## **Trustees’ Annual Report 109[th] Leicester Countesthorpe St Andrew’s Scout Group**
**1[st] March 2025 – 28[th] February 2026 Charity number 521759**
Page 1
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
## **Objectives and activities**
|**Summary of the purpose and**
**objects of the charity as set**
**out in its governing document**|The objectives of the charity are as a part of The Scout Association.
**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
- make and live by their promise|
|---|---|
|**Summary of the main activities**
**in relation to the purpose and**
**objects**|In the reporting year, our 7 Sections have all met for weekly
meetings in line with our programme, as well as regular additional
camps and events, giving our youth and adult members ‘A Place to
Belong’ in Scouting. Our Group grew to it’s largest ever membership
of 186young people at the end of the reporting year.|
|**Statement confirming the**
**trustees have had regard to**
**the guidance issued by the**
**Charity Commission on public**
**benefit**|The Trustees confirm that the charity meets the Charity
Commission’s Public Benefit criteria under both the advancement of
education and the advancement of citizenship or community
development headings.|
|||
|**Hardship**|The Group holds a Hardship Policy to support those who need
additional support, to ensure financial difficulty does not prohibit
young people from taking part in our Charity’s activities and makes
sure Scouting is available for all. This operates in conjunction with
our Uniform Green Machine and using support from Leicestershire
Scouts Access to Scoutingfund where required.|
Page 2
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
## **Report of the year**
## **Chair report**
I am now in my sixth year as chair for the trustee board. We have had another great year within 109[th] Countesthorpe Scouts’ group.
The Trustee board has continued to be stable with all posts covered and bimonthly meetings with good attendance, allowing us to continue to make positive decisions about the group and the way things are ran. This year we have had some changes with Nick stepping down as Treasurer to become the new Scout leader and Malaz joining as our newly elected treasurer. Malaz has been with us since December, but we welcome her into the trustee board. Nick has remained on the board as a trustee member.
The group has continued to grow in numbers, with us at 186 young people at the last census across the four sections, however we have continued to grow and as of today have 191 young people. This has meant that we have been able to continue to offer all of the young people involved lots of amazing opportunities in Scouting. We also have 50 adult volunteers which is essential in supporting all of our young people across all of the sections and getting involved in all areas for the group.
We can finally say that the work on the roof is all but complete now and we look forward to welcoming the group back into the hut in September. I want to thank the trustees for their dedication and patience during the past few years whilst we have been managing all of the complications in relation to this. We have all learnt more about roofing configuration and construction than I am sure we really wanted to! We hope in the year coming that we will now be able to start to consider the next steps for the hut to try and support it to better manage the number of young people we now have in the group. John has continued to be integral in the group as our quarter master ensuring that we have all the right equipment for all the wonderful activities that we do, including continuing with an inventory of our equipment. We have continued to maintain the relevant areas of the hut as it required throughout the year to ensure that we are up to date with all safety and security procedures.
We have been able to continue to do what Scouting does best; meeting up and having lots of fun and opportunities for all of the young people involved. We have been able to offer a wide range of activities for all involved, which you will hear more about throughout the meeting. The trustee board have continued to ensure that all health and safety standards are adhered to in the hut and also support to the sections to be able to run with this all in place as required.
In January we started a sub-team of Trustees to consider Risk, Health and Safety and Building management, we are meeting quarterly, to consider these topics. This has
Page 3
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
been greatly assisted by Jim one of our trustees who is now leading on this, a huge thank you to Jim for getting us in a much better place with all of these matters.
As we have had to close the hut now for several week this has impacted on our hut hirers for which we apologise for, but now we are nearing the end of the work, we hope that we will be able to build this up again. Lucy has very kindly been managing this for us and communicating with the hirers to ensure things are running smoothly. Thanks Lucy!
Cherry Lane bonfire went ahead as planned November 2025 and Cherry Lane very generously donated £500 to the group for our support with this event, which we want to give our heartfelt thanks for. We continue to seek opportunities to fund raise for the group with our annual gala and other local events.
We want to thank you for your continued contribution with payments of subs, during these difficult times and please remember we have a hardship policy that can support any families who would need some extra help in paying to be part of Scouting.
I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of our volunteers, which have increased in numbers again this year, who have continued to support us throughout this year, to provide amazing opportunities to all of the young people involved in the group. On a personal note, I have again thoroughly enjoyed being part of the group and joining in with activities such as the panto, fundraising for the group and group camp too. I was even lucky enough to have the opportunity to be part of the team that took 50 Scouts and Explorers to an International camp to Kandersteg, Switzerland, for two weeks, which was incredible. It has really opened my eyes to the adventure and opportunities we offer our young people in Scouting. We as a family continue to gain a huge amount out of being part of this wonderful group and continue to reap all of the rewards from this. I would encourage anyone who is thinking of volunteering to please get involved as there are many rewards. There are lots of jobs big and small and all of us working together as a team make Countesthorpe Scouts what it is today!
