43RD GROUP SCOUT COUNCIL
Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 / 12 / 2023
TRUSTEES
Ex-officio: Group Chairman Nicola Clynch Group Lead Volunteer Mike Bowen Group Secretary vacant Group Treasurer Lorinda Nixon Beaver Scout Leader Jennifer Bowen Cub Scout Leader Joanne Carr Scout Leader Edward Clynch Elected: Angela Allon Mark Clynch Helen Downey Claire Brent Paul Kovacik-Blades Nominated: Co-opted: BANKERS Virgin Money Linthorpe Rd, Middlesbrough TS5 5DX ADVISORS Auditor N/A SCOUT ASSOCIATION REGISTRATION 46955 CHARITY REGISTRATION Registration Number: 511393 Contact: M J Bowen 101 Hall Drive Acklam Middlesbrough TS5 7HX
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 / 12 / 2024
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 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.
The Committee consists of 3 independent representatives, Chair, Treasurer and Secretary together with the Group Lead Volunteer, individual section leaders and parent’s representation and meets approx 3-4 times a year. This Group Trustee Board exists to support the Group Lead Volunteer in meeting the responsibilities of the appointments and is responsible for:
-
The maintenance of Group property;
-
The raising of funds and the 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 required;
-
Appointing Group Administrators and Advisors other than those who are elected.
The Group has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss; these include 2 signatories for all payments and comprehensive insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered.
Objectives and Activities
The objectives of the Group are as a unit of the Scout Association. The Aim of The Scout Association is to prepare young people with skills for life to enable them to achieve their potentials, 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.
Achievements and Performance
As well as our normal meetings at Scout HQ, Tollesby Rd Middlesbrough, we held successful camps at Walesby Forest, Nottinghamshire for the Cubs, Scouts and Explorers and a Group camp, including the Beavers, at the County campsite Raven Gill. The Walesby Forest camp was held jointly with the 44[th] Scout Group. During the year, we continued to use online payments as the main way of collecting our income for subscriptions and events. This has been successful and we encourage anyone who has not yet signed up to consider doing so. This system reduces cash handling (and bank queues) and provides a secure way of keeping track of our accounts.
In September, we started 2 new Muslim sections, Cubs and Scouts, with fifteen youngsters in each, initiated and supported by the Scout Association’s Growth, Recruitment and Outreach programme. Fifteen new Muslim Leaders also joined the Group at this time. It is expected that, in due course, these new sections will separate from us to form a new independent Group.
Financial Review
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. The Group Trustee Board considers that the Group should hold a sum equivalent to 12 months running costs, circa £3,000.
The Group's Income and Expenditure is small and is not sufficient to consider investing in stocks and shares. The Group has adopted a low-risk strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks or building societies. The Group Trustee Board regularly monitors the levels of bank balances to ensure the group obtains maximum value from its banking arrangements.
Approved by the Trustees on
and signed on their behalf by:
Nicola Clynch Group Chairman
Lorinda Nixon Group Treasurer
Scrutineer's Report to the Trustees of the
43rd Group Scout Council
I report on the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31/12/2023
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Scrutineer
As the Group's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that neither the audit nor independent examination requirements of the Charities Act 1993 apply. It is my responsibility without carrying out an audit or independent examination to scrutinise the accounts and to report to you.
Basis of Scrutineer's Statement
In accordance with the directions given in the Group's constitution, I have scrutinised the records and the accounts which are set out in the Summary, the Receipts and Payments accounts and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Scrutineer's Statement
In my opinion the accounts are in accordance with the records produced to me and comply with the constitution.
Name:
Address:
Date:
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the
43rd Group Scout Council
I report on the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31/12/2023 which comprise the Summary, the Receipts and Payments accounts and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
This report is made solely to the trustees in accordance with Sections 43 and 44 of the Charities Act 1993. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees for my examination work.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Group’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
Examine the accounts (under Section 43 (3) (a) of the 1993 Act);
-
To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under Section 43 (7) (b) of the 1993 Act); and
-
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Group and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent Examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 41 of the 1993 Act ;and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act have not been met; or
-
To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Name:
Qualification:
Address:
Date: