Stevenage District Scout Council Charity No: 302590
Report and Accounts Year Ending March 31[st] 2026
Trustees Ex Officio
District Lead Volunteer Mrs Kerry Hall Trustees District Chair Mrs Margaret Notley District Treasurer Mrs Tina Brown Other Trustees
Dr Steve Skittrall Mrs Marie Oakshott Mrs Ruth Jermy Mr Michael Edwards Mr Roy Nicholson Mr Jordan Dutt Mrs Maureen Nicholson Mr Andy Smith Mrs Pauline Shackell
Bankers
Barclays Bank PLC, Stevenage.
Custodian Trustees : The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford. Other Advisors : Mr Phil Bibby, Independent Examiner.
District Registration Number with Scout Association: 12216
Charity Registration Number: 302590
District Treasurer Name and Address: Mrs Tina Brown 38 The Dell, Stevenage, SG1 1PH
Stevenage District Scout Council Annual Report.
Year Ended March 31, 2026.
Trustees Report
Aims and Organisation
The aim of Scouting, and of the Stevenage District, is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual and spiritual potentials as individuals and as members of their local, national and international communities. This is achieved by an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training based on the Scout Promise and is guided by adult leadership.
Leadership is provided by uniformed members of the Scout Association, along with support from adult volunteers and Young Leaders. The District is sub-divided into nine Scout Groups
In the Scout Groups the youth members meet in age-related sections:
Squirrel Scout Drey for 4-6 year olds
Beaver Scout Colony for 6-8 year olds
Cub Scout Pack for 8-10.5 year olds
Scout Troop for 10.5-14 year olds
And as a District provision:
Explorer Scout Unit for 14-18 year olds.
From the age of 18-25 members have the opportunity to join the District Scout Network and/or become an Adult Leader.
Stevenage District is currently comprised of 9 groups that meet across Stevenage, Datchworth and Knebworth and there is additionally one District Explorer Scout unit.
A trustee board, comprising of non-uniformed members and principal leaders, appointed in accordance with the policy, organisation and rules (POR) of the Scout Association, undertakes the management of the District. The committee members are designated as the Charity Trustees.
All adult volunteers give their time and leadership without renumeration, with the exception of out-ofpocket expenses that are incurred for Scouting. In such cases these expenses are reimbursed through the accounts.
The District is autonomous although subject to the PORs and it holds its own equipment and is self-financing. The District has land and buildings to support its groups at The Poplars centre off Gresley Way, Nokeside off Broadwater Crescent and The Canyon Activity Centre off Valley Way. These are held by leasehold tenure with peppercorn rent.
Our progressive training programmes provide education and personal development for youth members in accordance with the youth programme specified by the Scout Association. The Groups each run weekly meetings plus special activities during weekend and holiday periods, all containing the elements of fun and character-building training, whilst providing a challenge to the young people.
2 | P a g e
Stevenage District Scout Council Annual Report.
Year Ended March 31, 2026.
District Treasurer’s Report
Having taken over the role of Treasurer from Paula last year, I very quickly became aware of the responsibility involved and the steep learning curve that came with it.
One of my main priorities this year was completing the transfer of all bank accounts, which proved to be a significant challenge. The process took almost the entire year and included arranging for a second authorised user to log in and counter-authorise BACS payments. I am grateful to Paula for her support throughout the year, and I am pleased to report that, with Jordan taking on the role of second authoriser, we are now able to pay invoices efficiently by BACS wherever possible.
Census payments rose to £64.50 per member this year, and the District took the decision not to pass on any additional cost. We reinstated support for units using the shop by offsetting 8% of their uniform sales spend against their census payments. We also supported the new single-faith group with its census payments to enable registration. Overall, the District provided net census support of £340.63. My thanks go to Pauline and the shop team, whose uniform sales continue to help fund this support each year.
The chart below shows the six-year trend in income and expenditure.
