REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st March 2024
Trustees
Group Chairman Group Treasurer Group Scout Leader
Maria Wishart Nicola Bethell Claire Tobin Catherine Ellis Rachel Jones Andrew Woolsey Anne Papworth Sharon Smith Dan Connall Jennie Barnell Caroline Wright James Jones
Bankers
National Westminster Bank plc, 501 Silbury Boulevard, Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes, MK9 3ER
ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
Chair’s report 2023-24
We were delighted to report Claire Tobin’s appointment as Group Scout Leader and Catherine Ellis’s appointment as Akela during this year, and we thank both for their continued dedication to our group. Thanks also to every member of the leadership team for continuing to devote time and energy to delivering outstanding experiences for our young people. Our Group Trustee Board continued to ensure the financial probity of Aspley Guise Scouts, and the maintenance of the Scout Hut, and we thank them for their time and commitment to these important tasks. The Trustee Board also continued to work on plans to develop the Scout Centre in Spinney Lane, having secured planning permission for the building phase. Thank you also to the many other people who worked behind the scenes this year to support the leaders in delivering their impressive programmes. Without all these volunteers, the group could not succeed, and we really do appreciate all that they do.
Recent changes to regulations mean that our Trustee Board members will soon be limited in the time they can serve as trustees. This makes my annual plea for volunteers even more resonant - if anyone out there would like to get involved in our board, or in the group as a leader, helper or behind-the-scenes member, please do get in touch. We would love to hear from you!
Maria Wishart
chair@aspleyguisescouts.org.uk
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
Group Scout Leader Report 2023-24
Since the last GSL report our district has dissolved and our temporary GSL retired from scouting. I became an assistant GSL in November 2023 as a point of contact for our transition into LeightonLinslade District who have been very welcoming. With the support of the Trustees and our Leadership Team, I accepted the post of GSL in January 2024.
The Leadership Team continues to grow with many volunteers choosing to fully train for their wood- badges. Our new district has presented wood-beads to Moema, Pete, Catherine, Andy, Kate, Victoria, Dan & Georgia in the last year, with Sharon receiving a Chief Scout’s Commendation for good service and myself receiving a bar to the Award for Merit. Such dedication from our volunteers guarantees strong leadership skills within flexible scouting roles. The annual Group Leaders Activity morning brings everyone together - coffee, cake, chat, skills, more cake and friendship. This event continues to have a positive impact on how we scout together. The sections have been out exploring the community, collecting for charities, supporting the village Family Fun Day with our Human Fruit Machines and Coconut Shy, and promoting Scouting locally in the process. Our Section leaders’ reports will mention the fun of camping and residentials but I am proud of them for ensuring the safety and growth of our young people away from home. Thank you to all our leaders for creating (and enjoying) these amazing experiences through scouting.
We were delighted to welcome back our 4 young people who participated in the Korean Jamboree last summer – that really was an adventure! With their tales of friendship, resilience & kindness from the Koreans, they are an inspiration to our younger scouters.
We appreciate the parental support to the group, especially those who volunteer as occasional helpers and who willingly learn new skills or use their own talents to assist the sections.
The group has a full committee, strong leadership teams and membership of 123 young people. I would like to thank the current Trustees, particularly our Chair, Maria, for their foresight and planning to ensure the care of the property and finances of the group.
Leadership, admin support, maintenance, trustee roles; there are numerous ways in which adults can assist the scout group. I would encourage anyone who is considering volunteering to contact us through join@aspleyguisescouts.org.uk or talk to one of the leaders. It is a friendly and supportive group; scouting can be flexible and roles can be shared. With your help we will continue to grow and aid the development of our young people. The adventure continues.
Claire Tobin
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
Beavers Section Report 2023-24
Our Beavers have had another great year of fun packed activities.
Here is a summary of the activities completed per Term:
1. Summer Term – 2023
The Beavers worked on their Experiments, Camp Craft and Navigator Badges. They had the opportunity to celebrate the King’s Coronation with a teamwork activity and participated as a group in our St George’s Event to renew their promises. The Tuesday Beavers visited the Safety Centre, worked on personal skills with a shoe polishing session, participated in hikes and completed volunteering work with ShoeAid Donations. The Friday Beavers completed a fun and interactive session at the Pets At Home store in central Milton Keynes in order to
achieve their Animal Friend badge and took part in many outdoor activities including hiking, cooking, fire lighting and tent pitching.
2. Autumn Term – 2023
In the Autumn Term we welcomed some new Beavers and had a great time working on the Communicator, Digital Citizen, Money Skills and International Badges. We celebrated various international festivals such as Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), Diwali, Thanksgiving and had an International Christmas Pyjama Party with fun activities based on the theme of ‘Christmas around the world’.