Louise Topley
## **Group Lead report**
If there’s one thing we can always say about our Group, it’s that it’s certainly never dull! You will note that our reporting year runs alongside our financial one – from March 2025 – February 2026, but not much has happened since the end of February anyway…
But before all that, what a phenomenally successful period this has been – there’s so much to celebrate:
Page 4
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
- Further growth, to 186 young people by the 2026 Census – the largest by far that the Group has ever been.
- Double victory for our Scouts in hiking competitions, with a resounding Rambling Fox victory in April 2025 against teams from across the County followed by an even more emphatic win against teams from across the country at Borderhike in September.
- More awards for our Panto – with Goldilocks winning the Youth Pantomime of the year award for the 4[th] successive year as well as winning in 3 other categories and gaining a number of nominations at the Pantomime Alliance of Leicestershire Awards.
- Our biggest ever Group trip to Walesby Scout Campsite, Nottinghamshire, where over 130 young people from Squirrels to Young Leaders, took part in activities from bellboating and kayaking to Jacob’s Ladder, a zipline and so much more.
- A record breaking Summer Gala raising £3500 for the Group, as well as doing so much to boost our image in the community, running a great event for the village.
- 12 young people and 1 Group Chair enjoying the opportunity of a lifetime at Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland, enjoying hikes through the stunning Alps, white water rafting, meeting Scouts from across the world and gaining so many skills and experiences.
- Sticking on an international theme, 3 young people – now all Young Leaders, being selected to represent Leicestershire at the World Scout Jamboree in Poland in 2027 – we believe the first time anyone from our Group has ever attended.
- Supporting the community at the village VE Day celebrations in May – running activities for visitors to enjoy and running the BBQ. We also supported St Andrew’s Church Community day in June by running a BBQ and supported the Cherry Lane Bonfire as mentioned.
- So many ‘smaller’ events, such as a Group Camp for 125 young people at Johns Lee Wood, over 100 young people heading through Wistow Maze in September, 150 people at a free family day in August for games and a campfire, 35 young people at De Montfort’s Panto in January and so many more meetings, trips out, badges earned and skills learnt that there are too many to mention.
- Loads of Top Awards (Acorn, Bronze, Silver, Gold) earned across all our Sections. (I attempted to count this year, and lost track – but somewhere between 50-60 across the year!)
Isn’t that the most incredible list – so much to celebrate and be proud of. All made possible by over 50 regular volunteers, more than any other Group in Leicestershire, without whom none of this would happen. Our Group has so much fun, adventure,
Page 5
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
friendship and complete and utter chaos – I feel incredibly lucky to be able to lead such an amazing group that so many want to be part of. It’s a mammoth task at times, we don’t seem to do ‘small’ events anymore and when you step back and think about what we’re doing, the first conclusion is generally that we are pretty crazy, (like doing a duck race without a river for example), but also that Countesthorpe Scouts is a special group to be a part of.
Indeed one of the largest risks we currently have identified is that demand vastly exceeds our capacity at the moment and waiting lists still exist for Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs. As more Groups locally start to open Squirrels, this is easing slightly, but given housing developments in the area and our popularity, it is an issue that isn’t going away. I mentioned at last year’s AGM, that when taking over the Group in June 2020, we set a target of reaching 180 young people by the end of 2025 – which we achieved. As we finally put the building issues behind us, we can concentrate on developing our new strategy for the years to come, looking at options to expand our building, in turn expanding our Sections, but doing so in a manageable way which prioritises our output – ensuring that delivering quality Scouting each week is always at the forefront when we take every decision.
And so it’s time to note that, besides the happy headlines, it’s actually been a very difficult period for the Group. Besides the personal life struggles that a large number of us have faced in the last 12-18 months, the challenges with the hut have been incredibly draining on all of our resources. The full details of this saga have now already been shared with the Group Scout Council, but there are a couple of reflections I would like to make. The start of 2026 saw the very real possibility that we would have to take the case to court – which our insurance company would have supported. However a decision was made in February to accept a Part 36 offer for what we believed would be 90% of the full cost of repairs. We now know that this wasn’t even 40% of the full cost and the 3 weeks out of the hut have turned into 14 weeks and counting.
The hours of emergency meetings, long emails, assessing the options and making difficult decisions has been a huge task on Trustees, in addition to their standard and expected responsibilities. It has been a massive responsibility that seemed like it would never end – 4 years of pain since we first noticed issues. To all our Trustees, past and present, thankyou isn’t enough, not only for your time, but for your support to me, in tackling such a frustrating and draining issue.
