Charity Registration Number 300458 ## Biggleswade District Scout Council Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 December 2023 ## Biggleswade District Scout Council |Contents|| |---|---| |Administrative Details|3| |District Membership|4| |Charity Information|5| |Role of Honour|6| |Trustees Report|7| |GOVERNANCE|7| |STRUCTURE|7| |MANAGEMENT|7| |ORGANISATION|8| |APPOINTMENT OFTRUSTEES|8| |RISKMANAGEMENT|8| |RESERVES POLICY|8| |INVESTMENT POLICY|9| |Objectives and Activities|9| |OURPURPOSE|9| |OUR VALUES|9| |OURMETHOD|9| |Achievements and performance|10| |Financial Review|10| |STATEMENT OFFINANCIALACTIVITIES|10| |REMUNERATION OFTRUSTEES|10| |Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts|11| |Annual Accounts|12| 2 Biggleswade District Scout Council ## **Administrative Details** ## Charity Registration No: 300458 PRINCIPAL ADDRESS: Boyd Scout Campsite & Activity Centre Church Road Henlow Bedfordshire SG16 6AN E-mail: info@biggleswadedistrictscouts.org.uk Website: www.biggleswadedistrictscouts.org.uk INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: Andrea Daniels 16 Water Lane Melbourn Royston Hertfordshire SG8 6AY PRINCIPAL BANKER: Barclays Bank Leicester LE87 2BB SCOUT ASSOCIATION The Scout Association MEMBERSHIP Gilwell Park The Biggleswade District Scout Chingford Council is registered with London The Scout Association E4 7QW (No 10001376) Incorporated by Royal Charter 3 ## Biggleswade District Scout Council ## **District Membership** As at 31[st] January 2024 |**Membership**|**Number**| |---|---| |Squirrel Scouts|57| |Beaver Scouts|477| |Cub Scouts|554| |Scouts|430| |Explorers (including Young Leaders)|127| |Scout Network|0| ||**1654**| |Active Support Roles|10| |Leadership Roles|318| |Management Roles|16| |Support Roles|21| |Governance Roles|84| ||**449**| |Young Leaders|**44**| |**Units**|| |Groups|**16**| |Squirrel Dreys|4| |Beaver Colonies|24| |Cub Packs|27| |Scout Troops|22| |Explorer Scout Units (including YL Unit)|**11**| |Scout Network Units|**1**| |Scout Active Support Units|**3**| 4 Biggleswade District Scout Council ## **Charity Information** Names of the Charity Trustees who managed the Charity: |**Trustee Name**|**Primary Scouting Appointment**|**Dates acted if not for**
**wholeyear**|**Trustee Type**| |---|---|---|---| |David Bridges|District Badge Secretary||Elected Trustee| |Peter Cheney|District Chairman||Ex-Officio| |Sarah Colley|District Appointments Chair|Until 19thJune 2023|Nominated Trustee| |LucyCox|DeputyDistrict Commissioner|Until 19thJune 2023|Nominated Trustee| |Christopher Dodds|District Explorer Scout Commissioner||Ex-Officio| |Joe Febery-Watts|District Youth Commissioner|From 9thJune 2023|Ex-Officio| |John Gibson|Cub Scout Leader|From 19thJune 2023|Nominated Trustee| |BarryJefferd|Cub Scout Leader||Elected Trustee| |David Moult|DeputyDisrict Commissioner|From 19thJune 2023|Nominated Trustee| |TraceyMurrell|District Commissioner||Ex-Officio| |Anne Porter|District Treasurer||Ex-Officio| |Robert Pullinger|District Secretary||Ex-Officio| |Jane Thompson|Local TrainingManager|Until 30thJanuary2023|Elected Trustee| |Graham Thorpe|District Safety Advisor||Elected Trustee
(Until 19thJune 2023)
Nominated Trustee
(From 19thJune 2023)| |Ben Whittle|Assistant District Commissioner||Nominated Trustee
(Until 19thJune 2023)
Elected Trustee
