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2025-03-31-accounts

AXE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL

Registered charity no. 305639

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT for the year ending 31[st] March 2025

AXE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL REFERENCE and ADMINISTRATION DETAILS - for the year ended 31st March 2025

Registered name: Axe District Scout Council Other names used: Axe District Scouts, Axe Scout District Charity registration number: 305639 Registered Office: None Joint Presidents of the Scout Association: HRH The Princess of Wales and HRH The Duke of Kent District President: John Crockford-Hawley District Vice-Presidents: Ann Coombes, Barrie Taylor and Jenny Thorn

Trustee Board

Ex-Officio trustees: (as per the Constitution of Axe Scout District)

District Lead Volunteer(s): Ali Kattana (Appointed 1.1.18, Trustee since 14.5.15) * District Youth Lead: Liz Vennall (Appointed 18. 9.24, Trustee since 29.9.22)

Trustees appointed for 1 year from 2024: Jackie Simpson (Trustee and District Treasurer since 24.9.20) * Matt Mellor (Trustee since 9.5.24)

Trustees appointed for 2 years from 2024: Jeremy Birkett (District Chair since 14.3.24, Trustee since 1.3.03) * Teresa Aldridge (Trustee since 12.9.17) Vinod Bavabhai (Trustee since 9.5.24) Paul Westwood (Trustee since 12.11.15, resigned 12.7.25)

Trustees appointed for 3 years from 2024: Richard Hurst (Trustee since 1.1.2018, also Team Leader 14-24) * Khalil Kattana (Trustee since 01.9.2008) Graham Meikle (Trustee since 26.8.2021, also Lead Volunteer (Volunteering Development & Support)) * Jay Webb (Trustee since 29.9.2022)

District Secretary: The trustees are grateful to Duncan Biddulph who has volunteered to take Trustee Board Minutes since May 2024 - in a non-trustee capacity

Independent Examiner of the District’s Accounts

NDC Accountancy (formerly TaxAssist) 96 Drove Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 3NW

The District’s Trustee Board main bank accounts are held at:

National Westminster Bank, 89 High St, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1HJ

Axe Scout District covers the area that includes Weston-super-Mare and its outlying communities and villages within the southern half of North Somerset.

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AXE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL - TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT

Introduction

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 (POR). POR is a core document the main purpose of which is to describe how the Scouts is structured, organised, managed and governed - to help us all run Scouting. It is revised from time to time (see Notes at foot of this Report).

Axe District Scout Council is a separate unincorporated educational charity within the Scouts federated structure established under these rules, which are common to all Scout Districts. It is registered with the charity regulator for England and Wales.

Constitution

At its AGM on 19[th] September 2024 this charity re-adopted in full the model constitution applicable to Scout Districts. as stated in POR chapter 5. In accordance with best practice members of the District Scout Council will be asked to re-adopt this model constitution. This can be viewed by following the link: Chapter 5: c. Constitutions of Groups, Districts and Counties (except Scotland) | Policy, Organisation and Rules | Scouts

Structure

During the year Axe Scout District has been led by one District Lead Volunteer assisted by two Lead Volunteers and supported by a District Team. Recently three resignations have been received, and recruitment of their successors is under consideration.

The charity is managed by the District Trustee Board, the members of which are charity trustees. The Trustee Board is responsible for the governance of the charity – ensuring it is well managed, finances are properly managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and equipment are in good working order, and everyone follows legal requirements and the organisation's policies and rules. It is accountable to the District Scout Council.

Trustees meet six times a year plus the AGM. The Board believes that this is sufficient to enable it to be effective whilst remaining flexible to hold additional meetings if the need arises.

Effective Trustee support helps other volunteers run the Scout programme that gives young people skills for life. All trustees are volunteers who give their time most generously. The charity does not employ any paid staff.

The Trustee Board started the year with 12 trustees (2 Ex-officio and 10 Appointed) and has ended with 11 following a recent resignation. Two are under the age of 25.

Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are appointed in accordance with POR. At its 2024 AGM the District Scout Council agreed there should be maximum of 12 trustees on the Trustee Board. 2 of these are ex-officio. 10 others were duly appointed including the District Chair and District Treasurer. 8 of the 10 were appointed for either a 2- or 3-year term and do not need reappointing in 2025.