Thankyou to all of our young people and families for bearing with us in recent months amidst the uncertainty, late changes of plan and often additional travel to meetings. We really appreciate your support. Thankyou also to our amazing leadership teams, who have risen to the challenge, with inventive and original programme ideas to keep Scouting running for all of our young people – making sure the fun hasn’t stopped. All this while continuing to deliver several pretty big events, despite the disruption to
Page 6
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
our usual planning routines! Huge thanks to St Andrews Church for accommodating so many of our meetings in their buildings at reduced cost and being so supportive to us. Thanks also to the Leicestershire Scouts Forward 5 fund, which made it possible for us to continue works with minimal delay when the full extent of damage was found.
It should be noted that from having been in a very stable financial position, the sudden loss of income, additional costs to the Group, loan to repay and loss of the usual Bonfire donation – all factors that were unexpected and out of our control, have now put the Group into a very different reality. As you will see in the financial report, the Group is still in a healthy position, but we will need to review our budgets going forward and we are seeking alternative sources of revenue – as well as continuing to pursue any costs towards the building works that we can recoup through our insurance.
Which brings me to my final thankyou. While we consider ourselves quite unlucky with how this situation came to happen and frustrated with the way it took so long to resolve, we are beyond fortunate to have had the support of Rich Coppock (now County Chair). Using his work experience and qualifications, as well as a number of contacts in the field, Rich has been absolutely invaluable in writing reports, speaking to experts, dissecting legal reports with comments to feedback, proof reading our responses, advising our Trustees and perhaps hardest of all, answering my endless questions and helping to keep me sane! A number of ‘experts’ repeatedly told us that the damage was just aesthetic, it is only down to Rich’s persistence and advice on evidence to offer that we were able to break through and get to a point where we could reach a resolution for the Group. When I rang Rich to tell him about the full extent of the damage on the day it was uncovered, he quite typically replied ‘yes I know, I wrote you a report saying it would do that 3 years ago’… We laugh now, but we are simply indebted to the hours of work and support Rich has given us free of charge – plus the thousands of pounds he and his contacts have saved us. We could never have reached this point without him.
We are all now looking forward to finally moving on from this episode and getting back to what we do best – delivering fantastic Scouting for our incredible young people.
Jack Barber
Page 7
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
## **Squirrels report:**
This year has been another fantastic year for our Squirrel Scouts, filled with adventure, learning, friendship and fun. It continues to be a privilege to support our youngest members as they begin their Scouting journey and grow in confidence, skills and independence.
For many of our volunteers, we also have children attending the local primary school, and we have become something of local celebrities at the school gates! It is incredibly rewarding to be recognised as familiar and trusted faces within our community and to see the positive impact Scouting has on local families.
Nationally, Squirrels is celebrating five years since its launch, making this a fitting time to reflect on our own success. Since Abbie opened our first Squirrel Drey in 2024 with 14 children it was only 5 months until we were at full capacity. Laura then opened a 2[nd] drey and we have been at full capacity since. It is particularly rewarding to see many of those Squirrel’s progress into Beavers and beyond, and to watch them grow not only taller but also in confidence, resilience and skills.
Within our weekly meetings, the Squirrels have enjoyed a varied programme packed with exciting opportunities. Highlights have included completing Level 1 of the Community Impact Badge, raising butterflies from caterpillars, visiting the local allotment, and singing Christmas songs for residents at a local care home. They have also enjoyed making mince pies, learning how to put up a tent, mindfulness walks, building bug hotels, scavenger hunts and many other outdoor activities.
Our annual sleepover at the Scout Hut was another huge success, with a record number of Squirrels attending. The evening was filled with board games, laughter, cheese and crackers, and despite a late night, the Squirrels somehow still had endless energy the next morning. Danny Go proved invaluable in helping keep everyone entertained while the adults gradually woke up!
We have also enjoyed several memorable outings. Last summer we visited Twinlakes, and this summer we are looking forward to our trip to Wicksteed Park. During the winter, we went ice skating, which proved to be one of the highlights of the year. For many of the Squirrels it was their first time on the ice, and it was wonderful to see them challenge themselves, support one another and develop new skills.
One of the greatest strengths of our Scout Group is the opportunity for Squirrels to spend time with members from all sections. Events such as the Christmas Carol Concert, Remembrance Day Service, the Gala Parade and St George's Day celebrations allow them to see what they can aspire to as they progress through Scouting. These shared experiences help foster a strong sense of belonging within the wider Scout family.
None of this would be possible without our fantastic volunteers, both past and present. Their dedication, enthusiasm and wealth of experience enable us to deliver
Page 8
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
a varied, engaging and fun-filled programme every week. We are also incredibly grateful for the support of our Young Leaders, who are excellent role models and are greatly admired by the Squirrels. Their energy, commitment and willingness to help make a real difference to the experience of our young members.
