## **Trustees' Annual Report** 

For the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025 

## Reference and administration details ee Charity name: **64[th] Birmingham Scout Group** 

Registered charity number: **503482** ; 

Scout HQ registration number: **10010496** 

Charities Principle address: **Clem Dench Scout Centre, Hamstead Hall Rd** 

**Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, B20 1HX** 

Names of the charity trustees who managed the charity: 

|**Trustee Name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not whole year**|
|---|---|---|
|Claire Bakhshi|||
|AmyBurrell|GroupLead Volunteer||
|Jamie Burrell|||
|Jana Dekysova|Treasurer||
|Keith Hemmings|Chair||
|Paul Little|Group Lead Volunteer||
|Elodie Lancaster|||
|Emma Ray|||
|Narjis Shah|||
|Saroj Watton|||
|Louise White|||



## ~~ee~~ Structure, governance and management 

## 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 Group is managed by the Group 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. 

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The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association. The Group Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and 14 other Trustees (including 1 Ex Officio Trustees). 

The Group Trustee Board exists to make sure the charity is well-managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and equipment are in good working order, everyone follows legal requirements and the Scout’s organisation's policies and rules. Their support helps other volunteers run high-quality and safe programmes that gives young people skills for life. 

## Risk and Internal Control ~~a~~ 

## Risk and Internal Control 

The Group 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: 

**Damage to the building, property and equipment** . The Group would request the use of buildings, property and equipment from neighbouring organisations such as churches, community centres and other Scout Groups. The Group has sufficient buildings and contents insurance in place to mitigate against permanent loss. 

**Loss of rental grant** . The Group has a solid relationship with Birmingham Council who provide the rental grant and sufficient reserves to cover medium term rent should the Group have to rent alternative space whilst a longer term plan was resolved. 

**Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members** . The Group through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout Associations national accident insurance policy. Risk Assessments are undertaken before all activities. 

**Reduced income from fund raising** . The Group is primarily reliant upon income from subscriptions and hall lettings. The Group does hold a reserve to ensure the continuity of activities should there be a major reduction in income. The Board could raise the value of subscriptions to increase the income to the group on an ongoing basis, either temporarily or permanently. 

## ee Policies and procedures adopted for: 

## _**a) the induction and training of Trustees;**_ 

Members of the Trustee Board complete “Being a Scouts Trustee” learning within the first 6 months of joining the Board and are provided with a briefing, copies of minutes and policies. 

_**b) the trustees’ consideration of major risks and the systems and procedures to manage them:**_ Section B Structure, governance and 

_**Reduction or loss of leaders**_ : the Group is totally reliant upon volunteers to run and 

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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 and the assets or liabilities absorbed by Tame Valley Scout District in accordance with Scout policy. 

_**Assets and insurable risks**_ : the Group holds suitable insurance policies for the land, buildings and equipment as well as third party liabilities and trustee indemnity. 

## ~~ee~~ Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document 

## **The Purpose of Scouting** 

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

## **The Values of Scouting** 

As Scouts we are guided by these values: Integrity - We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal. 

Respect - We have self-respect and respect for others. 

Care - We support others and take care of the world in which we live. 

Belief - We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes. 

Co-operation - We make a positive difference; we co-operate with others and make friends. 

## **The Scout Method** 

Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership with adults, work together based on the values of Scouting and: enjoy what they are doing and have fun; take part in activities indoors and outdoors; learn by doing; share in spiritual reflection; take responsibility and make choices; undertake new and challenging activities; and, make and live by their Promise. 

## ~~ee~~ Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects 

The Group runs a Squirrel Drey for 4 and 5 years of age, a Beaver Colony for 6 and 7 years of age, a Cub Pack for 8 to 10 ½ years of age, a Scout Troop for 10 ½ to 14 years of age and an Explorer Unit for 14 to 18 years of age – all of which are open to girls and boys. Trained and skilled volunteer leaders run a full Scouting programme for all these sections. 

## Public benefit statement SP 

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. 

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## ~~a~~ Achievements and performance 

The team of volunteer leaders arranged many and varied activities in the Scout Hut, the local community and away on adventurous camping expeditions and overnight stays including attending the County Cub Camp and a Scout and Explorer camp. 

