Stamford & Bourne District Scout Council
Annual Report 2024-2025
Published December 2025
Trustees' Annual Report
For the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 ion A Reference and administration details
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name: Stamford & Bourne District Scout Council Registered charity number: 522366 Charity’s principal address: School House, Bitchfield, Grantham, Lincolnshire. NG33 4DR
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity:
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Trustee Name Office (if any) Dates acted
if not whole year
Trevor Watson District Commissioner / Lead Volunteer
Diane Siddle Secretary/ Support Team Member
Nathan Wakefield Treasurer
Alistair Cobbold Lay Member
Heidi Haxeltine Lay Member
Cathy Heron Guide Association Rep
Howard Nelson Local Training Manager/Chair Until May 2024
Andrew Tagg Chair 10 October 2024
Martin Siddle Lay member/Team Leader (Support)
Steve Canham District Explorer Scout Commissioner 07 Nov 2024
Luke Houghton Lay Member
Michelle Nelson Lay Member
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| Structure, governance | and management |
|---|---|
| Type of governing document |
The District’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 District is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts; the Trustees are appointed in accordance with POR |
| Trustee selection methods |
The District is managed by the District Trustee Board, the members of which are the ‘Charity Trustees’ of the Scout District which is an educational charity. As 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. |
Additional governance issues
The Trustee Board consists of:
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Three independent representatives: Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
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Ex-officio members: District Commissioner, District Explorer Scout Commissioner
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Elected Members and co-opted according to need.
The Trustee Board meets five times a year, one meeting being the AGM
The District Trustee Board exists to support the District Commissioner in meeting the responsibilities of his appointment, and is responsible for:
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The maintenance of District property
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The raising of funds and the administration of District finances
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District public occasions
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Assisting in the recruitment of Leaders and other adult support
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Appointing any sub-committee that may be required.
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Appointing District administrators and advisers other than who are elected.
Objectives and activities
Summary of the objects The objectives of the District are as a unit of The Scout of the charity set out in Association. its governing document 1. The Aim of The Scout Association is to promote the
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The Aim of The Scout Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full potentials, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local national and international communities.
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The method of achieving the Aims 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.
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To provide administrative and training support to the following groups of the Scout Association
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a. Horbling & Billingborough Scout Group b. Bourne Scout Group c. 1[st] Thurlby (St Firmin) d. The Deepings Scout Group e. 1[st] Ketton f. 2[nd] Stamford Town g. 6[th] Stamford h. 2[nd] Wittering i. District Explorer Scout Units (which are an integral part of District)
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j. Scout Activity Support Units
Any other group formed within its catchment area.
Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
The Board met throughout the year. The District Commissioner/Lead Volunteer reports on uniformed matters to the District Trustee Board so that it can be kept regularly informed about activities across the District. As was the case in previous years the Board have identified several issues the District needs to address.
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The lack of a Group Lead Volunteer in several Groups and one Trustee Boards with too few members.
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A need to rebuild some groups/sections due to leadership change.
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The remaining impact of the CoVID period.
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The ongoing need to grow sections and attract more adults.
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Ensure that training is undertaken in accordance with POR The need to have control of all District funds.
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The long term need to bring mains power to Shacklewell
While not all of these issues have been addressed progress has been made this year
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While there were up to 4 groups without GLVs during the year the groups were still active and supported by the District Team.
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The migration from SASUs at the Associations transformation see those members continue to support section activity as required across the District.
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Training/Learning compliance remains high in the District. The need to chase people however remains an issue and increases administration efforts
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The appointment advisory panel has met until replaced by new processes. We acknowledge here our thanks to the panel and their efforts over many years
There is continuing work undertaken by the DC and Team Leaders o the District Leadership Team to support the work of sections and Trustee members have worked to support Group Trustee Boards.
The District now has 4 Dreys and looks to grow this provision during 2025-26
The Scout Shop continued to supply goods despite challenging stock supplies from HQ. The manager has indicated his desire to retire so the future of this facility is under review.
Stamcamp took place again in 2024, with the Cubs attending a District Cub Camp at Sudbrooke. Both a Stamcamp and County Cub Camp were in the calendar for 2025
The Census showed little change over 2024 growth constrained by the need for more volunteers and in some places larger or additional accommodation
There remain concerns about the following: Lack of GLV at some Groups
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Long waiting lists in most groups
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Difficulty in recruiting sufficient Adult Volunteers to grow the number of Sections to meet demand.
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Increasing number of leaders undertaking multiple roles which puts pressure on them, and should they leave will exacerbate the pressure we already have on running sectional activity
A great many people have put in tireless efforts to support scouting in this District. The thanks of the whole District go to them.
I would also like to thank colleagues on the District Trustee Board, The District Team and all Scouters and Parents who have helped our young people gain such a lot from scouting. The excellent role Trevor has played in charge within the District needs to be recorded. My personal thanks go to him for his work.
Andy Tagg District Chair June 2025
Financial review
Brief statement of the The District’s policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources charity’s policy on reserves. to continue the charitable activities of the District should income and fundraising activities fall short.
The District Trustee Board unanimously approved that the District’s reserves should be held at the annual running cost for the District for 12 months.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.
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Signature: Andy Tagg Diane Siddle
Full name: Andy Tagg Diane Siddle
Position: Chair Support Team
Date: June 2025
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Stamford & Bourne District Scout Councll
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts S•etlon A Ind•p•nd•nt Examln•rfs Report Raport to the trustee mèmbers of Stamford & Boume Dtstricl Scout cour11 On a¢¢ounts for yèar •nded 2025 Charfty no Ilf any 522366 Set out on pages 3and4 l rtport lo the truslees on my examinat of the accounts of the at#)ve chanty I"Ihe Trust") for year ended 3110312022. ResFK>nslblllties and As the tharity trustees of the Trust. y¢JU are resFJ)sible lor ihe preparalion basis ol rèport of Ihe accounts in accordance wth the requirements of the Chantses Ad 2011 ("Ihe Acri. I report fft resped my examin8tK)n of the Twst's 8cetyJnts earried (xrt under section 145 of the 2011 Aci and in carrying oul my examination, I have followed the apICable Directions given by the Charily CommisSn under section 145(SXb) ol the Act. I have completed my examlnab'on. I confimi ih8t Th) matthial matters have c£Mne to my attention lother than that disdosed below "l in connection wilh Ihe examlnaloon whh tyves me cause lo believe thal In, any material respect.. accountiNJ re(x)rds were r1 kepi in 8ccord8nce ith section 130 of Ihe Aci or the accounts th) not accc*d with the accounung records Independent examinerfs statement I have no concems and have come 8CfOSS Th) other mattets in (x)nnèctK wrth the examinabon to whid) altentson should be drawn in onjer to able 8 tper understanding ot the accounts lo be reached. ' Ple8se delete the w0S in the brack&ts rfthey do not apply. 2010612025 Slgn•d.' Nam•: Ray Dennis Relevant protssslonal quallficalfjon{sl or body (If any>: Addro55: 52 Har4ey Cbse PE10 9QI
Section B Disclosure Only complele If the examiner need5 to highlighl matters ol concem Isee CC32. Indeperent examinatK>n of charity accounts.. directs'ons and gUanCe for examiners). Nothing to Re Glvo her• brlel detalls af any Items that th• •xamlner wishes to dlsclos•.