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2022-12-31-accounts

Have Adventures. Develop Skills. Grow our Group.

1[st] Stanstead Abbotts & St Margaret’s Scout Group Annual Report 2023

Awards and Achievements from the Year

Chief Scout’s Award

The Chief Scout’s Award can be awarded to Squirrels (Acorn), Beavers (Bronze), Cubs (Silver) and Scouts (Gold). They are each gained by completing a set of challenges and activities. The awards are the culmination of a huge amount of work on proven tasks by the participant over a period of time.

The Chief Scout’s Awards celebrate the highest level of award that a Squirrel, Beaver, Cub or Scout can achieve in their section, and are rightly recognised and celebrated as a major achievement. The awards are often presented at special events when friends and family are invited.

The awards require the Squirrel, Beaver, Cub or Scout to complete a variety of tasks that include: new skills, working on projects, trying out new activities and showing their colony, pack or troop and their Leaders what they have managed to achieve / make / learn to meet the requirements of the award.

Since our last AGM, the following have been presented with their Chief Scout’s Award.

Chief Scout’s Bronze Award

The Chief Scout’s Bronze Award is gained by completing the following:

Chief Scout’s Acorn Award

and completing any four activity badges or staged activity badges.

The Chief Scout’s Bronze Award is gained by completing the following:

and completing any two activity badges or staged activity badges.

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Chief Scout’s Silver Award

The Chief Scout’s Silver Award is gained by completing the following:

and completing any six activity badges or staged activity badges.

Chief Scout’s Gold Awards

The Chief Scout’s Gold Award is gained by completing the following:

and completing any six activity badges or staged activity badges.

Our congratulations to all those who have achieved these awards and who can be easily recognised with their Chief Scout’s Award Badge sewn on the front, right-hand side of their uniform.

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The adventure continues…

At around their fourteenth birthday our young people must leave the Scout Troop. At that time they have the option to move up to Explorer Scouts, which is run by Ware & District Scouts, for young people aged 14 to 18 years.

Explorer Scouts provides the ideal opportunity to both develop and broaden skills, as well as taking on even more challenging “adventures” such as international expeditions.

Young Leader training

Some Young Leaders volunteer with us for a full four years, while some volunteer with us for a shorter term as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme,

Although the number of Young Leaders helping at the Group declined markedly during lockdown, we’re pleased to say that new young people are now joining, so numbers are rising again. They provide invaluable support to the adult volunteer team and we’re very grateful for their continued help.

When our Scouts reach the age of 14 and move on to Explorer Scouts many of them additionally choose to volunteer as Young Leaders and join the Scout Association's Young Leader training programme.

Our Young Leaders are given the opportunity to undergo training specific for their role and often progress to becoming Adult Leaders when reaching 18 years of age.

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Group Chair’s Report

This is the 2023 AGM report on activities during the calendar year 2022, made on behalf of the whole Trustee team, to whom I send my thanks for their support and contributions throughout the past year.

2022 was a significant year for the Group as our Squirrel section started up. Because we have the only Squirrels section in the District and surrounding area we have a lengthy waiting list. The only constraint on being able to offer more places is the number of adult helpers.

It is important to point out that Scouting is only possible because our excellent leaders contribute their time for free and I am sure all members are extremely grateful for this.

Volunteers are always needed to support and join the leadership team so do please consider if you can help in some way and contact Will Drury if you think you can. You will get something out of it yourself!

Gavin Miles Group Chair

The rest of the Group reintroduced all the activities that took place before the pandemic close-down with the result that numbers returned to the same sort of level as we had before lockdown. We had 124 young people at Census date on 31 January 2023 and were back over 150 by April.

We have been able to continue to improve the HQ building by installing sound attenuation measures to provide a more comfortable environment for all users and the whole building was painted and decorated during the year.

This was possible by use of remaining lockdown grants and the generosity of French and Jupps Ltd and their managing director Paul King. We have worked hard with Universal Signs, based in the village, on our new signage we can use at camps and public events. In addition, we received a generous donation from the Ursell family so we have been able to continue to invest in the Group to keep it fit for the activities provided.

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Group Treasurer’s Report

The Group recorded an overall loss for 2022, but we do not feel that this is a matter of concern as it is a result of planned additional expenditure to encourage our members to come back to Scouting after a difficult few years. During the lockdown, the Group received several Covid grants from East Herts District Council, which have been recorded in the previous years’ accounts. These funds were intended to help us get back to Scouting and to improve our facilities after the lockdown periods, and we have been glad to use them for these purposes.

Total income for 2022 was £30,599 (£30,199 in 2021) and expenditure was £39,245 (£14,731 in 2022), and I will comment below on some of the major changes that go towards making up these figures:

Subscription income increased by almost £2,000 from 2021’s figure. Membership numbers increased steadily throughout the year, and the monthly subscription payment returned to its full amount from the reduced figure paid during part of 2021. District subscriptions were a similar amount for both years.

We have not had any income from hiring the HQ since the pandemic as the increase in Scouting activities means the building is not available as often. The running costs of the HQ have increased from £2,471 in 2021 to £3,701 in 2022, in part because of the increase in utility charges. Repair costs increased in 2022 as the HQ was fully redecorated and acoustic panels were installed to reduce the noise levels.

We were able to fund all expenditure on equipment and maintenance from our annual income, so we did not need to draw on the HQ maintenance and equipment reserve fund.

