## **First Luton Sea Scout Group 2024 Annual General Meeting**
**1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
**GSL Introduction 3 Our Young People 4 Our Group 6 Executive Annual Accounts 7**
**Including: Trustees Report 7**
## **Independent Examiners Report**
**10**
## **Full Audited Accounts**
**11**
## **Minutes of 2023 AGM**
**14**
**2**
## **1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
## **GSL Introduction**
I'd like to welcome you to this year's AGM and start by thanking you for your support. Our group was originally established in 1909, making it one of the oldest surviving groups in the country. Our status as a Sea Scout group makes us fairly special when compared with many local groups however this does bring lots of additional work, with a huge stock of equipment and two buildings to continue to develop and maintain. When this is factored in, over and above the weekly meetings for our c.100 members, it becomes very clear how important such a wide and supportive group of volunteers and parents is to us.
Over the last year, our team of volunteers has developed, with a number of new adults joining us in each section. We sadly said goodbye to Helen as our Beaver Leader after over 10 years and have been very grateful to Becky who has ably and seamlessly stepped into the role. A number of our volunteers have also taken on more of the responsibility of maintaining and looking after our equipment. We very much appreciate all the time and efforts that they have spent in ensuring that our facilities are ship-shape and ready for everything we do.
Income generation continues to be important for us as a charity. Each year, we offer a number of events, including our open days and water activity weekends, in which we offer activities for young people from the local area. This all allows us to purchase new and improved equipment for our group. Having improved the fabric of our Headquarters on Bowling Green Lane, we would also be keen to know of any local groups or nurseries looking for a home regularly during the week. In the coming year, we have exciting plans to explore the replacement and development of some of our sailing and power craft. We are also exploring ways in which we can replace the roof on our boathouse at Luton Hoo, which is in need of urgent attention - if you know someone who might be able to support with this, we would be glad for the contact!
As you can see, there is an awful lot of work that goes on behind the scenes so that we are able to do all the fantastic things we do. We are very fortunate to have such an active and supportive groups of adults to ensure that this happens. I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to every one of you - we are very lucky to have you all on board. If you have skills or time that could help us further and would like to join the team, please do get in touch.
I look forward to an exciting 2024 and beyond!
Allan Maher Group Scout Leader
**3**
**1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
## **Our Young People**
At the time of the accounting year-end, the group had worked with in excess of 80 young people in 2023. These were made up of those in our Beaver Colony, Cub Pack and Scout Troop in addition to the nine Young Leaders, who provided regular support at section meetings.
The Young People were ably guided by the strong and highly effective adult leadership team within the group. We also took the opportunity during lockdown to ensure that all training requirements were met and that all adults had an up-to-date understanding of key issues, such as safety and Safeguarding.
## **Beavers**
It’s been another busy year for the Beaver section.
We’ve had a big change with Helen (Rabbit) stepping down after many years in the role of Section Leader. We’re grateful that she’s still around to support with odd nights and events and want to thank her again for all her years of voluntary service.
Becky (Owl), stepped up from Assistant Leader to Section Leader and is ably supported by a team of 5 other adult leaders who rotate around to assist and 3 Young Leaders.
Numbers of Beavers has been fairly consistent between 16 and 20 with a mix of girls and boys.
We continue to have a varied programme, with the aim to ensure all Beavers have the opportunity to gain their Chief Scout Bronze, should they wish, before they leave us. Since the last AGM, 10 have been awarded.
Multiple badges are worked on over the course of the year with a focus on water and outdoor ones in the summer when at Luton Hoo.
The Beavers love being down on the lake and playing in the woods at the Hoo. It's an incredible space we have access to and we try to be down there from May half term until October half term, or when the light becomes difficult.
Rebecca Maher (Beaver Leader)
## **Cubs**
We have currently 22 Cubs in our pack with 2 leaving for Scouts in the next month and 4 coming up from Beavers. This will make the group full again. There are 5 full time adult leaders, 3 young leaders and 1 parent who is taking a real interest in becoming a helper within the group. Our leader numbers are down with the departure of Gareth and Chris and the young leaders who have taken up positions within universities across the country. Our adult leaders have a vast array of skills and experience which keep the group running and continuity for the children. However more help would always be appreciated.
