## Trustees' Annual Report 

## For the period 

|From (start date)|**0**|**1**|**0**|**4**|**2**|**4**|**4**|**3**|**1**|**0**|**3**|**2**|**5**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||||||||
|**Section A**|||**Reference and administration details**|||||||||||
|Charity name<br>Ripon & District Scout Council<br>Other names the charity is known by<br>Registered charity number (if any)<br>5<br>2<br>4<br>7<br>9<br>0<br>HQ registration number<br>Charity’s principal address<br>Miller's Croft,Mill Lane<br>Boroughbridge<br>North Yorkshire<br>Postcode<br>Y<br>O<br>5<br>1<br>9 L<br>H<br>1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>John Aubreyde Lavenu<br>Ian Bardon<br>Micheal Collins<br>**Trustee Name**<br>**Dates acted if not**<br>**for whole year**<br>**Office (if any)**<br>Sarah Rands<br>Sarah Slade<br>Andrea Taylor<br>Vacant<br>John Lockwood<br>HenryMorley<br>Donna Fleming<br>Jonathan Goom<br>Matilda Law<br>Secretary<br>District Lead Volunteer<br>Treasurer<br>Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity<br>_(These will be published in the annual report of the charity and the Charity Register if reporting for a Registered Charity with a charity regulator)_|||Ripon & District Scout Council<br>5<br>2<br>4<br>7<br>9<br>0|||||||||||
||||Miller's Croft,Mill Lane|||||||||||
||||Boroughbridge|||||||||||
||||North Yorkshire|||||||||||
||||Postcode||||Y|O|5|1|9|L|H|



Names and addresses of advisers (optional information but encouraged as best practice) _(These will be published in the annual report of the charity)_ 

|Type of advisor|Name|Address|
|---|---|---|
|Independent Examiner|Calculated Ltd||
||||
||||
||||



**Section B Structure, governance and management** 

Description of the charity’s trusts 

1  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



Type of governing document The District's governing documents are those of the 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. (e.g. trust deed, constitution) How the charity is constituted The District is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts. (e.g. trust, association, company) Trustee selection methods The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, (e.g. appointed by, elected by) Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association. 

Additional governance issues (optional information but encouraged as best practice) 

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

Policies and procedures adopted for: a) the induction and training of trustees; b) trustee' consideration of major risks and the systems and procedures to manage them 

The District is managed by the District 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 Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer and 6 Trustees (including 2 Ex Officio Trustees, and 2 co-opted Trustees) and meets every 3 or 6 months. 

Members of the Trustee Board complete Being a Scouts Trustee learning within the first 6 months of joining the Board. 

This District Trustee Board exists to make sure the charity is well-managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and equipment are in good working order, and everyone follows legal requirements and the organisation's policies and rules. Their support helps other volunteers run highquality and safe programmes that gives young people skills for life. 

2  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



|**Section B**|**Structure, governance and management (continued)**|
|---|---|
||**Risk and Internal Control**<br>The District Trustee Board has identified the major risks to<br>which they believe the District is exposed, these have been<br>reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate<br>against them. The main areas of concern that have been<br>identified are:<br>Damage to property and equipment. The District would<br>request the use of buildings, property and equipment from<br>neighbouring organisations such as the church, community<br>centre and other Scout Groups. Similar reciprocal<br>arrangements exist with these organisations.<br>Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members. The<br>District through the capitation fees contributes to the Scout<br>Associations national accident insurance policy. Risk<br>Assessments are undertaken before all activities.<br>Reduced income from capitation because of decreased<br>membership. The District is primarily reliant upon income<br>from capitation, but holds a reserve to ensure the continuity<br>of activities should there be a major reduction in income.<br>The Board could raise the value of capitation to increase<br>income on an ongoing basis, either temporarily or<br>permanently.<br>Reduction or loss of leaders. The District is aware that<br>groups are totally reliant upon volunteers to run and<br>administer the activities of the groups. If there was a<br>reduction in the number of leaders to an unacceptable level<br>in a particular section or the group as a whole then there<br>would have to be a contraction, consolidation or closure of a<br>section. In the worst case scenario the complete closure of<br>a Group.<br>**Financial Risk and Internal Control**<br>The District has in place systems of internal controls that<br>are designed to provide reasonable assurance against<br>material mismanagement or loss, these include 2<br>signatories for all payments.|



**Section C Objectives and activities** 

**The Purpose of Scouting** 

3  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



|Summary of the objects of the charity set<br>out in its governing document||
|---|---|
||**The Purpose of Scouting**<br>Scouting exists to actively engage and support young<br>people in their personal development,<br>empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.<br>**The Values of Scouting**<br>As Scouts we are guided by these values:<br>**Integrity -**We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy<br>and loyal.<br>**Respect -**We have self-respect and respect for others.<br>**Care -**We support others and take care of the world in<br>which we live.<br>**Belief -**We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes.<br>**Co-operation -**We make a positive difference; we co-<br>operate with others and make friends.<br>**The Scout Method**<br>Scouting takes place when young people, in partnership<br>with adults, work together based on the<br>values of Scouting and:<br>- enjoy what they are doing and have fun<br>- take part in activities indoors and outdoors<br>- learn by doing<br>- share in spiritual reflection<br>- take responsibility and make choices<br>- undertake new and challenging activities<br>- make and live by their Promise.|



Leaders in the District organise various activities which Summary of the main activities in relation incorporate all District Groups to promote the values of to these objects Scouting. A Cub Day was held in April where activities included looking to the skies via an inflatable Planetarium. 82 Scouts joined the Scout Camp at Barney Beck woods in June and enjoyed backwoods camping, rifle shooting and rafting. The Beavers enjoyed a day at Gullivers Theme Park in September. First Aid training was undertaken by 18 members in 2 training courses in November. 