At the end of the year, the Group’s cash assets were £41,580 (reduced from £48,226 in 2021). The Group continues to hold monthly executive committee meetings, complies with the requirements of the Charities Commission and the policies and rules of the Scout Association.

Anne Sauntson Group Treasurer

With the increase in subscriptions, the Gift Aid receipt also returned to its usual level, and we are grateful to the parents who have responded to our emails to sign up for this, and would encourage any parent who has not already done so to respond as soon as possible ready for this year’s claim. It represents almost 10% of our income and costs nothing.

We were grateful to receive a donation from Amazon’s charitable foundation this year and would also thank French and Jupps for their continuing support.

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Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet

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Statement of Financial
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Independent Examiner's Report

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St Margaret’s Scout Council

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St Margaret’s Scout Group for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St Margaret’s Scout Group 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 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St Margaret’s Scout Group 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.

attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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.

Geoffrey Addy ACMA

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my

5 June 2023

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Trustees’ Annual Report

A. Reference & administration details

The 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St. Margaret’s Scout Group, Scout Association registration number 11590, is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales, registration number 302583.

This document is the Trustee’s Annual Report for the period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022.

The charity’s principal address is the Scout Headquarters, Marsh Lane, Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire SG12 8QT.

Charity trustees for 1 January – 31 December 2022

Office

Trustee Name

Ex-officio Trustees Gavin Miles Chair Nicola Gardener[1] Secretary Anne Sauntson Treasurer Paul Stretch[2] Group Scout Leader Neil Johnson[3] Assistant GSL Mike Williamson Scout Leader Debbie Gilbert[4] Scout Leader Elaine Alles Cub Scout Leader Andy Foster Cub Scout Leader Lucy Isham Beaver Scout Leader Will Drury[5] Beaver Scout Leader Danielle Cottiss[6] Beaver Scout Leader

Elected Trustees

Catherine Moorcroft Mara Hougham Kim Taylor[7] Sinead Slater

Nominated Trustees

Mark Watt Clare Johnson[8]

Notes:

The following members are pending AGM approval:

B. Structure, governance & management

Governing document

The Group's governing documents are those of the Scout Association and the constitution of the Group. 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.

How the charity is constituted

The Group is a trust established under its rules that are common to all Scouts.

Trustee selection methods

The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.

Additional governance information

The Group is managed by the Group Trustees Board, the members of which are the Charity Trustees of the Scout Group 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.

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Trustees’ Annual Report

The Committee consists of three

independent representatives, Chair, Treasurer and Secretary together with the Group Scout Leader, section leaders and parents’ representation and meets approximately ten times a year.

Members of the Trustee Board complete trustee introduction training within the first five months of joining the committee.

This Group Trustee Board exists to support the Group Scout Leader in meeting the responsibilities of the appointments and is responsible for:

Risk and internal control

The Group Trustee Board has identified the major risks to which they believe the Group is exposed, these have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate for them. The main areas of concern that have been identified are:

Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members. Risk assessments are undertaken before all activities. The Group through the annual membership fees contributes to the Scout Association’s national personal accident and medical insurance policy and its third-party liability insurance policy.

Reduced income from fundraising. The Group is primarily reliant upon income from subscriptions and fundraising. The Group does hold a reserve to ensure the continuity of activities should there be a reduction in income. The Trustee Board could raise the value of subscriptions to increase the income to the Group on an ongoing basis, either temporarily or permanently.

Reduction or loss of leaders. The Group is totally reliant upon volunteers to run and administer the activities of the Group. If there was a reduction in the number of leaders to an unacceptable level in a particular section or the Group as a whole then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst-case scenario, the complete closure of the Group.

Reduction or loss of members. The Group provides activities for all young people aged 4 to 14. If there was a reduction in membership in a particular section or the Group as whole then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst-case scenario, the complete closure of the Group.

Damage to the building, property and equipment. The Group would request the use of buildings, property and equipment from neighbouring organisations such as the church, community centre and other Scout Groups. The Group has sufficient buildings and contents insurance in place to mitigate for permanent loss.

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Trustees’ Annual Report

C. Objectives & Activities

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:

The Scout Method

Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting and:

income and fundraising activities fall short. The Group Trustee Board considers that the Group should hold a sum equivalent to 12 months running costs, circa £10,000.

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.

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Gavin Miles Group Chair

Will Drury Group Scout Leader

6 June 2023

D. Achievements & Performance

The main activities and achievements of the Group are described elsewhere in the report.

E. Financial Review

Reserves Policy

The Group's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the Group should

#SkillsForLife

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:

The Scout Method

Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults,

The Scout Promise

On my honour, I promise that I will do my best, To do my duty to God and to The King,

To help other people and to keep the Scout Law.

The Cub Scout Promise

I promise that I will do my best,

To do my duty to God and to The King,

To help other people and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

The Beaver Scout Promise

I promise to do my best, To be kind and helpful and to love God.

The Squirrel Scout Promise

I promise to do my best, To be kind and helpful and to love God.

Contact Us

Scout Headquarters Marsh Lane Stanstead Abbotts SG12 8QT 01920 320100 StansteadAbbottsScouts.org.uk

Copyright © 2023 1st Stanstead Abbotts & St. Margaret’s Scout Group Registered Charity No. 302583