TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
11[TH] IPSWICH SCOUT GROUP CHESTERFIELD DRIVE IPSWICH IP1 6DW
UNAUDITED
TRUSTEES & EXAMINER’S REPORTS & FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
11[th] Ipswich Scout Group:
Group Treasurer: David Degiorgio 4 Edmonton Close, Kesgrave , IPSWICH , IP5 1HD Mob. 07908 598300.email: treasurer11thipswich@gmail.com Charity Number 305658 Patron HM The King President HRH The Duke Of Kent Founder Robert Baden-Powell OM Chief Scout Dwayne Fields FRGS Incorpoated by the Royal Charter Charity Number 306101
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisors | 1 |
| Trustees Report | 2 - 4 |
| Group Lead Volunteer’s Report | 5 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 6 - 7 |
| Receipts and Payments | 8 - 9 |
Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisors
11[TH] IPSWICH SCOUT GROUP
CHESTERFIELD DRIVE IPSWICH IP1 6DW
GROUP LEAD VOLUNTEER VACANT AGM MAY 2024
TRUSTEES:
GROUP CHAIR
ROBERT WELSH
GROUP TREASURER DAVID DEGIORGIO
Oliver Arthur, Dave Baldry, Karen Macfadyen (Secretary), Andrew Sparks.
BANKERS:
CO-OPERATIVE BANK: 9 – 11 QUEEN STREET, IPSWICH IP1 1SW INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: Deborah Hurst ACMA
Group registration number with the Scout Association: 5225
Charity Reg No: 305658
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Trustees Report
The Trustees of the 11th Ipswich Scout Group are the officials of the Trustee Board. The Trustees are detailed at the front of this report.
Structure, governance and management
The Group'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 Group is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts.
The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association & The Charity Commission.
The Group is managed by the Trustee Board, the members of which are the ‘Charity Trustees’ of the Scout Group, 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 as appropriate.
The Trustee Board consists of no more than eight members including two independent representatives, Chair and Treasurer, together with the Group Lead Volunteer. The board meets every 2 months.
This Trustee Board exists to support the Group Lead Volunteer in meeting the responsibilities of their appointments and is responsible for:
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The maintenance of Group property;
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The raising of funds and the administration of Group finance;
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The insurance of persons, property and equipment;
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Group public occasions;
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Arranging accommodation and assisting to find camping grounds;
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Assisting in the recruitment of leaders and other adult support;
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Appointing any sub committees that may be required;
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Appointing group administrators and advisors other than those who are elected.
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The Trustee Board has identified the major risks to which they believe the Group is exposed, these have been reviewed, and systems have been established to mitigate against them. The main areas of concern that have been identified are:
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Reduction or loss of members. The Group provides activities for all young people aged 6 to 14. If there was a reduction in membership in a particular section or the group as whole then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst-case scenario, the complete closure of the Group may be necessary.
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Damage to the building, property and equipment. The Group would request the use of buildings, property and equipment from neighbouring organisations such as the church, community centre and other Scout Groups. Similar reciprocal arrangements exist with these organisations. The Group has sufficient buildings and contents insurance in place to mitigate against permanent loss.
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Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members. The Group through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout Association’s national accident insurance policy. Risk Assessments are undertaken before all activities are commenced.
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Reduced income from fund raising. The Group is primarily reliant upon income from subscriptions and fundraising. The Group does hold a reserve to ensure the continuity of activities should there be a major reduction in income. The Trustee Board could raise the value of subscriptions to increase the income to the group on an on-going basis, either temporarily or permanently.
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Reduction or loss of leaders. The group is totally reliant upon volunteers to run and administer the activities of the group. If there was a reduction in the number of leaders to an unacceptable level in a particular section or the group as a whole then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a section. In the worst-case scenario, the complete closure of the Group may be necessary.
The Group has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss; these include comprehensive insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered.
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Objectives and activities
The Aim of The Scout Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local national and international communities. The method of achieving the Aim of the Association is by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and Law and guided by adult leadership.
