King Alfred District Scout Council
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS For year ended 31 March 2023
Registered Charity 300518
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King Alfred District Scout Council
Annual Report of the district Executive Committee
For year ended 31 March 2023
Scout Registration Number Charity Commission Number
14813 300518
Trustees: (Ex-officio appointments)
| Trustees: (Ex-officio appointments) | ||
|---|---|---|
| District Chairman | Chris Harrison | |
| District Commissioner | David Walsh | |
| District Explorer Scout Commissioner | Francesca Wellham | W.e.f 18.07.22 |
| District Treasurer | Samantha Riley |
Trustees: (Elected)
Peter Trafford Paul Brame Stephen Radford Paul Steptoe
Treasurer contact name & address:
Samantha Riley Woodlands Wantage Road Rowstock Oxfordshire OX11 0JY
Bankers: Barclays Bank Plc, 17 Market Place, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 8AG
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Main achievements and activities of the Trustees Board
The pandemic is now fully behind us and all Groups have returned to delivering the programme as normal.
The Census towards the end of this reporting period showed that the number of Young People (YP) increased from 693 to 712 which represents a 3% increase, a little less than the 4.5% anticipated. New sections continue to open across the District including the first Squirrel Drey in Grove so the District continues to expand. The comparative lack of overall YP growth is because Beaver numbers are down which is now a key focus of the Group Scout Leader’s (GSL) team. Great progress has been made on recruiting adult volunteers and most uniformed roles are filled with a constant stream of applications being processed by the cross-County Appointments Committee although several Assistant District Commissioner (ADC) positions remain open.
After much deliberation, the District Patrol Camp went ahead in September following the Queen’s death with a modified programme, permeated with reflections and contributions from the Scouts. The overwhelming consensus was that it was the right thing to do and the Scouts benefitted greatly from the experience.
In setting the membership fee to be collected in the 23/24 financial year, we maintained the principle of deciding the District element by setting a Trustees’ Board budget and then dividing the total funding requirement across all the Young People in the District. As planned and announced, this year we started to phase in the cost of the District Secretary with a 50% contribution, the remainder again taken from reserves. The additional cost was offset to a degree by reducing costs across all other areas by 14%. The net increase of the District element by 34% resulted in an total membership fee increase of 10%, more or less in line with inflation.
The works to replace the roof of DHQ have now been completed satisfactorily and attention is turning to the remaining repairs identified by the Ridge condition report. The budgeting is nearing completion which is prompting rent reviews with both Scouting and non-Scouting tenants to bridge the operational cost gap. Section 106 money from the Wantage Crab Hill development has been allocated to Scouting for the purpose of increasing provision. The District has employed Ridge and Partners to assist in the design of a new building on the DHQ site in order to secure this grant on the assumption that match-funding grants can be found.
Following the dip last year, the focus of the District Commissioner and his team plus the Training team has resulted in a great improvement in mandatory training with compliance now at national standard levels.
The newly appointed District Explorer Scout Commissioner will join the new streamlined Trustees Board which continues to operate effectively.
Signed……………………………………………….
Chris Harrison, District Executive Chairperson
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Notes to the Accounts for The King Alfred Scout District Council 2022-23
The annual Charity Commission Return for the previous year was completed and returned.
There are no outstanding liabilities for the year ending 31 March 2023.
There are no endowment funds within the committee’s management. The Stuart Rae fund is designated and carried forward from year to year. This has previously been the case with The Wantage & Grove Christmas Post fund, however the balance held by the District has now been transferred to the Wantage Scout Group.
The Scout District is made up of seven groups along with four Explorer Scout units; Goodlake ESU and Ridgeway ESU along with White Horse ESU and Shackleton ESU.
Membership income for the District, after settling the County and National components, was £4,617 compared to £4,911 for the previous year. Census figures recorded in January 2023, used to calculate membership levy for 2023/24, reflect a small increase on the previous year 693 to 712 young people.
Rental income from the Wantage Scout groups has been maintained at the same level as the previous year with some additional income being received from the new Explorer unit and other ad hoc Scouting use. Rental income from leisure activities has increased and we have seen a significant rise in other rental income from business tenants using the Scout Lodge on long term agreements.
District level scouting activities, including Patrol Camp and Stuart Rae challenge covered their costs during the year with any surplus being retained to support future years’ expenditure.
Total grant income for the year was £9,931, comprising of £9,131 towards DHQ roof improvements and £800 for energy support from The Community Buildings Energy Support Scheme.
Overhead expenditure, in particular utilities, has seen significant increases in line with the current national trend as well as increased usage of our buildings.
The in-year deficit of £65.6k was because of the expenditure on the DHQ roof project that amounted to £82.8k paid for from reserves intended for this purpose.
Risk & Reserve Policy Statement
Financial risks are reduced by the preparation and consideration of regular Receipts & Payments Accounts by the Trustees Board. Payments are made electronically and approved by two of the Trustees holding ex-officio appointments, or by Direct Debit.
At present the District is holding a reasonable level of reserves as we continue with the planned maintenance and repair works to improve the District Headquarters.
We are grateful to Elaine Johnson at Chapman Worth, for undertaking the independent examination of the accounts and providing helpful advice and comment.
