Trustees, Annual Report For the period From {start datel to erKI date Section A Reference and administration details Charity name West Herts DistrKt Scout Council Other names the chanty is kn(wm by West Herts Scouts Registered charity number (rf any) HQ registration number Chaws principal address 6 The Meadow5 Hemel Hem stead Postcode Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Trustee Name Offlce (If any Dat¢s acted rf not for whole year Pamela M David Colvin lan Cutler Anthon Dunford Sheena Burrus James Dou lan Burrus Joint Chair Joint Chair Treasurer Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Untsl Se tember 2023 10 12 13 14 15 Names and addresses of advisers (optional information but encouraged as best practs.l wiii)o rhe annualw olth8dwrfy) ypeo visor ame ress 1 LT700001 127 Febwary 20241
Section B Structure, governance and management Description of the chanty's twsts Type of goveming document The Districfs goveming dccuments are those of the The Scout Association. They consist of a Royal Charter, vthich in tum gives authortty to the Bye LabwJ of the Association and The Policy. Organisats'on and Rules of The Scout ssociation. le.g. trust deed, Constitutn} How Ihe ¢harity is constituted The DIStrt is a trust establLshed under its rules lch are common to all Scouts. (e.g. trust, associion. company) Tnjstee selection methods (e.g. appointed by, elected by) The Trustees a appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Associab'on. Additional 9ovemance issues {optional infomation but encouraged as best wath"ce) You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, atJJt The Distnct is managed by the Distn'ct Trustee Board, the members of lch are the'charity Trustees, of the Distn"ct which is an educational charity. As charity trustees they are resFonsible for ¢omptying with legislation applicable to chanties. This includes the registration. keeping proper account5 and making retums to the Charity Commission as approprth. Policies and procedures adopted for.. al the induction and training of trustees- bl trustee, consideration of major risks and the systems and procedures to manage them The Trustee Board consists of the Joint Chairs. Tasrer and 4 Trustee5 linduding Ex off.0 Twslees, and ccpopted Trustees) and meets every three months. Members of the Trustee Board compkle Being a Scwts Trustee leamirtg wthin the first 6 months of joining the Board. This District Trustee 8oard exists to make sure the charity is welknianaged. risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and equipment are in goc*J working order, and everyone follows legal requirements and the organisation's policies and rules. Their support helps other volunteers run high- quality and safe programmes that gNes young people skills for lrfe. 2 LT700001 (27 February 2024)
Section B Structure, governance and management Icontinuodl Risk and Intsmal Control The Districl Truslee Board has identffied the major risks to which they trAieve the District is exposed, these are being reviewed and systems are being established to mrtigate against them. The main areas of concern that have been identsfied are.. Damage to the building, propety and equipment. The Distnct would request the use of buildings, property and equipment from neight#)uring organisabons such as the church, community centre and other Scout Groups. Similar reciprocal arrangements exist with these oTrJanisats"ons. The Group has sufficient buildings and contents insu[are in place lo rnrtate against pennanent J055. Injury to leaders. helpers. supporters and members. The Group through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout Ass(Kiati"ons nats.onal accident insurance policy. Risk Assessments are undertaken before all acts"vits"es. The Distn"ct caryies a separate PAME insurance for tsventy un- named adults. Reduced inrne from capitat. The t1stit is primarity relnt upon income from caprtath)n. The District does hold a reserve to ensure the conts.nuty of actNtts"e$ should there be a major redUCtn in income. The Board could raise the value of the District ¢apilation to increase the income to the DislrKt on an ongoing basis. either temporarity or permanenly. Reduction or loss of Jers. The Distn"ct is tOts1 reliant upon volunteers to run and administer the activities of the Distn"ct. If there was a redu¢b"on in the number of volunteers to an unacceptable level there Vuld have to be a contraction or consolidatKJn in the Distn"cL In the V+Dfst case ario Ihe ¢omplete closure of the District. Risk and Internal Control The District has in place systems of intemal controls that are desvJned to proVe 3$onab assuran¢e against material mismanagement or loss, these include 2 signatories for all payments and a comprehensNe insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered. 3 LT70CwJ01 (27 February 2024)