Thank you to all of our volunteers, Young Leaders, parents and supporters for another successful year. Most importantly, thank you to our amazing Squirrels, whose enthusiasm, curiosity and sense of adventure make every meeting a joy. We look forward to another exciting year ahead.
Leanne Upton
## **Beavers report**
This has been another great year for both of our Beaver Colonies, filled with fun and adventure, with plenty of badges earnt and skills developed. Both our Colonies have remained full throughout the year, with a lengthy Beaver waiting list becoming a huge challenge to the group – standing at 18 young people at the end of the reporting year. Indeed, in order to accommodate the availability of Squirrels moving up, by February 2026, we were in fact slightly over capacity in our Tuesday Section, something which continues to be carefully managed in terms of meeting ratios and ensuring activities are appropriate for the high numbers.
We started the reporting year with Pancakes, always a winner with the Beavers, but combined with some teamwork games and problem solving skills. As the weather got warmer, we worked towards the Gardener badge, with lots of photos of very large bean and sunflower points flooding in throughout the Summer! Beavers marked 80 years since VE Day, learning all about what life was like in the war – including having a go at rationing, deciding which food items they would buy with their limited ration vouchers! We earnt our Cyclist and Communcator badges, alongside annual favourites of cooking sausages on a fire and a countryside walk.
For our Community Impact project of 2025, Beavers voted to support endangered hedgehogs. For this we learnt about the challenges hedgehogs are facing, entered poster competition by the Hedgehog Society to raise awareness, worked to make our own gardens hedgehog friendly – with some Beavers building hedgehog houses, and then went to visit some real life hedgehogs at the Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital. We had a great time seeing all of the animals and understanding how the hospital supports injured and sick wildlife, as well as seeing watching some of the hedgehogs get cleaned out and undergo their daily checks. One of our Beavers also did some fundraising and raised over £100 for a wildlife charity.
The Summer term finished with a trip to Ullesthorpe Campsite for fires and games, but before long we were back with another animal themed trip to Windmill Farm where Beavers got to meet and feed lots of the animals. The Beaver/Squirrel camp at
Page 9
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
Holwell Pastures was a little bit damp, but everyone managed to have a go at the climbing wall and just about had a dry campfire, before Beavers camped out in tents overnight. As the nights turned darker, Emergency Aid, Space and Air Activity badges were all earnt, as well as decorating pebbles for Remembrance Day.
December was jam packed with mincemeat making, a trip to Wacky Warehouse and our Christmas Party – with chips on the menu! 2026 began with making marble runs, work on our YouShape Award, the start of another Community Impact project – this time supporting the homeless and knot tying.
Throughout this year though, our Young Leaders have been an incredible asset and have planned and ran many of our evenings for us. We have had amazing evenings pretending to be astronauts, learning about the world’s geography, drama activities and an Escape Room. Original activities, nothing that we’ve done before but loved by the Beavers and led by young people. Thankyou all of you, our Colonies are much better for having you!
Beavers have also attended all of the Group events in the reporting period, including the trip to Walesby, Group Camp, Family Day, Pantomime and De Montfort University Panto trip. There have been no Beavers specific District or County events this year, but we did attend the District St George’s event in April. The majority of Beavers have also managed to complete their Bronze Awards before moving up to Cubs.
As ever, a massive thankyou to all of the volunteers who have given up so much time to support us across the year, as well as to the Beavers themselves for bringing so much fun and energy to our sessions. Looking forward to more madness to come! Jack Barber
## **Monday Cubs**
We kicked off this period with a burst of energy and a very busy spring. The Cubs began with a brilliant trip to the Science Museum in London, where they explored, pressed every button in sight, and asked questions so tricky even the museum staff needed a moment to think.
Next came Pancake Day and naturally, the Cubs insisted on making their own pancake mix before attempting to cook and flip them. The results were… enthusiastic. The toppings were chaotic, and the results were, erm, questionable.
We progressed to maps and mini hikes, introducing compasses and practising sixfigure grid references, including a Where’s Wally? challenge that tested both navigation skills and patience.
We explored the Seasons and learned which fruits and vegetables grow at different times of the year. The Cubs created their own mini greenhouses and took home a
Page 10
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
pinto bean to care for. The photos of fully grown beans sent in afterwards were wonderful to see.
Then came the Midland Roller Arena, where the Cubs skated, slid, wobbled, and laughed their way around the rink.
Another mini hike followed, because practice makes perfect. Selected Cubs then took part in Rambling Fox, proudly showing their determination and navigation skills, and proving they can now follow a trail without accidentally inventing a new one.
Before the term ended, we held an Easter Egg Hunt, with clues sending the Cubs running around the hut solving problems before finding their chocolate reward.
