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2025-03-31-accounts

4[th] Lewisham (1[st] Hither Green) Scout Group

Charity Number: 303778, Scout Registration Number: 649

Annual Report, Governance

and Accounts

1[st] April 2024 – 31[st] March 2025

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Reference and Administration Details

Charity name: 4[th] Lewisham (1[st] Hither Green) Scout Group

Charity Registration Number: 303778

Scout Registration Number: 649

Charity’s principal address: Ted Ray Scout Hall, 123-127 Springbank Road, Hither Green, London SE13 6SS

Board of Trustees

Mr GregNoonan Chairperson
Mrs Esther Nicoli Secretary
Mr Stephen Nicoli Treasurer
Miss Isabel Gainey GroupScout Leader
Mrs Janet Gainey Hall bookings / Assistant Beaver Scout Leader
Mr Jon Forsdyke DeputyGroupScout Leader / Assistant Cub Scout Leader
Mr Gavin Forsdyke Explorer Scout Leader(DiscoveryESU)
Mrs Claire Ruiz Squirrel Scout leader
Mrs Michelle Forsdyke Cub Scout Leader
Mr Alasdair Gray Scout Leader

Secretary’s Report

Building

This year we successfully installed acoustic panels in the hall, which have significantly improved noise levels during meetings and hire sessions. The Trustees would like to express their sincere thanks to Rachael Winsor, who sourced the panels and secured them as a donation to the Group, and to James Winsor, who installed them voluntarily, donating his company’s time for the benefit of the Scout Group.

We improved our yard area having a wooden fence built onto the existing palisade fencing along with wooden gates, providing more privacy whilst using it for activities, whilst also improving how the area looks.

Following a recent fire risk assessment, new fire extinguishers were installed throughout the building to ensure continued safety and compliance.

Hall Hire

We continue to maintain several regular hirers including KN Pilates, Tai Chi, and Ark of God. In September 2024, we also welcomed a new regular hirer, Tiny Tiggs Pre-School, which now

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operates from the hall during weekday hours. Their presence adds to the vibrancy of the building and helps support our regular income stream.

Squirrel Scout Drey

This past year has been filled with numerous activities and events that have engaged our young members in meaningful and enjoyable ways. The 4th Lewisham (1st Hither Green) Junior Parkrun Takeover was a highlight, enabling our young people to showcase their commitment towards fitness and community involvement. Following that, we held our much-anticipated Summer Family Festival Camp at Wilberforce Scout Campsite, which allowed families to bond and participate in various outdoor activities together. Paddleboarding at Beckenham Place Park was another memorable experience that introduced our members to this fun water sport, while the visit to Lewisham Fire Station offered valuable insights into community services. Our Bonfire and Firework Night brought everyone together for a delightful evening, rounded off by the festive Snow White pantomime at the Churchill Theatre, which undoubtedly created lasting memories.

Over the year, we held regular meetings that covered a variety of topics and activities. From exciting practical sessions like circus skills workshop, den building, making pom poms, space helmets, rockets, and slime making to educational sessions on litter picking and seed bombs, we have aimed to provide a balanced experience for all. Our meetings at the Fire Station and discussions about food topics such as the rainbow food chart promoted awareness and

engagement amongst the group. The vibrant discussions around treasure maps and house design fostered creativity while the repeated sessions of paddleboarding and Family Camp encouraged teamwork and cooperation. In January the Squirrels began working on a new badge ‘You Shape’ award. They worked together as a team to suggest and plan ideas for the sessions for throughout the year. The badge helps promote confidence, leadership and service. 4 children received this badge before they moved on to Beavers. Other members are continuing to work towards their requirements throughout this next year.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our leaders for their dedication throughout the past year, especially to Claire Ruiz, our section lead volunteer. Her unwavering commitment and effort in establishing our newest section has been instrumental, and it has certainly borne fruit by fostering a sense of achievement among our young people.

