It has been a great year for Scouting in Kennet District with our volunteers going above and beyond to deliver an amazing programme to our young people. In a year of success, 58 Beavers achieved their Chief Scout Bronze Awards; 42 Cubs achieved their Chief Scout Silver Awards; and 22 Scouts were awarded their Chief Scout Gold Award. On top of this, 8 Young Leaders achieved their belts, 2 Queen Scout awards were earned, the highest award for a young person in Scouting and the first ever Scout of the World award in Berkshire went to Eleanor Rollinson of Wash Common, a massive well done!
The annual census for 2023 saw the District continue its fantastic growth. Kennet saw the 3rd highest growth in young people across the County, with 3 new sections opening their doors and 68 new members joining the movement. Since the census, we’ve also gained 2 new Squirrel Dreys, at 1[st] Newbury and 1[st] Wash Common. This wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible volunteers, and it’s been brilliant to welcome 32 new volunteers to groups across the District. Since we last gathered for an AGM, 347 activities have taken place away from regular meeting places and 42 nights’ away events have also been possible with a total of 2,242 nights away, that’s a lot of camping!
||Squirrel
s|Beavers|Cubs|Scouts|Explorer
s|YP 4-18|Total
adults|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Totals|25|267|296|222|75|885|264|1149|
|Changefromprevious year|-18|+40|0|+34|+12|+68|+34|+75|
|% Changefromprevious year|-42%|+18%|0%|+18%|+19%|+8%|+3%|+7%|
|Changefrom 2018 (5 years)|+25|+75|+76|+36|-21|+191|+65|+256|
|% Changefrom 2018|-|+39%|+35%|+19%|-22%|+28%|+33%|+29%|
Kennet District was once again reunited this year for our annual District St. George’s Day celebration. It was a great celebration of everything good about Scouting, with a fantastic sketch, activities from across the District and of course some great food with muffins the size of your head. It was also the perfect occasion to recognise MO for her unbelievable 40 years of Scouting
Angels Corner has undergone a great deal of work over the last year thanks to the hard work of a number of our volunteers. 50 trees have been planted this year, with the majority being donated by The Greenham Trust to mark their 25[th] Anniversary. Alan reliably informs me there are now 11 species of tree on site, see if you can spot them when you are next at Angel’s Corner. The site is an excellent resource for out District, and I would like to extend a huge thank you to Alan Askey, Ivan Osborne, and Laurence Parker who have led much of the work this year.
The District adventure fund has had its second full year of operation, increasing the accessibility of Scouting with grants distributed to participants attending the Alps22 Jamboree in the mountains, 25[th] WSJ and individuals involved with section and group camps. The scheme is proving popular to date, supporting several dozen young people and adults across the district.
The minibus continues to also be an incredibly valuable District asset and has been widely used by groups returning to day trips and nights away. I would like to thank both Gerard O’Neill and Ian Robinson for their help in maintaining and organising the minibus.
We are proud of all adult volunteers, and are pleased that a number of them have been recognised through the Awards for Good Service. We were fortunate to have been able to host a thank you event in March 2020 before Covid-19 restrictions began, and we look forward to another as soon as is possible.
## **Commissioner’s Commendation** : for local recognition of contribution to Scouting:
Andrew White Brian Conlon Dan Creasey Emma Odwell Fiona Kennedy Gordon Ridgard Ian Robinson Kerry Pasucci Leigh Ruddock Lynne Valentine Mike Goddard Oliver Gomez Rebecca Hunt Richard Pethybridge Rob Daniels Tim Wood
**Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service** : in recognition of good service to Scouting:
Aidan O’Neill Andrew White Angus Purcell Giles Brooks Joanne Bassett John Wharry Lindsey Fraser Michael Morecroft Michael Pyne Nicola James Paul Farrant Peter Perry Stephen Alderson Suchibrata Kar Yvonne Soulby
**Award for Merit** : in recognition of outstanding service to Scouting:
Jan Large
I would like to extent my heartfelt thanks to both Tim Sandford and Hilary Kelly who are both stepping down from the Trustee Board at the AGM. Alan Askey has kindly volunteered to step in to the Chair role on a temporary basis to help in the search for a more permanent replacement to Tim. We also welcome Charlotte Swanson to the role of District Youth Lead and Tracy Pyne to the role of District Diversity & Inclusion Lead.
Receipts and Payments Account
1•tAwll 2022
31#1 M•rth
2023
Receipts and payments
2022123
2021122
R•c•lpl•
4X•7
141
42A11
11.138
1.er5
lJSJ
15.8S1
18.0$1
27,352
EYF4crys
XJJ1
?J12
13•
¥443
Fundrnknlty19ffj5•1
SO3¥5
1 LTllicth13
Kvnnei UiSiTICi OCOUI OUT111
Receipts and Payments Account
Forlh• >•w
1* Awq 2D22
31st M•rch
2023
Receipts and payments
2022123
2021122
•JJo
678
180
iJ.170
578JV
5419>
&1•7
446
446
$1.805
11151
11151
100
56,1
Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year
.Ir
31st March
2022
31.271
12)
123
43.949
5(100
Y•dwn
46.420
46.420
Uab51tt1•s
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examinerfs Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
Kennet District Scout Council
On accounts for the year
ended
31 March 2023
Charity no
lif any)
308095
Set out on pages
1 of the Consolidaled Receipts and Payments accounts
I report to the truslees on my examination of the accounts of Ihe above
charily {llhe Trust") for the year ended 3110312023.
