2023-03-31-accounts

3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group

Annual Report and Accounts

for the year ending 31[st] March 2023

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

This Report has been approved and agreed by The Trustee Board

Chair: Mr Martin Riddell Group Scout Leader: Mr Richard Moody Deputy Group Scout Leaders: Mr Paul Fitchett Mr Clive Scoggins Treasurers: Mrs Clare Shelley Preeti Halder Adina Romay Life President: Mr John Nielsen

Scout Registration Number: 27686 Registered Charity: 303816 https://www.3hhscouts.org.uk/

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

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

CONTENTS

Introduction Achievements and Reports

Group Scout Leader Beaver Scout Colonies Cub Scout Packs Scout Troops Shooting at 3HH Quartermaster’s Report Peake Explorer Scout Unit

Financial Review with Treasurer’s Statement FY 2022/2023

Appendices Group Governance Reference & Administration Details List of Trustees Purpose and Objectives Structure, Governance & Management Financial Records and Policy

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to our 3[rd] Hampton Hill Scout Group Annual Report. The report covers our financial accounts up to 31 March 2023, but unless otherwise stated, the narrative will cover all activities up to the AGM on Sunday 24 September 2023.

Scouting in the UK remains as popular and vibrant as ever with around 370,000 young people and 142,000 adult volunteers participating every week.

Of course, what reached the headlines recently were the organisational and weather problems experienced in the 25[th] World Scout Jamboree in South Korea during the summer. However, reports and other feedback from the event highlighted the resilience and grit of the Scouts who attended, and the swift and decisive safeguarding actions carried out by the UK Scouting leadership team demonstrating how seriously the safety and wellbeing of our Scouts is considered.

Closer to home, the District Korea Camp at PACCAR had no such issues and was enjoyed by all attendees.

• • https://www.richmondscouts.org.uk/news/article/an unforgettable jamboree

This report highlights the variety of activities taking place at 3[rd] Hampton Hill Scout Group and our partners in Peake Explorer Scout Unit, which continues to grow from strength to strength. The highlight for me was running both the NPL Bushy House Open Day ‘cream tea café' and the ‘pop up’ shop at the NPL Water Rockets Event. These events generated around £2k and it was great to watch parents, uniformed leaders, Cubs, Scouts, (even a few Beavers), and members of Executive, all

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

working together on a common purpose. Whether it was shopping, setting up, baking, serving, clearing up… everyone did their bit, and it was truly memorable. A big thanks to all.

Financially we are in a sound position and have managed to avoid any increases in our subs for a few years now, despite increased costs. However, we have several projects, necessary to maintain and support the current and future activities of the Group, which require significant spend in the near future. These include the purchase of a new minibus, replacement of our dated heating system and building a hard standing to the side of the HQ building for our trailer. In addition, costs such as have utilities and insurance have increased significantly.

We will continue to manage our finances with appropriate prudence and care and ensuring your money is put to the best use to maintain the viability of the Group and provide a great programme of activities for our members.

I would also like to restate our policy which says no young person should miss out on the Scouting experience due to financial challenges. If anyone finds themselves in such a situation, please speak to your section leader in the first instance. We can help in total confidence.

I would like to express my thanks to Rich, Paul, Clive and the entire leadership team for making it all happen on a day-to-day basis. Their job can be challenging to say the least, and the commitment they show week by week is awe-inspiring. A particular note of thanks goes to one of our Leaders Richard Castle, who masterminded moving the HQ into the 21[st] Century with network connectivity.

I would also like to thank all members of the Executive Committee who support the group in various background roles; from managing the finances, taking the minutes, organising cleaning and bookings and hosting meetings. Thanks to Catherine who leaves the Exec after many years of service as Badge Secretary and a warm welcome to our new treasurers Preeti and Adina.

My final thanks go to the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers who, through their attendance, commitment, and humour, make 3HH such a vibrant and active Group.

Please continue to support the group in every way you can; being a committee member, taking on a leadership role, attending a maintenance day, attending Family Camp, making cakes, paying your subs promptly etc. Many hands do indeed make light work.

Many thanks

Martin Riddell Chair (Trustee Board)

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

ACHIEVEMENTS AND REPORTS

“Hello! My name’s Joe!” (I’m a Cub Get Me Out of Here Camp)

Group Scout Leader (GSL)

Gosh! Another year gone ..... and changes continue aplenty with plans for the HQ that I’ll leave Chair Martin to discuss and changes in personnel too, nothing unusual there but specifics that do need to be highlighted to ensure the ongoing health of our superb Scout group.

The Group has been really busy as a whole since last year – our core activity of camping has been getting back into the full swing of things, including attendance at a massive District Summer Camp to coincide with and celebrate the Korean World Scout Jamboree. What we have noticed with camping is that the enforced break caused by Covid has hit numbers of Cubs and Scouts signing up for nights away activities, this echoed across the District. Our Cub team are working really hard here providing weekend and overnight activities and I’m sure that this will pay dividends, it certainly is making for an extremely effective Cub team!

My main theme will always be recruitment and it never ceases to amaze me that on retiring from BT after 41 years, the last 21 years as a people manager that I walked straight into the same role, just as an unpaid volunteer! BT always used to say that ‘churn’, continuing to refresh the workforce was good and it certainly is for Scout Groups too, however, does generate most of my activity.

• Senior Leadership Team (SLT) – I'm really pleased to advise that Clive Scoggins has taken a ‘promotion’ to Deputy Group Scout Leader and is now helping me by taking on management of the waiting lists amongst other activities. Team-working is the model we seek in all sections of the Group and is something we now must look towards with the SLT as the continuing focus on Safety and Safeguarding consumes ever more time.

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

Here’s where you can help:

• Deputy Chair – whilst the GSL looks after the people and the sections, Martin in leading our Trustee Board tends to look after the premises, things like the minibus and the trustees themselves. Martin has been in post several years now and is the first to point out that the Charity Commission’s advice is that ‘Chairs’ should be changed every so often. Martin isn’t looking to retire just yet but does need deputies to start learning the ropes and share the load. One example this year has been the plans for clearing the space at the back of the HQ and creating a hardstanding area for trailer storage which got shifted onto the back burner when other issues arose. Equally our minibus now needs replacement as it isn’t ULEZ complaint and again this is still to be actioned.

• Deputy Group Scout Leaders – Both Rich & I have been around for donkey’s years and whilst our experience is obviously very helpful, in age we’re getting further and further away from the youth we work with. Whilst it’s more important for the section leaders to be younger adults, I’m now enjoying my retirement and new blood is needed with more energy than I can now muster to take the Group forward. I’ll still be beavering away somewhere in the group though.

• Great news that we have recruited not one, but two new Treasurers this year as Clare Shelley stands down, both of whom having solid backgrounds in finance: Adina who was in the finance hierarchy in the Premier Inn Group and Preeti who comes to us from a career in auditing.

In the sections, Simon Riggs has now retired from Scouts after an excellent 17 years’ service, and I’m pleased to say that Jonathan Reid has stepped up to the Scout Leader’s role on Fridays. Selena and Pete Brown who’ve been running Tuesday Scouts will be leaving us at Easter next year as their job takes them to Cambridge. Dave ‘Woody’ Allen is moving from Monday Cubs to Tuesday Scouts but can’t commit to the role full time so we will need new leadership in Tuesday Scouts.

Cubs continue to go from strength to strength and the past year has seen the numbers of Young People continuing to grow. The leadership team is changing as Woody moves up to Scouts, but his partner Carla has stepped into the breach here, moving from Wednesday’s Snowdon pack to Monday’s Nevis one. She’ll need a lot of support initially and we’ll be asking parents to sign up for a rota in the short term. We said goodbye to Margaret as she returned to New Zealand. The Wednesday team in particular needs mention for their energy and enthusiasm, which is providing great activities across both evenings.

