the Group Scout Leader. Agreed by the charity's trustees at the Group Executive Committee meeting on 6" June 2023 and by email on 9 June 2023, and signed on their behalf. Pete Smith, Chairnian 5 July 2023 Lucie Foot, Treasurer 5 July 2023
1st Compton Scout Group Receipts and Payments Account
For the year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Receipts and Payments
| Receipts Membership subscriptions Sleepover/ Camp income Gift Aid Donations Total Gross Income Payments Rent Capitation Materials and equipment Sleepover/ Camp expenses Workshops/ Day Activities Contribution of Good Exchange fees Sundry expenses Venue Maintenance Total Gross Expenditure Net of receipts/ (payments) Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end Cash Funds Bank current account Expense Account Uncleared cheques Adj for income rec'd post year end 1st Compton Scout Group net funds |
2022/23 £ 11,557.50 12,091.48 1,670.11 6,678.78 31,997.87 825.00 5,280.00 9,541.61 11,194.98 - - 1,732.62 4,172.82 32,747.03 749.16 - 12,495.59 11,746.43 16,556.95 469.48 5,280.00 - - 11,746.43 |
2021/22 £ 8,610.17 5,346.18 971.17 2,164.48 |
|---|---|---|
| 17,092.00 | ||
| 792.00 5,896.00 3,946.90 4,018.11 210.00 1,700.00 788.83 - |
||
| 17,351.84 | ||
| 259.84 - |
||
| 12,755.43 | ||
| 12,495.59 | ||
| 18,293.71 - 5,896.00 - 97.88 |
||
| 11,746.43 | 12,495.59 |
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of I" Compton Scout Council I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 1st Compton Scout Group for the year ended 30th March 2023. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the I:t Compton Scout Group you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the 1st Compton Scout Group accounts carried out under sertion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have foLLowed all the applic4bLe Dirertions given by the Charity Commission undèr secbon 145151 Ibl of the Art. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the xamination giving rne cause to believe that in any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in respert of the I, Compton Scout Group as required by section 130 of the Act- or the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concems 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.. Sarah Marshman Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies lif anyl-. NIA Address.. l Narborough Lane, East ILsLey. RG20 7LX Date: 5th December 2023