We also created peace flags for the D-Day celebrations, played rounders at the paddock, practised tent pitching, and of course finished the summer with what I think has now become a summer tradition, the water fight.
After the school holidays, we launched straight into ice cream, because nothing says welcome back like giving 30 children sugar and then asking them to listen.
Our first big outing was Wistow Maze, where the Cubs demonstrated excellent teamwork by splitting into groups, wandering off in different directions, and somehow still all finding the exit, which I think was a miracle in itself.
Back in the hut, we tackled knots. The Cubs learned knots, the leaders pretended to remember knots, and at least two Cubs tied themselves together “just to see if they could.”
We also enjoyed not one but two Cub Run Nights, where the Cubs took charge of the programme. The leaders survived both evenings, which is a major achievement and the Cubs who ran them did exceptionally well.
The creative side of the programme was in full swing again this year. We held a Recycled Fashion Show featuring outfits made from cardboard, crisp packets, and one surprisingly stylish bin-bag ensemble.
We celebrated Diwali with crafts and food, Halloween with spooky chaos, and Bonfire Night with crafts, a fantastic dragon creation, and sparklers that made everyone nervous except the Cubs.
Our Remembrance activity was beautifully respectful, and the Cubs showed real maturity, a rare moment of calm in an otherwise energetic year. We squeezed in First Aid, where Cubs learned how to bandage each other, diagnose imaginary injuries, and apply plasters with the enthusiasm of junior paramedics.
We played board games, and our Hobbies & Collector Night brought an impressive range of items, from Pokémon cards to a Natural History Museum made entirely of Lego, presented with great pride.
As winter rolled in, we made Christmas crafts, held a Christmas party, and obviously found glitter in the hut for weeks afterwards.
Page 11
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
The new year brought even more adventure. We tackled the World International Badge, made paracord bracelets, rolled fruit balls, and revisited First Aid because you can never have too many bandages.
We visited the Leicester Riders, where the Cubs discovered that basketball is loud, fast, and extremely exciting. We also visited Ninja Warriors, where the Cubs battled obstacles, gravity, and their own enthusiasm.
We finished the year with Chinese New Year, listening to the story of the zodiac animals and learning why each one earned its place. The Cubs made Chinese horses and lanterns and even had a go at Chinese writing, producing results that ranged from impressively accurate to wonderfully abstract.
This year, our Cubs earned an impressive 237 badges. Six Cubs (three being presented next week) proudly achieved their Silver Award. Their hard work, curiosity, and boundless energy have made us incredibly proud.
A huge thank you to our leadership team for planning, running, and surviving this wonderfully chaotic programme. And to our parents — thank you for lifts, reminders, forms, patience, and for sending your Cubs each week ready for whatever madness we had planned.
This year has been full of laughter, learning, and unforgettable moments. It has been a privilege to lead such an enthusiastic, curious, and wonderfully spirited group of young people.
Catriona Phillips
## **Tuesday Cubs**
During the reporting period, the Cub Scout section has enjoyed another busy and exciting year packed with adventure, challenge and fun. The section has continued to grow and develop starting off with 21 cubs and finishing with 30, as always supported by a fantastic team of leaders, young leaders and volunteers who have helped make the year such a success.
A starting highlight of the year was a trip to Ninja Warriors, where the Cubs enjoyed tackling the inflatables and obstacle courses while encouraging one another to take on new challenges. We also had the opportunity to visit Leicester Riders, where the Cubs practised their basketball skills and met some of the players, providing an inspiring and memorable experience.
As always, community events played an important role throughout the year. Cubs proudly attended the Remembrance Parade and later supported local VE Day celebrations. We also marked St George’s Day by taking part in a range of adventurous activities including blow darts, the aerial runway and obstacle challenges.
Page 12
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
Creativity was on display when the Cubs built their own Guy Fawkes figure and once again many Cubs discovered hidden talents through their participation in the annual pantomime.
The annual Sixers and Seconders Camp provided opportunities for leadership development and adventure. Despite some challenging weather and an incredibly slow-boiling kettle, the Cubs enjoyed crafts, exploration activities, night hikes and plenty of fun together.
The Cubs also represented the group at the Rambling Fox competition, putting their scouting skills, teamwork and problem-solving abilities to the test. Another highlight was a visit to Wistow Maze, where Cubs worked together to navigate their way through the challenges.
Summer brought warmer weather and the return of the ever-popular water fights, which were enjoyed by Cubs and leaders alike. The District Cub Camp was another fantastic experience, with Cubs taking part in climbing, tackling the water slide and, of course, enjoying plenty of ice cream.
Group Camp once again proved to be a major highlight of the year. Cubs challenged themselves with activities including caving, fire lighting and archery, developing confidence and resilience while creating lasting memories with friends.