----- Start of picture text -----
Income vs expenditure over last 6 years
£120.00
£100.00
£80.00
£60.00
£40.00
£20.00
£0.00
31.3.21 31.3.22 31.3.23 31.3.24 31.3.25 31.3.26
Financial period end date.
Total gross income total expenditure income from gov. grants
£K
----- End of picture text -----
31.3.21 31.3.22 31.3.23 31.3.24 31.3.25 31.3.26 Total gross income £72.57K £58.98K £77.80K £65.55K £71.47K £72.7K Total expenditure £36.49K £51.70K £70.66K £96.10K £75.02K £72.5K Income from gov. grants £50.48K £16.00K - - - -
3 | P a g e
Stevenage District Scout Council Annual Report.
Year Ended March 31, 2026.
The chart shows that, in recent years, expenditure has exceeded income, although the two were broadly in balance this year. This position is largely due to continued investment in our buildings and grounds. During the year, we spent £20.4K on consultation, maintenance, equipment upgrades for the Canyon, and instructor training, together with the remaining £6K for the Poplars toilet project. We have also added a second entry gate to the Canyon for safety and removed the chimney at Nokeside which had become loose and dangerous.
Our largest areas of expenditure continue to be the cleaning and maintenance of our properties (£34K) and rising utility costs (£10K). However, these same properties remain our main source of income, generating approximately £49.3K through rent and activity hire.
We also reviewed our storage arrangements and have ended the rental agreement with Stevenage Borough Council for the District garage going forward.
Overall, income and expenditure were comparable with the 2025 figures, although IT costs increased following the launch of new social media platforms and an improved website.
The decrease in total net assets of approximately £21K this year is due to depreciation of non-monetary assets, while total cash funds have remained steady at around £134K.
Future plans include purchasing a new minibus, and we have already begun exploring grant funding to support this.
The annual accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
| Receipts and Payments Account Summary | This Year | Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total receipts for Year | £ 72,687.53 | £ 71,469.48 |
| Total payments for Year | £ 72,522.18 | £76,864.43 |
| Net Receipts (payments) for Year | £ 165.35 | (£ 5,394.95) |
| Cash, Bank and similar funds brought forward | £ 134,350.45 | £139,745.40 |
| Cash, Bank and similar funds carried forward | £ 134,515.80 | £ 134,350.45 |
At the end of the 2025–26 financial year, income reserves stood at £134,515.80.
4 | P a g e
Stevenage District Scout Council Annual Report.
Year Ended March 31, 2026.
The District’s reserves policy is to hold sufficient funds to support Groups and sections across Stevenage District and to maintain the District Headquarters, other buildings and The Canyon Outdoor Activity Centre. The District is a trust established under rules common to all Districts, and Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.
The enclosed account and accompanying statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the trustees on 9[th] June 2026 and signed on their behalf by Mrs Margaret Notley, chair of the board of trustees.
District Chair, Stevenage District Scout Council
5 | P a g e
Stevenage District Scout Council Annual Report.
Year Ended March 31, 2026.