As we look forward to the coming year, we are excited about gradually increasing our number of young people and participating in more fun and engaging activities. We anticipate having another Family Camp in 2025, alongside other varied events that will keep our members active and inspired.

On a bittersweet note, we bid farewell to Sarah Hamilton, one of our Drey founders, as she steps down from her role due to other commitments. She has played a significant role in shaping our group, and her contributions will be greatly missed. We encourage anyone interested in supporting Claire and the group to consider volunteering as a leader.

Finally, I would like to thank all the children for their enthusiasm and energy that make our activities enjoyable, as well as the parents for their continued support. Your involvement is crucial in this journey, helping us create a nurturing environment where our young people can thrive. We

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always look forward to welcoming new faces to join our scouting family. Here's to another productive year!

Beaver Scout Colony

This year has seen our Beaver group engage in a wide array of activities and events that have truly showcased the spirit of Scouting. Among the noteworthy achievements, we are pleased to highlight that several Chief Scout Silver awards were earned by our members. This is a fantastic Indicator of their commitment and effort throughout the year.

The Beavers embarked on several exciting events, each offering unique experiences. The Greenwich Observatory Day Out and Sleepover provided the youngsters the opportunity to learn and explore in a remarkable setting. The Summer Family Festival Camp was another highlight, creating lasting memories, while the paddleboarding event added an adventurous twist. Community engagement was also very much a part of our year, notably through participation in the Junior Park Run and support for the Lewisham Foodbank, demonstrating the Beaver values of service and teamwork. Additionally, events like the Lewisham Fire Station visit, the Bonfire and Firework Night, and the Snow White Pantomime contributed to a truly diverse programming calendar that the children thoroughly enjoyed.

Throughout the year, our weekly meetings were filled with engaging activities that promoted creativity and learning. From sewing butterflies and making paper puppets to musical instrument making and an impressive performance, the Beavers have showcased their growing skills and talents. Craft sessions, such as cactus making and Halloween biscuit decorating, were not only fun but also fostered a sense of mastery, while sports events like the Beavers versus Cubs Sports Day added a competitive edge and encouraged teamwork and sportsmanship.

We would especially like to express our gratitude to Isabel and Janet for their ongoing dedication and hard work. Their efforts, supported by Nick and Anoushka, have been invaluable in guiding our Beavers through a busy year, ensuring each meeting and event ran smoothly and effectively.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the upcoming Family Camp in 2025 and the opportunity for horse riding, both of which promise to be enriching experiences for our members as they continue their Scouting journey.

As we conclude this report, we acknowledge all the young Beavers for their enthusiasm and spirit, which certainly made the year enjoyable for everyone involved. We would also like to thank the parents for their unwavering support along with the other volunteers who contribute their time and effort behind the scenes. Their involvement is crucial for the smooth running of our group, and we look forward to another year of adventure and growth in the scouting community.

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Cub Scout Pack

This past year has been very active for our Cubs group, with a range of wonderful events and meetings that have contributed positively to the development and enjoyment of our young members. We participated in numerous activities that included a Junior Parkrun takeover, where Cubs engaged enthusiastically with the community. Our horse riding and paddleboarding outings were memorable moments for everyone involved, and our visit to Lewisham Fire Station provided invaluable learning experiences about safety and teamwork.

One particularly exciting adventure was our outdoor challenge camp, where Cubs learned to prepare fish, culminating in an enjoyable seafood meal that showcased their new skills. Throughout the year, we held a variety of meetings that provided fun and educational experiences. Our games, skills nights, and creative sessions, such as cupcake toppers and junk modelling, helped the Cubs develop both their creativity and practical skills. We had engaging activities like sailing and sign language sessions, along with preparations for camping and fire safety training, which equipped our members with essential life skills.

We were pleased that once again this year several members of our Cub pack achieved their Chief Scout Silver Award which is our highest award once completing all seven of their Challenge awards.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our devoted leaders, Michelle, Liz, Elle, and Jon, for their ongoing hard work in planning and executing an amazing programme that captures the interests and needs of the Cubs. Additionally, our young leaders, Seth and Elyse, have been instrumental in supporting the group, and they deserve special thanks for their contributions.

Looking ahead, we have several exciting activities lined up for the coming months. We will have a joint camp with the Scouts in June, offering an excellent opportunity for collaboration and teamwork. Following this, our Family Camp in July promises to be a delightful gettogether, allowing families to participate in the various activities scheduled throughout the camp. Furthermore, there are more events in the pipeline that will continue to engage our Cubs and help them grow.

As we move forward, we would like to thank all the children for making this past year so enjoyable. Their enthusiasm and spirit bring joy to our meetings and activities. We also appreciate the parents for their ongoing support, without which we would not be able to run our group as effectively as we do. Thank you to all our volunteers who work behind the scenes, making everything possible. We look forward to another fantastic year of Cubs!

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Scout Troop

This year has been full of growth, adventure, and achievement for our Scout section. We’ve averaged 21 Scouts over the year with some new joiners as well as movement up from Cubs and on to Explorers. A consistent leadership team of three adult volunteers has supported weekly meetings, with extra help from parents and Young Leaders when needed.

Badges and Achievements

Our Scouts have worked hard towards a wide range of activity and challenge badges. Notable highlights include:

Camps and Trips

Outdoor experiences have been a big part of our year:

We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to our adult volunteer team, Al, Carlos and Karl without whom none of these activities would be possible.

Looking Ahead

We continue to build confidence, skills, and friendships through adventure. As always, we’re grateful for the support of parents and volunteers who help us offer a varied and engaging programme. Going forward, we aim to increase opportunities for weekend activities and badge progression with the help of our wider group and District support.

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Discovery Explorer Scout Unit

This past year has been an exciting and productive time for the Discovery Explorer Scout Unit, with a diverse range of activities that have contributed to our members' personal development and teamwork. Notably, our Explorers participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Gold canoe expedition in Scotland alongside the South London Scouts' Top Awards team. There were also additional expeditions, including the Gold walking expedition in the Brecon Beacons and the Southern 50 Challenge, where members had the opportunity to meet the new Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields. Such experiences not only tested their skills but fostered lasting friendships and unforgettable memories.

Throughout the year, we engaged in regular meetings covering a variety of topics and activities. These included the Docklands Scout project, DofE navigation sessions, and meetings focused on urban navigation and climbing techniques. Special evenings, such as our pancake night and baseball night in Manor House Gardens, added an enjoyable touch to our regular schedule. The hugely popular Adventure Food Cook Off and Taste Test was a highlight, showcasing our members' culinary skills in a fun and friendly competition. Other notable meetings revolved around preparation for outdoor expeditions, ensuring that participants were well-equipped and ready for the challenges ahead.

In addition to the regular meetings, our explorers took part in numerous outdoor events. From practice weekends for the Gold Award to navigation training weekends, our Explorers were busy honing their skills. Highlights of the year included an archery competition during The Lewisham Arrow camp, a variety of water activities such as paddleboarding and canoeing, and exciting outings to places like the Reach Climbing Centre. Most recently, several members participated in the Gold Award ceremony and the DofE canoe assessments, marking significant milestones in their scouting journey.

We extend our utmost gratitude to our leaders Gavin, Mel, Lucyann and Josh for their dedicated efforts throughout the year. We would also like to welcome our newest team members, Al and Jon, who have already contributed greatly to our team dynamic. The unwavering support and guidance from all leaders have been instrumental in helping our Explorers achieve their goals.

Looking ahead to the coming year, we are eager to see even more Explorers completing their top awards and expeditions. We encourage all members to continue pushing their limits and embracing the spirit of adventure that scouting embodies.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you goes out to our Scouts, whose enthusiasm and energy bring joy to every meeting and event. We also extend our appreciation to the parents and volunteers who support the group, ensuring that our Explorers have the opportunities to learn and grow

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in a safe and nurturing environment. Your involvement is invaluable to the success of our unit, and we look forward to another fantastic year of scouting ahead.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Group's governing documents are those of The Scouts UK. 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 Group is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts.