We try to make our program as varied as possible with regular leader meetings to discuss upcoming evenings both on and off the water. We are also finding new ways to keep the children with special needs engaged within the group. Since the last AGM, we have handed out 4 Silver Chief Scout Awards with another one possibly in the next few weeks. There have also been 162 badges handed out for achievements gained.
**4**
**1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
Due to the Music festival being held in May, we have unfortunately had to cancel the group camp but we will be looking at other activity days that can be run as a group.
Paul Adcock (Cub Leader)
## **Scouts**
The Scouts are averaging 40 Scouts in the troop with 3 Young Leaders. Over the past 12 months we have issues just under 200 badges, including 24 nights away badges and 36 Time on the water badges.
Last summer we spent lots of time at the Hoo on the water, kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding.
Our summer camp was in Lymington on the Solent, where we had some amazing sailing. We all sailed across the Solent together to the Isle of Wight which was a fantastic journey and a great experience. The Scouts also got to drive our powerboats across the Solent from Lymington to Yarmouth.
Scouts having fun at the aqua park at Summer Camp.
We have also be out to the Aqua park at Box end, Orbital Trampoline park, and had a few linking evening with the Explorer Unit, including an evening on the water at Stewartby and an evening at the Hoo doing some air soft shooting.
This year we are looking forward to our Summer Camp which will be in the Lake District.
Phil Jeffery (Cub Leader)
**5**
## **1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
## **Our Group Executive**
## **Charity Commission Registration Number** : 300465
## **Composition**
At each AGM, the Group Executive for the following year is elected. The Executive is composed of a range of adults who have the skills and knowledge to help shape the strategic direction of the group and to support its aims.
In 2023, the Group Executive was made up of the following:
|**Chair**|Scott Roberts|
|---|---|
|**Secretary**|Dan Green|
|**Treasurer**|Jo Illsley|
|**Group Scout Leader**|Allan Maher|
||Helen Ayres|
|**Section Leaders**|Chris Wells|
||Phil Jefrey|
|**Nominated**
**Representatives**|Sandra Rawstorne
Paul Adcock|
|**Elected**
**Representatives**|Phillipa Missenden|
**6**
**1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
## **Annual Accounts**
The Trustees present their Annual Report together with the independently examined accounts for the twelve months ended 30 November 2023.
The Charity’s accounts are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis.
## **Objectives**
The Purpose of 1st Luton Sea Scouts is to continue the work of the worldwide Scouting movement which is to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society and to provide them with water-based skills.
## **Activities and achievements**
The charity carries out a number of activities in order to fulfil its charitable objectives. In particular, 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
- make and live by their Promise
The main achievements during the year are considered to be:
- Admiralty
- young people were selected for the Jamboree
- A number of Chief Scouts Awards were gained across all sections
- Which demonstrates the balanced programme the charity is providing to include a number of nights away.
**7**
## **1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
## **Reserves**
1st Luton Sea Scout Group holds reserves in accounts that earmark the use of those funds. The Group current account holds sufficient to cover the running costs for one year. The Group Development Fund account is used for developing the Group’s Buildings. The Training Fund account is used to manage training revenues received and for making payments to coaches and instructors for our own Group training.
Surpluses are then transferred to the Equipment Fund. The Equipment Fund account is used to maintain and replaces boats and other relevant equipment.
The level of reserve for the Group Development fund and the Equipment fund will vary from year to year depending on planned scheduled or replacement expenditure required on repairing and replacing equipment and buildings over several years.
The Trustees consider that the level of reserves is appropriate in order to ensure that the charity is likely to be able to meet future costs, in particular in respect of equipment and site costs so that activities can continue. At the year end, the free reserves of the charity amounted to £48,187.
All funds of the charity are unrestricted in nature. The charity has no designated or restricted funds.
## **Financial Review**
The charity received income of £64,141 in the year and incurred expenditure of £63,581. This included £9091 of expenditure on projects and £20,154 on equipment purchase and maintenance. The net increase in cash for the year was £560.
At the year end, the charity held cash of £48,747 and tangible fixed assets comprising boating and other equipment of £68,048. This means that the total assets of the charity at the year-end stood at £116,796.
