# **1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Report & Accounts for the Year ended 31st March 2023**
**Charity Reference Number:** 302579 **Scout Association Registration Number:** 138
## **President:**
**Vice Presidents:**
## **Trustees, Ex Officio:**
Group Scout Leader Scout Leader Scout Leader Cub Scout Leader Assistant Cub Scout Leader Beaver Scout Leader Beaver Scout Leader Guide Leader
## **Name**
Nicola Wells Barry Shadbolt Charli-Anne McFarlane Kate Wells Alex Hamilton-Bray Simon Jewels Danielle Higgins Bridget Shadbolt
## **Trustees, Elected:**
Chairman Treasurer Secretary
## **Name**
Phillip Coates Colin Davison Andrew Giddings
## **Trustees, Nominated:**
## **Name**
Caroline Atkins John Forward Sharon Jackson
**Custodian Trustees** (if any):
## **Name**
Gillian Forward Bruce McFarlane Kevin Pearcy Craig Wells
## **Bankers:**
Santander UK Bank
**Other Advisors** (if any)
**Contact Name and Address:**
Mr. C Davison 6 Windermere Avenue St. Albans AL1 5QW
Page 1 of 8
## **Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023**
## **Objectives and Structure of the Group**
Our group aims are to meet those of the Scout and Guide Associations through a range of formal training sessions and other activities. These all take place during normal weekly meetings and extra organised events. The Group comprises six Scout Sections and one Guide Company so the activities are numerous and varied. The Scouts Section are members of The Scout Association and the Guide Section is a member of Girl Guiding UK. Each section follows the activities of the relevant national association and is governed by their rules and policies.
The weekly meetings include the normal training standards such as knotting, first aid, cooking, fire lighting and map and compass work. All these basic skills are aimed at giving children the opportunity to take part in more adventurous activities and enabling the children to look after themselves. The other activities this year have included visits to local places of interest, cycling, night hikes, bridge building using pioneering skills and talks by outside speakers.
The Group is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Groups and Districts. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of the Scout Association.
## **Major Activities and Achievements in the Year**
1st Sandridge Scout and Guide group continues to thrive, providing weekly face to face meetings inside and out, all sections have been able to have nights away both under canvas and at activity centres. Programmes always included traditional skills such as fire lighting and tracking alongside new adventurous activities. The whole group was represented at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the village. One young leader will be taking part in the Scout World Jamboree this year, following an extensive period of training.
The team of dedicated leaders continue to lead and inspire the young people week in week out and keep their mandatory training up to date. Another four Leaders have successfully completed their Wood Badge Training and 8 adult members of the group have been awarded for exceptional service. Following the successful fund raising to replace the roof of the headquarters last year, now to create an updated outdoor kitchen, the next project is to raise enough money to enlarge the headquarters in order to provide step free access, suitable facilities for all users and improved catering facilities.
Plans are always being made to give the young people of the group the very best of experience
## **Governing Documents**
The Groups governing documents are those of the The Scout Association and Girlguiding UK. The Group is a trust with Trustees appointed in accordance with the Constitution which was renewed in March 2021. The constitution follows the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association and Girlguiding UK
## **Financial Review 2022/23**
The Accounts have been drawn up on the receipts and payments basis which is consistent with the previous year. The statement of assets and liabilities shows the nature of the assets controlled by Group, together with an estimate of current value, and any material liabilities that need to be met from the funds. Both the receipts and payments accounts and statement of assets and liabilities have been prepared following the guidance for accounting for smaller charities issued by the Charity Commission.
The level of subscriptions received reflects the number of members in the Group which has reduced due to the lower number of members attending meetings during the lockdown periods.
Page 2 of 8
Receipts were higher than expenses for the year, mainly due to fund raising activities during the year. Three main fund raising events were held during the year: Barbeque and Jar Tombola as part of the village celebrations of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a Christmas Market held at the hut, at which the Group also ran a Barbeque and a Quiz Night in March. Combined, these raised £5,600 which have been added to the Building Fund. A private donation for the Building Fund of £1,500 has also been received. The Group also received significant donations for the use of the hut, which has enable the General Fund to be increased. In line with the rise in the cost of living, certain expense of the Group have increased, especially that for light and heat. While the accounts show less spent than the previous year, this is because no fuel oil for heating was purchased this year as the tank is usually filled in alternate years which was done in the previous year.
The Boiler of the hut broke down earlier this year and the Executive Committee is working to replace the boiler as soon as practical. This will be a significant expense next year, but the Executive Committee considers the bank and cash balances held by the Group are sufficient to cover the running costs of the sections, repairs to the hut and provide to cover for potential unforeseen expenses.
## **Reserves Policy**
The Group’s policy is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities if the group income and fundraising activities fall. The Group Executive Committee regularly reviews cash balances to ensure sufficient funds are held.
A Group has established a Building Fund to cover any potential capital costs on maintaining the building and to fund an extension to the Hut in order to improve the Group’s facilities. The Building Fund currently stands at £20,967.
## **Investment Policy**
The Group does not have sufficient funds to invest in longer term investments. The Group has therefore adopted a risk averse strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks or building societies.
