## Gravesham District Scout Council **Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2021**
Registered Charity No. 303399
## **Trustees who have served at any point in the year**
Henson Appleby District Commissioner Paul Rushbrook Chair Pat Duncumb Secretary Susan Livett Treasurer Dave Moesli District Explorer Scout Commissioner Helen Smith District Scout Network Commissioner Hannah Booth District Youth Commissioner Fraser Patrick Alan Skelton Marion Weston Terry Duncumb Darren Stanford Rob Viner Richard Ruddick Janet Jones Sandra Ferguson Myles Sullivan (from 17[th] November 2020) Karen Treadwell (until 17[th] November 2020) Becky Knowles (until 17[th] November 2020)
Custodian Trustee: The Scout Association Trust Corporation Contact address: Mr F Patrick, 3 Michele Cottages, Chalk Road, Higham, ME3 7JZ
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## _Description of the charity’s trusts_
Gravesham District Scouts (the District)'s governing documents are those of the The Scout Association. 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. The District is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts. The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association and the constitution of the District.
## _Risk and internal controls_
The District has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss, these include dual approval for payments, regular reports to the trustees including emerging issues and comprehensive insurance policies to ensure that relevant insurable risks are covered.
Trustees need to be alerted to possible conflicts of interest which may arise. Trustees are required to identify and declare any conflict of interest; trustees are removed from any decision making process where a conflict of interest is declared or identified; details of discussions and decisions made when a conflict has been identified are recorded and care is given to managing the conflict of interest once a decision has been made.
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## **Objectives, activities and achievements**
## _Objectives_
The objectives of the District are as a unit of The Scout Association. Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. As Scouts we are guided by these values:
- Integrity - We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal.
- Respect - We have self-respect and respect for others.
- Care - We support others and take care of the world in which we live.
- Belief - We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes.
- Co-operation - We make a positive difference; we cooperate with others and make friends.
## _Activities and achievements_
The District operates four Explorer Scout units for 14-18 year olds and a Network Scout unit for young people aged 18-25 and supports 13 groups across Gravesham which provide Scouting to 6-14 year old girls and boys.
COVID-19 led to the suspension of face to face Scouting on 17[th] March 2021, although there were various face to face activities allowed at different points during the year under various restrictions. All face to face activities required a COVID restart risk assessment to be prepared, reviewed and approved by District; over forty risk assessments were approved, most in less than a week from submission. Two thirds of sections were able to continue some Scouting on line. None of the usual District activities took place and this has continued through the Summer of 2021, although more normal face to face meetings are now resuming.
The District operates a campsite (Hopehill in Meopham) which has been closed for camping throughout the year; it has been used as an outside meeting space when allowed. Maintenance has continued by a reduced but dedicated number of volunteers, following appropriate guidance, and the site is now in a good condition to re-open.
The annual census at 31[st] January showed a fall in membership of 23% across the District. Eight sections however grew in numbers, and none closed
Scouting in the District is entirely dependent on the volunteer Scouters and other adults who give their time and energy to plan and run activities and provide support for the benefit of the young people, many of whom continued to do this throughout lockdown.
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## _Public benefit_
The District meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings. The trustees have regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission when exercising any powers to which the guidance may be relevant.
## **Financial review**
## _Performance in the year_
Membership subscriptions collected fell on last year due to lower numbers; Kent Scouts and District reduced the per head subscription to offset a significant increase from Scout HQ. The District subsidised those groups which had not received government funding for COVID by halving their subscriptions.
District activities were largely refunds following the cancellation of Eurojam which were paid back to the participants.
Hopehill had virtually no income, and whist costs were controlled they could not be eliminated; cleaning costs increased to keep the site COVID secure and in good order. The District received COVID grant funding for it’s sites which have offset the loss of income.
The Clifford Allen Memorial Trust (which is included in the accounts) showed a increase in carrying value of investments of 23% in line with market movements.
## _Reserves and investments_
The District continues to maintain sufficient reserves to provide for the ongoing operation of its activities, including future capital requirements for its properties in the long term. Cash is held in various current and deposit accounts, or in The Scout Association Charity Deposit Account. Investments are managed under a low to moderate investment risk and balanced income & capital growth investment objective and made in accordance with the recommendations of our advisors, Brewin Dolphin.
