2022-03-31-accounts - 1st Cookham Scout Group

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1st COOKHAM SCOUT GROUP

Report & Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022

1st Cookham Scout Group

1[st] Cookham Scout Group is registered as a Scout group with the Scout Association -

reference number 31163. It is constituted under the terms of the Scout Association’s Royal Charter and is a Registered Charity - number 300491.

Brenda Boothman and Denis Boothman are the Honorary Presidents and the Trustees are as follows:

TRUSTEES: Ex-Officio

Nigel Hague Chair Andy Pearce Group Scout Leader Mike Day Assistant Group Scout Leader Kate Dilley Group Secretary Tim Sharples Group Treasurer Jeff Hurst Cub Leader Andrew Sutherland Scout Leader Dave Helmuth Explorer Leader

Trustees: Elected

Sally Crichton Catherine Rowson Brenda Davison Tamsin Jones Nick Powell Christopher Price Charlotte Strudwicke Sharon Price

PRINCIPAL BANKERS

Lloyds Bank Plc. High Street Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 1JS

Contact

Mr TN Sharples, Sulby Cottage Lower Road Maidenhead SL6 9HW

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Structure, governance and management

The Group's governing documents are those of the Scout Association. They consist of a Royal Charter, which in turn gives authority to the Bye Laws of the Association and The Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.

The Group is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts.

The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association and make up the Group Executive Committee.

The Group is managed by the Group Executive Committee, the members of which are the ‘Charity Trustees’ of the Scout Group which is registered with the Charity Commission as an educational charity. As charity trustees they are responsible for complying with legislation applicable to charities. This includes maintaining the registration, keeping proper accounts, and making returns to the Charity Commission as appropriate.

This Group Executive Committee exists to support the Group Scout Leader in meeting the responsibilities of the appointments and is responsible for:

The maintenance of Group property;
The raising of funds and the administration of Group finance;
The insurance of persons, property and equipment;
Group public occasions;
Assisting in the recruitment of leaders and other adult support;
Appointing any sub committees that may be required;
Appointing Group Administrators and Advisors other than those who are elected.

The Group Executive Committee has identified the major risks to which they believe the Group is exposed, these have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate against them. The main areas of concern that have been identified are:

Damage to the building, property and equipment

The Group would request the use of buildings, property and equipment from neighbouring organisations such as the church, community centre and other Scout Groups. Similar reciprocal arrangements exist with these organisations. The Group has sufficient buildings and contents insurance in place to mitigate against permanent loss.

Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members

The Group through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout Associations national accident insurance policy. Risk Assessments are undertaken before all activities.

Reduced income from fund raising

The Group is primarily reliant upon income from subscriptions and fundraising. The group does hold a reserve to ensure the continuity of activities should there be a major reduction in income. The Committee could raise the value of subscriptions to increase the income to the group on an ongoing basis, either temporarily or permanently.

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Reduction or loss of leaders.

The group is totally reliant upon volunteers to run and administer the activities of the group. If there was a reduction in the number of leaders to an unacceptable level in a particular section, or the group as a whole, then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst case scenario, this could be the complete closure of the Group.

Reduction or loss of members

The Group provides activities for all young people aged 6 to 18. If there was a reduction in membership in a particular section or the group as whole then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst case scenario, this could be the complete closure of the Group."

Objectives and activities

The Purpose of Scouting

Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development,

empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

The Values of Scouting

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.

The Scout 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
make and live by their Promise.

The main activities in the year, in relation to these objects, are set out in the reports of the Chairman and Group Scout Leader. The Group meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings.

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Trustees Annual Report for the Year ended 31 March 2022

Chairman’s Report for the last year

The Group continues to function very well on all counts with high membership levels, great leaders and strong finances. We are now looking forward to Scouting returning in the Spring to its normal range of activities after the pandemic restrictions over the last 2 years, including camps being planned for the summer 2022. We are also planning the resumption of our Village Summer Fair in June 2022 after three years’ absence which is an important event in the local community calendar in Cookham.

In October last year we held a very successful weekend of events to celebrate the Groups Centenary Anniversary.

