King Alfred District Scout Council
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS For year ended 31 March 2024
Registered Charity 300518
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King Alfred District Scout Council Annual Report of the district Executive Committee For year ended 31 March 2024
Scout Registration Number Charity Commission Number
14813 300518
Trustees:
| Trustees: | ||
|---|---|---|
| District Chairman | Chris Harrison | |
| District Commissioner | David Walsh | To 30.11.23 |
| District Commissioner | Katharine Murkett | W.e.f 01.01.24 |
| District Explorer Scout Commissioner | Francesca Wellham | To 31.03.24 |
| District Treasurer | Samantha Riley | |
| Trustee | Peter Trafford | |
| Trustee | Paul Brame | |
| Trustee | Stephen Radford | |
| Trustee | Paul Steptoe | |
| Trustee | Robert Cotter | w.e.f 29.06.23 |
Treasurer contact name & address:
Samantha Riley Woodlands Wantage Road Rowstock Oxfordshire OX11 0JY
Bankers:
Barclays Bank Plc LEICESTER LE87 2BB
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Main achievements and activities of the Trustees Board
The Census towards the end of this reporting period showed that the number of Young People (YP) stayed about level at 715 (from 712 last year) which is encouraging given the challenge with Beaver numbers this time last year.
In setting the membership fee to be collected in the 24/25 financial year, we maintained the principle of determining the District element by setting a District budget and then dividing the total funding requirement across all the Young People in the District. As planned and announced, this year we continued to phase in the cost of the District Secretary with a 75% contribution, the remainder again taken from reserves. With a focus on keeping costs as low as possible whilst maintaining the existing provision, the year-on-year increase in the District element of the Membership Fee has been kept to 3% whilst the County and National elements have increased by 10% and 7% respectively.
The big change for the District this year has been the retirement of our long standing District Commissioner, David Walsh. David made a huge commitment to the District and is responsible for many of the significant advancements that the District has made over the previous years. In particular, the increased provision of Scouting in our area through the opening of new Sections and new Groups, in several cases, resurrecting Groups that had previously ceased to exist, is a lasting testament to his dedication and perseverance. On behalf of the District Trustee Board, I would like to thank him for his great service to Scouting and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
Despite identifying several very capable candidates, the search process undertaken to identify David's replacement did not yield a single individual willing to take on the District Commissioner responsibility. Instead, four existing volunteers have made themselves available to form a District Commissioner Team to take on the District Commissioner role and the District Trustee Board wishes to express its great appreciation to these individuals, Katharine Murkett, Steve Houseman, Fiona Stovold and Nathan Reade. They all have at least one other role in Scouting and so this represents a significant increase in their Scouting commitment for which we are very grateful. The team approach means different ways of working, for both them and their interaction with the Trustee Board. This is all very new and will require time to bed in. However, we have every confidence that the new approach will prove beneficial in the long term, not least of which because they are such high calibre individuals - we almost have 'four for the price of one'!
Signed …………………………………
Chris Harrison, District Trustee Board Chair
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Notes to the Accounts for The King Alfred Scout District Council 2023-24
The annual Charity Commission Return for the previous year was completed and returned.
Provision has been made for the outstanding liabilities for the year ending 31 March 2024. These have been settled shortly after the end of the reporting period.
There are no endowment funds within the committee’s management. The Stuart Rae fund is designated and carried forward from year to year.
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 £7k for the year, up from the previous year’s income of £4.6k due to both an increase in levy charge and increased membership from 693 to 712. Census figures recorded in January 2024, used to calculate membership levy for 2024/25, reflect numbers have remained relatively unchanged at 715.
Rental income from the Wantage Scout groups, including Ridgeway Explorer Unit has been increased to cover increased running costs of the District HQ, however we have seen a fall in rental income from leisure use. Although down by 50% on the previous year rental of The Scout Lodge has continued to generate an income from long term tenants.
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. This year the District also successfully held its first District Leaders’ Camp which was well attended.
There was no grant income received during the financial year.
Overhead expenditure was down slightly from the previous year because of a small reduction in energy costs.
Expenditure on improvements to the District Headquarters, amounting to £14k included replacement LED lighting, the final payment for the roof installation and initial plans for an expansion project with Section 106 funding. These improvements, funded from our reserves resulted in an overall in year deficit of £10.8k for the year.