## **Governing Document**
Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) defines the structure of Scouting in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and provides information about its management and training.
The Scout Association is a national charity and exists by authority of a Royal Charter granted in 1912 and supplemented by further charters granted by King George V and Queen Elizabeth II. It was founded in 1907. With a membership of over 618,000 young people and adult leaders, it is the largest co-educational youth movement in the UK.
Scouting activity is delivered through around 8,000 community-based Scout Groups nationwide (all independent charities in their own right).
**8**
## **1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
## **Trustees**
The trustees of the group are appointed at the Annual General Meeting in line with the rules and requirements of the Scout Association.
The Group Scout Leader appoints the Chairman. The Secretary and Treasurer are automatically appointed.
## **Public Benefit**
We are the UK's biggest mixed youth organisation. We change lives by offering 6 to 25year-olds fun and challenging activities, unique experiences, everyday adventure and the chance to help others so that we make a positive impact in communities and teach them about good citizenship.
Scouts helps children and young adults reach their full potential. Scouts develop skills including teamwork, time management, leadership, initiative, planning, communication, self-motivation, cultural awareness and commitment. We help young people to get jobs, save lives and even change the world.
The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit and consider that the charitable objects fall well within the public benefit guidelines. In setting the charitable objectives, the charity has given due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The trustees also regularly monitor the skills available to them as a trustee body and aim to seek new trustees where additional skills are needed.
## **Signed on behalf of the Trustees**
Mr Scott Roberts, Chairman
Date: 13th March 2024
**9**
## **1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of First Luton Sea Scout Group Scout Council**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the First Luton Sea Scout Group for the year ended 30[th] November 2023
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the **First Luton Sea Scout Group** 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 **First Luton Sea Scout Group** 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 **First Luton Sea Scout Group** 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:
Name: Kirstene Cutler
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies: ACA (ICAEW)
Address:14 Old Rectory Close, Harpenden, AL5 2UD Date: 10/1/2024
**10**
**1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
|**Group Balance Sheet**|**Group Balance Sheet**|**Group Balance Sheet**|**Group Balance Sheet**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|**Account**|||**Funds at 1st**
**December**|
|GroupAccount|||£15,310.23|
|Development Account|||£30,496.29|
|Beaver Account|||£81.85|
|Cub Account|||£98.78|
|Scout Account|||£228.98|
|Equipment Account|||£1,896.13|
|TrainingAccount|||£75.25|
|**Cash Funds at Last Year End**|||**£48,187.51**|
|||||
|**Receipts**||||
||**Year to Dec**
**2022**||**Year to Dec**
**2023**|
|ActivityIncome|£710.86||£5,474.56|
|Campand TripDeposits|£10,899.61||£10,350.29|
|Donations and Fundraising|£1,866.01||£468.66|
|Gift Aid|£1,780.00||£3,161.50|
|Grants|£2,667.00||£67.51|
|Leisurewear and Uniform|£655.00||£933.87|
|Subscriptions|£19,391.97||£20,616.97|
|SundryIncome|£1,329.04||£2,508.37|
|Trainingand Course Fees|£1,833.90||£901.25|
|Water ActivityDays|£18,190.00||£19,658.50|
|||||
|Total Income|£59,323.39||£64,141.48|
|||||
|**Payments**||||
||**Year to Dec**
**2022**||**Year to Dec**
**2023**|
|MembershipFees|£4,730.50||£5,364.50|
|Insurances|£5,804.93||£6,295.57|
|Utilities and Rates|£1,641.20||£2,260.86|
|Fire Protection|£207.96||£413.28|
|CleaningCosts|£ -||£ -|
|Accountant Fees|£250.00||£150.00|
|Leisurewear and Uniform|£914.50||£1,285.50|
**11**
## **1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
|Badges|£981.20||£690.50|
|---|---|---|---|