(From 19thJune 2023)| 5 Biggleswade District Scout Council ## **Role of Honour** For the year ending 31[st] December 2023 **Silver Acorn** Sarah Panton Henlow Clifton **Bar to the Award for Merit** Clair Daniel Sandy Lesley Davidson Henlow Clifton **Award for Merit** David Bailey Brocks Explorers **Chief Scouts Commendation for Good Service** David Devereux Henlow Clifton John Smith Henlow Clifton 6 ## Biggleswade District Scout Council ## **Trustees Report** ## For the year ending 31[st] December 2023 The members of the Trustee Board of Biggleswade District Scout Council present their report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023. The financial statements have been prepared on a payments and receipts basis and comply with the charity’s governing document and the Charities Act 2011. ## Governance The Charity’s governing document is the Royal Charter granted by King George V to the “Boy Scouts Association” on 16 December 1911. Its name has since been changed to the “Scout Association”. This Charter has been supplemented by further Charters granted by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. These Charters give authority to the Bye Laws of the Association, which are approved by His Majesty’s Privy Council. The Bye Laws, in turn, authorise the making of rules for the regulation of the Association’s affairs and thereby give authority for the Rules known as “Policy, Organisation and Rules” which are located at www.scouts.org.uk/por. The Biggleswade District Scout Council was first registered as a Charity in 1966. The Charity is aware of the Code of Governance for the Voluntary and Community Sector and its six key principles and will continue to critically review its approach to governance and assess how effective it is against these principles in 2024. ## Structure This report and accounts cover the activities directly controlled by Biggleswade District Scout Council which is an autonomous organisation admitting people to membership subject to the policy and rules of The Scout Association. The activities of the Scout Groups in Biggleswade are not reflected in the report and accounts. These bodies are autonomous charities affiliated to Biggleswade District Scout Council that together form Scouting in the area of operation of the District. Biggleswade District Scouts were led by Tracey Murrell, the District Commissioner, and managed by a Trustee Board. They are accountable to the Biggleswade District Scout Council for the satisfactory running of Scouting in the District. ## Management The management of the business of the District Scout Council is vested in the District Trustee Board. The Trustees Board was appointed in accordance with Policy, Organisation, and Rules of the Scout Association. The District Trustee Board met five times during the year to manage the affairs of the Charity. The Trustees will continue to meet regularly in 2024. The District Trustee Board is responsible for policy making but delegates some operational decisions to its sub committees, which may also recommend policies for the consideration of the District Trustee Board. The District Trustee Board appoints Chairmen and members of sub-committees annually. There were two sub-committees for the Charity in 2023: • The Boyd Campsite & Activity Centre Committee – responsible for the management, development and running of the Centre; - The Appointments Advisory Committee – responsible for the appointment and review of adult 7 ## Biggleswade District Scout Council Appointments within the District. The Boyd Campsite & Activity Centre Committee and Appointments Advisory Committee met regularly in 2023. The Terms of Reference of the Boyd Campsite & Activity Centre Committee were reviewed during 2021 and the committee has some delegated authority so decisions can be made quickly and without added bureaucracy. ## Organisation The District is led by the District Commissioner and she is assisted and supported by: - The District Team; - The District Trustee Board; - Group Scout Leaders ## Appointment of Trustees Trustees are appointed in accordance with the “Policy, Organisation & Rules” of The Scout Association. Trustees