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2020-12-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date From 01 01 2020 To 31 12 2020 Section A Reference and administration details Charity name 3RD ASHTON-UPON-MERSEY SCOUT GROUP Other names charity is known by 3[rd] Ashton Scout Group (old name) Registered charity number (if any) 520155 Charity's principal address Brayton Avenue Sale Cheshire Postcode M33 5HF

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

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Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee
for whole year
(if any)
1 Simon Murray Chair Group Scout Leader
2 Alasdair Ferro Secretary Scout Group at the AGM
3 Andrea Morgan Treasurer Scout Group at the AGM
4 Harry Peet Group Scout Leader Scout Association POR
5 Sarah Goodstadt Section Leader Scout Association POR
6 Robert Blairs Section Leader Scout Association POR
7 Amanda Westhead Section Leader Scout Association POR
8 Sally Yarwood Section Leader Scout Association POR
Nicholas (Parent) Group exec.
9
Edmondson
Stuart Thompson (Parent & Assistant Group exec.
10
leader)
Adam Roberts (Parents Committee Group exec.
11
chair)
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Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

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Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

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Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

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 (eg. trust deed, constitution) Laws of the Association and The Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.

The Group is a trust established under the Scout Association rules which How the charity is are common to all Scouts. constituted

The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation Trustee selection methods and Rules of The Scout Association.

Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting.

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

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You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

All our members, trustees, leaders, helpers and assistants give their time on a voluntary basis and received no remuneration or other benefits.

The Group is managed by the Group Executive Committee, 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 Group Executive Committee consists of 3 independent representatives, Chair, Treasurer and Secretary, together with the Group Scout Leader, individual section leaders, representation of supporters and parents, and meets every 2 months.

The Group Executive Committee exists to support the Group Scout Leader in meeting the responsibilities of the appointments and is responsible for:

 Appointing Group Administrators and Advisors other than those who are elected.

Risk and Internal Control

The Group has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss, these include appropriate financial controls and comprehensive insurance to ensure that insurable risks are covered.

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Section C Objectives and activities

The objectives of the group are as a unit of the Scout Association.

The aim of the Scout Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and Summary of the objects spiritual potentials, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as of the charity set out in members of their local, national and international communities. its governing document 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. In planning our activities for the year, we keep in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at our trustees’ meetings. Summary of the main The Group meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under activities undertaken for both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship the public benefit in or community development headings. relation to these objects The focus of our activities is based on the Scout Associations planned (include within this programme and award schemes, reinforced with related fun activities section the statutory and camping / outdoor experiences. This benefits young people by declaration that trustees developing their self-confidence and social skills alongside practical and have had regard to the life skills. guidance issued by the Charity Commission on In line with the Scout Association guidelines, we welcome all young public benefit) people regardless of personal background, faith, gender, personal circumstances or disability. This philosophy of openness to all, enriches our young people aged 6 to 18 and our volunteers, through the sharing of skills, aptitudes and life experiences.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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All of the income from subscriptions, donations and fund raising is spent for the benefit of the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. This includes maintaining the Scout Hut, necessary to provide a safe venue for regular meetings of all sections of the Group.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

Parents and leaders have helped directly with building maintenance to keep costs down and, where specialist skills have been needed, have raised the funds to carry out essential work improving facilities and cost efficiency. Ongoing improvements are planned and financed in the same way. The funds provided by claiming Gift Aid help enormously and this has allowed the group to finance and or subsidise activities for the young members. Where some families have struggled financially the group waives or discounts subscription and camp fees depending on the need.

Total group membership dropped during the year due to restrictions imposed by covid. However many of the members continued to engage in online activities and the programmes regularly provided by the section leaders. As a result, by the end of the year, membership was still at over 80% of pre-pandemic numbers. Many of the parents continued to pay subscriptions despite being reminded four times during the year that this was not required nor expected. This helped enormously with group finances.

The group relies entirely on volunteers. Leaders, skills instructors, helpers, assistants, parents and trustees, all willingly give many hours of their time for free. Only through their tireless enthusiasm is the group able to achieve so much.

The partnership with the Explorer unit continues to work well and is now in its fifth year. The Scout group allows the Explorer unit to use its facilities and equipment for their meetings, activities and camps. In the same way the Group allows Girlguiding, Sale Scout and Guide Band, and Sale Gang Show to use the premises and equipment owned by the Group.

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Section D Achievements and performance

This Group Report was delivered 18/09/2021 at our AGM for 2020.

Summary of the Typically held in June, this year the AGM was delayed so that it could be held main face to face outdoors at Dunham campsite. Achievements of Report for 2020 the charity during the year

2020 has been a strange year for almost everybody. It started out as usual, with many from 3rd Ashton involved in the District Gang Show, both on stage and of stage. However, normality was short lived as the COVID-19 pandemic caused the first lockdown and the cessation of all in-person Scouting activities at the end of March.

Leaders, parents and young people quickly adapted and activities and challenges were set online, using the private Facebook group. Whilst not all young people were able to engage in these activities, many did so and continued their Scouting journey, including some who took on badges based around their own interests. This also meant that parents became much more involved in the children’s Scouting and we must extend thanks to all those who rose to the challenge, alongside all else that was happening.

Beavers completed the Builder, Cook, Experiment, Book Reader, Science and Photography badges.

The Cubs activities covered the Astronomer, Athletics, Communicator, Chef, Gardener, Home Help, Navigator, Photographer, Great Indoors Challenge, Great Outdoors Challenge and Skills Challenge badges.