The 4[th] Lewisham (1[st] Hither Green) Scout Group delivers scouting for four sections of young people as follows:

• • Squirrel Scout Drey (4 – 6 years) Cub Scout Pack (8 - 10 years) • • Beaver Scout Colony (6 - 8 years) Scout Troup (10 - 14 years)

We have a partnership agreement with the Discovery Explorer Scout Unit which is a Lewisham District Scout Council provision. This agreement is reviewed annually.

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

The Board of Trustees consists of 3 independent representatives, Chair, Treasurer and Secretary together with the Group Scout Leader, Deputy Group Scout Leaders, section leaders and parent representation.

The Committee meets regularly and is responsible for:

Supporting an active, attractive and balanced programme of activities by:

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Risk and Internal Control

The Trustees have identified the major risks to which they believe the Group is exposed and put mitigations in place as follows:

Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members: The Group, through the Annual Membership fees, contributes to the Scout Association’s national accident insurance policy. Risk Assessments are undertaken before all Scouting activities. At all events and activities at least one leader must hold a valid First Response certificate. First Aid kits are provided.

Reduction or loss of leaders: The Group is totally reliant upon volunteers to run and administer its activities. This is an ongoing challenge to ensure enough volunteers are available. The Group will continue to recruit adults and make use of flexible volunteering from those who have limited time available.

Reduction or loss of members: The Group provides activities for all young people aged 6 to 14. The Group believes that an active, attractive and balanced programme of activities will continue to attract young people to scouting. Our three sections are currently at capacity for the size of our hall.

Damage to the Ted Ray Scout Hall: The Group has sufficient buildings and contents insurance in place to mitigate against permanent loss. If the Ted Ray Scout Hall was unusable, the Group could arrange to temporary use a local church hall, however we would suffer a significant loss of income.

Reduced income: The Group has a reserve fund policy sufficient to pay expenses for the Ted Ray Scout Hall and to ensure the continuity of activities should there be a major reduction in income. The Group could also limit or suspend the provision of subsidies and investment expenditure. The Group could also apply for grants or undertake more fundraising activities.

Financial Controls: The Group has in place financial controls designed to provide reasonable assurance against financial mismanagement or loss. These include having a limited number of Trustees who can access our financial reserves; two signatures required to authorise bank payments; separate access to smaller operation funds; processes for continuous accounting including checks against bank statements; and a comprehensive insurance policy to ensure that insurable risks are covered.

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Objectives and Activities

The Purpose of Scouting

Our purpose is to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

Method

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

The Values of Scouting

As Scouts we are guided by these values:

Summary of the main activities in relation to these objectives

The 4[th] Lewisham (Hither Green) Scout Group will deliver scouting to children and young people in line with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of the Scouts UK.

The Scout Group will provide an attractive and balanced programme of activities, events and experiences for children including weekly meetings; a range of activities outside the Ted Ray Scout Hall including outdoor activities; and the opportunity to attend nights’ away experiences each year.

The Scout Group will ensure the operation of each section is overseen by an adult lead volunteer. The lead volunteer will also ensure that the Scouts UKs recommended minimum ratio for adults to children is adhered to.

Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives, and in planning future activities.

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Future Plans

The Trustees will continue to improve our facilities. We will continue to look at ways to reduce our energy usage and costs.

We will look to increase the number of our Scouting members achieving their top Chief Scout Awards. We will also increase our leader training compliance to ensure all adult volunteers are fully competent and equipped to run a range of activities.

We are continuing to support and work in partnership with the Discovery Explorer Scout Unit.

We will provide our Scouting sections with the modern equipment they need to provide a balanced programme.

The most important task for the future is to recruit and train adult volunteers for all sections. The trustees would welcome offers of help or ideas about how to recruit leaders.