Beavers has seen quite an odd change on opening the new Willow Thursday colony as this has proved far more popular than Friday’s Maple colony; given that we only used to run Beavers on a Friday it’s difficult to understand this! We are looking to build numbers for Friday, but for the time being we’re dropping to one Colony on a Thursday. The team are pretty much all intact here, but we have lost Priya to the demands of her career sadly and we wish her every success.

Peake Explorer Scout Unit has been open a couple of years now and is proving very successful, indeed too successful as once they join at 14+, they all seem to stay on until 18 and its proving difficult to get all the Scouts who want to join in. Well done to Matt & Kate for the excellent job they’ve done since setting up Peake just a few short years ago.

We are very lucky to have many of our older Scouts/Explorers come back as Young Leaders but there is no substitute for adult helpers, people who can bring a particular skill or just take on the preparation for an evening. To do this the only commitment you make is to undergo a DBS check and to complete a small amount of online training to keep everyone safe. Don’t wait to be asked, go and offer your services to your section leader.

Volunteering is not just about giving back – it goes both ways. It improves your wellbeing, gives you skills for the future and of course opportunities to make new friends (and memories). Come and do that in the welcoming atmosphere of our large, successful, and friendly group.

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

As I write this in August, I’m looking forward to the second Bushy House, NPL Open Day event in September after a really successful event in May which raised around £2000 for group funds; it’s a busy old day and takes a bit of set up but the rewards are worth it.... how many jumble sales would we have to run to make that sort of money?

Finally, I’m looking forward to August 2025 when 3HH will return to Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland after a longer than expected six-year break. You’ll hear more about this soon, especially if your child will be Scout or Explorer age then, just be advised that the three trips we’ve done so far have been the highlights of my Scouting career and that from seeing our young people achieve amazing successes in an environment a little more adventurous that the Surrey Hills!

Paul Fitchett, Deputy Group Scout Leader, on behalf of Richard Moody Group Scout Leader.

Beavers . . . Go Explore!!

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

Let's make Dens!

Our Maple (Thursday) and Willow (Friday) Beavers group have had an exciting programme in 20222023 and have worked towards the Challenge badge for Adventure and activity badge for Cooking, Experiment, Craft, Cyclist, Air Activity and Emergency Aid. This was the first year for our Thursday colony which has proven to be a more popular day than the Friday colony. The Beavers leadership team has worked wonderfully as a group to plan the sessions and offer the exciting programme.

This year our Beavers have enjoyed a varied programme both inside and outside the HQ. Our Beavers have completed:

• Air activities where they learnt about plane facts, made paper planes and flew them around the HQ

• Several experiments and crafts where they made spinners, volcanos, learnt magnetic tricks and even did painting with magnets and pins

• An evening with their friends in “bring a friend” session and made popcorn with them

• Learning about emergency aid: the recovery position, getting help and practised calling 999

• An exciting and muddy evening out on their bikes, including the proper ways of wearing a helmet and learning how to use the cycle air pump.

• Crisp tasting sessions where they had to go around tasting crips and guessing the flavours. Prawn Cocktail were the favourite flavours and BBQ beef and pickled onions turned out to be the toughest to guess.

• Making bug hotels with sticks, leaves and flowers (some were lucky to have some immediate residents!)

• Celebrated the Coronation weekend making crowns and playing crown themed games

• Created an obstacle course, navigating those showing excellent teamwork

• An exciting scavenger hunt around Bushy Park collecting pinecones, acorns, buttercups, daisies, three different shaped leaves, feathers, something round, something pretty amongst many other things. Turns out that Sycamore seeds and Conkers are most difficult to find in Bushy Park in June.

• Created huge cardboard den and then some mini dens on the side and then tried to move around through those. Thank you to all the parents who contributed cardboard and helped.