A trip to Walesby offered another highlight, where Cubs took part in rafting, bridge building, climbing and catapult construction. The trip provided an excellent opportunity for Cubs to challenge themselves, learn new skills and demonstrate the adventurous spirit that Scouting encourages.
Thank you to all of the volunteers, young leaders and parents who have supported the Cub section throughout the year. Your continued commitment makes these opportunities possible, and we look forward to another exciting year ahead. James Henson
## **Scouts**
Over the past 12 months, the Scout section has had a very positive and eventful year. Following my taking over as Scout Leader in September, the section has maintained numbers and developed, now supporting 44 Scouts and 2 Young Leaders. Thanks to Matt for everything he did in the first half of the year.
The leadership team has also seen some changes and now consists of myself, Mariana, Sarah, Simon, Louisa and Jordan (who is currently taking a break following the arrival of his baby). As a newly formed team, we are working very well together and would like to thank Louise and James for their support in helping us successfully relaunch the group in September after Matt stepped down at the end of last term. Due to our good numbers, we have expanded to six patrols and frequently operate across two locations to accommodate everyone.
Page 13
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
The Scouts have enjoyed a wide range of activities and achievements this year. Highlights include winning the Borderhike in what was widely described as the wettest event in living memory!! An international camp to Kandersteg, Switzerland, whereby Louise took along 12 Scouts, for an incredible camp in the Swiss alps as well as successful group, expedition and passport camps.
Our programme has been varied and engaging, including fire skills at Ullesthorpe, a walk from Arnesby to the hut, kayaking, a trip to Wistow Maze, visits to Walesby for outdoor activities, and participation in Rambling Fox and JOTI camp. We have also taken part in community and group events such as St George’s Camp, where we came 3rd in the Alan Greenwood cup, Remembrance Day, VE Day commemorations on the paddock, the local gala and parade, and the Active Arts Fair, supporting them to set up and pack away. We also arranged a Halloween fundraising event which raised £300—used towards a pre-Christmas bowling trip - and a campsite work day followed by a sleepover at the hut.
Scouts were involved in Goldilocks pantomime and all thoroughly enjoyed this, followed by attending _Dick Whittington_ at De Montfort Hall.
We continue to meet weekly, offering a fun, active and supportive environment for all our Scouts.
Nick Topley
Page 14
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
## **Financial review**
|Income||
|---|---|
|Subs Go Cardless|£ 16,062.50|
|subs direct payments|£ 29.00|
|**Subs total**|**£ 16,091.50**|
|Activities Go Cardless|£ 16,612.55|
|Activities direct payments|£ 7,344.51|
|**Activities total**|**£ 23,957.06**|
|**International**|**£ 500.00**|
|**Grants & Fundraising**|**£ 10,673.96**|
|**Gift aid**|**£ 3,242.84**|
|**Interest Payment**|**£ 558.09**|
|**Hut Hire**|**£ 3,939.00**|
|**Clothing**|**£ 523.00**|
|**Sundries and Refunds**|**£ 416.37**|
|**Total**|**£ 59,834.70**|
|Expenditure||
|**Cleaning**|**£ 2,447.93**|
|**Utilities + Insurance**|**£ 3,623.08**|
|**Activities**|**£ 29,376.41**|
|**Clothing**|**£ 1,262.10**|
|**Capitation**|**£ 10,030.15**|
|**Equipment**|**£ 4,986.11**|
|**Fundraising Expenses**|**£ 1,441.57**|
|**Sundries and Refunds**|**£ 415.77**|
|**Hut Hire**|**£ 210.00**|
|**Donations**|**£ 80.00**|
|**International payments**|**£ 1,540.46**|
|**Building Maintenance**|**£ 2,364.01**|
|**GoCardless payments**|**£ 1,637.60**|
|**TOTAL**|**£ 59,415.19**|
|**Net**|**£ 419.51**|
|**Bank reconciliation**||
|Bank balance b/f at 1st March 2025|37,464.66|
|Net movement in year|419.51|
|**Bank balance as at 28 February 2026**|**37,884.17**|
Page 15
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
England & Wales
Unqualified report for a non-company charity preparing receipts and payments accounts
wf(h a gross income of £250.000 or Less in the relevant financial year
Ind•pend•nt examinerfs reportts the trUrtee5 01109th Lei¢est•r Count•sthorw Sco
Group
I reportto thetnJstee$ on my examinatlon of the 8ccounts ofthe IOV Lelcester CoUrtesthot Stout
Groupfortheyearendod 2 February 2026.
Respon$ibiiiti•s and basis of report
As the tharity trustees of the IOV Leicester Countesthorpe Scout Group you are responsible forthe
preparatlon of the accounts in accor(lance with the requirements of the Charibe5 Act 2011 Ithe Actl.
