## **3[rd] Taunton**
## **(Bishops Lydeard) Scout Group**
## **Annual Report 2024 – 2025**
_**From Little Acorns Mighty Oak Trees grow......**_
## **President’s Report**
Yet another year has slipped by since I first started Scouting about 65 years ago! More than half of that time has been spent working at Bishops Lydeard. Back in my early days in the group (running the only Cub Pack there was) we had an old Nissen hut where we held our meetings. At some point, during the time I was leading, a swimming pool was built on the lawn by the current Scout hut which was opened by a lady who used an ‘ear trumpet’ to be able to hear what was being said!
The current hut replaced the Nissen hut and was built by Charlie Back and has since had a shower block etc added to it...and there is a whisper that it may be re-vamped again...bringing it even more up to date
How fortunate we are that there are dedicated set on volunteers who maintain our premises as
well as leading and guiding our youngsters to be ‘good’ citizens as well as becoming the future generation...do remember that from ‘ Little acorns, mighty oak trees grow’... Baden Powell’s favourite quote.
It is time for me to thank all the Leaders again and wish everyone another happy year in Scouting Yvonne Back
## **president@bishopslydeardscouts.org.uk**
## **Chair of Trustees’ Report**
Another busy and successful year for the Scout Group, providing an exciting and meaningful programme of activities for all the young people we support. Once again, we have full sections at all levels and currently support **140** youngsters on their scouting journey.
As always, I would like to pay tribute to our wonderful team of leaders who do an incredible job week in, week out, ensuring that the Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts are exposed to exciting new challenges in a way that maximises both learning and fun, while keeping them safe. Our Group Lead Volunteer, Jana, and the team of Trustees also deserve special recognition for their tireless work behind the scenes, without which we could not thrive.
Parents and carers who have given time, resources, or practical help are also sincerely thanked—I hope you can see the value scouting provides to your youngsters.
Thanks to the generosity of one family, we were able to redevelop our campfire area on site, making it much more accessible and safe. Special thanks to them and to the adults who carried out the work.
We continue to look forward to further developing the site, with plans underway to make the hut a more efficient, accessible, and flexible space, able to meet the needs of our youngsters for many years to come.
Stuart Whittaker
Chair of trustees
**chair@bishopslydeardscouts.org.uk**
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## **Group Scout Leader’s Report**
Bishops Lydeard Scout Group has had another great year! We have been able to offer a full, exciting and challenging programme across all sections, equipping our children with ‘Skills for Life’, as you will see from the Section Reports.
I would like to thank all our Leaders and Helpers for their hard work and dedication. We have an amazing team of Leaders in all sections. Without these Leaders, who are all volunteers, we would be unable to offer such a successful level of Scouting activities
This year as always we have had leaders leave us and I would like to thank them all for their time volunteering at Bishops Lydeard Scout Group. We welcome the new leaders and hope they will have a fulfilling, enjoyable time volunteering in our Scout Group.
As always we need more volunteers to help in all sections. Our volunteers plan and run amazing programmes for our young people. They need more support if we are to continue offering these opportunities. Some of our sections will be running a volunteer rota from September. We hope this will make it easier for people to help out occasionally. Being on the volunteer rota is an easy way to give a little back, without committing to helping out every week. If something else comes up – no problem. Just let us know and switch weeks with another helper. It’s up to you what your involvement looks like: we understand that everyone has different skills (and amounts of time) to share. Your Section Leader will be able to explain more about being a member of the Team.
Volunteering is a two-way street. Research shows that it improves your wellbeing and helps you build career-boosting skills. Let us know you’re interested, and we’ll give you any support and training you need to let your skills shine. So please consider joining us.
Finally, thank you to our Trustees, who have worked quietly behind the scenes ensuring the Finance and Governance of our Scout Group is sound. We currently have one space on our Board of Trustees.
If you would like to join us in any capacity please contact me.
## **Jana Truby Group Lead Volunteer glv@bishopslydeardscouts.org.uk**
## **Development Project:**
- We plan to build a new toilet/shower block for our campers
- External Insulation of the hut
- New toilets indoor
- New Kitchen
- Internal decorations including reconfiguring layout
If you think you can help in any way please let us know.