The Group continued to invest in the fabric of the Scout HQ installing new “app based” heating controls, new flooring in the Explorer office and grounds maintenance.

Our Investments have been “de risked” following a risk assessment undertaken by the Parents Support Group (Executive Committee), supported by independent financial advice, resulting in reduced exposure to market volatility. We have also implemented a Finance Reserves Policy which allocates funds into 3 broad categories: Contingency reserves, Buildings reserve and New Projects funds. This finance policy will be used to provide the PSG with prudent guidance when approving future expenditure and to assist with long term planning.

I would like, once again, to express my thanks and gratitude to all the adult volunteers and leaders who work tirelessly and so professionally to provide all our young members with the life skills experiences they so much enjoy.

Nigel Hague Chairman

Group Scout Leader’s report

Despite the pandemic, we have seen the Groups grow from strength to strength with increasing youth members, our total membership of Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorers numbers have now increased to 184, all due to our outstanding leadership team who have continued to adapt their programmes around the pandemic restrictions that thankfully are being eased. Even under the pandemic restrictions, the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers had very successful and enjoyable summer camps just a bit more local to home than usual, at White Place Farm. Let’s hope Zoom section meetings will be a thing of the past.

Currently, we have 23 voluntary uniformed leaders helping to run Cree River and Red River Beaver colony’s, David Livingstone and Robert Scott Cub packs and our Scout Troop, assisted by 11 section assistants. Cookham Explorers now have a new Explorer Leader assisted by two uniformed leaders and a section assistant. I would like to thank them all for

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their dedication, commitment, and time in continuing to provide outstanding Scouting in Cookham along with adventure, challenges, and fun!

Three of our Scouts: Elen Anderson, Elise Howard and Lynette White have all been selected to attend the next Annual World Scout Jamboree in South Korea next year, we wish them well with their fund-raising and look forward to receiving their report about their Jamboree experiences. Over the years 1st Cookham has sent 18 members of the Group to World Scout Jamborees.

To help celebrate 1st Cookham Scout Groups Centenary celebrations last year, hundreds of photos were posted to the ‘Friends of 1st Cookham Scout Group’ Facebook page where both old and existing members of the Scout Group could relive their Scouting experiences. In addition, we held a Centenary Celebration weekend in October, with a camp-fire, a Centenary Dinner held at the Odney Club with the premier of the Groups Centenary Film with contributions from our Scout leaders, Steve Backsall and Theresa May, ending with a very successful Family BBQ. Thanks go to our Centenary organising committee who made it such a successful and memorable event.

During the year several of our leadership team received different adult awards in appreciation of their outstanding contributions to Scouting, these included Ian Cox, Jeff Hurst, Dave Helmuth, Mike Day and Peter Turner. In addition, Andrew Sutherland and Mike Day were awarded the Commissions Award for their roles as Volunteer Vaccine Marshalls at Maidenhead Town Hall. A number of our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have received their Bronze/Silver/Gold Chief Scouts Challenge Awards during the year.

One of the casualties of the pandemic was last year’s Cookham Scout Summer Village Fair, the Village Fair is an important event for Cookham and will be returning on Saturday 18th June, feel free to volunteer to help at this fun local event. In September we were able to run our usual BBQ at the Cookham Regatta, and then the Bonfire and Fireworks Display was the most successful ever, in both attendance and money raised for the Scout Group. Please make a note in your diaries to help at this years Bonfire & Fireworks on 5th & 6th November to help with the marquees, fire and clearing up.

We couldn’t run our successful Scout Group without a good Parent Support Group, our thanks go to Nigel, Tim and Jo and the other committee members in this important job.

I am incredibly proud to be Group Scout Leader of 1st Cookham and would like to thank you all, especially the uniformed Leaders, Section Assistants, and members of the Parent Support Group, without them the Group wouldn’t exist.

Do let us know if you would like to volunteer to join us, previous experience is not essential just lots of enthusiasm, however, if you had a fantastic time in Scouting or Girl Guilding, perhaps you could give something back to our young members. Please speak to a leader for more details, or contact volunteering@scoutscookham.org.uk.