The roles of District Chair and District Treasurer are included within the limit of 10 appointed trustees. Volunteers to fill these roles must be recommended by the outgoing Trustee Board for appointment approval by the District Scout Council at the AGM.

Each trustee is required to:

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The length of service given by each trustee is to change:

Sub-Committees

The District Trustee Board currently has one operational sub-Committee:

  1. Finance sub-Committee: To ensure that proper financial planning and budgetary control is operated within the District in accordance with the rules of The Scout Association. It works to Terms of Reference approved by the Trustee Board. An Annual Operational Budget is prepared for agreement by the Trustee Board. This is then monitored throughout the year, and progress reports are provided to trustees. There are six members including one non-trustee. It meets one week before each Board meeting (to which it then provides an update) plus several times during the production of the District's Annual Consolidated Accounts.

CHARITABLE OBJECTS, ACTIVITIES AND PUBLIC BENEFIT

The purpose of the Scouts is to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. Fulfilling this purpose benefits the public by:

The purpose of Axe Scout District is to directly support:

We do this by:

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The Purpose of the Trustee Board has moved away from covering operational activity so that it can focus on charity governance and to ensure that the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit. We do this through good charity governance, by:

CHARITY FINANCES

The Annual Statement of Accounts and a full report will be provided to members of the Scout Council at the AGM - for noting. The charity’s main source of income is from the District element of the annual membership fees. Occasionally it receives donations and grants but does not proactively seek such income.

Membership Fees

An annual membership fee is levied on all young people taking part in Scouting. In 2024 the combined District, County and Headquarters elements totalled £57 per young person, in 2025 it is £59.50. Of this figure the District element in 2024 was £7.00 which remains unchanged in 2025. This sum is identified during the work undertaken by the Finance sub-Committee to prepare the charity’s annual operational budget. The Trustee Board is pleased that it has remained at £7 for the past 4 years.

The combined fees must be collected by the District at the end of each financial year but the elements for County and HQ are only paid-on in the first days of the following financial year. This regularly distorts the balance of monies held by this charity as at the end of the financial year – making the available funds look greater than they actually are.

Loans to Groups within Axe District

No requests for loans have been received during the reporting year and there are no loans outstanding as of 31[st] March 2025.

Reserves Policy

In the event of a reduction in youth membership then the District’s fee income would be proportionately reduced putting at risk its ability to operate as planned.

Taking into account the purpose of the District’s funds that are held as ‘restricted’ and ‘unrestricted designated’ the Trustees believe that in order to be able to continue to support the District’s youth programme our policy is that the sum equivalent to 50% of the current year’s agreed annual operational budget rounded up to the nearest £1000 should be kept in reserve for use in the following budget year. This will enable core activities to be sustained whilst a recovery programme is put in place. On this basis, the figure to be held in reserve during 2024-2025 remained at £8,000 and will remain at this figure for 2025-2026.

This policy is reviewed annually. It is monitored by the District’s Finance sub-Committee and will be reported upon to the full District Executive Board of Trustees at its bi-monthly meetings.

Our ‘unrestricted designated' funds explained

The Trustees hold money in the following unrestricted but designated funds (see page 8 of the Annual Accounts for the balances):

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION

The trustees are grateful to NDC Accountancy (formerly TaxAssist Accountants) in Weston-super-Mare for being able to receive, examine and return the District’s accounts in such good time.

RISK MANAGEMENT and COMPLIANCE

Risk Management

Risk is an everyday part of our charitable activity. The Trustee Board recognises that managing it effectively is essential if we are to achieve our key objectives and safeguard the charity’s funds and assets. The Trustees review areas of risk at each Board meeting. The Trustee Board continues to develop a detailed Risk Register to use as a management tool at Trustee Board meetings.

At each trustee meeting the District Lead Volunteer keeps trustees updated with all live and recently closed health, safety and safeguarding issues throughout the District.

An Insurances and Licences Register is in place to ensure that trustees understand and can monitor the myriad of insurance and licence requirements necessary to deliver safe Scouting and ensure that premiums are paid up to date.