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## **Squirrel Scout Report**
Another successful year for our youngest section. Squirrel Scouts have completed many exciting activities including, hikes, den building, making bird feeders and many campfires.
We took part in the District Squirrel Funday at Huish Woods where we joined Squirrels from around the District. We had our first Squirrel sleepover when we joined the other Sections for a Group Weekend event.
A big thank you to our leaders, Jana, Baloo, and Maddie and our 2 Young Leaders, Zack and Taliah all of whom have helped to run the Section with enthusiasm and dedication. We would also like to thank the parents and grandparents who stay each week to help. Between us we make a great team. We will be setting up a more formal rota of volunteers from September. If you feel able to join us please let me know.
Squirrel Leadership Team **Squirrels@bishopslydeardscouts.org.uk**
## **Bishops Lydeard Beaver Scout report**
What a fantastic year we have had! With a mixture of indoor and outdoor activity, in both Riverside and Woodland.
Our two Colonies share the same programme and at least once a term we joined each other’s groups this is a lovely opportunity for us to mix and form new friendships.
We have been keeping to the 2-year programme that was set
up a few years ago, this is to try to cover as many Beavers badges as possible. Then in-between we try to add different activities
During our evenings last year we have been, canoeing, singing by the fire, dancing in the dark, we have learnt money skills and where money came from, we have had an international evening, axe throwing, we visited a Goat Farm, a Veg Farm, and East Quay Art Centre.
We have taken the Beavers to National Aquarium Plymouth where they spent the night sleeping
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with the sharks, this was an amazing experience! We had a visit down to Pennywell Farm, followed by a sleep over at the hut, we joined in Bishops Lydeard Group Camp and had a fabulous walk around Steart Marshes. Most recently we had our District Beaver Camp and Huish Woods.
Fox & Ferret (Kirsty & Cody) & all the Beaver Volunteer Team **Riverside@bishopslydeardscouts.org.uk Woodland@bishopslydeardscouts.org.uk**
## **Bisops Lydeard Cub Scout report**
Bishops Lydeard Scout Group currently run two Cub Packs, Oak Cubs is based at The Hut in Bishops Lydeard and Acorn Cubs are based at Cotford Community Centre.
We have also expanded our leadership team with some fabulous young leaders who interact brilliantly with the children. Massive thanks to all the team – Russell, Jess, Cody, Madz, Chris and our young leaders Lillie, Izzy and Finn.
Highlights from our programme this year include visits to the mill in Bishops Lydeard, rope making in Watchet, water activities in Taunton, lambing in Clatworthy and axe throwing (yes really!). We have hiked, baked, crafted and camped and learned skills that will last a lifetime. Thank you to all the cubs who have taken part and for being brave at times when facing a new challenge. Many of you now have sleeves full of badges which I know your parents were thrilled to sew on!
Have a lovely summer, see you in September.
## **Stuart (Akela) Acorn pack Team Leader acorn@bishopslydeard scouts.org.uk**
## **Jess (Akela) Oak Pack Team Leader**
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## **Scout Troop Report**
The Scout troop have had another full and exciting year of activities and challenges.
We have completed many ‘Scouting’ activities including mapping skills, pioneering international food tasting, a campfire singalong, traditional patrol tent set up, canoeing on the River Tone and the mechanic's badge.
We also visited Bridgewater police station and we have had many nights away including a weeklong summer camp in the New Forest, the Scout District camp at Brompton Ralph, an Expedition Challenge for the older Scout, Moonraker challenge night and a Halloween camp at Horner woods.
This August we will be off to the Lake District for a week, and another Halloween camp is being planned for Lyme Regis.
## **Scout Leadership Team scouts@bishopslydeardscouts.org.uk**
## **Wyvern Explorer Scout Report**
Wyvern Explorer Scout Unit, part of the Blackdown District, has had an action-packed and adventurous year! In partnership with Bishops Lydeard, our Explorers have taken part in a wide variety of exciting activities that have made for a truly memorable year. One of the highlights was our fantastic summer camp in Guildford, where Explorers enjoyed a thrilling day at Thorpe Park, explored the town of Guildford, and tackled a scenic hike.