Members prepared for an international adventure with four members of the group fundraising and preparing to visit Kandersteg Internation Scout Centre in Switzerland in July 2025. 

Community involvement included litter picking, food bank collections, meeting the emergency services and celebrating national events. 

Many individuals gained their Scouting Challenge Awards and Activity badges with older members also gaining their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards and their King’s Scout Awards. 

Our adult volunteers ensured that their training was complete and the Group maintained a fully compliant status with all mandatory learning. A number of adult volunteers were recognised with Good Service Awards. 

## ~~a~~ Reserves Policy 

The Group's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the group should income and fundraising activities fall short or there be an unforeseen cost of repairs to the premises. The Group Trustee Board considers that the Group should hold a sum equivalent to 18 months running costs for the building and an £15k emergency building work fund, circa £35k. 

The Group held reserves of approx £81.6k of General Funds against this at yearend. This is above the level required for operating expenses. However, this can be explained by on-going building development projects, planned equipment purchases within the Group over the next 12 months. 

## ~~a~~ Investment Policy 

At the year end the Group held £20,074 in an investment fund with a higher interest rate balanced with a notice period for withdrawing funds and £52,226 in a saving account with a lower interest rate but immediate access. 

The Group Trustee Board considers this a risk averse strategy to the investment of its funds, which generated £1,458 of interest payments. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks. 

## Grant Received ~~a~~ 

The Group has the last payment of £3,058 from the Youth Investment Fund to be used for internal refurbishment and repairs to the Scout Hall and surrounding storage space (total allocation £37,196) and for Mental Health First Aid training for 

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volunteers (total allocation £1,720). Work to the facilities included replacing internal storage cupboards, safer storage for gas canisters, damp proofing to the external storage containers, roof repairs, a new heating system, a new oven and other associated works. 

The majority of the works was completed by March 2024, however, a small portion of the work was completed in the summer of 2024. All works were completed by the end of this year’s reporting period. 

## Plans for the Future S| 

## Plans for the Future 

The Group to grow the leadership teams in each of the sections. To continue with improvements to the property. 

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees 

Paul Little Group Lead Volunteer 

Keith Hemmings Chair 

Date: 1[st] September 2025 

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## **64th Birmingham Scout Group Receipts and Payments Account** 

|64th Birmingham|64th Birmingham|64th Birmingham|64th Birmingham|64th Birmingham|64th Birmingham|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**64th Birmingham Scout Groupgham Scout Groupham Scout Groupp**||||||
|**Receipts and Payments Accountpts and Payments Accountts and Payments Accountyments Accountments Account**||||||
|For theyear from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025||||||
|**Income**|**2024/25**||**2023/24**||**2022/23**|
||£||£||£|
|**Donations and similar income**||||||
|Membership subscriptions|7,339.15||6,976.55||7,662.39|
|GiftAid|1,747.38||||1,621.39|
|Groupincome/Donations|749.75||394.55||168.00|
|Utility & shoprefunds|||379.04||237.88|
|Clem Dench lettingincome|8,907.00||11,431.00||6,080.00|
|SubTotal|18,743.28||19,181.14||15,769.66|
|||||||
|**Fundraising & Activities**||||||
|Camp & activityincome|2,076.19<br>3,058.00<br>4,736.22||3,843.54<br>35,859.00<br>600.00<br>2,432.38<br>2,687.23||4,080.55<br>500.00<br>4,000.00<br>6,236.50<br>500.00<br>17,002.25|
|SquirrelGrant||||||
|Gratham Trust Grant||||||
|Celebrating Communities Grant||||||
|BearGryllsHero Grant||||||
|Youth InvestmentFund Grant||||||
|Refundfrom Art project||||||
|KanderstegFundraising||||||
|JamboreeFundraising||||||
|SubTotal|9,870.41||45,422.15||32,319.30|
|||||||
|**Investment Income**||||||
|InvestmentInterest|576.16||805.18||478.85|
|SavingsInterest|882.21||544.20||96.78|
|SubTotal|1,458.37||1,349.38||575.63|
|||||||
|**Total Gross Income**|**30,072.06**||**65,952.67**||**48,664.59**|
|||||||
|**Expenditure**|**2023/24**||**2023/24**||**2022/23**|
||£||£||£|
|**Charitable Payments**||||||
|Membershiprefunds|33.50|||||
|Utilities|4,251.73||4,576.10||2,511.66|
|Insurances|1,388.79||1,209.78||1,173.41|
|Buildingmaintenance|935.70||739.68||2,273.05|
|Buildingimprovements(self funded)|3,762.52||190.00||5,562.61|
|Buildingimprovements(grant funded)|||36,621.00|||
|Buildingcleaning&gardening|3,620.00||2,750.00||3,785.00|
|Capitation(members subs paid on)|5,076.00||4,508.00||4,048.00|
|Group expenses|2,263.25||1,117.26||2,832.23|
|SubTotal|21,331.49||51,711.82||22,185.96|
|||||||
|**Activities & Donations**||||||
|Youth Programme & activities|3,855.68||3,580.13||4,370.54|
|JamboreeFundraising|2,361.01||7,660.33||18,942.08|
|KanderstegFundraising|6,507.69||1,370.09|||
|Camp expenditure|1,808.63||5,755.60||5,094.59|
|CommunityArtwork|1,200.00<br>2,900.00<br>500.00|||||
|BearGryllsHero Grant||||||
|Equipmentpurchases|2,232.95||173.46||10,216.07|
|Sub total|16,765.96||19,739.61||42,023.28|
|||||||
|**Totalgross expenditure**|**38,097.45**||**71,451.43**||**64,209.24**|
|||||||
|||||||
|**Difference between  income & expenditure**<br>**(note 1)**|**-8,025.39**||**-5,498.76**||**-15,544.65**|
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## **64th Birmingham Scout Group** 