Signed
Sam Riley, District Treasurer
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Explanatory notes not forming part of the Annual Report
Breakdown of Grant Income received 2022-23
| Donor | £ | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| VOWHDC | 9,130 | DHQRoof Project 2 of 2 |
| Oxfordshire Community Foundation | 800 | Community Buildings Energy Support Scheme |
Breakdown of Grant Income received 2021-22
| Donor | £ | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| VOWHDC – Support Grant | 8,000 | Support Pandemic |
| VOWHDC – Support Grant | 8,000 | Support Pandemic |
| Tesco Bags of Help | 1,000 | DHQimprovements |
| VOWHDC – Omicron Hospitality& Leisure | 2,667 | Support Pandemic |
Breakdown of Grant Income received 2020-21
| Donor | £ | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| VOWHDC Supportgrant - Covid | 20,000 | Support -pandemic |
| VOWHDC | 9,130 | DHQRoofproject 1 of 2 |
| VOWHDC Supportgrant - Covid | 2,668 | Support -pandemic |
| Wantage Town Council Donation | 10,000 | DHQRoofproject |
| National Lottery | 10,000 | DHQRoofproject |
| VOWHDC - Supportgrant - Covid | 12,954 | Supportpandemic |
| VOWHDC - Supportgrant - Covid | 4,192 | Support -pandemic |
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
King Alfred District Scout Council
As at 31 March 2023
| King Alfred District Scout Council As at 31 March 2023 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 31MAR2023 | 31MAR2022 | |
| Current Assets | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | ||
| Community Account | 57,835.26 | 127,876.75 |
| Total Cash at bank and in hand | 57,835.26 | 127,876.75 |
| Accounts Receivable | 4,500.00 | 280.00 |
| Total Current Assets | 62,335.26 | 128,156.75 |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
| Accounts Payable | - | 168.24 |
| Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | - | 168.24 |
| Net Current Assets (Liabilities) | 62,335.26 | 127,988.51 |
| Total Assets less Current Liabilities | 62,335.26 | 127,988.51 |
| Net Assets | 62,335.26 | 127,988.51 |
| Capital and Reserves | ||
| Current Year Earnings | (65,653.25) | 18,742.56 |
| Retained Earnings | 126,562.58 | 107,718.22 |
| Stuart Rae Fund | 1,425.93 | 1,239.84 |
| Christmas Post Fund | - | 287.89 |
| Total Capital and Reserves | 62,335.26 | 127,988.51 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities King Alfred District Scout Council
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Statement of Receipts and Payments
King Alfred District Scout Council For the year ended 31 March 2023
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | ||
| Membership | ||
| Annual membership | 41,346.60 | 35,742.64 |
| District Headquarters | ||
| Rent - Scout use | 6,137.50 | 5,000.00 |
| Rent - leisure activities | 2,504.00 | 1,856.00 |
| Rent - other | 20,885.00 | 6,955.00 |
| Total District Headquarters | 29,526.50 | 13,811.00 |
| Activities | ||
| Activities: District Patrol Camp income | 1,440.00 | 1,725.00 |
| Activities: Canoeing trips | 133.00 | 425.00 |
| Badge sales | 12.50 | 155.00 |
| Stuart Rae Challenge | 1,111.72 | 977.26 |
| Total Activities | 2,697.22 | 3,282.26 |
| Grant income | 9,931.00 | 19,667.00 |
| Total Income | 83,501.32 | 72,502.90 |
| Expenditure | ||
| Membership | ||
| Annual membership paid | 36,729.00 | 30,832.00 |
| District Headquarters | ||
| Cleaning Contract | 3,448.68 | 3,409.14 |
| Electrical maintenance | - | 376.82 |
| Electricity | 3,744.68 | 1,474.07 |
| Fire/heating system maintenance | 1,532.12 | 3,377.80 |
| Gas | 5,187.83 | 3,663.44 |
| General repairs | 108.01 | 722.38 |
| Insurance and licences | 1,995.83 | 1,975.23 |
| Scout Lodge electricity | 1,202.97 | 578.31 |
| Telephone and broadband | 872.41 | 801.32 |
| Water | 428.54 | 234.40 |
| Total District Headquarters | 18,521.07 | 16,612.91 |
| Activities | ||
| Activities: Beaver | - | 204.00 |
| Activities: Canoes & trailer | 251.40 | 89.80 |
| District Patrol Camp expenditure | 2,136.06 | 1,105.03 |
| Christmas post expenditure | 287.89 | - |
| Stuart Rae Challenge expenditure | 925.63 | 1,054.09 |
| Total Activities | 3,600.98 | 2,452.92 |
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| Other | ||
|---|---|---|
| District Executive Expenses | 6,846.30 | 1,556.31 |
| Miscellaneous | - | 180.60 |
| New Group Seed Funding | 400.00 | - |
| Total Other | 7,246.30 | 1,736.91 |
| DHQ Improvements | 82,854.72 | 1,981.60 |
| Website | 202.50 | 144.00 |
| Total Expenditure | 149,154.57 | 53,760.34 |
| Surplus/(deficit) | (65,653.25) | 18,742.56 |
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the King Alfred District Scout Council
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the King Alfred District Scout Council (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out above.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity 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. 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 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 charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
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: Elaine Johnson FCCA
Relevant professional qualification: Chartered Certified Accountant Address: 3 The Old Bakery, Bakery Lane, Letcombe Regis, OX12 9JN
Date: 23 June 2023
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