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Financial Review

The Group’s income and expenditure are divided into two parts – Scouting activities and the hire and maintenance of the Ted Ray Scout Hall. It is the Group’s policy that surpluses from the hire and maintenance of the Ted Ray Scout Hall may be used to fund or subsidise Scout activities and to invest in upgrading scouting equipment.

Scout Activities Financial Review

We are registered with HMRC for Gift Aid on members’ subscriptions and were able to make a claim resulting in a receipt of £1,698.00 including interest.

The Group should have received a volunteer hour grant from Bloomberg, and we thank our Chairperson, Greg Noonan. However, these funds, which are paid via Scouts UK, was delayed moving through new I.T. systems and are not included in this year’s accounts. Despite this, Scouting activities reported only a small deficit of £117.28 compared to a £4,099.29 deficit in 2023/24.

Ted Ray Scout Hall Financial Review

The hire of the Ted Ray Scout Hall to regular hirers provides a stable income which is used to pay for maintenance and improvements to the hall, as well as to subsidise scouting activities.

The introduction of a preschool group as a new regular hirer in September 2024 led to a substantial increase in income, reaching £19,184.50 in total, up from £10,060.50 in 2023/24.

We also receive a small amount of income for our Feed in Tariff on electricity produced by our solar panel array. This also reduced our utility expenditure.

The hall generated a total surplus of £10,338.36 in the year compared to a surplus of £1,980.45 in 2023/24.

Reserves Policy

The Group's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to:

The Trustees consider the Group should hold a minimum of £10,000. As of 31st March 2025, the Group held total funds of £45,220.10

Investment Policy

The Group has adopted a low-risk strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in mainstream banks.

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Statements of Accounts 1[st] April 2024 – 31[st] March 2025

Financial Year 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025 and Comparison with Previous Financial Year

Scout Group
Income 2024/2025 2023/2024
Scoutingactivities £23,270.50 £24,602.82
Gift aid rebate £1,698.00 £1,596.05
Grants received £0.00 £5,532.00
Interest received £102.49 £0.00
Total Scout Group Income £25,070.99 £31,730.87
Expenditure
Scoutingactivities £19,811.90 £28,059.12
Groupequipment £735.33 £2,084.52
Office and admin £760.04 £878.52
Membershipand subscription £3,804.00 £4,598.00
Leader training £77.00 £210.00
Total Scout Group Expenditure £25,188.27 £35,830.16
Scout Group Surplus /(Deficit) -£117.28 -£4,099.29
Ted Ray Scout Hall
Income 2024/2025 2023/2024
Hall hire £19,184.50 £10,060.50
Donations and solar income £346.55 £327.13
Deposits received £1,000.00 £0.00
Misc other £0.00 £0.00
Total Ted Ray Scout Hall Income £20,531.05 £10,387.63
Expenditure
Deposits returned £350.00 £100.00
Hall Maintenance and building projects £2,578.97 -£150.00
Utilities and overheads £6,932.49 £8,308.60
Hall equipment £331.23 £148.58
Total Ted Ray Scout Hall Expenditure £10,192.69 £8,407.18
Ted Ray Scout Hall Surplus /(Deficit) £10,338.36 £1,980.45
Overall Surplus /(Deficit) £10,221.08 -£2,118.84

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Statements of Accounts - Payments and Receipts
1st April 2024 – 31st March 2025
Balance B/F
1 April 2024		 Income Expenditure Balance C/F
31 March
2025
Totals £34,999.02 £45,602.04 £35,380.96 £45,220.10
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 MARCH 2025
ASSETS
Cash funds
Bank accounts
Cash with Go Cardless
Total cash funds
Assets retained for the Charity's own use
Buildings (professional valuation)
Equipment (at cost)
Total assets retained for the Charity's own use		 £45,148.10
£72.00
£45,220.10
£500,000.00
£6,483.77
£506,483.77
LIABILITIES
Liabilities
£0.00

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