Data Protection

The District takes its data protection responsibilities seriously and with the introduction of the General Data Protection Act (GDPR) on 25th May 2018 as a charity we have observed additional requirements to demonstrate our transparency and safeguarding of information as a data processor. The work to ensure compliance is on-going. The Board of Trustees is pleased to report that no breaches of the requirements have been advised or reported during the past year. There were no Subject Access Requests received during the reporting year but one has been received subsequently and was responded to within statutory timescales.

Compliance

At each trustee meeting the Team Leader (Volunteering Development & Support) keeps the trustee board updated as to leader compliance with completing mandatory learning, people without disclosures and data protection issues. In line with Scout HQ policy this District now operates zero-tolerance for leaders who do not hold valid 1[st] Aid, Safety and Safeguarding certification or who do not hold a valid disclosure. Sadly, this has led to some suspensions and role cancellations.

DECLARATION

The District Trustees are satisfied that:

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This Annual Report was approved by the Trustees on 28[th] August 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Ali Kattana District Commissioner

Jeremy Birkett District Chair

POR version control: Revision date

POR version control:
Revision date
Revision date
At start of the reporting year – 1stApril 2022 January 2022
Revised October 2022
Revised and remained valid to the end of the reporting year January 2023
– 31stMarch 2023
Revised April 2023
Revised - version valid as at the date of the 2023 AGM July2023(pre-transformation)
Revised - version valid as at the date of the 2024 AGM March 2024(updated June 2024)
Revised November 2024
Revised – version valid as at the date of the 2025 AGM May2025

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Scouts Axe District AXE DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL Re8lstered charlty no. 305639 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS st for the year ending 31 March 2025 Axe Distrirt

Independent examlnerfs report to the ¢harlty trustees of Axe Distrlrt Scouts Charlty Number: 305639 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above chanty I'the Trusfi for the year ended 31st March 2025 Responslbllltles and basls of report As the charitys trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (°the Acr). I report in respect of my examination ol the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in c8rrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Dir8cb'ons given by the Charty Commission under section 145{5}{b) of the Act. Independlnt examlner's $tatement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me Cause lo believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordancè wllh section 130 of the Charit188 Act.. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting re￿rdS., or the a¢¢ounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concemlng the fomi and content of accounts sat out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulalions 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give 'true and fair, vléw which 18 not a matter con8idered as part of an independent examinatlon. I have no concern8 and have com8 acr088 no other matters in connection with the examination to whlch attention should be drawn in this ￿port in order to enable a proper und8rstanding of th8 accounts to be reached. Name: Catherlne Saunders Relevant professlonal qualificatlon If any: cfA MAAT Arr Address: NDC Consultancy Ltd, 96 Drove Road, Weston super Mare, 8S23 3NW Date.. 2810812025 Page 2

Axe District Scout Council (Registered Charity no. 305639) RECEIPTS and PAYMENTS ACCOUNT SUMMARY for the period 1 st Apri5 2024 to 31 st March 2025 Asat 31.3.2025 Asat 31.3.2024 Note Total receipts for the year (see page 4) 213,067 183.037 Total payments for the year (see page 5) 191,197 179,752 Nat receiptsl{payments) for the year 21,870 3,285 Cash, bank and similar funds brought fowiard 184,545 181,260 Cash, bank and similar funds held at year end 1&12 206415 184,545 Represented by.. Unrestricted general funds Unrèstricted designated funds Total Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds 61,662 57,564 126,345 80,070 118,775 65,770 Total ca8h fund8 206,415 184,545 The above account and accompanying Statement of a88ets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees on 28th August 2025 and were signed on their behalf by: All Kattana Jor• y Blrkott District Lead Volunteer Trustee Chair District Board of Trustees Page 3

Axe District Scout Council RECEIPTS for the year ended 31st March 2025 Note 31.3.2025 31.3.2024 M8mbership subscriptions Lass." Paid-on to County and HQ Net membership subscriptions retained 129,809 87,704 42,106 106,807 79,541 27,266 Investment income received.. Bank interest Building Society interest The Scout Association Short Term Investment Service Dividends 405 249 405 249 Grants received Activities 140,193 113,961 Fundraising (gross) 4,304 6,909 Other income (Inc. donations).. 15,833 26,034 Loan repayments received from units Sale of Government Stock Badge receipts (sales) 10,227 8,618 Total receipts for the year 213,067 183 037 Page 4