The Tuesday Beavers worked on breaking some codes with Semaphore and Morse code
activities and had an amazing visit to the TNMOC – The Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park, where the Beavers had a go at breaking a code using the Enigma machine. They also talked about mental health and worked on some important skills such as sewing and online safety. The Friday Beavers visited the Curly Tails Pig Sanctuary, had a
and money themed
activities including cooking (we made Brazilian chocolates) and running a second hand ‘swap shop’.
As an entire group the Beavers had a real treat going to the cinema session that was just for them! Some of them also had the opportunity to attend a sleepover and survived the night away from home in the hut.
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
Leaders Phaona (Moema) and Nushka (Victoria) were very pleased to receive their Wood Badges this Term after completing their full leader training.
- Spring Term -2024
In the Spring Term we concentrated on the Space and Explorer badges and went out on a lot of hikes around Milton Keynes, whatever the weather. The Tuesday Beavers had a session at Go Outdoors to investigate what outdoor gear to use for various activities which was very interesting. The entire group loved their Space badge and explored the sky using di�erent apps, books and a planisphere which taught the Beavers about constellations and planets.
The Beavers also crafted some planets, created their own International Space Station, and had a real treat visiting the National Space Centre in Leicester (organized as an additional trip by the Beaver and Cub Leaders).
party, played loads of games, and celebrated with a lot of creative crafts and music… including a samba lesson. The Friday Beavers visited Woburn Fire Station and had a tennis coaching session with a local tennis coach at Woburn Sands Tennis Courts.
During the whole year all of the Beavers have worked on various elements of the Challenge Awards.
Thank you to everyone who helped to make this another fantastic year!
The Tuesday and Friday Beaver Leaders – Phaona, Keneu, Wontolla, Nushka and Rikki Not to mention our fantastic Young Leaders too!!
Moema Pimentel and Victoria Rolton
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
Cub Section Report 2023-24
After a long winter and spring indoors, the Cubs were eager to get outside and explore during the summer term. We became Generation Green Champions, learning how to look after our local environment with a nature walk at Willen Lake, bug hotel building at Milton Bryan and trying the fun (and noisy) Japanese art of Hapa Zome. Cubs enjoyed some Foot Golf and rounded off the term in traditional style with a Foam Fight Night and swimming at Woburn Lido. Summer camp at Quarries Campsite was on one of the hottest weekends of the summer – getting soaked by the Drainpipe game proved to be the most popular activity!
Autumn had an artistic flavour, exploring the art trail in Campbell Park and the sculpture trail in Milton Keynes. We cooked on open fires, celebrated the Day of the Dead with some fabulous
costumes and ventured into Woburn Abbey deer park after dark. An after hours visit to the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park included breaking codes with an Enigma machine. At Christmas we made beautiful cards to be distributed to the community by Helping Hands and mastered some circus skills at the Christmas party. In contrast to summer camp, our residential at Phasels Wood began in torrential rain – luckily it dried up enough for us to enjoy campfire cooking, air rifles, backwoods cooking and badminton-based team building games.
The main focus of spring term was earning the Entertainers Badge – several nights of rehearsing led to two accomplished (and hilarious) performances for friends and family. Bravo! We sorted our knots from our lashings to build catapults and send Brussel sprouts flying. DIY and building skills were at the ready to construct some amazing wooden planters. March saw us return to Overstone Scout Camp where we enjoyed coding games, frisbee golf, grass sleds and the ever-popular caving bus. Cubs and Beavers enjoyed a joint trip to the National Space Centre.
The Cub leadership team continues to go from strength to strength – we were delighted to welcome Graham to the Tuesday team in January. Congratulations to Claire who stepped down as Akela to take up the role of Group Scout Leader and to Georgia who was awarded her Wood Badge.
My thanks go to all the leaders: Anne, Rachel, Chris, Sharon, Victoria, Georgia and Graham for their brilliant ideas, enthusiasm and energy. Here’s to many more adventures to come.
Catherine Ellis
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
Scout Section Report 2023-24
The Scouts continue to have enough young people to warrant two full troops meeting weekly on separate evenings. We run a joint programme focusing on traditional scouting skills such as navigation, camp skills, teamwork challenges, and survival skills, while also working towards a variety of badge requirements.
During this period, the Scouts worked on several badge requirements including the Air Spotter, Navigator, Skills Challenge, and Astronautics badges. Activities included learning about grid references, contour lines, mapwork, identifying aircraft, understanding healthy lifestyles, problem- solving tasks, and building rockets.
The programme incorporated a mix of practical skills like cooking, pioneering, and wide games to keep things engaging. Special events included a St. George's Day campfire celebration, a Coronation community service project, night hikes, and a summer swimming trip to the Woburn Lido. The Scouts also spent some time on the water for a full day at an event organized by Riparian Explorer Sea Scout Unit.
