ST ALBANS DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
Report & Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024
PRESIDENT Vacant TRUSTEES CHAIR Mr N Churton (resigned 3/7/23) Mrs K Knight (appointed 10/9/23) TRUSTEES: Ex-Officio Members SECRETARY Vacant TREASURER Mr V Molloy DISTRICT COMMISSIONER Dr A Payne DEPUTY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER Vacant DISTRICT EXPLORER SCOUT COMMISSIONER / DISTRICT NETWORK COMMISSIONER Mr G Bray TRUSTEES:- Elected Committee Mr L Ambrose; Mr D Barker; Mr C Jackson (appointed Members 10/9/23); Mr S Lindsay MBE; Mr R Morton (resigned 23/5/23); Ms A Moylett (appointed 10/9/23); Mrs N Wells. TRUSTEES:- Co-opted Members Mrs L Hunt BANKERS CAF Bank Barclays – St Albans (Explorers) Lloyds – St Albans (Scout Shop & Phoenix) NatWest – St Albans (Gang Show)
District Registration Number with The Scout Association - 12215 Charity Registration Number - 302578
Contact Name & Address Mr V Molloy 30 Rowlatt Drive St Albans Herts, AL3 4NB
St Albans District Scout Council
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024
Summary of main activities of the Charity during the year
We are pleased to present the annual accounts for St Albans District Scouts for the financial year ending 30[th] March 2024. This report provides a comprehensive overview of our financial performance, highlights key achievements, and outlines our financial strategy for the coming year.
The past year has been a period of significant activity and accomplishment for our district. Despite the challenges posed by the external environment, we have continued to deliver high-quality scouting experiences for our young members, supported by the unwavering dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our supporters. We now have over 2100 scouting members within our district. Young people across the District were able to participate in a range of District led activities including Cub Camp, Beaver and Cub Cinema event, Dragonboating, I’m a Scout camp, Derek Turner and the annual Swimming Gala. It was great to see Gang Show return this year to the stage to once again the most wonderful reviews. Thanks must be given to all that helped organise it as well as the brilliant cast who made it an outstanding event. We are a very lucky district to have such a fabulous event to showcase the talents and skills of our young people.
Our financial strategy remains focused on ensuring the long-term sustainability of our district, while also investing in initiatives that enhance the scouting experience. This year, we have seen positive growth in our income streams, including fundraising efforts, grants, and donations. These funds have been instrumental in supporting our programs, maintaining our facilities, and providing training and resources for our leaders.
We are committed to transparency and accountability in our financial reporting. This document details our income and expenditure, providing insights into how we allocate our resources to maximize impact. Key financial highlights for the year include:
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Successful fundraising campaigns that have increased our financial reserves
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Strategic investments in facility improvements and new equipment
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Continued support for training programs that empower our leaders and volunteers
Looking ahead, we remain focused on building a strong financial foundation that will support the growth and development of St Albans District Scouts. Our priorities for the coming year include expanding our fundraising efforts, exploring new revenue opportunities, and ensuring prudent management of our resources.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to our financial success this year. Your support is crucial in enabling us to provide enriching scouting experiences for young people across the district.
We invite you to review the detailed accounts enclosed in this report and welcome any questions or feedback you may have.
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St Albans District Scout Council
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (cont.)
Governing Document
The District's governing documents are those of the 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.
Constitution
The District is a trust established under The Scout Association rules which are common to all Scouts.
Trustee Selection
The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
District Management
The District is managed by the District Trustee Board, the members of which are the ‘Charity Trustees’ of the District which is an educational charity. As charity trustees they are responsible for complying with legislation applicable to charities. This includes the registration, keeping proper accounts and making returns to the Charity Commission as appropriate.
The Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer and 9 Trustees (including 3 Ex-Officio and 1 CoOpted member) and meets at least every 3 months.
Members of the Trustee Board complete Being a Scout Trustee training within the first 6 months of joining the Board.
The District Trustee Board exists to make sure the charity is well managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and equipment are in good 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 gives young people skills for life.
Risk and Internal Control
The District has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss, including 2 signatures for all payments and comprehensive insurance policies to ensure insurable risks are covered.
Summary of the Charity’s objectives as set out in the governing document
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.
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St Albans District Scout Council
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (cont.)
Care - We support others and take care of the world in which we live.
Belief - We explore our faiths, beliefs and at udes.
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:
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enjoy what they are doing and have fun
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take part in activities indoors and outdoors
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learn by doing
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share in spiritual reflection
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take responsibility and make choices
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undertake new and challenging activities
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make and live by their Promise.
Public Benefit Statement
The District meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings.