• Learn many campfire songs and had the most fun singing

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

• Lots of craft including Christmas wreaths, Fire breathing dragons, magnet art

• And of course, held our traditional end-of-term marshmallow roasting with open fires.

Due to low intake on Friday evening, we have temporarily combined the groups to only Thursday for the upcoming Autumn term. Plans are in place to recruit more beavers and additional adults to reopen the Friday Colony. If you know anyone that might want to join Beavers to help or know of young people that may want to join then please let us know.

The core leadership team has matured too with Richard and Jane leading the team. Gazal, Priya, Elliott and Garan have been providing superb support throughout the year and are all working towards their Wood Badge with many training modules already completed. Thank you to all the young leaders who supported both the Thursday and Friday group. These evenings wouldn’t have been possible without the huge effort and contribution put in by all our volunteers and young leaders to whom we’re enormously grateful.

Making popcorn with friends is fun

A game of splat!

Learning about emergency aids and the recovery position

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

Nothing beats ‘mud on the wheels’ kind of fun

Painting with Magnets

Great teamwork with an obstacle course

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

Coronation themed activities

Goodbye Beavers and swim to Cubs!!!

3HH Beaver Leadership Team

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

Nevis and Snowdon Cub Scout Packs have had a packed programme this year 2022-2023.

The Cubs voted and we based the badges this year around art, cooking, nature and the stars.

We also had great feedback from them about the Holi festival and cardboard box caving. Naturally, we enjoyed the traditional scouting skills as well. Our Cubs were recently praised on camp for being better at clove hitches than the Sea Scouts! We have had exciting opportunities in the form of special guests from Royal Parks and The Band of the Household Calvary. Other highlights include dragon boating, our 3-week celebration of the Coronation (see wonderful

artwork) and the Cub’s choice of activities including swimming at Hampton pool and a CSI night.

There has been a focus on increasing Camping opportunities. This year we have seen a Christmas sleepover, an Easter Camp, ‘I’m a Cub get me out of here’ Camp as well as the epic 4-night District ‘Korea’ Jamboree Camp! We also had a lovely, chilled skills day with the Sixers and Seconders. Already lined up is a Sixer and Seconder Camp for September and bookings for an Easter Camp in April 2024. We also have some unconfirmed plans for an unusual sleepover in January...watch this space.

Well done to everyone involved in this last terrific year!

We look forward to the next year!

3HH Cub leadership Team

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

We run two Scout troops, Claws and Talons, meeting on Tuesdays and Fridays. Our Scout intake is primarily made up of young people who have progressed from our own Cub packs. We are occasionally able to offer a few extremely restricted spots to young people over the age of 11 on our waiting list who are new to Scouting, but both troops are currently at or near their capacity.

Scouts participate in a diverse programme designed to help learn and apply Life Skills while participating in a variety of activities. Scouts gain the opportunity to share those skills with younger Scouts as they progress through the troop, creating possibilities for teamwork and leadership.

Scouts enjoyed a varied programme of activities including:

• Several cooking and baking activities (including using Trangia stoves; pancake making etc)

• Night navigation exercises on Bushy Park (passing the local deer at close quarters in the low visibility!),

• Allotment pizza is always a favorite.

• Vegetable racing (building and racing vehicles made entirely from vegetables and “one or two” cocktail sticks)

• The famous water rocket building where we only lost one over the hut roof.

• Various craft evenings, including bridge building and stop motion movies.

• A visit to the Feltham foodbank sorting out food and gifts for Mother’s Day.

Easter Camp was at Youlbury in Oxfordshire. Our Scouts enjoyed time together at camp, and typical camp activities including cooking on open fires, whittling, climbing, tomahawk throwing and a day hike in the surrounding area.

Scouts spent some community service time in December at St James's Church's annual leaf sweep, clearing the church's roofs, gutters, and grounds of massive amounts of fallen leaves, enhancing safety underfoot and preserving the fabric of the building drainage systems.