Axe District Scout Council PAYMENTS for the year ended 31st March 2025 Nots 31.3.2025 31.3.2024 Premises Grants made 1,000 1,181 Activities 164,242 137,441 Fundraising expenses 10 434 4,688 Administrationlestablishments expenses 11 17,415 27,793 Trustee expenses Sundries Purchase of capital equipment Purchase of badges 8,106 8,650 Sundry payments Loans made to units Total payments for the year 191,197 179,752 Page 5

Axe District Scout Councll STATEMENT of ASSETS and LIABILITIES for the year endlng 31st March 2025 Note 31.3.2025 31.3.2024 MONETARY ASSETS Cash, bank and similar funds Bank current account(s) Bank deposit account(s) Bank term deposit{s) Building society account(s) The Scout Association Short Term Investment SeNice Funds held on Pre-Payment Card Cash in hand 205,962 184,447 451 97 184,545 1&12 20e,415 OTHER MONETARY ASSETS Tax claim Debts due (overdue receipts from Groups) 140 INVESTMENT ASSETS Government Stocks at market value Other quoted securities at market value Other investments Property held for investment purposes NON-MONETARY ASSETS Assets for charity's own usa Badge secretary's stock Shop stock Land and buildings Motor vehicles Scouting equipment, furniture etc. TOTAL ASSETS 2,727 4,104 209,282.27 188,649 LIABILITIES Those due within one year Accounts not yet paid Expenses incurred not yet invoiced Subscriptions not yet paid Other 451 451 LIABILITIES Those payable after one year Loan Hire purchase owing Leasing payments outstsnding Other long term liabilities TOTAL LIABILITIES TOTAL ASSETS LESS TOTAL LIABILITIES 208,832 188,649 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND FUTURE OBLIGATIONS Page 6

Axe Distrlcl Scout Councll Notes to the accounts for tho year ended 318t March 2025 31.3.2025 31.3.2024 1.a Ca8h, bank & ¥lmllar funds carrfed forward- by fund (also 890 not• 121 R￿triCtd funds District Board of Truste88 Secb"onslUnits fvnds T¢)tal Restrfctad fund• 80,070 65,770 80.070 65,770 Unr•strlct•dD•JlgnatodFunds District Board ofTNslees soctions￿nIts Total Unr•strl¢tsd Dg8lgnat•d lundB 16,518 13,375 64,683 61.211 Unrestrlcted G•n8rn1 Funds Di$lrict Board of Tru¥tseB SeGtionslUnits Total Unrmtrlctsd G•n•ral fund• 81.882 57,564 61,862 57,564 Total funds h•ld by th• Charlty 206415 1.b Ca•h, bank & •lmllarfundB carrlod lorn•rd- 3urnmary Iil•o note 121 Distdet Exe¢ulivelBo8rd of Tru8te88 S8¢Oon8lUnlt8 158,250 136,709 206415 2. R•e•lpt•: M•mb•rnhlp •ub•¢rlptlon• 129,809 87,704 1C6,807 79 541 27.266 L￿1.. Pl1d￿nI¢ county HQ 3. R•c•lpts.' Grnnts 4. R•c•lpts.' A¢tfvitl•• Di8trict Beavw S¢outs DS8trfcl Cub D18fficl Scouts D181rict Explorgr Scouts Dlslricl Scout Ngtsvork Exped￿an (Ten Tor81 a¢Gounl Cardin818 ESU M•niaxe ESU Plon8er8 ESU S8r8w& ESU Saxons ESV Spartans ESU Y80 ESU Tralnlng Wortd J8rnbor8e Jamborees18xc. World JamboM•l Pantornimg trip District Ski Trip Sundrie Gang Shw In A Day 2.777 6,479 2,933 48,028 10 9,813 745 1,24S 2.670 2,520 3,967 2,826 456 8,678 805 820 2,697 3,571 2,352 52,982 530 9,355 84.748 2,860 9,400 8.811 321 429 113961 140 193 6. R•e•lpts.- Fvndr•l•5ng Fund$r8i$ing tor banafil of units Funds rfjlg•d to pay•on to 3rd p8rty le.g. St G¥or9￿ Dayl 3,870 434 6. R•c•lpt•: Oth•r Incom• tlonation8 r•cèived Lffjades received Income Tax recov8re<l vi GiftAd lon 6ub8cription$ and donation81 Wortd Jamboree Golden Woggle ¢)ther Income Leader 18tA'd Training Sundries Funds transftjrfrorn DistrfeVGrouplUnil 13,295 16,353 1,890 359 1,780 282 118 15.833 334 360 305 Rac•1￿￿ from S•etlon• Badge Account 26,034 7. R•c•lpt•: L￿ft r•paymènts r•c•5vgd from unlts 8. Paymènts: Grnnts mad• Start up Grants Oth•r 9rant$ 1,000 1,181 1.181 Page 7

