1 st Consett Scoul Group Annual Report & Accounts 24125 Istconsettsquirrels . Scouts 1st Consett Scouts Charity number: 520349 THE GROUP North Yorkshire with Scouts and Guides from around the world. Scouts embrated adventure with an in- door weekend camp at Great Towers In the Lakes. They completed a sumval weekend under the stars (buildin8 shel- ters and cooking Dverfiresl, too part in a week-long natlo#al adventure camp at Gilwell. and celebrated at Confido with Scouts from across Durharn County. It's been lnother fant8sti¢ y￿r at 1st C•n$ett Seout Group- bigg¢r, busier, and more adventur- ous than ever! Our youth membership continues to grow. and we were proud to launch the first Squir- rels section in the arel welcoming 8 ¢nthusi4slic 3-year-olds into the Con5ett Scouting family. Alongside this. our team of adult volunteers has grown t(x). bringing fr¢sh energy and commiknenl to our thriving 8TOUP. Nationally, ScoutlDg has seen significant change5 this year, with Trew digital systems. updated temi3- nology. atKI a refreshed leadershsp structure. Train- ing has also evolved. and while these ¢hanges tak¢ time to ¢rnbed l(*ally, our team has embraced them with resilience and adaptsbility. Our programme remains a5 exciting atxl varied as ever. with a Strong focus on ddve¢Jture. Acr055 all sections, young p¢ople have taken part in climbing. rifle shootiit8, laz¢r ta& skiing, archery. snow tub- c4noeing, pa(Idl¢boarding, and more. We've taken part in some group events including ¢)ur Hal- loween Fut) day and Clarty Bairns. We'ye also con- tinued our commitment to cornrnunity service - from food bank collections and litt¢r pi¢ks to su Poffing the Royal British Legion through poppy sales. Badgework has flouri5h¢l with hundreds awarded acros5 the group. Notably, eighteert young people achieved the prcstigious Chief Scout Award In their re5PeCtive se¢iions, with some honoured at th¢ County Awards Ceremony by the County C¢)mmis- sioner- proud moment for all involved. This year was re¢ord-breakin8 for nights away, with over 530 ¢onJpleted! From B¢av¢rs enjoying their rjrst sleepover at the ScoTr]t Hut to older seciions heading off otl adventurous camps futther afield. the ¢xperi¢nces have been unforgettable.. Be8YeTS ¢njoy¢d several indoor nights away, including 8 51eepover at Beamish Museum with the Cub5 and a Harry Pot- ter themed 2 night adventur¢. They also comped outdoors at the County Pitch Up alongside hundred5 of Durham Beavers. Cwbs took part in a tech-themed ¢amp at the Scout Hut and joined the Beavers at Beamish for their indoor earnps. They camped with hundreds of County Cubs at Cubboree, visited the home of Scouting at Gilwell for a three-night national ad- ventur¢ camp, artd even attended a two- night international camp at Larkin in None ofthis would be possible without our incredible adult volunteers. From section l¢ad- ers and parent helpers to the b¢hind-th¢-sc¢nes heroes who maintain our Scout Hut, build our resourc£s, and serve ￿ tnISte￿- your dedica- tion, creativity, and time are the backbone of our success. It's far more than "an hour a we¢k," and we are ettdlessly grdteful for your inspiration and support. Looking ahe8. ons as well as apply forany fundi@gr8nts we are nd rnan ibl• fof, b generate more Ir￿￿￿. Ckryarty protr lern5 such as lh8 continying Nse In (ost of living The Group wa$ registe￿d Wbth the chanty Commiss￿)n mean5 that we need to rnonitor ourfinanf*S Carefully on the 9 April 1965 under the Scout ASSO￿at￿n Trust and an Increase In membership fees may hav8 to b8 Deed 1955. The Group is manage(1 by the Group conshlered. Exe¢utlve committee the m8mbers of whlch are Ihe Poll 'Charity Trustees.. Trustee5 are apwnted in ac¢or¢- The reserve fund remains the same as last year, at ance with POR. As charrty trustees they are responsible £5.000. The Group's policy on reserves 1$ lo hold for cornptying with legislation ap￿1¢able to charrtie8. suffiC￿nt re5tyJrce5 to continue the charitable activities of the group shoJl¢J income and fundraising 8Ctivitl8S ThL8 includes the regi8tratKJn, keeping of proper ac- fall short. The Group Executwe Committee GQllSKler5 nting records and making retums to the Charity that group should hold a sum equivaknt to 12 Commission as appropriate. The committee comkffises rnonlhs buildtng running ¢osts. both nominated and elected repr858nlabv88 as r8- Risk rn8n8 ement quir8d by POR. The Iru5tee5 have h8enlIf￿d the rnalor risks to whkh they believe the Group 15 exp058d, these have been Alm and ob reviewed and systems have been established to The Group's aitn. in common wilh Ihat of the Se£sut milwJate against them. The Group has in place systems AssoGalion. Ss the physical, m8ntal and splr6tual devel. of intemal eontrds that ar8 d8signed to provide OPrn8nt of young people. re880nable assuran¢ against m818ri81 Ilc benefl mismanagement or loss. Ih¥se indyde 2 signatories for all payments and a cornprehenswe insurance policy to The objectN8s of Ihe group a￿ as a unit of Ihe Scout ensure that insurable risks are covered. A6$0¢iation. roval of tho tni8tee