Scouts also participated in the annual Greater London South West Scout County Night Hike in early March.

No Borough camp this year but an excellent District ‘Korea’ Jamboree camp at Paccar in the summer holidays gave the Scouts an opportunity to turn Canadian for the week.

3HH Scouts welcomes everyone's involvement in planning and executing the Scout programme, so please let us know if you have a job, skill, or participate in an activity that you think may interest Scouts, or if you'd like to help at meetings and/or future camps.

Thanks, from the Scout Leadership Team

Shooting at 3HH

What a busy year and as always, our shooters rose to every occasion! The monthly ‘Second Saturday Shoot’ continues, bolstered by six new scouts completing this year’s air rifle Youth Proficiency Scheme. Two of our adults took their shooting qualifications up a level, completing the NSRA Club Instructor Airgun course.

We invested in three new pistols which have modernised our kit and paved the way for more successes as we approach our 21st anniversary this October of our first ever Bisley entry. We also held a fundraiser event for adults.

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

Two of our shooters were selected as part of the GLSW team at the Intercounty Competition in May, at the national shooting centre in Aldersley, Wolverhampton. For the first time since 2012, GLSW won the pistol trophy.

We entered the Kingston District Scout Spring Comp during the weekend 20-21 May. We had a small team this year and won 12x individual medal placements, best rifle group and 2nd in pistol, with Peake coming 2nd in rifle and 3rd in pistol. Sadly Huw (the organiser of the Kingston and GLSW competitions) passed away in July. Our thoughts and best wishes are with his family and 3HH will continue to support their events.

A team of 6 scouts and 11 explorers, representing 3HH, Peake and Richmond Upon Thames District came to the 44th National Scout Rifle Championships (the first for 3 years following covid). We achieved 19 individual medals including: silver and bronze in turning target (a brand-new event); silver in senior target sprint; gold senior field target and junior pistol. Various combinations of our shooters gained bronze in team pistol and silver in team rifle. We are proud to have the Scout attaining ‘Chief’s Prize’

as the overall national U14 champion; and to cap it off nicely, we came 3rd in both junior and senior Connaught Trophies for the overall national status.

Our Scouts also took part in the Camelot Postal competition, shooting cards every month (Jan-Jun) and sending them to the national GB stats organiser. Across rifle and pistol, our scouts won 4 golds, a silver and 5 bronze medals. Brilliant, well done all.

A huge thanks to the leaders and helpers who make all this happen and welcome Maggie to the team (we could do with some more adults to support us, just let me know if you can help). Congratulations to the Scouts and Explorers who put the time and effort into their training.

Wend Williamson, 3HH Skills Instructor & Shooting Lead

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

Quartermaster’s Report

The group has made good use of the equipment stores again this year with all the sections enjoying activities at the HQ and camping. Our largest ‘expedition’ was the District Jamboree Camp in August 2023. Our tents and our site were pitched to perfection! We even used our old (but still usable) Pioneering Poles to construct a Traditional Scouting Entrance Gate to the Site and we won First Prize in the Group Gate Competition (a very big thanks to John Hawkins for all his hard work on the superb gate!)

https://www.richmondscouts.org.uk/gallery/korea-camp-2023-group-gates#group-16 https://www.richmondscouts.org.uk/gallery/korea-camp-2023-group-gates

The annual maintenance day took place in March this year, this is a great opportunity to straighten 100’s of bent tent pegs, scrape mud off the ground sheets and carry out essential grounds and HQ maintenance activity. Thanks to all who attended to help with these essential tasks. The maintenance day is also used as a gardening day, by the time this day comes around the HQ can be very overgrown. There are several canvas (patrol) tents and hike tents that are showing signs of wear and tear, these will require repair or replacement over the next year. We have access to a good repair shop so items will not be discarded unnecessarily. The decision to repair or replace will be based on the return on investment. Our HQ (The George Stanley Hall) is now over 25 years old and some of our equipment is even older! We are extremely fortunate to have a fantastic HQ, grounds and extensive set of equipment . . . the need to maintain all our group assets is a priority so we can continue to deliver an excellent programme for all our members.

We do need help during the year, so if you are feeling the need to learn some new skills (no experience required) and would like to

help the team then please do get in touch.

Please keep an eye out for our Maintenance Day events where everyone can roll up their sleeves and get involved.

We are actively seeking a New Quartermaster, a Big thanks to Charles Shelley our Outgoing QM who has recently stood down.

We also need additional help for our Maintenance Co-ordinator to look after the HQ and Grounds (grass just seems to grow at an amazing rate in the grounds!).

Don’t forget that it's our volunteers that help keep our costs down, this in turn means we don’t have to subsidise the stores and HQ via increased subs or camp fees, meaning we can continue to offer all the fantastic great value activities for the Young People.

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

PEAKE EXPLORER SCOUT UNIT

Peake Explorers has now been going for three years, and remains full with around 27 Explorers now taking part. When we wrote our entry for this report last year we were just about to head off for summer camp at Ferny Crofts in the New Forest – where we had a brilliant time away, despite the heatwave of summer 2022. As I write this year, we have just come back from the District Korea Camp and can report that despite the rain this time around, a really memorable time was had by all.

Highlights over the last year include golf fun over in Hounslow, dragon boating in Kingston, some very exciting martial arts, a lot of cooking, hiking, campfires, quizes, and our new favourite game, Werewolf. We are really pleased that we now have two ex-Explorers on our leadership team – as Thomas has joined Jonathan, and we have welcomed a new adult leader, Lisa Heales.

13 of our Explorers are now Young Leaders for 3HH and as a leadership team we really appreciate their incredible manners, friendships with each other and the fact that they make our lives very easy We’d like to thank them for being such an easy group to run, and helpful in planning and delivering their own programme.

Peake Explorer Leadership Team; Matt, Kate, Tim, Lisa, Jonathan and Thomas

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

FINANCIAL REVIEW – TREASURER’S STATEMENT FY 2022/2023

With things continuing to return ‘back to normal’, it has been a busy year full of activities. The subs increased overall by £1k which was contributed by ‘Willows’ the new Beavers colony as well as the increase in Cubs. There was more participation in various camps and activities, tripling the receipts from these events. The group was able to maintain its rental income from Annie Deadman but should also try to offer the use of our HQ out to other groups in the local area. The group is still in the process of putting in its Gift Aid claim which once through, will be a great source of additional funding for the group. I would like to take this opportunity to request everyone to complete a gift aid declaration on OSM so we can maximise our claim. While income has not returned to the pre COVID level of £40k (2019-20) it is £26k, higher than last year (£18k 2021-22).

Along with the growth in income there has also been a rise in expenditure by about £20k this year. The expansion in the programme we delivered to our young people resulted in the associated costs of hosting the evenings, offsite activities, paying competition entry fees etc., which went up this year by £10k. This in turn led to a surge in overhead costs such as cleaning and electricity. The group invested in some long-term improvements to the HQ, resulting in one-off payments. New signposts and lighting fixtures were installed, a couple of tents were purchased and new fire grids were built. Furthermore, we obtained internet access and Wi-Fi capabilities at the HQ to increase efficiency and productivity. We also acquired 3 new pistols and incurred maintenance costs with regard to the old ones. All these one-time charges contributed to another £10k increase. All these expenses are listed in detail on the Receipts and Payments statement.

Insurance and capitation (annual membership fees) remain the most significant costs for the group, with both these costs primarily controlled by the Scout Association it is not possible to switch providers or negotiate, but close cost control in other areas can help fund this.

Cash preservation remains a focus along with managing the cost-of-living crisis. We continue to review contracts for value for money. The decision has been made to cancel the Sage accounting software (£31/month) and use Excel (free) instead. We have also changed our Energy Provider to EDF and secured more competitive rates.

We have managed to successfully close the two Santander Bank accounts and maintain just one account with Lloyds Bank. Moreover, we have effectively eliminated the use of cheques and have been making payments using online banking. The group holds a total cash balance of £54k as of 31[st] March 2023 (£64k 2021/22). This year we have incurred a loss of around £9k, this is in part due to one-off expenditures made during the year and delays in cash deposits in the bank (donations and revenue from uniform sales). Our goal for this year should be to keep the expenses in check while trying to raise more funds.

We are holding a reserves fund of circa £54k. This has been adjusted to reflect a more accurate confirmed expenses that will be taking place this year. We have put £23k towards the cost of a new minibus, which had to be increased from last year because Hampton Hill Junior School has pulled out from contributing. We have applied for the scrappage scheme to see if we can get some funds to be put towards this new purchase. A further £10k (based on quotation received) has been designated to enable us to replace our old heaters to become more energy efficient. We have also designated £6k towards a new capital project that will enable us to store our group Trailer (used for transporting camp equipment) on our premises, as it will shortly no longer be able to be stored off-site. Finally, as we own our building, £15k of this balance is ring-fenced to enable us to carry out remedial works if they are required. We have had to reduce the building improvement reserve by £10k from last year as well as use up the surplus and free reserves from last year to support us in making the long-term HQ improvements as described above.

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

Please note the accounts are in the process of being independently scrutinised by Adina Romay and will be completed in the coming weeks.

Preeti Halder, Treasurer

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

APPENDICES

Group Governance

As a reminder – What we (Scouts) do . . .

As Scouts, we believe in preparing young people with skills for life.

We encourage young people to do more, learn more and be more. Each week, we help over 460,000 young people aged 6-25 enjoy fun and adventure while developing the skills they need to succeed, now and in the future.

We’re talking about teamwork, leadership, and resilience – skills that have helped Scouts become everything from teachers and social workers to astronauts and Olympians. We help young people develop and improve key life skills.

We believe in bringing people together. We celebrate diversity and stand against intolerance, always. We’re part of a worldwide movement, creating stronger communities and inspiring positive futures.

REFERENCE & ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Charity Registration Number:

Charity Registration Number: 303816 Scout Association Group Registration Number: 27686 Headquarters Address: The George Stanley Hall ‘The Triangle’ (rear of Holly Road Recreation Ground, School Road Avenue, Hampton Hill). Contact details: Group Scout Leader Mr Richard Moody

Contact details: Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Website : www.3hhscouts.org.uk Independent Examiner of Accounts: Adina Romay

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

List of Trustees

List of Trustees
NAME	POSITION
Martin Riddell	Group Chair
Richard Moody	Group Scout Leader
Paul Fitchett	Deputy Scout Leader
Fidelma McCarthy	Bookings Secretary
SamJanssen	Group Secretary

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The primary purpose of Scouting is “to encourage the physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development of young people so that they take a constructive place in society as responsible citizens, and as members of their local, national and international communities”.

In support of this, our specific objectives over the next 12 months are:

• Maintain and grow our leadership teams and Trustee Board by active recruitment and robust succession planning.

• Continue to improve the Group’s facilities, equipment and infrastructure including purchase of a new minibus, installation of more efficient and greener heating system, improved use of land for further storage and delivery of programme

• Secure funding to achieve above.

• Increase social and fundraising activities for all members with assistance from Parent/Social reps.