Andy Pearce Group Scout Leader

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Financial Review

Major Income and Expenditure Items

Major Income and Expenditure Items
Total net fund raising was lower than last year due to COVID Guy Fawkes Public Firework Display Summer Fair Marquee hire Catering activities Total net fund raising for the year HQ Rental income Amount spent on improvements to HQ outbuildings New tents and other equipment purchased totalled The Group subsidised activities including section activities, minibus hire & and supporting individuals who would not otherwise have been able to attend camps. Excluding waived subscriptions. Leader training & insurance cost At the end of the year Group reserves amounted to These reserves are allocated as follows: Working capital requirements Contingency fund in case of fund raising failures or disaster costs Reserve for future development	This Year £ 18,678 - - 909 19,587 17,658 5,743 2,163 8,293 1,034 124,262 3,000 60,000 61,262	Previous Year £ - - - -
		-
		14,802 3,926 1,608 1,000 1,710 107,645 3,000 40,000 64,645

Approved by the trustees on 18 May 2022 and signed on their behalf by

Signed 18 May 2022

N Hague TN Sharples

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Receipts & Payments Account Summary for the year ended 31 March 2022

Total receipts for the year (see supporting analysis) Total payments for the year (see supporting analysis) Net receipts (payments) for the year Surplus/(Loss) on revaluation of investments Cash, bank and similar funds brought forward Cash, bank and similar funds carried forward	This Year General fund £ 75,404 58,936 16,468 149 107,645 124,262	Previous Year £ 39,050 21,704
		17,346 16,490 73,809
		107,645

The above account and accompanying statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees on 18 May 2022

and signed on their behalf by

Signed 18 May 2022 N Hague TN Sharples

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Receipts for the year ended 31 March 2022

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions from members Less Paid to Scout District INVESTMENT INCOME RECEIVED Bank and building society interest Dividend DONATIONS, GRANTS and CLOTHING SALES CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FOR ACTIVITIES FUND RAISING INCOME (before charging fund raising expenses) INCOME FROM HIRE OF HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OTHER INCOME Income tax recovered on subscriptions TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR	This Year £ 14,503 (9,233) 5,270 142 - 142 5,277 9,220 34,608 17,658 3,229 75,404	Previous Year £ 6,907 (7,550)
		(643)
		- -
		-
		22,434 10 - 14,802 2,446
		39,050

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Payments for the year ended 31 March 2022

PREMISES Running costs Repairs and Renewals DONATIONS/GRANTS: Cookham Explorers Cookham Explorers Others ACTIVITIES FUND RAISING EXPENSES ADMINISTRATION & ESTABLISHMENT EXPENSES Leader training and insurance Miscellaneous PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT INTEREST PAID PURCHASE OF BADGES AND UNIFORM TOTAL PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR	This Year £ 9,819 5,743 1,000 1,506 17,228 13,309 1,034 2,880 2,163 - 4,254 58,936	Previous Year £ 6,764 3,926 1,639 1,000 2,822 - 1,710 549 1,608 - 1,685
		21,704

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Statement of Assets & Liabilities at 31 March 2022

MONETARY ASSETS Invested funds Interest bearing accounts at banks and building societies Non-interest bearing accounts at banks Cash in hand During the year, the investment manager was changed from Saint James Place to Hubwise OTHER MONETARY ASSETS Tax refunds reclaimable from Inland Revenue Sundry receivables LIABILITIES Expenses to be reimbursed Reserve for overpaid subscriptions Refunds due for events cancelled due to COVID TOTAL NET ASSETS	This Year £ 67,231 43,147 23,175 - 133,553 - 991 991 (10,282) - (10,282) 124,262	Previous Year £ 31,930 71,746 2,930 -
		106,606
		720 354
		1,074
		(35)
		(35)
		107,645

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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the 1[st] Cookham Scout Group

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 1st Cookham Scout Group for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of repor t

As the charity trustees of the 1st Cookham 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 [Insert Scout Group/District name] 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:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the [Insert Scout Group/District name] as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do 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.

Signed 18 May 2022

Peter Austen

Chartered Accountant Pippins, Popes Lane, Cookham Dean, Berkshire SL6 9NY 18 May 2022

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