and newly appointed Trustees are invited to attend HQ Executive Training and completion is monitored by the District Commissioner. ## Risk Management The Trustees have a risk management strategy which includes: - a requirement to produce a risk assessment for all District events and activities; - an annual review of the risks the Charity may face; - the establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the annual review and for all District events and activities; and - the implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the Charity should those risks materialise. - A requirement for non-Scouting organisations using Boyd Scout Campsite & Activity Centre to produce appropriate Risk Assessments for their event. Risk assessments have been completed for all activities and facilities at the Activity Centre and are available on the website. These are reviewed regularly. When unacceptable risks are identified actions are taken on an on-going basis to mitigate them. A key element in the management of financial risk is the regular review of the adequacy of insurance coverage and investment and reserves policies by the trustees. ## Reserves policy The policy has been established to protect the Charity and its charitable programme by providing time to adjust to changing financial circumstances. It also provides parameters for future budgeting and strategic plans and contributes towards decision making. The Charity’s reserves policy establishes an appropriate target range for the level of general reserves. The range is based on a risk assessment of the probability and likely impact on the Charity’s activities that might be caused by a decline in income, an inability to meet financial obligations, or an inability to reduce expenditure in the immediate short term. The policy ensures a balance between spending the maximum amount of income raised as soon as possible after receipt, while maintaining the appropriate level of reserves to ensure uninterrupted operation. The policy and target range will be reviewed annually to reassess the risks and reflect changes in the Charity’s income, financial obligations and expenditure. The charity’s reserves policy is to hold reserves approximately equivalent to 6 months’ expenditure. At the end of December 2023 the total free 8 ## Biggleswade District Scout Council reserves amounted to approximately £36,000. In addition, the Charity manages a hardship fund to support Groups and individuals in need throughout the District. The Trustees have plans to invest the surplus reserves into improvements at the District Campsite. ## Investment policy Due to the relatively low level of funds, the District’s policy is to hold funds in standard bank accounts with FSCS protection at balances less than £85,000. ## **Objectives and Activities** ## Our Purpose Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. ## Our values As Scouts we are guided by these 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 co-operate with others and make friends. ## Our Method Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership 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; and - Make and live by their promise The Charity Trustees have a duty to report on their public benefit in their Annual Report. We have assessed our aims, activities, and charitable objectives which are: “Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.” We believe we have met the Charity Commission’s public benefit criteria for both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development. 