Stevenage District Scout Council (Charity no. 302590) Receipts and payments account
----- Start of picture text -----
Year start date Year end date
For the year
01.04.2025 To 31.03.2026
from
Receipts and payments
2025/26 2024/25
Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds
£ £
Receipts
Donations, legacies and similar income
Donations £ 376.06 £ 3,700.00
County lottery £ - £ 13.78
Gift Aid £ - £ -
District Explorer Group
District Explorer Group membership fees £ 3,960.00 £ 3,337.00
District Explorer Group activities £ 4,279.00 £ 1,302.00
District shop £ 4,784.82 £ 5,381.11
International funds (Jamboree, int. camps etc) £ - £ 175.00
Sub total £ 13,399.88 £ 13,908.89
Poplars Scout Hut
HQ hire £ 17,479.50 £ 18,688.50
Other income £ 1,634.65 £ -
Detail 3 £ - £ -
Sub total £ 19,114.15 £ 18,688.50
Canyon Activity centre income
Hire of building £ 13,114.10 £ 9,123.00
Adventurous Activity hire £ 1,946.40 £ 1,977.25
Archery hire £ 497.00 £ 2,236.02
£ 15,557.50 £ 13,336.27
Nokeside Scout Hut
HQ hire £ 18,700.00 £ 18,000.00
Sub total £ 18,700.00 £ 18,000.00
Investment income
Loan repayment £ - £ 500.00
Bank interest (Yorkshire + Barclays deposit account) £ 1,024.84 £ 1,221.04
Fundraising £ - £ -
St George's day £ - £ 25.30
Christingle £ 470.12 £ 442.00
Other
Scout activities £ 3,289.05 £ 2,525.00
Minibus hire £ 1,110.00 £ 985.00
miscellaneous income £ 21.99 £ 637.48
Sub total £ 5,916.00 £ 6,335.82
Total Gross Income £ 72,687.53 £ 70,269.48
Asset and investment sales, etc. £ - £ 1,200.00
Total receipts £ 72,687.53 £ 71,469.48
----- End of picture text -----
6 | P a g e
Stevenage District Scout Council Annual Report.
Year Ended March 31, 2026.
Stevenage District Scout Council (Charity no. 302590) Receipts and payments account
| Year start date | Year start date | Year end date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the year from |
01.04.2025 | To | 31.03.2026 | |
| Receipts and payments | ||||
| Payments | 2025/26 Unrestricted funds £ |
2024/25 Unrestricted funds £ |
||
| Charitable Payments | ||||
| District events (St Georges Day, Christingle etc) | £ 429.13 | £ 41.25 | ||
| Scout district events(ATC,JOTA,Cooking,scoutabout,night hike) | £ 2,924.78 | £ 2,516.70 | ||
| Consultation and training | £ 1,330.00 | £ 641.84 | ||
| District shop | £ 5,488.00 | £ 4,464.42 | ||
| District Explorers | ||||
| District Explorer Group (membership fees) | £ 2,281.20 | £ 2,222.50 | ||
| District Explorer Group (activities) | £ 3,189.64 | £ 2,197.91 | ||
| Payment for international fund | £- | £ 175.00 | ||
| Total | £ 15,642.75 | £ 12,259.62 | ||
| Water, Electricity and Gas | ||||
| Canyon | £ 4,533.75 | £ 3,473.15 | ||
| Poplars | £ 5,476.80 | £ 5,770.19 | ||
| Total | £ 10,010.55 | £ 9,243.34 | ||
| Buildings, Insurance and maintenance | ||||
| IT and telephone | £ 1,430.81 | £ 703.68 | ||
| Buildings Insurance | £ 1,165.06 | £- | ||
| Fire insurance and alarm testing | £ 2,367.74 | £ 1,674.28 | ||
| Mandatory site inspections | £ 1,920.00 | £ 1,826.00 | ||
| Cleaning, repairs and maintenance | £ 34,194.19 | £ 39,908.03 | ||
| Garage rent and maintenance | £ 967.20 | £ 1,330.44 | ||
| Total | £ 42,045.00 | £ 45,442.43 | ||
| Admin expenses inc. AGM, risk assessments licences etc) | £ 999.80 | £ 1,191.84 | ||
| Risk assessments | £- | £ 1,217.23 | ||
| Contribution to camp and Jamboree costs | £ 1,500.00 | £- | ||
| Minibus and associated costs | £ 1,927.05 | £ 2,916.04 | ||
| Other costs : container and transport | £- | £ 1,450.00 | ||
| Other costs : misc. incl Census | £ 340.63 | £ 572.93 | ||
| Bank charges | £ 56.40 | £ 287.50 | ||
| Total | £ 4,823.88 | £ 7,635.54 | ||
| Fundraising expenses | ||||
| Donation to church of England children's society-Christingle | £- | £ 442.00 | ||
| Census money due | £- | £ 1,841.50 | ||
| Other fundraising costs | £- | £- | ||
| Sub total | £- | £ 2,283.50 | ||
| Total Gross Expenditure Asset and investment purchases, etc. Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||
| £ 72,522.18 | £ 76,864.43 | |||
| - £ |
- £ |
|||
| £ 72,522.18 | £ 76,864.43 | |||
| £ 165.35 | -£ 5,394.95 | |||
| £ 134,350.45 | £ 139,745.40 | |||
| £ 134,515.80 | £ 134,350.45 |
7 | P a g e
Stevenage District Scout Council Annual Report.