Scouting exlsts to aGtNely engage and 5UPPOrt y¢MJng Approved by the Irust8e5 on 4 knember 2025 and people in Ihetr p8rson81 develokwnent. empowellng signed on their behalf by.. them to make a positive contribution lo so¢iety. In partnership with adults. young peop18 take part in fun indoor and outdoor activfties. They leam by dThng, by sharing in 5piritU81 reflectK)n and by taklng respon- sibility. They make Choi￿5. und8rt8ke new and r*al- lenging activit￿s, and they live their Scout Promise. The TnJ$tee5 have complied wrth the duty under Sec- tKsn 17 of Ihe Charities Act 2011 to hav8 due regard to the public benefit guidan¢& published by the Charity CommiSs￿n 8nd th8 trustees hove paid dye regard to Ihts guidan(% in deading what aciwrtles the Charity Shou￿ undertaxe. Phll H•rnby Group Chalr The Group does not have sufflelent fttnds to inv85t in l¢mger tem inve5trn8nts. The Group has therefore 8dopted a aver58 Strategy to Ihe Invesb))enl of It5 Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of 1st Consett Scout Group I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 31 March 2025. As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in a¢- cordance with the requirements of the Charities Ad 2011 {'the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's a￿1)Unts e2rried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the 8ppIic8- ble Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in =onnectbon with the eXars1nat￿n which gives me cause to believe •that in, any material respect.. the accounting Tr¢ords were not kept In accordance wlth section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts dld not accord wlth the accounting records.. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concem- Ing the ft>rm and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requlrement that the ac- counts give a 'true and faiw view which is not a matter consldered as part of an independent examlnation. As Ind6pendent Examiner I was unablè to obtain any documentary eviden￿ to support the basis on which income, expenditure and r2sh assets are reported in the 1st Consett Accounts in relation to the HQ building shared with 1$1 Blackhill. I would therefore rec- ommend to the Trustees that they ensure that th8re is a document specifying the all¢> calion of HQ income, expenditure and cash assets on which to base the 2024125 and future years, Accounts. I have no further 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 p roper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mrs C Mccomlck Date... lshiii< Howden Bank Farm, Maiden Law, County Durham BALANCE SHEET 31st March 2025 31st March 2024 Unrestrlctsd funds Unrestrlcted funds Cash funds Cheque account 18,137.34 20,361.82 Deposlt account 5,079.06 5,019.55 HQ Account 2.163.39 519.83 4,531.52 1.221.48 31.1x37 Stripe account Total Bank Accounts 25,899.62 Llabllltl8s 0.00 N8t Assets 25.899.62 31.134.37 Unrestrlctsd Funds Brought fo￿ard Incoming resources- page 7 Outgoing reSoU￿s- page 8 Carried foNard 31.134.37 28.217.35 46.506.$5 54,504.16 151,587.14} 31,134.37 {51.741.30} 25.899.62 The Group notes that we own the buildlng that we operate from jointly with 1st Blackhill (St den's) Scout Group. The above Accoun15 include the 1st Consett Scout Group share ol the costs, income and cash funds In relauon to the HQ building. The Group also owns a mlnibu5. The above account and accornpanying payments and recelpts were approved by the Tru tees on 4 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by:_ J Wrlght P Hamby Group Lead Volunteer Group Chair RECEIPTS 31st March 2025 31st March 2024 Unro$trl¢tod funds Unrestrlcted fund% Donatlon$. legacl89 and slmllar Income MembershiD subscriDtions 17.477.50 18.257.50 Gift aid 11.816.82 Sub total 17.477.50 30,047.32 Grants Genéral 62.78 Sub totsl 500.00 62.78 Fundralslng Events 3,236.98 0.00 Sub totsl 3,236.98 0.00 Actlvltles General activities and camps Sundry 19,238.00 20.355.85 0.00 0.00 Sub total 19.238.00 20,355.85 Other Income Bank interest 58.88 65.41 HQ Income 4.644.48 2,520.00 0.00 Donafjons 288.31 Minibus 1,062.40 1,425.80 Sub total 6,054.07 4.011.21 Total rocelpts Less total payments IP8ge 81 Net (outgolngsl I Incomg for tho year 46.506.55 151.741.301 {5.234.75} 54.504.16 151.587.141 2.917.02 PAYMENTS 318t March 2025 31st March 2024 Unrestrfctsd funds Unre$trl¢ted fvnds Preml$g$ Costs utilities 3.598.57 4,532.40 1.748.68 Insurance 2.142.59 2.944.45 Repairs and cleaning 2,059.53 Sub Tota5 8,685.61 8.340.61 Actlvltles Youth Proyramme and Actiwties Purchase of Badges & Uniform Purchase of Equipment Memb8rship fees Leaders training 27,014.55 1.562.38 28,423.56 1,412.69 286.60 1.789.50 8.994.00 0.00 7.906.00 118.30 Sub Total 39.360.43 38.147.15 Admlnlstratlon Expens mis￿lIan¢0￿5 89.37 19.25 County loan Bank charges 843.75 1,698.73 1,192.63 Sub Total 1,788.10 2,055.63 Fundralslng Expgnses Fundraising Expenses 250.00 Sub Total 0.00 250.1)0 Mlnlbus Expenses Minlbus Runnlng Costs 1,907.16 2,793.75 Sub Totsl 1.907.16 2.793.75 Total payments 51.741.30 51,587.14 Scouts 1st Consett Scouts