9 Biggleswade District Scout Council ## **Achievements and performance** All of the decisions made by the Trustees and sub-Committees have been in the interests of young people and adult volunteers and we hope that everybody in Scouting in Biggleswade District will have benefitted from them. - The District has continued to invest significantly in improvement works at Boyd Scout Campsite & Activity Centre to ensure the site remains available for the delivery of quality Scouting experiences for all Young People in the District. - Following the closure of Ampthill & Woburn District, three Groups and one Explorer Unit transferred into the District. - Where possible, we continue to run, and often subsidise, training courses for adult volunteers in order for them to attain permits to provide more adventurous activities for young people. - The census in January 2024 was completed and showed an increase in youth membership (+7.0%) and adult membership (+2.3%) since January 2023 (based on 2023 numbers including transferred groups). Membership numbers have now recovered to levels in the 2020 census prior to the drop caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. - There were a large number of Chief Scout Awards awarded to Young People across and adult awards in Biggleswade District in the last year including Wood Badges and National Awards. ## **Financial Review** ## Statement of Financial Activities The overall result for the year was a surplus of £7,783 (2022: £22,213 deficit). This was primarily driven by a significant increase in income from Boyd Scout Campsite & Activity Centre, much of which was offset by expenditure on ongoing improvement works, in particular developing activity provision. Looking ahead, the investment is expected to stabilise and be supported by increased revenues from the Campsite & Activity Centre. ## Remuneration of Trustees All Trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or other material benefits from their services to the Charity. Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by Trustees in promoting the purposes of the Charity are reimbursed at cost. The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Trustees on 20 May 2024 and signed on their behalf by: Peter Cheney District Chairman 10 Biggleswade District Scout Council ## **Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts** ## **Report to the Trustees of Biggleswade District Scout Council on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 set out on pages 12 to 20** ## **Responsibilities and Basis of the Report** As the charity 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 Charity’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 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: Date: 28 April 2024 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Andrea Daniels
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11 BiggLeswade District Scout Council Annual Accounts ForTh* Y•ar Endad al DI￿1￿rI018 12 BiggLeswade District Scout Council ttleswade DIsvi¢i 5¢outCouwll A¢￿￿TrtSfoTthe Year Ended 31st Decernber2028 2023 2022 BankCutTentknnts Cash in Hand Cash in Handlba¢*e&s(out unrfomLs1 3&766 2410 177 46.716 ¥943 Badge Secraary s siock DistrKt Shopslctk 7.712 7.055 11.170 Deeds{(￿the land arKI knjildiw at Me￿￿a1(aMpSts atehdl intru5t bytheknutAssIxiati(￿ U￿￿their1r￿r￿rKevd1Ua{x>n. 13 BiggLeswade District Scout Council eswade Dlstrirt 5¢outCoundl ACC￿1rtSfOTthe YHr Ended 31st Decernber2028 Bank Balances Barclay3 Bank Barclays Bank Barclays Bank Barclays Bank Barclays Bank ComrrHJnity HaTdship FurMI (arnpsite Ètggweekender Events 9.￿3.52 I1￿￿deS har(khwl 17.916.46 2.340.71 2.XI7.10 32.357.79 Utyds ba ll￿d5 unrform 4.861.83 9.266.53 14.12&36 Totsl banks 4608& Bad8e Shop 0￿S UnlFotm Campsme Totol 131.05 239.51 46.725.66 14 BiggLeswade District Scout Council "￿e$Wa￿e DIsvi¢i 5¢outCourKfjI ACC￿1rtSfOTthe Year Ended 31st Decernber2028 Re¢elpts athd Payments A¢¢ourtSummary 2023 2022 Tolal ReC￿ptsfOrthe year 139549.IXI 119335AXI Total PayTnentsfortheYeai 13L766.IXI 141548.fKI Net ReceiptsllPayTnentsl forthe yeai 7.783.