Year Ended March 31, 2026.
Stevenage District Scout Council (Charity no. 302590) Receipts and payments account
Year start date Year end date For the year 01.04.2025 To 31.03.2026 from
----- Start of picture text -----
Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year
31st Mar 2026 31st Mar 2025
Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds
£ £
Cash funds
Yorkshire Bank current account £ - £ 12,364.56
Barclays Bank current account £ 10,066.40 £ 21,229.88
Barclays Bank deposit account £ 104,530.42 £ 83,512.55
Barclays Bank camp account £ 3,862.65 £ 3,856.02
Barclays District Explorers account £ 16,042.58 £ 13,274.42
Cash/Floats £ 13.75 £ 113.02
Total cash funds £ 134,515.80 £ 134,350.45
Other monetary assets
Tax claim £ - £ -
Debts due from the County/Area/District/Group £ - £ 4,206.00
Insurance claim £ - £ -
Sub total £ - £ 4,206.00
Non monetary assets for charity's own use
Shop and Badge stock £ 8,809.32 £ 9,632.70
Other stock £ - £ -
Land and buildings £ 35,750.00 £ 36,860.00
Minibus and trailer £ 1,000.00 £ 1,500.00
Poplars equipment, furniture etc * £ 24,000.00 £ 30,000.00
Canyon equipment, furniture etc * £ 48,000.00 £ 60,000.00
Sub total £ 117,559.32 £ 137,992.70
Liabilities
Accounts not yet paid £ 435.80 £ -
Expenses incurred but not invoiced £ - £ -
Subscriptions not yet paid £ - £ 1,841.50
Memorial fund for Tracy Turner - from donations £ 326.06
Christingle donation to C of E children's society £ 364.22 £ -
Sub total £ 1,126.08 £ 1,841.50
Total net assets £ 253,201.20 £ 278,390.65
----- End of picture text -----**
The above receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees on 9th June 2026 and signed on their behalf by
----- Start of picture text -----
Signature Print Name
Mrs Margaret Notley Chair
Mrs Tina Brown Treasurer
----- End of picture text -----
-
Allowing for an industry standard rate of depreciation of general equipment of 20% PA
-
** Rate used: 3.0% reducing balance — 3% (mirrors HMRC SBA rate for structures)
8 | P a g e
Stevenage District Scout Council Annual Report. Year Ended March 31, 2026. Inde ndent examiner's re rt to the trustees of Stevena Scout Council e District I report to the trustees on my examination of the acLounls of the Slevenage District ScDut Council for the year ended 31SI March 2026. Responsibilitles and basls of report As the charty trustees of the Slevenage District Scout Council you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the chan15 Act 2011 I'lhe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Slevenage District Scout Council ac(x)unls 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)(bl of the Act. Independent examlner's statement I have completed my examination. I confinn thal no material matters have come to my attenlion in connection with the examination giving me cause lo believe Ihal in any material respect= accounting records were not kept in respect of the Slevenage District Scout Council as required by section 130 of the Act,. or 2. the a(ountS do not a[rd those rÈix)rds. HowÈvÈr, although I have subs18ntivÈly ÈxaminÈd the RÈcÈipts and PaymÈnls account, sevèral invoices were not found, and il was not possible to see where and how some were accounted for. Aso, I have seen no Èvidence lo suprK)rt the quoted valuations of land and buildings. minibus and trailer. Poplars equipment or Canyon equipment. Sbjned.. Revant professional qualfficat or membership of professional tleS {rf any) '.