I report in respect of my examination of the 109th Leicester Countesthorpe Scout Group accovnts carried
out under secbDn 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have fouowed aLLthe
appts'cabie DirectK)ns given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the ACL
Independent examiner's stthment
I have completed my examin8tion. I confirrn that no material matters have corne to my attention in
coTrnection with the examination giving rne tause to bebeve that in any material respect.
accounting records were nrt kept in respect of the 109th Leicester Countesthorpe Scout Group as
required by Section 130 of the A¢ or
Z the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no nrnS and have come across other matters in connection with the examination to which
•ttention Should be drawn in this repDrt in orderto en8bLe a proper understanding of the accounts to be
reached.
Slgned..
Namt Karen Lifiw*tt FCCA
ReLÈvant profe5wnal qualification or membership of professional bDdies Irf any).. Fellow Chartered
Certified Accountsnt
Addre5& 4 Archery Close, Counte5thoTpe, Leicester, LE8 5QB
22 JLfnQ Lo
Trustees. Annual Report for the period 01103125 - 28102126
Page 16
|**Review of the financial position**|Well, yet again we have had another busy year. Continued strong
membership has led to financial growth across the Group. The
headline figures for the year show total income of £59,834.70, total
expenditure of £59,415.19 and a net surplus of £419.51.
Subscription income remained strong at £16,091.50 and continues
to provide a vital source of funding for the Group. This level of
membership also resulted in capitation costs of £10,030.15,
representing one of our most significant areas of expenditure.
Despite ongoing financial pressures, we have maintained our
subscription rates, ensuring that we remain one of the most
affordable Groups in the District.
We have continued to deliver a wide range of activities across all
sections, including our Group trip to Walesby Scout Campsite,
various camps and sleepovers, and the Group Camp at Johns Lee
Wood.
Income
from
activities
totalled
£23,957.06,
while
expenditure on trips and activities reached £29,376.41. We also had
12 young people and 1 volunteer connected with the Group attend
an international experience in Switzerland. As we did not run this
trip, money charged was not paid into our account, however you will
see in the accounts that collective fundraising was paid into our
account and then paid out to the relevant members.
As in previous years, the Group has chosen to subsidise a number of
events to keep them accessible to all young people, with the
Pantomime remaining a notable example.
The Group also had another successful year of fundraising. Record
returns from the Gala of £3,500, together with a donation of £500
from Cherry Lane following a successful bonfire event, contributed
to a grants and fundraising income of £10,673.96 with a further
£3,242.84 received through Gift Aid.
Hut hire income increased significantly during the year, representing
a 49.8% increase and providing an important additional source of
income for the Group.
The Group's savings account has continued to provide an additional
benefit through interest earned during the year of £558.09, helping
to strengthen our overall financial position. The Trustee Board
recently reviewed the Group's Reserves Policy and agreed to
increase ringfenced reserves to £20,000.
Looking ahead, we will also be strengthening our budgeting
practices by introducing rolling annual budgets and improved
forecasting processes. This will help us plan more effectively,
identify future financial pressures earlier and ensure the long-term
sustainability of the Group.
Although this report formally covers the financial year ending before
the AGM, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the significant roof
issues that have arisen sinceyear end. These have resulted in|
|---|---|
Page 17
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
||substantial unplanned expenditure, a loss of income from reduced
use of the building and the need to take on a loan to support the
required works. While the Group's financial position remains strong
and the reserves policy places us in a good position to manage this
challenge, it does represent an unexpected financial shock and will
require careful monitoring over the coming years as we repay the
loan and rebuild capacity.
Overall, the Group remains in a healthy financial position. Delivering
a surplus while continuing to invest in activities, equipment and
facilities demonstrates the strength of the Group and the dedication
of our volunteers. With robust reserves, improved financial planning
and continued membership growth, we are well placed to meet
future challenges and continue providing excellent opportunities for
young people.|
|---|---|
|**Policy on Reserves, why they**
**are held, and the amount of**
**reserves**|The policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the
charitable activities of the charity should income and fundraising
activities fall short. The Trustee Board considers that the charity
should hold a sum equivalent to 6 months running costs, excluding
major events which are self funding and would not happen in a state
of emergency. In the reporting period this was deemed to be
£15,000, but in May 2026, this was raised provisionally to £20,000
pending further budgetary planning.
The charity held reserves of approximately £38,000 against this at
year end. This is above the level required for operating expenses.