The trustees declare that they approved this report on 13[th] September 2021. Signed on their behalf by:
Henson Appleby
Fraser Patrick
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## **Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31 March 2021**
|**Receipts**
Membership subscriptions
Less paid over
Adult training
Donations and grants
Interest
Investment income
District activities
Explorer activities
Property receipts
Site shop
**Sub total**
Sale of investment assets
**Total receipts**
**Total payments**
**Net receipts / (payments)**|This year
£
23,918
(24,381)
**(463)**
-
60,499
526
12,706
**13,232**
5,214
1,172
**6,386**
68
-
**68**
**79,721**
152,172
**231,893**
**(201,091)**
**30,802**|**Payments**
Last year
£
36,863
(29,646)
**7,217**
Administration
150
Adult training
799
Purchase of equipment
447
15,260
Investment management costs
**15,707**
33,273
District activities
9,177
Explorer activities
**42,450**
39,504
Property running costs
1,530
Site shop
**41,034**
Property improvements
**107,357**
**Sub total**
114,477
Purchase of investment assets
**221,834**
**Total payments**
**(242,299)**
**(20,465)**|This year
Last year
£
£
672
1,334
-
24
-
1,308
4,625
4,541
5,892
34,219
68
11,312
**5,960**
**45,531**
27,365
38,318
-
2,314
6,035
37,994
**33,400**
**78,626**
**44,657**
**131,364**
156,434
110,935
**201,091**
**242,299**|
|---|---|---|---|
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## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities As at 31 March 2021**
|**Monetary assets**
Cash held
Bank current accounts
Bank deposit accounts
Brewin Dolphin cash held
Scout Association Charity Deposit Account
**Investments**
Quoted securities at market value
**Non monetary assets held for charity use**
Stock for resale at cost
Land at cost
Buildings and equipment at insurance value|This year
£
1,011
55,329
10,112
24,421
68,000
**158,873**
**505,341**
2,613
75,000
1,269,461
**1,347,074**|Last year
£
1,228
28,189
10,052
20,603
68,000|
|---|---|---|
|||**128,071**|
|||**408,994**|
|||2,614
75,000
1,183,735|
|||**1,261,349**|
Signed on behalf of all the trustees on 13th September 2021 :
Susan Livett
Fraser Patrick
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## **Notes to the accounts**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Basis of preparation**
These accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
They include all the activities of Gravesham District, including Hopehill Scout Campsite, four Explorer Scout units, a Network Scout and Active Support unit and the Clifford Allen Memorial Trust. The thirteen Scout Groups in the District are separate charities and are not included.
|**Clifford Allen Memorial Trust**
Market value at 1 April
Grants to District
Investment management fees
Net investment returns
Market value at 31 March|This year
£
429,597
-
(4,625)
104,791
529,763|Last year
£
486,276
-
(4,541)
(52,138)|
|---|---|---|
|||429,597|
## **Property**
The District owns the land and buildings at Hopehill Campsite and the land at Istead Rise Scout Hut. It leases Chalk Scout Hut.
|**Hopehill campsite**
Camp fees
Building hire
Site activities
.
Tuck shop
Other
_Ongoing expenditure_
Utilities
Insurance
Running costs
Activity maintenance
Tuck shop
Cleaning
Maintenance
_Projects_
Property improvements
Purchase of Gator
**Donations and Grants**
COVID 19 restart / support grants
Legacies
Harvel Harriers
Other
_Income_|This year
£
(100)
-
48
-
-
(52)
(10,499)
(8,025)
(170)
-
-
(3,370)
(4,332)
(26,396)
(6,035)
-
(32,483)
This year
£
60,479
-
-
20
60,499|Last year
£
23,160
9,776
4,413
1,662
101|
|---|---|---|
|||39,112
(18,515)
(7,785)
(331)
(1,235)
(2,214)
(1,748)
(12,675)|
|||(44,503)
(19,567)
(12,215)|
|||(37,173)|
|||Last year
£
-
2,000
750
14|
|||2,764|
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