The Scout Group consists of the following Sections:
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Beaver colony
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Cub Pack (Monday)
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Cub Pack (Wednesday)
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Scout Troop
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Young Leaders
The Trustee Board, sub committees, leaders and helpers work together to provide a high standard of maintenance and care of all young people, property, vehicles and equipment in their charge.
Public benefit
The Group meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings.
Financial review
The Trustees have not formally set a target for reserves.
The current level of reserves held is £376,350 (last year: £341,545)
The Treasurer regularly monitors the levels of bank balances and the interest rates received to ensure the Group obtains maximum value and income from its banking arrangements. Occasionally this may involve using an account that requires a period of notice before funds may be withdrawn, before doing so the Treasurer considers the cash flow requirements.
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’ – Group Lead Volunteer s Report for 2025 AGM by Group Chair
In a strange way the last twelve months for the group feel as though they have proceeded in two parallel realities. On the surface, and to the outside world, our dedicated teams have provided a full range of the usual exciting and interesting activities, helping our young members develop the skills and character that are associated with Scouts and scouting.
I’m pleased to be able to report that all the sections are carrying good numbers with head count up across the group. We have managed some changes to our leadership teams through the year, in particular a significant change in Beaver leadership, and offer our heartfelt thanks to those stepping down and a hearty welcome to those who have joined our family. In particular, thank you to everyone for ensuring minimal disruption for the kids.
Initiatives to improve continuity rates through the sections commenced with a successful transition day in the spring and camps have been available to all our members for the first time in several years. The Scouts had a great week of fun and adventure in Holland last summer, and both Cub packs had young people camping several times with increased collaboration evident between the packs. Excitingly our Beavers have been involved in recent District events, taking one of the larger contingents on the recent District Beaver Camp. If camping is a marker of healthy scouting, then we can be proud of the opportunity that being a member of the 11[th] Ipswich Scout Group brings.
The Groups success was also instrumental in the decision of some of our younger leaders to take the bull by the horns and reform the Castle Hill Explorer Unit, ensuring that our older scouts can continue their adventure until adulthood. A fantastic outcome that the 11[th] will continue to support going forward.
At a Group level, the year saw yet another successful firework show, through the hard work of a dedicated and now highly experienced events team with the support of members past and present, which has allowed us to embark on some more improvements to our HQ building. The replacement of old fencing in the car park is the start of a program of work to safeguard our ability to provide scouting at Chesterfield Drive for the next generation. This ability for current generations to pass on stability for future members is at the heart of why we will be celebrating our 100[th] anniversary this year. I hope that all of you will be able to join us on our Centenary Celebration Day on July 12[th] to both look back at past achievements, as well as looking forward to those successes yet to come.
Behind the scenes though, the Group, it’s members and the greater scouting family have had to wrestle, not always successfully, with the significant changes resulting from the implementation of the Scout Associations new Membership System. The absence of an official Group Lead Volunteer through this transition has made a difficult situation considerably worse. At the 11[th] we have had no direct Group oversight of the system since October and it is to regain this control and help better guide our members that I made the decision to take on the GLV role in an official capacity.
I know that everyone holds an opinion on these recent changes, many of them negative, but I ask that everyone within the Scout Council take the time to remember why we are all here, and I appeal for your patience and help to see through this change. It will come good, and Scouting should be about overcoming challenges through positivity, teamwork and drive.
As I close this report, I wish to pay final thanks to those members who work behind the scenes for the benefit of the Group. The Board of Trustees ensures that some of the drier, but still essential aspects of running a vibrant group safely and legally, are addressed, and their efforts should not be underestimated. The next twelve months will provide their own challenges as necessity demands I relinquish the Chair to become GLV and David Degiorgio, our longstanding Treasurer, will be retiring from the role at the end of 2025 after decades of exemplary service. The Board is an ideal platform for friends of the Group who cannot commit to regular evenings to play a part in guiding our young members fortunes and new members are both welcome and encouraged to bring fresh views and essential healthy insight.