Section C Objectives and activities The Purpose of Scouting scouts.ng exBts to actsvety engage and suptM)rt young people in their personal development. emFrtJwering thern to make a posibve contribution to society. Summary of the objecis of the charity set out in its goveming document Tho Values of Scouting As Scouts we are guided by these values.. Integrity - We act with integrity: we a honest. trUStsrthY and loyal. Re$t- We have self.respect and respect fof Others. Care - We supt#xt others and take care of the world in whi¢h we live. Bellef - We explore our faiths, beliets and attides. C¢>woperatlon - We make a positi've difference.. we c operate wth othets and make fn"ends. The Scout Mothod sul1ng tskes pkace when young pe*. in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting and.. - enjoy what they are doing and have ftjn - tske part in acb"vitbes indoors and outdoors - leam by doing - share in spiritual refiection - take responsibiltty and make choKes - undertake new and challenging activibes make and live by their Promise. Summary of the main in relation to these objects The District exists to support the work of the Groups in delNenng Scouting to the young people in our District. We have eight Scout Groups. five Explorer Units and a Nefvrk. In addition we have active sailing and kayaking sections. The Ttustees are reswnsible for ensuring that the equipment owned by the Units and athe sections is insured. The Trustees mlIOr training compliance in the District and by extension the Groups. The Trustees are also planning for the future of the District and promots.ng the transfomiation as required by HQ. Additional details of the oty'ectNe$ and acti¥f( (optional infomation bul encouraged as best practice) You may ¢hoose to include further statements. where relevan( about.. The charity makes toans to Groups who are in need of liquidty to finance capital projects. The charity invests only in low risk temi deposits and deF(SSit accounts wth the intenti)n of maintaining a5 far as possible the value of those investments. Al investments aTr Covered by trte GB Banking Guarentee. ' Folicy on grantmaking., contribution made by volunteers., policy on invesknents. Public benefit statement The Dislri¢t meets the Charity Commission's public benefft criteria under l)oth the wjvancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headin 4 LT7(KJ001 127 February 2024>
Section D Achievements and performance Summary ofthe main achievements of the charity during the year This year our Groups have taken part in Several County and Nation81 Events, indudin9'. i Beavers Sanla at Ph8seLs Wc4>J Activity Centre l Green Beret I Peak Assau Mersga Saillng Week Relum to Nights Away Events A variety of DofE Award ExrtionS Helping our Young Peop obtain a number of Wges l awards As ahyays. there is a (x)nb"nuing chalknge to recruit ent)ugh aduli volunteers for this, in 2023-2024 have 182 aduts supporbng 612 young people in s¢oubng the Distrkx through volunteeiing in iead•rship. managemenL govemance 8MI support roks. Seclion E Financial Review Brief statement of the charity's policy on reserves Reserves Pollcy The Districts FX)licy on re5erve$ is to hold sufficient resour to continue the charitable athitses of the group should income and fundraising actvibes fall short. The Grou Trustee Board considers that the group should hold a sum equivalent to 12 months running wsts, circa £4000. The District held reserves {excluding Explorer Scout funds) of approximately £65.000 against this at year end. This is above the level required for operating expenses. Howeve this can be explained by the Lo¢khart bequest {current valu £30,000), a development reserve {£27,000) and an expeditions reserve1£30001. Quantify and explain any designations Details of any fvnds materialty in def¢tt Icircumstances plus steps to eliminate) Further financial review details (optional infonnakn"on} You may ch¢)ose to include additional infomiab'on, where relevant, about". . the charity's principal sources of ftjnds (including any fundraisingl.. Investment Policy The Distncts in¢ome (principally from the DiStrt capitation) and is small {<£50001 and as a consequence does not have sufficient funds io invest in longer-tem investments such as slocks and shares. The District has therefore adopted a low risk strategy to the investsment of its fvnds. All funds are held in cash (of Long Tenn Deposits) using only mainstream banks or building societies. currenUy Lloyds Bank and CAF Bank. Note in this financial year the Scout Association closed the Short Temi DeF*)sil Scheme and retumed the funds to the depositors. 5 LT700001127 February 20241