## **Public Benefit Statement**
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.
## **Serious Incidents**
There were no serious incidents reportable to the Charity Commission during the financial year that should have been reported to the Commission but were not.
## **Risk and Internal Control**
The Group has in place a system of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement and loss that are proportionate to the size of the Group. These include 2 signatories being required for all payments and insurance policies to ensure insurable risks are covered. As members of The Scout Association and Girl Guiding UK the Group is covered by accident insurance for the relative activities under those associations and the Executive Committee have taken out additional insurance, such as building and contents insurance for the Group HQ, where appropriate.
The Trustees Report, Accounts and accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities were approved by the Trustees on 3 July 2023 and signed on their behalf by:
Nicola Wells Phillip Coates Colin Davison Group Scout Leader Group Chairman Group Treasurer
Page 3 of 8
## **1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group**
## **Receipts and Payments Summary for the Year Ended 31st March 2023**
|Total Receipts for the year
Total Payments for the year
Net Receipts (Payments) for the year
Cash, Bank and similar funds b/fwd
Cash, Bank and similar funds c/fwd|**Current Year (£)**
40,784
(26,407)
14,377
40,711
**£55,088**|**Previous Year (£)**
41,774
(58,722)|
|---|---|---|
|||(16,948)
57,659
**£40,711**|
|**Represented By:**
**General Fund**
Opening Balance for the year
Net Receipts (Payments) for the year
(excluding payments from Building Fund)
Transferred from / (to) Building Fund
Closing Balance for the year
**Building Fund**
Opening Balance for the year
Transferred from / (to) General Fund
Payments out of Fund
Closing Balance for the year
Cash, Bank and similar funds c/fwd|**Current Year (£)**
28,112
14,377
(8,368)
34,121
12,599
8,368
0
20,967
**£55,088**|**Previous Year (£)**
21,077
27,654
(20,619)|
|---|---|---|
|||28,112|
|||36,582
20,619
(44,602)|
|||12,599|
|||**£40,711**|
Page 4 of 8
## **1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Receipts for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023**
|**Membership Subs**
Less: Paid
**Activities and Camps**
Activities
Camps
**Investment Income**
**Donations/Grants**
**Fund Raising**(Gross)
**Income Tax Recovered**
**Sundry Receipts**
Sale of Mini Bus
Brownies and Explorers Hut Use
**TOTAL RECEIPTS**|**Current Year (£)**
18,354
(8,845)
**9,509**
2,030
3,948
**5,978**
30
10,968
11,905
1,674
0
720
**720**
**£40,784**|**Previous Year (£)**
15,896
(8,892)|
|---|---|---|
|||**7,004**|
|||773
1,471|
|||**2,244**|
|||3
28,080
636
2,206
881
720|
|||**1,601**|
||||
||**£40,784**|**£41,774**|
Page 5 of 8
## **1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Payments for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023**
|**Premises**
Telephone
Light & Heat
Insurance
Repairs & Renewals
Fire Protection, Cleaning, Other
**Activities and Camps**
Activities
Camps
**Donations/Grants**
**Fund Raising Expenses**
**Administration Expenses**
**Trustee Expenses**
**Purchase of Capital Equipment**
**Badges & Clothing**
**Sundry Payments**
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**|**Current Year (£)**
168
1,858
3,335
2,366
966
**8,693**
5,467
3,464
**8,931**
375
5,908
83
0
1,018
1,399
**£26,407**|**Previous Year (£)**
165
3,742
2,803
44,998
1,283|
|---|---|---|
|||**52,991**|
|||3,152
750|
|||**3,902**|
||||
|||0
23
133
0
782
891
0|
||**£26,407**|**£58,722**|
Page 6 of 8
## **1[st] Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Statement of Assets & Liabilities at 31[st] March 2023**
|**MONETARY** **ASSETS:**Cash, bank and similar funds
Bank Current Account(s)
NS&I Investment Account (Reserve)
Cash in hand
Tax Claim for Year Ending 5th April 2023
**NON-MONETARY ASSETS:**Assets for Charity's own use
Badge Stock
Land and buildings
Motor vehicles
Scouting equipment, furniture, etc.
**LIABILITIES:**Those due within one year
**LIABILITIES:**Those payable after one year
**CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND FUTURE OBLIGATIONS**|**Current Year (£)**
12,638
42,129
321
55,088
0
**£55,088**
340,000
0
16,000
**356,000**
**0**
**0**
**0**|**Previous Year (£)**
7,343
32,100
1,268|
|---|---|---|
|||40,711
46|
|||**£40,757**|
|||0
340,000
0
16,000|
|||**356,000**|
|||**0**
**0**|
||**0**|**0**|
Page 7 of 8
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the 1[st] Sandridge Scout and Guide Group**
I report on the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31[st] March 2023 which are set out on pages 4 to 7.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
## **Basis of examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
## **Independent Examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signature: Name: Qualification: Address
Martyn MacPhee Accountant (Retired) 103 Stanley Avenue, Chiswell Green, St. Albans, Herts. AL2 3AQ
Date:
1 July 2023
Page 8 of 8