# **1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Report & Accounts for the Year ended 31st March 2025**
**Charity Reference Number:** 302579 **Scout Association Registration Number:** 138
**President: Vice Presidents:**
**Trustees, Nominated and Appointed at AGM: Name** Chairman Phillip Coates Treasurer Colin Davison Secretary Andrew Giddings Caroline Atkins John Forward Sharon Jackson
**Trustees, Ex Officio: Name** Group Lead Volunteer Nicola Wells Team Leader (Scout) Barry Shadbolt Team Leader (Scout) Liam Jackson Team Leader (Cubs) Connor Jackson Team Leader (Cubs) Nigel Kerr Team Leader (Beaver) Simon Jewels Team Leader (Beaver) Kirstie West Guide Leader Bridget Shadbolt
**Custodian Trustees** (if any):
**Name** Gillian Forward Bruce McFarlane Kevin Pearcy Craig Wells
**Bankers: Other Advisors** (if any) **Contact Name and Address:**
Santander UK Bank
Mr. C Davison 6 Windermere Avenue St. Albans AL1 5QW
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## **Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2025**
## **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 its 98th year. During recent events we have heard from many past members who have great memories of their time at the Scout & Guide Group, they have been able to share these memories with current members who are enjoying the very varied and adventurous programmes and activities provided by our dedicated team of leaders. Every leader has had to do the new safety training and many due to the change in role titles more training all adding to the hundreds of volunteer hours, that are freely given each year.
The new outside kitchen, is looking great and being well used. Plans are being drawn up for the large extension needed to make our headquarters, accessible to all. This will require even more from the fundraising team. We hope that nothing will get in the way of any of the traditional scouting & guiding 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 2024. The constitution follows the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association and Girlguiding UK.
## **Financial Review 2024/25**
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. 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 an evening activity for one sections to a total cost to the Group of £312 during the year (2024: £1,622).
## **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 £25,771. A payment of £1,632 in relation to the building project was made in the year. As the expenses for the project increase these will be shown separately in future accounts.
## **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 26 June 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Nicola Wells Group Lead Volunteer
Phillip Coates Colin Davison Group Chairman Group Treasurer
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## **1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group**
## **Receipts and Payments Summary for the Year Ended 31st March 2025**
|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 (£)**
32,950
(32,823)
127
52,854
**52,981**|**Previous Year (£)**
30,631
(32,865)|
|---|---|---|
|||(2,234)
55,088
**£52,854**|
|**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 (£)**
29,800
1,759
(4,349)
27,210
23,054
4,349
(1,632)
25,771
**52,981**|**Previous Year (£)**
34,121
(2,234)
(2,087)|
|---|---|---|
|||29,800|
|||20,967
2,087
0|
|||23,054|
|||**£52,854**|
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## **1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Receipts for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2025**
|**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 (£)**
18,660
(10,739)
**7,921**
2,880
3,120
**6,000**
477
8,991
7,679
1,082
800
**£32,950**|**Previous Year (£)**
17,797
(8,894)|
|---|---|---|
|||**8,903**|
|||2,201
3,957|
|||**6,158**|
|||312
7,693
5,600
1,245
720|
||||
||**£32,950**|**£30,631**|
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## **1st Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Payments for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2025**
|**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**
**Credit & Debit Card Transaction Costs**
**Web-Site**
**Building Project Costs**
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**|**Current Year (£)**
175
5,766
3,162
1,166
1,837
**12,106**
7,444
2,658
**10,102**
0
3,190
44
0
3,526
1,413
481
329
1,632
**£32,823**|**Previous 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
0
0|
||**£32,823**|**£32,865**|
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## **1[st] Sandridge Scout and Guide Group Statement of Assets & Liabilities at 31[st] March 2025**
|**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 2025
**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 (£)**
8,599
43,918
464
52,981
238|**Previous Year (£)**
9,883
42,441
530|
|---|---|---|
|||52,854
56|
||**£53,219**|**£52,910**|
||||
||960,000
0
16,000
**976,000**
**0**
**0**
**0**|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 2025 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: Sandra Sayce Qualification: St Albans North District Commissioner – Girlguiding Address 13 Hill Rise, Ruislip, Middlesex. HA4 7JN Date: 24 June 2025
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