Axe Distrfct Scout Council Notes to the accounts to 31st March 2025 (continuedl 9. Payments: Activity Expens District Beaver S¢outs District Cub Scouts District Scouts District Explorer Scouts District Scout Notsyork District Expeditions linc Ten Torsl DistriGI ActSvltl8s (Jamborees & Di8lriGI Events) World Jamboree Pantomime Cardinals ESU Maniaxe ESU Pioneers ESU Sara¢ens ESU Saxons ESU Spartans ESU Yeo ESU st. George's Day Colebralion.. c08ts Gang Show In A Day Young Leadèr Learning Support New Equipment District Ski Trfp Other Exp&n8e8 31.3.2025 31.3.2024 3,318 5.584 45 4,000 2.698 578 8,792 2,992 48,206 223 9.950 2,479 8.580 2.422 2,012 4,989 3.342 139 2.148 70,938 530 1.595 383 8.580 927 3,150 4,862 5,977 10,781 80,797 210 259 200 137441 164,242 10. Payments: Fundrni•ing •xp•n••• Incurred as a result of fundraising aclivi1108 Funds Taised and paid-on to a 3rd P8ty 434 434 4.688 4.688 11. Plymonts: Admlnl8tratlonlo8tabll•hmont •xp•n• Petrol, tèlephone & postage expenses Group Support New Group Support- 1st Burringlon Villago Leader 1st Aid Training Resources Meeting Costs Bank tharges and accounting $Offv￿re fa8 Accounlancy and examlnallon of accounts In8urance6 Licences R8cruilment Transfer of fund8 upon ¢106ure of GrouplUnSt Stor8g& container Equipmeenl purchased Other èxpens•6 206 2.688 514 2,916 6,185 450 218 2,598 279 414 476 578 1,746 1,520 216 450 314 652 169 778 5.457 278 1,378 8.693 27,793 12. Breakdown of ¢•8h. bank and 8lmllar tund• Dlstrlct Execuuve funds Rèstricted.. HQ and County membar8hip fe08 to pay-on Re¥tri¢t8d.. Worfd Scout Jamboree Restrfcted.. TSA Grant- Nights Away Advl8or8 for Squirrels Restricted.. New Scout Group support Totsl Rè•trlct•d Fund• 79,170 64,870 500 4LhJ 80,070 500 400 65.770 D88ignalod.. International Jamborees {fomierly World J8mb¢re8) Designalad.. Axe Jam Designated.. District Hardshlp fund Designated.. District Actsviti8$ Designated.. Winscombe Masonic Lodge fund Designated.. District Scouts Designated.. Ski Trip fund Designated.. District Leadèr Clothing fund Designated.. Hildesheim Scout Exchange project Total Unre8tri¢ted Deslgnated fund8 Total Unr•$trictsd G•noral fund8 Total Distrfct Exocutive funds 3.120 1.013 4.904 1,719 2,075 1,296 1,250 1,013 5,704 1.719 2.075 1,563 50 390 2,000 16,518 61,662 158.250 13,375 57,564 136,709 Funds held by Sectl0n￿Unlts Totsl R•stricted Funds Total Unrestricted D•sianated fund• Total D18tr1ct consolldatsd fund8 48.166 47.836 206415 184,845 Page 8

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