|Activities|£3,742.04||£3,189.70|
|Nights Away|£10,133.05||£8,279.39|
|Equipment Purchase|£12,764.01||£12,514.17|
|Equipment Maintenance|£2,720.90||£7,640.96|
|SundryExpenses|£1,597.33||£2,336.01|
|Swimming|£ -||£ -|
|Trainingand Course Costs|£1,704.11||£3,553.11|
|Fuel|£374.56||£515.98|
|Projects|£31,798.85||£9,091.49|
|||||
|Total Receipt|£79,365.14||£63,581.02|
|||||
|**Net of receipts andpayments**|||£560.46|
|||||
|**Cash funds at lastyear end**|||£48,187.51|
|||||
|**Cash funds at thisyear end**|||£48,747.97|
**12**
**1[st ] Luton Sea Scouts -**
## **First Luton Sea Scout Group**
## **Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year**
||**30-Nov-23**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
**674**
**1,079**
**5,439**
**38,917**
**1,245**
**1,394**
**48,748**
**40,669**
**27,379**
**68,048**
**-**
**-**
**116,796**|**30-Nov-22**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
|**Cash funds**|||
|Beavers and Cub Accounts|**674**|**181**|
|Equipment Fund Account|**1,079**|**1,896**|
|Group Account|**5,439**|**15,310**|
|Group Development Account|**38,917**|**30,496**|
|Training Account|**1,245**|**75**|
|Scout Troop Account|**1,394**|**229**|
|**Total cash funds**|**48,748**|**48,187**|
||||
|**Non monetary assets for**
**charity's own use**|||
|Boats and Boating Equipment
see
notes|**40,669**|**43,618**|
|Other Equipment|**27,379**|**27,379**|
|**Sub total**|**68,048**|**70,997**|
|**Liabilities**|**-**||
|**Sub total**|**-**|**-**|
||||
|**Total net assets**|**116,796**|**119,184**|
**13**
## **Minutes of 2023 AGM**
## Group Executive Meeting Date: Wednesday 19th April 2023
Meeting to take place online- Zoom
## **Present:**
Allan Maher, Becky Maher, Jo Illsley Paddy Higgens, Scott Roberts, Sandy Rawstorne, Jenny Saunders, Dan Green, Gill Merrick, Helen Ayres Phil Jeffrey, Philipa Missenden, Mark Missenden, Terry Jones, Chriss Wells, Ian Jeffrey
## 1. **Apologies for Absence** Gareth Philips
## **2. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting**
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
## **3. Minutes of the previous AGM held on 20th April 2022**
## **4. Matters Arising from Minutes of Previous Meeting** Nil
**5. Section Meetings**
GSL- good to get back to normal scouting with WADs, pancake nights, getting on the water. Group numbers are stationary . squirrels being part of 1[st] Luton to be discussed in exec meetings. Adult support currently tricky with life changes. We will look into WAD support as we are opening up training for parents. And a big thanks you to everyone who support the group.
Beavers- no issues and numbers are up since COVID. Currently prepping for summer season.
Cubs- going well low on numbers, lost some from waiting list. Program varied 300+ badges and 9 chief scouts awarded. Looking forward to group camp in May
Scouts- lots of turnover but about 40 on the books. Over 200 badges awarded and working on chef scouts. Currently 2 young leaders and as a few have turned to adults. Moving the night from Monday is on debate. Good summer camp at Conon Chase with 25 leaders. Looking forward to year ahead
## **6. Treasurer’s Report**
Successful year. Raised more beig back to normal. Spent more than in come due to planned projects and the group has a healthy balance and the projects was investing into the group.
## **7. Appointment of Auditors December 2022 to November 2023**
**14**
Proposed to remain with previous auditor 2021-2022.- all agreed
## **8. Nomination of Group Chairman by GSL**
Scott Roberts nominated and accepted
## **9. Election of Group Officers**
- **Group Treasurer-** Jo Illsley nominated and accepted **Group Secretary-** Dan Green nominated and accepted
No one opposed and no others were nominated or volunteered for the roles
## **10. Group Executive for 2023/24 Nominations by GSL**
## Nil
## **Elected Members**
Philipa and Sandy accepts another year on the exec. It will be discussed with Paul if he wishes to continue on the Exec. No one opposed and no others were nominated or volunteered for the roles
## **11. District Representative**
No representative present
## **12. Any Notified Other Business**
13. Nil
## **14. Any Other Business**
Some changes are coming from District. For example one being renamed from Exec to Trustee Board
**15**