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Throughout the year, we’ve run several other camps too from a brilliant end-of-year camp in collaboration with Pegasus, to a magical trip to Disneyland Paris where we were invited by Wilton Scouts.
We also took on the challenge of the Monopoly Run in London, entering two teams who navigated the city in a fast-paced, fun-filled adventure.
Alongside these major events, our weekly programme has remained packed with engaging activities
designed to challenge, inspire, and develop the skills of all our Explorers.
Whether learning something new or building friendships, there’s always something going on at Wyvern.
None of this would be possible without our dedicated and enthusiastic leadership team – Dez, Chris, Marv, David, Ben, and Jana with valuable support from Ian when required. Their commitment and energy continue to create amazing opportunities for every Explorer in the unit.
## **Explorer Leadership Team**
**wyvern@bishopslydeardscouts.org.uk**
## **Group Treasurer’s Report Financial ending 31[st] March 2025**
## General
This report covers the financial year ending 31[st] March 2025.
Key Points
- The Group recorded a headline deficit of £29,443 for the year.
- This deficit includes a one-off purchase of a new minibus costing £37,079.
- We also received an extraordinary Gift Aid receipt of approximately £4,500 (we had not claimed for the year to 31[st] March 2023 so the payment was unusually high).
- Adjusting for these items, the underlying operating position shows a modest surplus of around £3,000.
## Income
Total income for the Group this year was £49,370 (FY2024: £38,300). The difference between the years is largely accounted for by an increase in donations, Gift Aid as mentioned above, and a much more active activity programme. On the negative side, the loss of Green Days has resulted in a net loss of income of around £14,000 per year.
## Expenditure
Total expenditure for the Group was £78,460 (FY2024: £40,120). Additional expenditure this year was incurred on the new minibus as mentioned above, and increased costs arising from the more
Page | 7
## active Scouting programme.
## Assets
Total Assets of the Group at 31[st] March 2025, excluding fixed assets such as the value of the Hut and Grounds, stood at £159,250 (at 31[st] March 2024: £180,100). Of this, £107,500 is held in the form of equity assets and bonds. The level of reserves held, and the form in which they are held (currently a blend of cash, ethical equity funds and government gilts and other high-grade bonds) are reviewed regularly by the Trustees.
## Looking Ahead …
In the autumn of 2023, Green Days Day Care terminated their agreement to rent the Hut on termtime weekdays, citing the age and facilities of the Hut compared to alternatives in the area, and the increasing regulatory challenges faced by older buildings. The financial impact of this has been the loss of about £14,000 of income each year (our costs, particularly heating, have been reduced by £1,000 - £2,000).
This has been a significant gap to fill, and the Trustees will be considering what the Group needs to do to replace that income, and/or reduce expenditure, accordingly. Parents will already have noticed that, for the first time since I took over as Treasurer in 2016, we raised membership subscriptions by 5% for the 2024/25 academic year. The Trustees have approved a further rise for 2025/26 to £14.50 per member per month, a 6.2% increase.
The Group Lead Volunteer will provide more detail on plans that the Trustees have provisionally approved to spend a substantial sum on improving the toilet facilities at the Hut. We have also contracted to replace the current boiler to improve the heating and hot water system.
## Financial governance and probity
The Scout Group is a registered charity, and such is its level of income that is required both by Scout Association and Charity Commission rules to have its accounts independently examined by a suitably skilled person. This is in any case good practice as it gives assurance to our Members that the Group’s Trustees are managing the Group’s finances with integrity and due attention.
Jodie Harkas, a Director of Lentells accountants in Taunton, kindly agreed to perform this role for us this year, as she did last year, in her own time and for free. Thank you, Jodie!
Jodie completed her examination on 1[st] July 2025, and found no matters of concern. Her signed statement is available should anyone wish to see it, and in any case will be available on the Charity Commission website, along with the Receipts and Payments statement, shortly.