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 or by Direct Debit. Comprehensive buildings insurance is in place to ensure that insurable risks are covered.
The District's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the District, including the running and maintenance costs of the District HQ should income and fundraising activities fall short. The District Trustee Board considers that it should hold a sum equivalent to 12 months running costs, circa £25k.
We are grateful to Elaine Johnson at Chapman Worth, for undertaking the independent examination of the accounts and providing helpful advice and comment.
Sam Riley, District Trustee Board Treasurer
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
King Alfred District Scout Council As at 31 March 2024
| King Alfred District Scout Council As at 31 March 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 31MAR2024 | 31MAR2023 | |
| Current Assets | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | ||
| Community Account | 50,988.80 | 57,835.26 |
| Total Cash at bank and in hand | 50,988.80 | 57,835.26 |
| Accounts Receivable | - | 4,500.00 |
| Prepayments and other debtors | 793.47 | - |
| Total Current Assets | 51,782.27 | 62,335.26 |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
| Accounts Payable | 263.78 | - |
| Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 263.78 | - |
| Net Current Assets (Liabilities) | 51,518.49 | 62,335.26 |
| Total Assets less Current Liabilities | 51,518.49 | 62,335.26 |
| Net Assets | 51,518.49 | 62,335.26 |
| Capital and Reserves | ||
| Current Year Earnings | (10,816.77) | (65,653.25) |
| Retained Earnings | 58,806.64 | 126,562.58 |
| Stuart Rae Fund | 3,528.62 | 1,425.93 |
| Total Capital and Reserves | 51,518..49 | 62,335.26 |
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Statement of Receipts and Payments
King Alfred District Scout Council For the year ended 31 March 2024
| King Alfred District Scout Council For the year ended 31 March 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Income | ||
| Membership | ||
| Annual membership | 47,279.68 | 41,346.60 |
| District Headquarters | ||
| Rent - Scout use | 8,037.50 | 6,137.50 |
| Rent - leisure activities | 1,864.00 | 2,504.00 |
| Rent - other | 10,013.01 | 20,885.00 |
| Total District Headquarters | 19,914.51 | 29,526.50 |
| Activities | ||
| Activities: District Patrol Camp income | 2,100.00 | 1,440.00 |
| Activities: Canoeing trips | 430.00 | 133.00 |
| Badge sales | - | 12.50 |
| Stuart Rae Challenge | 3,304.64 | 1,111.72 |
| Total Activities | 5,834.64 | 2,697.22 |
| Grant income | - | 9,931.00 |
| Total Income | 73,028.83 | 83,501.32 |
| Expenditure | ||
| Membership | ||
| Annual membership paid | 40,228.00 | 36,729.00 |
| District Headquarters | ||
| Cleaning Contract | 3,889.94 | 3,448.68 |
| Electricity | 3,048.42 | 3,744.68 |
| Fire/heating system maintenance | 1,480.86 | 1,532.12 |
| Gas | 4,113.74 | 5,187.83 |
| General repairs | 85.30 | 108.01 |
| Insurance and licences | 2,038.44 | 1,995.83 |
| Scout Lodge electricity | 682.53 | 1,202.97 |
| Telephone and broadband | 1,003.56 | 872.41 |
| Water | 549.47 | 428.54 |
| Total District Headquarters | 16,892.26 | 18,521.07 |
| Activities | ||
| Activities expenditure | 716.70 | - |
| Activities: Canoes & trailer | 352.70 | 251.40 |
| District Patrol Camp expenditure | 1,496.01 | 2,136.06 |
| Christmas post expenditure | - | 287.89 |
| Stuart Rae Challenge expenditure | 1,201.95 | 925.63 |
| Total Activities | 3,767.36 | 3,600.98 |
| Other | ||
| District Executive expenses | 7,905.18 | 6,846.30 |
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2024
2023
| Miscellaneous | 147.60 | - |
|---|---|---|
| New group seed funding | - | 400.00 |
| Total Other | 8,052.78 | 7,246.30 |
| DHQ improvements | 14,725.20 | 82,854.72 |
| Website | 180.00 | 202.50 |
| Total Expenditure | 83,845.60 | 149,154.57 |
| Surplus / (deficit) | (10,816.77) | (65,653.25) |
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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 2024 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: 17 June 2024
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