## **Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year** 

||**31-Mar-25**||**31-Mar-24**||**31-Mar-23**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||£||£||£|
|**Cash funds**||||||
|Bankcurrent acounts|9,318.78||17,920.33||23,963.29|
|Bankdeposit account|52,226.59||51,650.43||51,106.23|
|Investment account|20,074.93||20,074.93||20,052.41|
|**Total cash funds in bank**|**81,620.30**||**89,645.69**||**95,121.93**|
|||||||
|||||||
|**Restricted Funds** (note 2)|**650.00**||**3,075.52**||**12,802.24**|
|**General Funds**|**80,970.30**||**86,570.17**||**82,319.69**|
|**Total Group assets**|**81,620.30**||**89,645.69**||**95,121.93**|



## **Note 1: Loss explanation** 

The £8,025.39 loss includes £1,771.47 and £2,361.01 of budgetted spend Kandersteg and Jamboree spend and £3,762.52 of building improvements from our own funds. Without these we would of ended the year with a £127.39 loss, which can be accounted for by the increase in materials for activities and utility increases. 

|**Note 2: Restricted Funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Refundable depositKumon|200.00||200.00||200.00|
|YouthUnitedFoundation Funding|||||1,621.75|
|Peter Pinches Trust|50.00||100.00||100.00|
|Michael Richardson Trust|400.00||450.00||450.00|
|Activity Support Funds|||1,263.23||6,755.42|
|Kandersteg Fundraising|||1,062.29|||
|Jamboree Fundraising|||||3,675.07|
|**Total**|**650.00**||**3,075.52**||**12,802.24**|



## **Note 3: Contra payments** 

£8000 was paid on the Group's behalf by Birmingham Council Youth Services to Birmingham Council Property Services to cover the building rental. 

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## England & Wales 

Unqualified report for a non-company charity preparing receipts and payments accounts with a gross income of £250,000 or less in the relevant financial year 

## Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of 64[th] Birmingham Scout Group 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 64[th] Birmingham Scout for the year ended 31[st] March 2025. 

## Responsibilities and basis of report 

As the charity trustees of the 64[th] Birmingham Scout Group 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 64[th] Birmingham Scout Group accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## Independent examiner’s statement 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the 64[th] Birmingham Scout Group as required by section 130 of the Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records. 

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. 

Signed: 

## Name: David Allen 

Address: 125 WhiteCrest, Great Barr, Birmingham, B43 6EX 

Date: 1[st] September 2025 

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