Overnight camping experiences remained a highlight, with the Scouts participating in a summer camp under canvas at Overstone which allowed them to practice their camp craft skills. There was also a weekend residential at the Caldecotte Xperience in January 2024 with many outdoor activities. The older Scouts completed their Expedition Challenge award with a two day backpacking expedition across the Chilterns.
The varied programme was made possible by the dedicated team of Scout leaders who planned and delivered the activities each week. Parent helpers provided invaluable assistance for certain outings and events when extra adult support was required.
Overall, the 2023-2024 programme year offered a well-rounded array of opportunities for the Scouts to learn new skills, explore the outdoors, work as a team, and challenge themselves while having fun in a safe environment. We look forward to another exciting year ahead.
Peter Jones
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
Charitable objectives
The Group's charitable objective is the development of young people by helping them to achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities, by producing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training guided by the adult leadership.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities in preparing the annual report and financial statements.
The Group is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scout Association Group. The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of the Scout Association.
The Trustees meet as a Board on a periodic basis to review the strategy and performance of the Group and to set operating plans and budgets. Day-to-day control is delegated to the leaders of the various scouting sections under the direction of the Group Scout Leader.
Risk and Internal Control
The Trustees have considered and put in place systems of internal control that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material misstatement or loss and include:
Safety and assessing risk are an integral part of every activity we undertake, training for this commences as part of the leader appointment process, all adult leaders and helpers are required to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check, and training continues an ongoing basis.
If anyone requires a copy of the audited accounts they should approach the Chairman, Treasurer or Group Scout Leader.
This Report and Accounts were approved by the trustees on:
For and on behalf of the Trustees
……………………………………………..
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
for the year ended 31st March 2024
| General | Designated | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Total | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Total Receipts for the year | 31,973.36 | 4,321.52 | 36,294.88 | 34,429.02 | |
| Total Payments for the year | 34,094.63 | - | 34,094.63 | 34,685.36 | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ||
| Net receipts / (payments) | - 2,121.27 | 4,321.52 | 2,200.25 | -256.34 | |
| Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ||
| - 2,121.27 | 4,321.52 | 2,200.25 | -256.34 | ||
| Net assets at 31 March 2023 | 234,175.12 | 321,640.45 | 555,815.57 | 556,071.91 | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ||
| Net assets at 31 March 2024 | 232,053.85 | 325,961.97 | 558,015.82 | 555,815.57 | |
| ========== | ========== | ========== | ========== | ||
| RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED | |||||
| 31st March 2024 | |||||
| General | Designated | ||||
| Funds | Funds | Total | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS | 17,889.53 | 17,889.53 | 21,834.59 | ||
| INVESTMENT INCOME RECEIVED | |||||
| Bank interest | 311.33 | 4,321.52 | 4,632.85 | 2,010.71 | |
| Scout Association Investment interest | - | - | - | - |
|
| Dividends | - | - | - | - |
|
| Property rents | 673.20 | - | 673.20 |
663.00 | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
------------- | ||
| 984.53 | 4,321.52 | 5,306.05 | 2,673.71 | ||
| DONATIONS AND GRANTS | - | - | - | - |
|
| ACTIVITIES & TRIPS | 11,436.60 | - | 11,436.60 |
8,143.53 | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
------------- | ||
| SUNDRY RECEIPTS | |||||
| Uniform sales | 1,662.70 | - | 1,662.70 |
1,777.19 | |
| Badge receipts | - | - | - | - |
|
| Other | - | - | - | - |
|
| Loan receipts | - | - | - | - |
|
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
------------- | ||
| 1,662.70 | 1,662.70 | 1,777.19 | |||
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
------------- | ||
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | 31,973.36 | 4,321.52 | 36,294.88 | 34,429.02 | |
| ========== | ========== | ========== | ========== | ||
| 8 |
ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 March 2024
| Designated | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Funds | Funds | Total | 2023 | |
| PREMISES | ||||
| Rent | 394.00 | - | 394.00 |
350.00 |
| Rates | - | - | - | - |
| Light and heat | 4,931.26 | - | 4,931.26 |
4,922.24 |
| Insurance | 2,674.32 | - | 2,674.32 |
2,445.40 |
| Repairs and renewals | 627.36 | - | 627.36 |
1,419.87 |
| Building costs & Cleaning | 1,159.50 | - | 1,159.50 |
1,802.00 |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| 9,786.44 | - | 9,786.44 |
10,939.51 | |
| DONATIONS AND GRANTS | ||||
| Other | 1,500.00 | - | 1,500.00 |
529.45 |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| 1,500.00 | 1,500.00 | 529.45 | ||
| ACTIVITIES | 14,819.68 | 14,819.68 | 12,603.52 | |