However, this can be explained by the £11,000 capitation bill due in
March 2026, plus planned hut maintenance works, general day to
day operational expenditure and forward planning for future
investment in equipment required.|
|**Policy on Investments and**
**investment performance**|The Trustee Board regularly monitors the levels of bank balances
and the interest rates received to ensure the charity obtains
maximum value and income from its banking arrangements. This
includes a simple savings account that requires a period of notice
before funds may be withdrawn, before doing so the Trustee Board
considers the cash flow requirements.|
|**A description of the principal**
**risks**|There are currently no identified risks with the Group’s banking
arrangements.|
## **Structure, governance and management**
|**Type of governing document**|The charity’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 (POR) of The Scout Association.|
|---|---|
|**How the charity is constituted**|The charity is a trust established under its rules which are common
to all Scouts. It is constituted as an educational charity.|
Page 18
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
|**Trustee selection methods**|The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy
Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association and a locally run
Open Selection process.|
|---|---|
|**Policies and procedures for**
**the induction and training of**
**trustees**|All Trustees complete The Scout Association trustee and mandatory
learning within the first six months of joining the Trustee Board, they
also complete other Scout Association mandatory learning
periodically as required.|
|**Additional governance**
**arrangements**|The charity is managed by the Trustee Board, the members of which
are the “Charity Trustees”. 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 Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer and 10 Trustees
(including 1 Ex-Officio Trustees, and 0 co-opted Trustees) and
meets 6 times a year. The Trustee Board is supported by a Board
Administrator.
The Trustee Board exists to support the Leadership Teams in
meeting the responsibilities of their appointments and in
supporting them to run high-quality and safe programs that give
young people skills for life. The Trustee Board maintain
appropriate governance policies and oversight.
The Trustee Board is responsible for carrying out its purposes for
the public benefit, complying with the charity’s governing
document and the law, and managing the charity’s resources
responsibly.
The Trustee Board is responsible for ensuring the charity is well
managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and
equipment are in good order and everyone follows legal
requirements and Scout Association Policy, Organisation & Rules.
This includes responsibility for:
•
Promoting a positive image of Scouting in the community, as
well as its development;
•
Developing, maintaining and regularly a risk register, including
putting in place appropriate mitigations;
•
Ensuring that the finances are properly managed, and there are
sufficient resources (and reserves) to deliver high quality
Scouting;
•
Ensuring a system of internal controls is in place that is
designed to provide reasonable assurance against material
mismanagement or loss;
•
Ensuring that property is appropriately managed;
•
Maintaining appropriate insurance of persons, property and
equipment;
•
Assisting in the recruitment of leaders and other adult support;
•
Having an open and transparent selection process for the
recruitment of Trustees;|
Page 19
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
- Appointing Advisors as required;
- • Ensuring effective administration is in place to support the Trustee Board;
- • Ensuring compliance with applicable governance and charity regulations, including in respect to safety and safeguarding;
- • Ensuring incidents are appropriately reported in line with regulation and policy;
- • Ensuring applicable policies and regulations are regularly reviewed and changes implemented as appropriate;
- • Ensuring transparency of operations, including in the preparation of accounts and holding and AGM;
- • Ensuring compliance with Data Protection legislation; • Acting as a responsible employer for any employees, who are effectively managed.
## **Plans for future periods**
**Plans for future Periods The Trustees are now focussed on overcoming the current challenges with our Scout hut, stabilising the Group and Sections once more and ensuring that the hut is safe, secure and compliant with all Health and Safety requirements. Beyond that, the focus will move onto looking to make further alterations to our building, to allow us to increase our capacity in Sections, plus ensuring general maintenance is up to date. Our overwhelming priority above all though, is to continue striving to offer fantastic Scouting experiences to our young people and enable our amazing volunteers to operate successfully.**
## **Reference and administration details**
|**Principal Address**|**Principal Address**|**Adj 62 Main Street, Countesthorpe, Leicester, LE8 5QX **|**Adj 62 Main Street, Countesthorpe, Leicester, LE8 5QX **|**Adj 62 Main Street, Countesthorpe, Leicester, LE8 5QX **|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
||**Names of the charity trustees who**
**manage the charity**||**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|
|1|Louise Topley||Chair||
|2|Jack Barber||Lead Volunteer||
|3|Malaz Ahmed||Treasurer|Jan 2026 onwards|
|4|LucyFreeman||Trustee||
|5|John Cook||Trustee||
|6|Malcolm Barber||Trustee||
|7|James Carter||Trustee||
|8|Matthew Riley||Trustee||
|9|Clara Smith||Trustee||
|10|Cat Phillips||Trustee||
|11|Leanne Upton||Trustee||
|12|Nick Topley||Trustee|Treasurer until Sept 2026|
Independent Examiner – Karen Linnett
Page 20
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26
## **Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees by:**
|**Signature**|**L. S. Topley**|**J. C. Barber**|
|---|---|---|
|**Full name**|**Louise Topley**|**Jack Barber**|
|**Position held**|**Chair**|**Lead Volunteer**|
|**Date**|**23/06/26**|**23/06/26**|
Page 21
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/03/25 - 28/02/26