## Neil Truby Group Treasurer treasurer@BishopsLydeardscouts.org.uk
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# **3rd Taunton (Bishops Lydeard) Scout Group Receipts and Payments Account**
Year start date
Year end date
**For the year 01/04/2024 To 31/03/2025 from**
## **Receipts and payments**
**2024/25**
**Unrestricted Restricted Endowment funds funds funds**
**Total funds**
**£**
**£**
**£ £**
## **Receipts**
|**Donations, legacies and similar**
**income**||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Membership subscriptions|**19,611**||||||**19,611**|
|Less: Membership subscriptions paid on
(National/County/Area/District)enter figures with a minus sign|**-10,992**||||||**-10,992**|
|Net membership subscriptions retained|**8,619**||||||**8,619**|
|Donations|**3,190**||||||**3,190**|
|Legacies||||||||
|Gift Aid|**7,828**||||||**7,828**|
|**Sub total**|**19,637 **||||||**19,637**|
|**Grants**||||||||
|Maintenenace grant||||||||
|Other grants||||||||
|**Sub total**||||||||
|**Scouting Activities**||||||||
|Minibus|**4,539**||||||**4,539**|
|Sale of Uniforms|**556**||||||**556**|
|Activities and Camps Income|**15,878**||||||**15,878**|
|**Sub total**|**20,973**||||||**20,973**|
|**Investment income**||||||||
|Bank and Building Society interest|**1,768**||**5**||||**1,773**|
|Property Rent income|**6,717**||||||**6,717**|
|Other income|**267**||||||**267**|
|**Sub total**|**8,752**||**5**||||**8,757**|
|**_Total Gross Income_**
**49,362**
**5**
**Asset and investment sales, etc.**
**_Total receipts_**
**49,362**
**5**
Receipts and Payments (Multi Fund) to 31 Mar 2024 v1.0|**49,362**||**5**|||||
||||||||**49,367**|
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
||||||||**49,367**|
||||||||Page 1 of 8|
# **3rd Taunton (Bishops Lydeard) Scout Group Receipts and Payments Account**
Year start date
Year end date
**For the year from**
**01/04/2024 To 31/03/2025**
## **Receipts and payments**
**2024/25**
**Unrestricted Restricted Endowment funds funds funds £ £ £ £**
**Total funds**
## **Payments**
|Charitable Payments||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Youth programme and activities||||||||
|Adult support and training||||||||
|Cleaning Costs|**554**||||||**554**|
|Light, Power, Heating, Water|**2,174**||||||**2,174**|
|Insurance|**3,292**||||||**3,292**|
|Repairs and Renewals|**2,161**||||||**2,161**|
|IT Software, Consumables|**649**||||||**649**|
|Telephone and Internet|**436**||||||**436**|
|Printing and Stationery|**157**||||||**157**|
|Postage|**0**||||||**0**|
|Banking and Investment Costs|**16**||||||**16**|
|Scouting and Scout Hut Equipment|**3,001**||||||**3,001**|
|Legal and Accountancy Costs|**0**||||||**0**|
|Rates|**0**||||||**0**|
|Advertising and Marketing|**0**||||||**0**|
|General Expenses|**341**||||||**341**|
|Donations|**34**||**48**||||**82**|
|Training|**25**||||||**25**|
|Wages|**988**||||||**988**|
|Rent|**139**||||||**139**|
|Travel, National|**260**||||||**260**|
|**Sub total**|**14,227**|v|**48**||**0**||**14,275**|
|**Fundraising expenses**||||||||
|Activities and Camps Expenditure|**19,007**||||||**19,007**|
|Purchase of Badges|**2,206**||||||**2,206**|
|Purchase of Uniforms|**2,829**||||||**2,829**|
|Minibus Costs
Receipts and Payments (Multi Fu|**40,140**
nd) to 31 Mar 2024||1.0||||**40,140**
Page 2 of 8|
|Other Activities costs|**0**||||||**0**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Sub total**|**64,182**||**0**||**0**||**64,182**|
|**_Total Gross Expenditure_**
**Asset and investment**
**purchases, etc.**
**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**Transfers between funds**
**Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_**||||||||
||||||||**78,457**|
|||||||||
|||||||||
||**78,409**
**-29,047**||**48**
**-43**|||||
||||||||**78,457**|
|||||||||
||**-29,047**||**-43**||||**-29,090**|
|||||||||
||**79,775**||**723**||||**80,498**|
||**50,728**||**680**||||**51,408**|
## **Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year**
## **31st Mar 2025**
||||||||**31st Mar 2025**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**|||**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**||**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**||**Total funds**
**£**|
|**Cash funds**||
||||
||
|Bank current account|**3,983**||**680**||**-**||**4,663**|
|NS&I|||||**-**||**-**|
|Building society account|**46,408**||||**-**||**46,408**|
|The Scout Association Short Term
Investment Service|||||**-**||**-**|
|Cash/Floats|**338**||||**-**||**338**|
|**Total cash funds**|**50,729**||**680**||**-**||**51,409**|
|**Other monetary assets**||
||
||
||
|Tax claim|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Debts due from the
County/Area/District/Group|||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Insurance claim|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**Sub total**|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**Investment assets**||
||
||
||
|Investment property - detail|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Quoted investments|**107,836**||**-**||**-**||**107,836**|
|Other investments - detail|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**Sub total**|**107,836**|
v|**-**|
|**-**|
|**107,836**|
|**Non monetary assets for**
**charity's own use**||||||||
|Badge stock
~~Receipts and Payments (Multi Fu~~|**-**
~~nd) to 31 Mar 2024~~||**-**
~~1.0~~||**-**||**-**
~~Page 3 of 8~~|
|Shop stock|**-**|
|**-**|
|**-**|
|**-**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Other stock|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Land and buildings|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Motor vehicles|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Scouting equipment, furniture etc|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Other|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**Sub total**|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**Liabilities**||
||
||
||
|Accounts not yet paid|||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Expenses incurred but not invoiced|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Subscriptions not yet paid|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Loan - detail|||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|Other liabilities|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
|**Sub total**|**-**||**-**||**-**||**-**|
**The above receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the May 2025**
|Signature|Print Name
Stu
Neil Tru|
|---|---|
||St|
||Neil Tru|
Receipts and Payments (Multi Fund) to 31 Mar 2024 v1.0
Page 4 of 8
## **2023/24**
## **Total funds**
## **£**
**17,012 -9,180 7,832 3,521 0 11,353 2,780 827 5,518 9,125 2,360 15,284 200 17,844 38,322 38,322**
Receipts and Payments (Multi Fund) to 31 Mar 2024 v1.0
Page 5 of 8
## **2023/24**
## **Total funds**
## **£**
**401 4,143 1,441 1,498 614 352 220 4 22 11,661 -17 0 0 656 172 0 731 290 0 22,188 8,305 1,081 3,735 4,814** ar 2024 v1.0
Receipts and Payments (Multi Fund) to 31 Mar 2024 v1.0
Page 6 of 8
**0 17,935 40,123 40,123 -1,801 82,300 80,499**
## **31st Mar 2024**
## **Total funds**
**£ 4,740 - 73,135 - 2,623 80,498 - - - - 99,584 - 99,584** ~~ar 2024 v1.0~~ **-**
Receipts and Payments (Multi Fund) to 31 M ~~ar 2024 v1.0~~
Page 7 of 8
**-** 180,082
**Trustees on 7th**
uart Whittaker, Chair
uby, Group Treasurer
Receipts and Payments (Multi Fund) to 31 Mar 2024 v1.0
Page 8 of 8
Independent examlnerfs report to the trustees of3 Taunton (Blshops Lydeard) Scout Group
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 3rd Taunton {Bishops Lydeardl
Scout Groupfor the yeor ended 31 March 2025.
Responslbllltles and basls of report
As the charity trustees of the 3rd Taunton {Bishops Lydeardl Scout Group you are reswnsible for the
preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111.the
AcV}.
I report in respect of my exarninatKin of the 3rd Taunton (Bishops Lydeardl Scout Group accounts
carried out under Section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinatlon I have followed all
the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commisslon un*Jer Section 14515}Ibl of the Art.
Independent examinerfs sL*ement
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:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the 3rd Taunton IBishops Lydeardl Scout
Group as required by settion 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 understandin6 of the
accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Jodie Farka5 ACA
Address: 18 Ashgrove Way, Bridgwater, Somer5et. TA6 4UB
Date.. 011071 ioir