| FUND RAISING EXPENSES | ||||
| ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES | ||||
| Capitation | 6,703.50 | - | 6,703.50 |
5,781.00 |
| Uniforms | 402.43 | - | 402.43 |
4,005.30 |
| Other | 322.90 | - | 322.90 |
335.55 |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| 7,428.83 | 7,428.83 | 10,121.85 | ||
| TRUSTEES EXPENSES | ||||
| Audit & Accountancy | 559.68 | 559.68 | 491.03 | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| 559.68 | - | 559.68 |
491.03 | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| TOTAL PAYMENTS | 34,094.63 | - | 34,094.63 |
34,685.36 |
| ========== | ========== | ========== | ========== |
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
BALANCE SHEET As at 31st March 2024
| BALANCE SHEET As at 31st March 2024 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | |||
| Funds | Funds | Total | 2023 | |
| MONETARY ASSETS | ||||
| Natwest current account | 20,620.04 | - | 20,620.04 |
5,660.54 |
| Lloyds current account | - | - | - | - |
| Natwest reserve account | 23,461.03 | - | 23,461.03 |
23,149.96 |
| Natwest deposit account 1 | - | 325,941.76 | 325,941.76 | 321,620.24 |
| Natwest deposit account 2 | - | 20.21 |
20.21 | 19.95 |
| Paypal account | 60.92 | - | 60.92 |
7,316.64 |
| Prepayment and accrued income | 244.80 | - | 244.80 |
- |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| 44,386.79 | 325,961.97 | 370,348.76 | 357,767.33 | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| NON-MONETARY ASSETS | ||||
| Land and buildings | 400,000.00 | - | 400,000.00 | 400,000.00 |
| Refurbishment Cost | 6,361.70 | - | 6,361.70 |
4,346.92 |
| Scout equipment | 1,921.54 | - | 1,921.54 |
1921.54 |
| Accumulated Depreciation on Scout | - | - | - |
|
| equipment | 384.00 | - | 384.00 |
192.00 |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| 407,899.24 | - | 407,899.24 | 406,076.46 | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 452,286.03 | 325,961.97 | 778,248.00 | 763,843.57 |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| LIABILITIES due within one year | ||||
| Accruals | 12,732.18 | 12,732.18 | 528.00 | |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| 12,732.18 | - | 12,732.18 |
528.00 | |
| LIABILITIES payable after one year | ||||
| Loans | - | - | - | - |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| - | - | - | - |
|
| RESERVES | ||||
| Revaluation Reserves | 207,500.00 | - | - | 207,500.00 |
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| 207,500.00 | - | - | 207,500.00 |
|
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |
| NET ASSETS | 232,053.85 | 325,961.97 | 558,015.82 | 555,815.57 |
| ========== | ========== | ========== | ========== |
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
NOTES TO ACCOUNTS
for the year ended 31st March 2024
Note 1: Accounting policies.
Basis of Preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Scout equipment
Depreciation is charged on a straight-line basis over 10 years.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Note 2: Accounting Policies
2.1 Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds that have been designated for a purpose but which can be repurposed by the Trustees. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the Trust’s work.
2. Designated Fund reserve
This Fund arose in 2018 when the Group sold land from a bequest from the Marquess of Bedford, who died in 2003. The Bequest was not restricted, the group committee are deciding how to designate the funds.
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
NOTES TO ACCOUNTS
for the year ended 31st March 2024
Note 3: Fixed assets
| Scout | Improvements | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings | equipment | to property | Total | |
| Cost | ||||
| Balance b/fwd | 400,000.00 | 1,921.54 | 4,346.70 | 406,268.24 |
| Additions | - | - | 2,015.00 |
2,015.00 |
| Revaluations | - | - | - |
- |
| ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | |
| Balance c/fwd | 400,000.00 | 1,921.54 | 6,361.70 | 408,283.24 |
| ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | |
| Depreciation | ||||
| Balance b/fwd | - | 192.00 | - | 192.00 |
| Charge for the year | - | 192.00 | - | 192.00 |
| ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | |
| Balance c/fwd | - | 384.00 | - | 384.00 |
| ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | |
| Net assets @ 31/03/24 | 400,000.00 | 1,537.54 | 6,361.70 | 407,899.24 |
| ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | |
| Net assets @ 31/03/23 | 400,000.00 | 1,729.54 | 4,346.70 | 406,076.24 |
| ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
Note 4: Trustees remuneration and benefits.
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st March 2024 nor for the year ended 31st March 2023.
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ASPLEY GUISE AND WOBURN SANDS (6TH AMPTHILL) SCOUT GROUP
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
Year Ended 31st March 2024
I report to the trustees of the Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands (6th Ampthill) Scout Group on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31st March 2024 as set on pages 8 to 12 of this report.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, 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 Trust’s 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
Jonathan Vowles FCA CTA DChA JVCA Ltd, Chartered Accountants 114 High Street Cranfield MK43 0DG
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