( -22,213.￿• Cas￿ 83nk and SIMI￿r FurKlsbroW f(KwaTd a8943. 61,156.(K Ca5￿ Bank and Slmlkr Fu￿5 (ary*d for*ards 46.726. 38.943 The account and ac¢ompanwnE Stateft*ntof assets aThJ IlaA￿lieSwert akytyed f theT￿￿ee5 atKI Signed orIt￿1r behaw. 17-May-24 Treasurer 17-May-24 15 BiggLeswade District Scout Council BOB￿e$Wad¢ S¢wi CwThcll AcwuntslortheYeir£rMled 3151 Dtternbff 2023 Moni•* In 2023 2022 Membershlp gjbsulrrtknns 74.645 61158 L￿5 Paid -54.135 9A123 l￿f￿12 Bank Intere￿ R￿￿1Ved Boyd Memorial Campsite Dlstrlct Events ,217 11.065 101.282 47,571 15.703 63.274 Be4uesVGrants 4.732 14.160 4.766 23,658 Other 705 1,205 Fund Ra& knut Shop Sale of Ba(*e5 14,614 11.846 26.4rrf) 117 10.620 23.380 Total Receikrt5 I￿the)EaT 139.549 119.335 16 BiggLeswade District Scout Council "ttleswade Tr"stri¢i 5¢oui A¢￿WntsfoTthe Year Ended 31st December2023 Mon￿5 Oul 2023 2022 CaFxtabon 64AA3 Premlses Boyd Mernrial CaM￿e Equipment 81.f 19.298 55.158 26347 I(￿,￿3 82,(M)S tmstrfct E￿nts 9.558 9.558 IS￿83 15.083 Adml Establlshment E nses New Group Start up Gwanls LeadeTs TraininE LeadeTs F￿￿Tr5e5 Lesal Fee5 10,1 10,1 PuTchase of urmforms 10.784 10,359 Purthase of ba(*es 10.516 9.751 To dirfrirt 14.IfAI 21.305 34270 Total payrneTrtsfortheyear 131.766 141,548 17 BiggLeswade District Scout Council gtjeswade Dfjstr1rt5¢outCoundl Acc￿1rtSfOTthe YNf Ended 31st Decernber2023 ¢1 & Boyd M•Th¥lal (•￿P$1te 20Z3 2023 2023 2022 2022 Membership Fees FA)yd Campslte Involces Distrlct Events Ban* Intere 74.645.(K ).218.( 11.ffi5. 63,158.(X) 47.571. 15.703.(KI Transfer5 frotn BigE Weeker Transfers frotn k(Mrt SIM>p Donathfisl8tants/rehJrbds 3.975. 4.160.iKI iO.(KM>.(M) 9,498.(Al 181.11￿￿ 1￿j.(￿￿j.C￿J memb￿lp Fees Boyd Campslte Costs District Events 64.043. 81.ftsl.(K 9.558.(K 19.298.(K 3.975.(Y) 54.135.(XJ 55.158.LKI 15.083.LKI 26347.LKI Equipmeni Transferto Leaders E￿r Leaders Trèinir New Group Start VpGrants Le8al fee5 178.478.IN) 10.190.(KJ 161.413.Tr) Surplusfortheyear 2.630.IX) -11,323.(K) Represented bv Owing BaL)rw ai i January 2023 Debtot5 Okler Debtor5 currentAcC￿nt Re5er¥e AC￿Unt Buildir¥ Ajnd adjustment J.127.78 4L454.98 lold pl(xhl -311.59 29.816.19 2.630.( 32.446.19 4.20 41,450.78 -11.323. 30.127.78 Cb)sinÉ BaLl￿ ai 31 t*c&nter 2023 Current Pettycash Buildir¥ FuThl 31357.73 29.727.78 31446.19 30.127.78 18 BiggLeswade District Scout Council gtleswade D1str6rt5¢outCwndl Acc￿1rtSfoTthe Year Ended 31st Decernber2028 S(out UnrForrnShop 2023 2023 J22 )22 Sale of ilnlforni etc 14.614.05 .75935 Purtha5eof St(Kk StationeryAJ¥J F￿r 10.783.92 10.35&96 15.U) 10.783.92 lQ373.96 surp1￿(def￿1t] f￿￿year 2.385.89 Ttan5fer io Sho) CkNn8 BakrKe 3.1[￿.13 -7.614.11 oren1￿ BaktKes ai i January ￿23 pe￿Cash PaKI in Jan 23 157.xl -26.25 s.￿.40 11.170.02 41.25 736.45 11473.86 11,577.40 24,828.96 St(Kk 16.&>7.47 surp1￿(￿&￿eMent> foTtheyear Increaselldecreasel In ckhgn8st¢x* 3.7H).13 -2.661.05 I7.￿￿.55 -7,614.11 -407.38 16.807.47 Cb*nE Balar￿saI 31 Lkfemkf Jll3 Pe￿caSh taken a5 float pd in in jan currentkn￿nt 131.LS 157.30 -26.25 185. 9.[￿1.53 &gX97 s.￿.40 11,170.02 16.W7.47 I7.￿￿.55 19 BiggLeswade District Scout Council Acc￿1rtSfoTthe Year Ended 31st Decernber2028 Bad¢tShop 2023 2023 2022 IU4& I0fj￿.95 Sak5 Purtha5e u4Stock 10.51&28 9.75Q6B 1051628 9.750.68 L329.n 86927 Trknrto Di5trirt 4.16￿(M) Ck)SingBdan L329.n -3,290.73 Repre5entedbr. 0￿￿1ng Bdance5at Ij￿2023 CurreTrtA(C￿nt 3,53111 7.r64.74 6￿22￿4 6,655.36 13.498.20 lo￿6.85 Surpluslldeficttltstheyear Increaselldeuea5el in 5ro(* La29.n 657.03 3.290.73 399_38 12593.fA> I0.fA￿85 20XKI 3.532.11 7.054.74 4*6L85 7.711.77 St(xk 12593.fA 10.606J5 20