The Scouts were able to complete Athletics, Chef, Naturalist, Street Sports, Great Indoors Challenge, Personal Challenge, Skills Challenge, Creative Challenge and the At Home Challenge.

Through the online activities a number of members have gained the top awards in their sections – 1 Bronze award in Beavers, 2 Silver award in Cubs and 3 Gold awards in Scouts.

The Friends of 3rd Ashton have also had a busy, albeit socially distanced year! Whilst it was not possible to meet at the Hut, the opportunity has been taken to do some much needed work including replacing the path, sanding and sealing the floor, fully repainting the hall and much more.

The annual plant sale was also run, with more than twice the usual order from the nursery and all the plants delivered, rather than the more usual collection day. Thanks to all those who came to the hut to help with DIY or the plant sale and for all who gathered orders from friends and neighbours. All in all, 2020 has been quite a year for everybody and one we will remember, but throughout all the difficulties 3rd Ashton has continued to ofer some form of Scouting, for which we should all be extremely proud.

Alasdair Ferro Group Secretary

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Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The Group's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the Scout Group should income and fundraising activities fall short, or major maintenance work on the premises is required.

The Group Executive Committee considers that the Group’s funds should hold a sum equivalent to 3 months basic running costs (utilities and insurance etc), which is approximately £4,500.

Additionally the Group strives to set aside sufficient funds over the year to pay the annual capitation fees paid to the Scout Association in March each year without undue difficulty, which was £6,486 this year.

In addition, during December each year, the Group Executive Committee set a budget for the following year. All major expenditure is highlighted and finances held in the bank account are ear marked to cover the costs in good time.

Any other major expenditure arising during the year is agreed at the Group Executive Committee meetings.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

None

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

The main source of funds allocated for running costs is the monthly subscriptions paid by the Group members and regular fundraising which is mainly organised by the Parents Committee.

The majority of income is used to fund the running costs of the Scout hut which is the regular weekly meeting place for all the group members, and the cost of programmes, related activities and camps. All of which serve to improve the development of our members.

Other major ongoing costs are the annual capitation paid to the Scout Association which provides support and insurance for all of the members.

The Group has additional insurance for non- members.

When necessary the Group waives or discounts subscription fees / camp fees for members whose families may otherwise struggle to meet the cost due to hardship.

In 2020, due to the pandemic, the Group allowed members to suspend monthly subscriptions to ensure those families who were impacted financially by government restrictions did not feel compelled to continue to pay each month. A local government grant was secured to cover the loss of income for the Group.

We allow other local groups to use the facility on a regular weekly basis. The stated aim of all of these groups is to promote the development of young people.

When possible, they make a donation to cover additional costs, wear and tear of equipment, insurance, gas, electricity and water costs. This donation was waived during 2020.

The Group does not have sufficient funds to make long term investments. It has therefore adopted a risk adverse strategy to the

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investment of its funds.

All funds are held in cash using only one mainstream UK bank.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)

Full name(s) Alasdair Ferro Simon Murray Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)[Secretary] Chair Date

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GROUP 2019
INCOME
18445.00
Subscriptions
4974.56
Camps & Trips
1657.39
Donations
4812.68
Gift Aid
3007.70
Plant Sale
1102.98
Kanderstag
132.00
Neckers/Hoodies
0.00
Development Fund
35363.56
EXPENDITURE
-1202.00
Insurance / Rent
-2352.88
Utilities
-6424.00
Capitation
-3286.29
Activities
-63.00
Training Fees
-1746.92
Badges/Neckers
-2837.49
General Equipment
-1036.70
Buildings & Maintenance
-7199.18
Camp & Trips Expenses
-1733.50
Donations
-2650.86
Gift Aid
-2037.23
Plant Sale
0.00
Kanderstag
-15000.00
Development Fund
-47911.55
-12547.99
Income over Expenditure
Development Fund P&L
Overall P&L for the Group
£ 23,819.55
Opening Balance 01/01/2020
£ 11,271.56
Closing Bank Balance
-£ 12,547.99
Check
£ 15,006.14
Development Fund Balance
£ 26,277.70
Overall Group Cash		 GROUP 2020
14495.08
1248.50
11075.00
5251.27
7757.70
116.50
0.00
5000.00
44944.05
-1292.99
-2030.95
-6486.00
-1889.61
-36.00
-642.65
-1462.99
-11696.57
-642.18
-10000.00
-125.00
-4694.75
-700.00
-5000.00
-46699.69
-1755.64
10018.67
8263.03
£ 11,271.56
£ 9,515.92
-£ 1,755.64
£ 25,024.81
£ 34,540.73

I declare these figures to true to the best of my knowledge

Prepared by: Andrea Morgan Audited By: Signed: A L Morgan Signed: Date: 01/07/2021 Date:

P&L -11042.68 606.32 1075.00 5126.27 3062.95 -583.50 0.00 0.00 -1755.64

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Subs
Income £ 14,495.08
Expenditure -£ 25,537.76
-£ 11,042.68
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P&L Category

Subs Subs Subs Subs Subs Subs Subs Subs Camps Donations Gift Aid Plant Sale Kanderstag Development

Bev Sanders B Sanders 0211612021

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ members of[3][rd][ Ashton-on-Mersey Scout Group ] On accounts for the year ended[31][st][ December 2020 ] Set out on pages 1-2

Charity no (if any)[520155 ]

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(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2020.

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Bev Sanders Date: 16/02/2020 Name: Bev Sanders Relevant professional MAAT - Member of Association of Accounting Technicians qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 14 Quarndon Heights Allestree, Derby DE22 2XN

October 2018

1

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

October 2018

2

IER