Thanks for reading this report, and for all your support.
Yours in Scouting, Robert Welsh Group Chair
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Independent Examiners Report for Accounts ending 31 March 2025
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Receipts and Payments for Accounts ending 31 March 2025
| OPENING BALANCE RECEIPTS FIREWORKS RENTS GIFT AID INTEREST QUIZ NIGHTS 200 CLUB MISCELLANEOUS MEMBERSHIP FEES DONATIONS GOVERNMENT GRANTS THURSDAY BEAVER FUNDS MONDAY CUBS THURSDAY SCOUTS TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS FIREWORKS GENERAL RATES WATER ELECTRIC GAS BROADBAND & WEB HOSTING POSTAGE & STATIONERY TRANSPORT MEMBERSHIP FEES GROUP CLOTHING CLEANING/WAGES INSURANCE BUILDING REPAIRS/RENEWALS EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT CONSUMABLES MISCELLANEOUS THURSDAY SCOUT TROOP YOUNG LEADERS THURSDAY BEAVERS WEDNESDAY CUBS MONDAY CUBS TOTAL PAYMENTS |
2025 £341,545 £119,192 £17,398 £0 £15,334 £438 £650 £1,076 £5,395 £1,228 £0 £1,021 £110 £350 £162,192 £78,647 £652 £359 £2,129 £3,806 £416 £108 £4,504 £5,684 £0 £3,360 £1,292 £13,190 £1,967 £954 £4,037 £4,369 £31 £710 £41 £1,131 £127,387 |
2024 £302,361 £115,615 £15,890 £2,485 £6,344 £68 £675 £250 £5,237 £200 £0 £0 £0 £0 £146,764 £68,484 £626 £697 £2,383 £429 £834 £125 £6,812 £5,671 £0 £2,730 £1,272 £11,129 £3,744 £216 £1,545 £803 £0 £55 £25 £0 £107,580 |
2023 £238,662 £134,737 £17,639 £0 £2,579 £0 £580 £45 £3,831 £316 £2,582 £0 £0 £0 £162,309 £60,256 £777 £608 £1,021 £3,283 £706 £549 £5,394 £4,425 £48 £1,915 £1,181 £1,077 £13,065 £404 £3,810 £2 £89 £0 £0 £0 £98,610 |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SURPLUS | £34,805 | £39,184 | £63,699 |
| CLOSING BALANCE- BANKED | £376,350 | £341,545 | £302,361 |
| CASH HELD BY SECTIONS | |||
| THURSDAY BEAVERS | £109 | £453 | £484 |
| MONDAY CUBS | £982 | £615 | £262 |
| WEDNESDAY CUBS | £1,145 | £1,117 | £464 |
| THURSDAY SCOUTS - GENERAL | £218 | £572 | £511 |
| THURSDAY SCOUTS - CAMP A/C | £1,295 | £3,055 | £0 |
| TOTAL | £3,749 | £5,812 | £1,721 |
| MONETARY ASSETS* | |||
| CO-OPERATIVE BANK | £1,787 | £8,882 | £1,043 |
| CAMBRIDGE & COUNTIES BANK | £96,467 | £115,127 | £206,264 |
| UNITED TRUST BANK | £118,095 | £97,535 | £95,054 |
| NATIONWIDE BUILDING | |||
| SOCIETY | £0 | £120,001 | £0 |
| THE CHARITY BANK | £60,000 | £0 | £0 |
| CLOSE BROTHERS | £100,000 | £0 | £0 |
| TOTAL (UNRESTRICTED | |||
| FUNDS) | £376,350 | £341,545 | £302,361 |
| *NON MONETARY ASSETS ** | |||
| BUILDINGS* | £613,784 | £594,176 | £555,312 |
| EQUIPMENT* | £127,745 | £110,478 | £93,373 |
| VEHICLES* | £92,613 | £92,613 | £92,613 |
| TOTAL | £834,142 | £797,267 | £741,298 |
- SHOWN AS INSURED VALUES
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