Reserves Policy
The District's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the District should income and fundraising activities fall short. The District Executive Committee determined during the period that given likely future needs the District should hold a minimum sum of circa £110,000.
The core District held reserves of approximately £218,000 against this at the year end. This is above the level required for operating expenses. The Executive Committee will be reviewing the level of reserves required and options for deployment of surplus funds during the next 12 months
Investment Policy
The District does not have sufficient funds to invest in longer term investments. The District has therefore adopted a risk averse strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in current or short term deposit accounts at mainstream financial institutions.
Approved by the Trustees on the 2 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by:-
Kirstin Knight Vincent Molloy Chair Treasurer
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St Albans District Scout Council
Report & Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024
Receipts for the year ended 31 March 2024
| Receipts | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Donatons and Subscriptons | |||
| Membership Subscripton | 122,632 | Note 1 | 115,668 |
| Donatons and Grants | 4,184 | 775 | |
| Sub total | 126,816 | 116,443 | |
| Grants | |||
| Covid Grants | - | - | |
| Training Subsidies | - |
- | |
| Sub total | - | - | |
| Youth Programmes and Actvites | |||
| Core District Actvites | 19,143 | Note 2 | 58,642 |
| Gang Show | 33,416 | Note 3 | 31,500 |
| Explorer Scouts | 22,324 | 20,495 | |
| Phoenix Expediton | 8,405 | Note 4 | 0 |
| Scout Shop Sales | 30,097 | 27,989 | |
| Squirrels | 0 | Note 5 | 0 |
| Miscellaneous | 235 | 41 | |
| Sub total | 113,620 | 138,667 | |
| Investment and Other Income | |||
| Gif Aid | - | Note 6 | - |
| HQ Letngs & Rents | 21,055 | Note 7 | 30,882 |
| Bank Interest | 1,234 | 655 | |
| Sub total | 22,289 | 31,537 | |
| Total receipts for the year | 262,725 | 286,647 |
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St Albans District Scout Council
Report & Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024
Payments for the year ended 31 March 2024
| Payments | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Subscriptons | |||
| Membership Subscriptons to County | 101,115 | 95,050 | |
| Sub total | 101,115 | 95,050 | |
| Charitable Payments | |||
| Youth Programme and Actvites | |||
| Core District Actvites | 20,167 | Note 8 | 52,597 |
| Gang Show | 29,312 | Note 9 | 17,534 |
| Explorer Scouts | 34,374 | Note 10 | 29,334 |
| Phoenix | 0 | Note 11 | 205 |
| Scout Shop Purchases | 29,528 | 30,899 | |
| St George’s Day | 3,136 | 3,399 | |
| Sectons (Network) | 59 | - | |
| Sectons (Squirrels) | 214 | Note 12 | 1,464 |
| Training | 1,065 | Note 13 | 36 |
| Utlites | 5,772 | Note 14 | 6,183 |
| Insurance | 4,702 | 2,807 | |
| Maintenance, Renewals and Repairs | 6,567 | Note 15 | 11,494 |
| Materials and IT/ Equipment | 2,199 | Note 16 | 515 |
| GoCardless Fees | 1,372 | Note 17 | 1,055 |
| Bank Charges | 126 | 72 | |
| Grants | 350 | - | |
| Sub total | 138,943 | 157,594 | |
| Funding Expenses | |||
| OSM | 2,357 | 2,030 | |
| Administraton Expense | 882 | Note 18 | 8,480 |
| Administraton Services | 8,567 | Note 19 | 6,941 |
| CVS Membership | 60 | 60 | |
| Miscellaneous | 687 | 416 | |
| 12,553 | 17,927 | ||
| Total payments for the year | 252,611 | 270,571 |
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St Albans District Scout Council
Receipts & Payments Account Summary For the year ended 31 March 2024
| Total receipts for the year Total payments for the year Net receipts for the year Cash, bank & similar funds b/fwd Cash, bank & similar funds c/fwd |
2023/24 £ 262,725 252,611 10,114 208,787 218,901 Note 20 |
2022/23 £ 286,647 270,571 |
|---|---|---|
| 16,076 192,711 |
||
| 208,787 |
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St Albans District Scout Council
Statement of Assets & Liabilites as at 31 March 2024
| Monetary Assets Bank Current Accounts Bank Deposit Accounts Cash in hand Other Monetary Assets Debt due to District (Scout Shop sales) Non-Monetary Assets Scout Shop Stock District Headquarters (Insured valuaton) Liabilites (due within one year) Scout Camp 2023 Scout Camp 2024 Hut Rental Payments |
2023/24 £ 76,545 142,242 114 218,901 9,388 - 12,000 574,093 - 2,850 2,160 |
2022/23 £ 77,259 131,414 114 |
|---|---|---|
| 208.787 10,730 12,000 574,093 1,600 420 - |
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St Albans District Scout Council
Report & Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024
Notes to the Accounts
Note 1 - Membership Subscriptions . Annual membership subscriptions are collected by District from all groups plus Explorers. The subscriptions collected are levied on a per head basis for members under 18 and comprise National, County and District fees. The National and County elements of the fees are passed on via County.