Responsibilitles and
basis of ieport
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
("the Act.).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in cafrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5){b) of the Act.
Independent 11 have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
examlnerfs statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that
disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material
respect..
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130
of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements
concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a 'lrue and fair, view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in
order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Please delete the words in the brackats rf they do not apply.
Signed:
Date:
15105123
Name:
Paul Greenan
Relevant professional
qualiffication{s) or body
(if any):
Fellow of the Institute of Financial Accountants (membership number
2612551
Address:
35 Bartholomew Street
Newbury
RG14 5LL
IER
Oct 2018
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete Il the examiner needs to highlight material matters of Goncern
(see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and
guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items ttriat the
examiner wishes to
disclose.
The receipts and payments of Stockcross and Welford Schools have been
included within the consolidated figures., however, the closing funds were not
under the control of signatories approved by the charity. Bank statements have
not been provided because these funds are held within general bank accounts
controlled by the schools. This creates a greater risk of misappropricilion of
funds. In addition, due to the figures being maintained on a spreadsheet, there
is a risk of errors being made, which indeed was the case in the preliminary
figures provided.
My recommendation is that the Stockcross and Welford Schools are asked to
operate a separate bank account for scouting adivities.
The Consolidated Receipts and Payments accounts show an overall deficit for
th8 year of £23,443.64. The closing funds lotalled £43,506.16, including the
balance held by Stockcross and Welford Schools. Due to much of the funds
being designated for specific purposes, il is recommended that robust
projections are pul in pla to ensure on-going costs can be met. The charily
does not currently have a Reserves Policy and a further recommendation is that
the Trustees discuss and agree a suitable policy.
The Annual Report for year ending 31103123 has not been reviewed.
Finally, I recommend reviewng the charity's intemal controls al least annually
using the Charities Commission Internal Financial Controls Checklist.
IER
Oct 2018
Weword and
Stock¢ross
Dlstrlct
Explorers
Comblned
Ineome
OofE
Angelscorner
DDnation
Equipment F'.Ire
309.LXJ
309.LKI
1,351.90
600.00
890.00
24,036.23
1,3(x).ao
528.50
4th).00
1,675.IS
6,8(h).00
10.00
8.453.77
4S,497.70
2,370.00
1.059.70
95.281.95
1.351.90
5(M).r#i
890.
ioo.c
24,036.23
Events- Cubs
Events- Dlsirkt
1.300.00
S28.50
400.C
1.675.15
Gift Aid
Jamboree
MeEting5- Explorers
Membership-ExpbrErs
Membership Fees
Mlnbus
TransfÈr
6.800.DD
io.c
8,453.77
41.225.70
2.370.OD
79.70
55,045.80
4.272.00
980.
5.252.00
34,984.15
95.281.9S
Admin
An15 Corner
Audltor
Activity Equi?ment
Admin
Badge5
8ank Fees
Camping Equlpment
OofE
Events- Explorer5
Equipment Hlre
Event5
Events-cubs
Events- Distrlci
Event5- Welford and Slockryoss
Grants
1,057.93
8.857.66
216.
1.057.93
8,857.66
216.00
183.95
74.
335.80
47.27
564.05
389.(M)
32,600.53
1,018.53
183.95
74.
253.Tr)
82.80
47.27
564.05
389.
32.600.53
l.OJ8.53
1,549.02
2.284 64
1.549.02
2,284.64
25.Tr)
5,th)7.C(s
25.
6,LKK).00
2,664.28
104.85
53.912.40
1.263.98
375.
25.rAI
S,M7 00
25.)
6,rm.00
Jamboree
MeetlDg5- Explorers
MeetlDgs- Scouts
Membershlp Costs
Minibtss
Rent
2,664.28
1s/os/z3
104.85
41,912.10
1,263.98
3,420.90
8,S79.40
375.(N)
90.
79.70
Transfer
79.70
69,629.41
40,408 98
8,687.20 118.725.59
14.583.61
5.424.83
3,435.20
23,443.64
. 23,443.64
Bank Account batsnces
LLDyds- 309089-55222168
LLoyd5- Explorers
Welforé and Stockcr055
17.365.73
18,961.16
7,179.27
Summary
Account balance broughtfoard
Total Intome
Total Expendrture
Net Incorne
Attount balance carrIedfard
31.949.34
55.045.80
69.629.41
14,583 61
17.365.73
24,385.99
34.984.15
40,408.98
5.424.83
18,961.16
JO.614 47
5.252.00
8.687.20
3.435.20
7,179.27
66.949.80
95,281.g5
118,725.59
23,443.64
43.506.16
SurplusllDeficltl
14,583.61
5.424.83
3.435.20
23,443.64
Months of expenditure
2.99
5.63
9.92