2025-03-31-accounts

ROMFORD DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 REGISTERED CHARITY 303701

SkillsForLife Romford District Scout Council

ROMFORD DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL INDEX

Page 1 – 4 The Board of Trustees’ Report Page 5 Accountant’s Independent Report Page 6 Income and Expenditure Account Page 7 Balance Sheet Page 8 - 10 Notes to the accounts

SkillsForLife Romford District Scout Council

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2025

The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

Charity details

Charity Name Romford District Scout Council Registered Charity Number 303701

District Registration Number 132545 Charity’s Principal Address 6 Hazell Crescent, Romford, RM5 2 AL Bankers Barclays Bank Plc. 36/38 South Street, Romford, RM1 1RH Lloyds Bank Plc. 1 Market Place, Romford, RM1 3AA Independent Examiner Paul Naude

Board of Trustees

District Chair Julien Rawle District Treasurer Colin Shepherd District Lead Volunteer Dean Jeffreys Trustees Reece Wiltshire Penelope Williams Adam Vale Geoff Hutton Elizabeth Godden Jack Tape Ben Pardon (From 12 January 2025) Christopher Bennett (From 12 January 2025)

Structure, Governance and Management

The District’s governing documents are those of 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 the rules which are common to all Scouts in the United Kingdom. The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.

The District is managed by the District Trustee Board, the members of which are the Charity Trustees of the District 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 aappropriate.

The Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer together with the District Lead Volunteer and up to 9 members appointed by the Board. The County Lead Volunteer from Greater London North East has a right of attendance at meetings of the District Trustee Board. Members of the Trustee Board are required to complete Module 1 (Essential Information), safety, safeguarding, GDPR and Trustee introduction training within the first five months of joining the Board.

The Trustee Board exists to support the District Lead Volunteer in meeting the responsibilities of their appointment. It meets formally at least 4 times a year.

#SkillsForLife 1

Romford District Scout Council

Members of the Trustee Board must act collectively as Charity Trustees of the District, and in the best interests of its members to:

• Comply with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.

• Protect and maintain any property and equipment owned by/or used by the District.

• Manage the District finances.

• Organise relevant insurance for people, property and equipment.

• Provide sufficient resources for Scouting to operate. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting recruitment, other adult support and fundraising activities.

• Promote and support the development of Scouting in the local area.

• Manage and implement national Safety and Safeguarding Policies locally.

• Ensure that a positive image of Scouting exists in the local community.

• Appoint and manage the operation of any Sub-Teams, including appointing a Team Leader to lead the Sub-Teams.

• Ensure the young people are meaningfully involved in decision making at all levels within the District.

• The opening, closure and amalgamation of Groups and Units in the District as necessary.

• Appoint and manage the operation of the ‘Welcome’ programme to assist in the recruitment of new members.

Risk and Internal Control

The Trustees routinely monitor the District’s key risks and put in place measures to manage them appropriately. The Trustees have identified the following key risks faced by the charity.

The District has in place systems of financial control that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss. These include two signatories for all payments and regular reviews of the financial position and expenditure of the District at the District Trustee Board meetings.

The District has comprehensive insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered. These include insurance for non-members attending Scouting activities and events. It also includes cover for equipment and neighbouring organisations such as church, community Centres and other scout Groups to mitigate permanent loss.

The County delivers training to enable adult volunteers to deliver high quality Scouting and recognises the contributions of volunteers through schemes run by The Scout Association and external bodies.

The Scout Association adult appointment process includes carrying out DBS checks for those performing regulated activity: a national vetting process and a clear system for reporting concerns. Volunteers are required to complete mandatory safeguarding training within the timeframes set out in the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association. Training completion and renewal is monitored by the County Trustees through regular reporting. During the year there was a continued improvement of compliance.

Objectives and Activities

The charity’s objective is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials as individuals. As responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities .

SkillsForLife 2 Romford District Scout Council

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:

• 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 co-operate with others and make friends.

The Scout Method

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

• Enjoy what they are doing and have fun.

• Take part in activities indoors and outdoors.

• Learn by doing.

• Share in spiritual reflection.

• Take responsibility and make choices.

• Undertake new and challenging activities.

• Make and live by their Promise.

Charity Activities

Scouting is open to all young people between the ages of 4 and 25. irrespective of their background, ethnic origin, nationality, race, marital or sexual status, political or religious beliefs.

The Scout District incorporates the geographical areas of Romford, Collier Row, Gidea Park, Harold Hill, Havering and Squirrels Heath, which are situated in the Greater London Borough of Havering. Romford Scout District is part of the Greater London North East Scout County.

The District’s role is to offer support to Groups and Units within its area of operation. It does this through supporting the development of Scouting, the provision of training and other services, and the running of events and activities for young people.

Public Benefit Statement

The District meets the Charity Commission’s public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship of community development headings.

Financial Review

In our accounts for the year end 31 March 2024 we made a provision in the accounts for District Headquarters redevelopment by restricting £451,210. We also restricted nearly £31,000 for Crow Camp redevelopment and just over £20,000 for supporting our youth taking part in overseas trips if their parents/guardians were in financial hardship. Much of the funds for the last two years remain unspent and the remaining balances have been recorded in the accounts accordingly for the year ended 31 March 2025.

SkillsForLife 3

Romford District Scout Council

After a structural survey was undertaken on our District Headquarters a decision was made by the Trustee Board to sell

the building as it wasn’t viable to refurbish / redevelop. It was duly marketed in the summer of 2024 with a sale being completed in August 2024. While the sale was proceeding we continued our search for another suitable building, without success.

Following the sale we placed much of our funds in 1 year investments while we continued to consider our long term options. This was to mitigate the effects of inflation. The Trustee Board have been using local scout halls for their meetings.

We plan to increase expenditure at our Crow Camp site in 2025 over and above the restricted figure of £33,500.

During the year we scrapped our old minibus which was not ULEZ compliant and was repeatedly breaking down. We purchased a new minibus which cost over £53,000. We also subsidised the membership fee paid by the Groups.

Charity Achievements

The 2024/2025 Scouting year has been another year of stability and achievement for Romford District. Since 2024 we have increased our membership by 2% and now exceeds our pre Covid numbers. Our Explorer Units now have 130 young people aged 14 to 18, the highest number since the units were opened in 2002. We also saw 58 Explorers achieving their Bronze. Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards We recognised 24 Volunteers in the year for awards from The Chief Scouts Commendation to the Silver Wolf, our highest scouting award.

We finalised the sale of our district headquarters and the funds, under advice from a financial adviser, have now been invested to secure the future scouting in the Romford District.

The upgrading of Crow Camp continues. The carpark will be upgraded in the coming year and new toilets will be installed. This will offer Groups and Units a better experience in our outdoor environment. We have purchased a new minibus for all to use. This will enable our Groups and Units to visit sites further afield.

Declaration

The Trustee Board declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustee Board.

Julien Rawle Colin Shepherd District Chair District Treasurer Date Date

SkillsForLife 4

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Romford District Scout Council

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the ROMFORD DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Romford District Scout Council 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 Trust’s 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.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with the records; or

2. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part an independent examination.

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.

Signed

Name: Paul Naude

Address: Clover Tye Little Browns Lane Edenbridge TB8 6LJ

Date:

5