A total of £94,267 was collected from groups. £28,365 in membership subscriptions was collected by Explorers plus £805 from district Squirrels.
Note 2 – Core District Activities . A period of full activities including I’m a scout, Ready Steady Cook, Cubs Cinema, Cubs Swimming, Derek Turner, Scout Camp and World Scout Jamboree 2023.. The total for the previous period was significantly higher due to the inclusion of advance income totalling £42,303 relating to WSJ 2023.
NB: As many activities straddle accounting periods some of the income and expenditure for individual activities will be reflected in previous or future years accounts.
Note 3 – Gang Show . A 50/50 joint venture with Guides, the District accounts include 50% of Gang Show receipts.
Note 4 – Phoenix Expedition . Initial income from participants signed up to attend the 2025 Expedition.
Note 5 – Squirrels The District run Squirrels drey received only membership income during the period. This is included with the membership subscriptions, see Note 1.
Note 6 – Gift Aid Due to administrative reasons a claim relating to Explorer subs was not made during the period. A new Explorers treasurer is now in place and a claim for 2023-24 and outstanding previous years will be submitted during H1 2024-25.
Note 7 – HQ Lettings & Rents Income from third party lettings dropped during the period due mainly to one regular user significantly reducing its usage of the building.
Third party lettings were strong during the period. Amongst regular users increased use by the NHS who use the hut for training courses contributed significantly to the rise in income.
Note 8 Core District Activities See Note 2, the previous period included significant advance payments to County for World Scout Jamboree 2023.
Note 9 – Gang Show See comments for Note 3. A number of payments relating to the 2023 show were made subsequent to the end of the 2022-23 accounting period. Similarly, some payments relating to the 2024 show will have been made subsequent to the end of the 2023-24 accounting period. Consequently, the spend for 2023-24 appears to resemble typically one year’s spend.
Note 10 – Explorers The increase in expenditure reflects the more appropriate inclusion within this cost line of payments to Groups for the use of their huts for regular meetings. This is an activity cost but was previously included under Administration Expense.
Note 11 – Phoenix An expedition did not take place during the period. Costs relating to the 2025 Expedition are yet to be incurred.
Note 12 – Squirrels . Spend related to purchase of equipment, badges and uniforms etc plus normal meeting expenses. Having acquired a a level of stock spend was reduced during 2023-24.
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St Albans District Scout Council
Report & Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024 (contnued)
Note 13 – Training . Use of the District training budget was promoted during the period and a number of individual were supported in obtaining qualifications for the benefit of the District.
Note 14 – Utilities . Comprised Gas £1,800, Electricity £2,514 and Water £1,458.
Note 15 - Maintenance, Renewals and Repairs Regular maintenance of DHQ was undertaken including ongoing repairs, cleaning and grass cutting. The higher spend in the previous period was mainly due to the payment of £5,448 to redecorate the outside of the DHQ building..
Note 16 - Materials and IT/Equipment The increase in spend was due mainly to the purchase by Explorers of new tents and other equipment totalling £1,592.
Note 17 - GoCardless Fees The fees incurred in the collection of Explorer membership subscriptions and payments for Explorer activities via OSM / GoCardless.
Note 18 - Administration Expense The reduction in spend is due to the cost to Explorers’ payments to Groups for the regular use of their huts being allocated more appropriately to the relevant Activities cost line.
Note 19 - Administration Services The cost related to retaining the services of a contracted administrator for the District. The cost increased during the period due to the administrator committing additional hours to complete an increased level of administrative tasks.
Note 20 – Cash, bank & similar funds . Total District funds of £218,787 (2022-23-22 £208,673) comprised:
Core District £108,261 Gang Show (50%) £50,796 Explorers £18,731 Phoenix Expedition £20,033 Scout Shop £20,966
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the
St Albans District Scout Council
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the St Albans District Scout Council for the year ended 31 March 2024
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the St Albans District Scout Council 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 St Albans District Scout Council 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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the St Albans District Scout Council as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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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.
Robert Baker, FCA
79 Woodland Drive, St Albans,
Herts, AL4 0EN
23 August 2024
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