1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Report & Accounts for the Year ended 31st March 2024
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
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Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2024
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.
Major Activities and Achievements in the Year
1st Sandridge Scout and Guide group continues into it’s 97th year. In that time 1,000’s of young people have gained skills for life, made possible by the small army of volunteers who have worked with the Group. Many of those volunteers have come up through the sections before becoming leaders themselves. This tradition is still as strong today and the young people continue to have an incredibly varied weekly experience. Members also take part in Camps, a Gang Show, Competitions, ranging from Orienteering, to swimming, to cooking and Community projects.
There are two projects on the go at the moment, one the building of an outside kitchen, which is nearing completion, the second will take some time, as it involves a large extension to the headquarters. Plans are being drawn up and fundraising is taking place. This will not get in the way of any of the traditional scouting activities
Governing Documents
The Group is a trust with Trustees appointed in accordance with the Constitution which is re-adopted at each Annual General Meeting of the Group Council, the last in July 2023. The constitution follows the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association and Girlguiding UK
Financial Review 2023/24
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 from the previous year.
Receipts were lower than expenses for the year, mainly due to higher electricity expenses, lower fund raising activities and spending on upgrading the kitchen area during the year. The Group receives significant donations for the use of the hut, which has enables the Group to maintain sufficient levels of reserves without increasing subscriptions for membership of the Group. The Trustee Board 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 cover for potential unforeseen expenses.
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Transactions with Trustees
Occasionally trustees or related companies will supply services to the Group the costs of which are agreed with other trustees not related to those trustees. During the year trustees-related companies supplied goods and services in support of evening activities of the group. These supported 6 evening activities across 4 sections to a total cost to the Group of £1,622 during the year.
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 Trustee Board regularly reviews cash balances to ensure sufficient funds are held.
The 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 £23,054.
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 Trustee Board 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 2 July 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Nicola Wells Phillip Coates Colin Davison Group Scout Leader Group Chairman Group Treasurer
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1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group
Receipts and Payments Summary for the Year Ended 31st March 2024
| 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 (£) 30,631 (32,865) (2,234) 55,088 £52,854 |
Previous Year (£) 40,784 (26,407) |
|---|---|---|
| 14,377 40,711 £55,088 |
| 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 (£) 34,121 (2,234) (2,087) 29,800 20,967 2,087 0 23,054 £52,854 |
Previous Year (£) 28,112 14,377 (8,368) |
|---|---|---|
| 34,121 | ||
| 12,599 8,368 0 |
||
| 20,967 | ||
| £55,088 |
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1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Receipts for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2024
| Membership Subs Less: Paid Activities and Camps Activities Camps Investment Income Donations/Grants Fund Raising(Gross) Income Tax Recovered Brownies and Explorers Hut Use TOTAL RECEIPTS |
Current Year (£) 17,797 (8,894) 8,903 2,201 3,957 6,158 312 7,693 5,600 1,245 720 £30,631 |
Previous Year (£) 18,354 (8,845) |
|---|---|---|
| 9,509 | ||
| 2,030 3,948 |
||
| 5,978 | ||
| 30 10,968 11,905 1,674 720 |
||
| £30,631 | £40,784 |
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1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Payments for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2024
| 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 (£) 165 4,099 3,518 7,926 1,896 17,604 7,000 2,587 9,587 43 3,547 32 0 739 1,313 0 £32,865 |
Previous 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 0 |
||
| £32,865 | £26,407 |
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1[st] Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Statement of Assets & Liabilities at 31[st] March 2024
| 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 2024 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 (£) 9,883 42,441 530 52,854 56 £52,910 340,000 0 16,000 £356,000 0 0 0 |
Previous Year (£) 12,638 42,129 321 |
|---|---|---|
| 55,088 0 |
||
| £55,088 | ||
| 340,000 0 16,000 |
||
| £356,000 | ||
| 0 0 |
||
| 0 | 0 |
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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 2024 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: Martyn MacPhee Qualification: Accountant (Retired) Address 103 Stanley Avenue, Chiswell Green, St. Albans, Herts. AL2 3AQ
Date:
29 June 2024
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