We are fortunate enough to have a broad Leadership and Support Team leadership training. However, there is a continual need to recruit more adult help into the Group to sustain the team and to cover succession planning. Adult leaders and helpers are DBS checked and Occasional Helper Forms are completed for anyone who helps, once a month or more, at Group Section meetings. Although the Group has been successful in attracting additional adult help in the past year, the main priorities are additional parent representatives and succession planning for the leadership. The Leaders, Trustee Board and volunteers who give their time to the Group help make it such a success and have a sense of achievement from being part of the Group. For adult helpers there is regular training in Safety, Safeguarding and First Aid. Role/Job descriptions are available for anyone who would like to consider volunteering for any roles. Training programmes and full support from the rest of the Leadership Team are available to adults involved with the Group. Contact the Group Scout Leader, Richard Moody on [phone] or email [e-mail] for more information.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

3[rd] Hampton Hill (St James) Scout Group is an autonomous charitable trust affiliated to The Richmond-upon-Thames District Scout Council and the County of Greater London South West Scout Council (GLSW) and to the Scout Association. The rules under which the Group operate are authorised by the Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) of the Scout Association, which, in turn, are authorised by the Royal Charter.

The Group is supported and advised by the District Council (Richmond-upon-Thames) https://www.richmondscouts.org.uk the County https://glswscouts.org.uk and Scout Association Headquarters https://www.scouts.org.uk on all matters as needed or requested.

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

The Group Scout Leader (GSL) is appointed by the District Commissioner (DC) of Richmond-uponThames Scout District. The Chairman and 6 members of the Trustee Board are nominated by the Group Scout Leader, and their appointment confirmed at the Annual General Meeting.

Other officers of the Trustee Board are elected each year, at the Annual General Meeting. All Section Leaders holding an appointment become members of the Group Executive Committee as a result of their respective offices. All adult leaders, sectional assistants and members of the Group Executive Committee are subject to Enhanced Clearance through the Disclosure and Barring Service and are given training appropriate for their posts through the District and County Training Teams.

The Trustee board meets approximately every 6-8 weeks to discuss, plan and manage:

• The maintenance of Group Property and assets

• The raising of funds and administration of Group finance

• The insurance of persons, property and equipment

• Group public occasions

• Assisting in the recruitment of leaders and other adult support

• Appointing any sub-committees that may be appropriate

• Reviewing Health, Safety and Security of property, assets and people.

Day to day decisions affecting the operation (management) of the Group is made by the Group Scout Leader, after appropriate consultation. Day to day administration decisions are made by the Chair, after appropriate consultation. Leaders Meetings are held approximately every 8 weeks (twice per term). The Annual General Meeting and Group Review is normally held in September each year.

Financial Records

“The Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the Annual Report and Financial Statements in accordance with the Byelaws of the Scout Association and the Charity Commissioners. These require the Group to select and apply suitable accounting policies, make reasonable and prudent judgements, keep proper financial records, and to prepare financial statements on the “going concern” basis for each financial year in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (Charities SORP 2005).

Individual Scout Groups, as independent charities, are responsible for preparing their own annual financial statements and holding their own Annual General Meeting. The Financial Statements have been subject to Independent Examination by Adina Romay.

Financial Investment Policy

The Trustees’ cautious approach to risk extends to its investments, and its reserves are only placed with highly secure, low risk funds. Day to day funds are kept with a Lloyds account and cash is held for the shortest possible time before being paid into a bank or post office. By investing through the Scout Association and The COIF Charities Deposit Fund the Trustees seek to benefit from their published social, ethical and environmental investment policies.

Financial Reserves Policy

It is the intention of the Group to hold sufficient reserves in cash and short-term investments to:

• Meet possible short-term liabilities

• Cover any adverse phasing of income and expenditure for approved Section and Group activities and events

• Provide 12-month Group operating costs

• Ensure that Group Training needs are met

• Be able to provide “start-up” or support funding for any new Section which meets key objectives

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3[rd] Hampton Hill (St. James) Scout Group Registered Scout Group No. 27686 Registered Charity No. 303816 www.3hhscouts.org.uk

• Be able to provide “start-up” or support funding for any specific activity which meets the Groups Objectives, and which may not be able to achieve short term self-financing.

• Ongoing maintenance and improvements to the Scout HQ building

• Maintain and replace Group Assets

Page 22 of 22

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