. how expenditure has supported the k objectives of the charity". The DIstt Trustee Board regulaty monilors the levels of bank balances and the interest rates recetved lo ensure the group obtains maximum value and income from rf(s banking arrangements. Occasionally thi5 may invofve using an account that requi a pericrtj of n0ce before fvnds may be wrthdrawn. before doing $0 the Group Trustee Board considefs the cash flow requirements. ' investment poly and obltiVeS.. Investment Policy The Distnct does not have suffi¢Ent fvnds to invest in longe term investments. The DIStrt has therefore adopted a risk adverse strategy to the invesknent of tts funds. Al funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks or building societies. Section F Other Optional Information Plans for fvture periods (details of any significant activities planned to achEve them) Promote Locheamhead 2027 with the Groups by adapting programs and training to facilitate a Successful vissl Encourage and recrurt new Trustees lidealty younger) onto the Trustee Board to reduce the average age and accept new ideas Encourage gcd Iru$tee' practKe across our Scoul GfOUPS Section G Declaration The trustses declare that they have approved the trustees, rewrt aty)ve Signed on behaff of the charitys trustees Signaturels) Full namelsl lan Cutler David Colvin pos0 (eg Secretary. Chair) Treasurer Joint Chair L)ate 6 LT700001 {27 February 20241
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a FOR INtMD INOWll To Section A Receipts and payments Unr•Slrf¢i•d nds RaJtrfct•d Endo¥rtn•nt T4)W %undk A1 R•c•l l¥ Pl&jb5&¢•p REC.2•K4Ery kEC4-TMdke REC&5up AthF1 RI¥vj 17JJ U45 SF7 s71 57917 51 AuMtyÈxpY4 n7 PAY.2 41 174F 4114 7f PAY4-Tr•dry Supwt PAY•Dtereit ¢Qtsl $7n 57J 57An SIIMAIAIVES QFFUldD MOVEIIENTS C41h thnd• Ib•lyw•n# ¢¥•b Funth thtsyMr•nd Trnn9 Mov•iwJM 1. Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at Ihe end of the period ibnr•strirtvd R•$tyi¢tsd TDt¥lfuDds Cal¥9UFieS Bl Cah luThJ¥ In 81 FLrf4 01 B1 W FLrA$ 02 B1_CaF**_O3 Tot•l¢•sh lun 4D ds 82_OM_Fn th_01 tjvtsi B3 Inv•ibiiont a88018 B3 01
O•l•i 85 01 Totsl Fkn•ncW A•••ts B4 As*•ts rètsimd lorth• charitys owth u 84 Rthd 01 Totsi N•iA•MI• Pl CLrr(fR ar•J Trtd 51185 25
WEST HERTS DISTRI 5coifr COUNaL INDEPENDENf EXAMINER'S REpoKr l am pleased to report on my examination of the Accounts and Note5 01 West Herts District Scout Council IWHDSCI. for the year ended 31" March. 2024 set out OD pagÈs I to 3 of the Accounts document. Respecllve responslbllities of trustees and emmlner The chawity's trusttrs re$$1b1e for the weparation of the ac£ounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Art 2011 ( the Charities kt") and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Art: follow the procedures laid down in the eeneral "rectionS given by the Charity Cornmission (under seCtn 1451511bl of the Charities Ac( and state whethei particular matters have corne to my attentlon. Ba51$ of Ind•wdent examlner's stsiement My examlnatlon vms carried out in accorthnce with general Dirertions glven by the Charity Commi55ion. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a eornparison of the ac¢ounts presented wlth those records. It also includes ¢onsideration of any unusual items or disc105ur in the accounts, and seekiTU explanations from the trustees concerning any such matter5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence th•t Uld be requifed in •n audit, and consequently no opinion Is $i¥M •$ to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in ihe statement below. Independent examlner's ststement In connection with my eyamination. no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respecL" * the accounting reccrfds were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord wrth the accounting records: or • the accounts did not comply with the appliuble requiiements concerning the form and ontent of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attèntion $Iuld be drawn in this repcvt in (xder to en•ble a Pfoper 4NwJerstanding of the accounts tg be reached. Signed: IJ i* Name: Malcolm W Rogers, ACIE Address= 24a, Friars Walk. Trin& Hertfordshire. HP23 4AY