Additional details of the objectives and activities (optional information but encouraged as best practice) 

You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: • policy on grantmaking; • contribution made by volunteers; • policy on investments. Public benefit statement The District meets the Charity Commission's public benefit criteria under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings. 

4  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



|**Section D**|**Achievements and performance**|
|---|---|
|Summary of the main achievements of<br>the charity during the year||
||Whilst the District and Groups continue to face challenges<br>in terms of adult volunteer recruitment and retention, they<br>have however, been able to provide the level of Scouting<br>activities required to meet the purposes and objectives of<br>the charity.<br>The January 2025 Census showed 575 Young People and<br>this number has remained fairly consistent with the previous<br>2 years.<br>The District had 3 active Explorer Units: White Horse,<br>Spitfire and Fountains and a new group, Herriot was<br>opened in theyear.|



|**Section E**|**Financial Review**|
|---|---|
|Quantify and explain any designations<br>Details of any funds materially in deficit<br>(circumstances plus steps to eliminate)<br>Further financial review details (optional information)<br>You**may choose**to include additional<br>information, where relevant, about:<br>The previous five years' accounts upto 31 March 2024 had<br>shown a deficit where expenditure exceeded income and<br>Reserves were used to cover the shortfall. In the current<br>year, the Board focused on this and made some strategic<br>decisions resulting in a small surplus of £1.5K.<br>Contributors to the surplus included a levy on the capitation<br>fee,<br>interest<br>on<br>an<br>Investment<br>Bond<br>and<br>surpluses<br>generated by the Explorer Groups<br>pp<br>y £<br>g<br>this at year end. This is above the level required for<br>operating expenses. However this can be explained by a<br>significant donation several years ago which has still to be<br>utilised.<br>Nine designated funds were held at the end of the year.<br>Four relate to Explorer Groups who self-manage their<br>income and expenditure within District guidelines. The other<br>five funds are reviewed annually for their appropriateness<br>and can be un-designated as required.<br>Brief statement of the charity’s policy on<br>reserves<br>**Reserves Policy**<br>The District's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient<br>resources to continue the charitable activities of the group<br>should income and fundraising activities fall short. The<br>District Trustee Board considers that the group should hold<br>a sum equivalent to 12 months running costs, currently<br>circa £2K.|pp<br>y £<br>g<br>this at year end. This is above the level required for<br>operating expenses. However this can be explained by a<br>significant donation several years ago which has still to be<br>utilised.<br>Nine designated funds were held at the end of the year.<br>Four relate to Explorer Groups who self-manage their<br>income and expenditure within District guidelines. The other<br>five funds are reviewed annually for their appropriateness<br>and can be un-designated as required.<br>**Reserves Policy**<br>The District's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient<br>resources to continue the charitable activities of the group<br>should income and fundraising activities fall short. The<br>District Trustee Board considers that the group should hold<br>a sum equivalent to 12 months running costs, currently<br>circa £2K.|
|||
|||
||The previous five years' accounts upto 31 March 2024 had<br>shown a deficit where expenditure exceeded income and<br>Reserves were used to cover the shortfall. In the current<br>year, the Board focused on this and made some strategic<br>decisions resulting in a small surplus of £1.5K.<br>Contributors to the surplus included a levy on the capitation<br>fee,<br>interest<br>on<br>an<br>Investment<br>Bond<br>and<br>surpluses<br>generated by the Explorer Groups|



The previous five years' accounts upto 31 March 2024 had shown a deficit where expenditure exceeded income and Reserves were used to cover the shortfall. In the current year, the Board focused on this and made some strategic decisions resulting in a small surplus of £1.5K. Contributors to the surplus included a levy on the capitation fee, interest on an Investment Bond and surpluses information, where relevant, about: generated by the Explorer Groups 5  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); 

- how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; 

   - investment policy and objectives; 

## **Investment Policy** 

The District does not have sufficient funds to invest in longer term investments. The District has therefore adopted a risk averse strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash or a 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond using only mainstream banks or building societies. 

**Section F Other Optional Information** Plans for future periods (details of any significant activities planned to achieve them) **Section G Declaration** 

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above 

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees 

|Signature(s)<br>Full name(s)<br>Date<br>Position (eg Secretary, Chair)||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||
||Jon Goom|||||||
|||||||||
||Trustee|||||||
||0<br>3<br>0<br>7<br>2<br>5|||||||
||0|3|0|7|2|5||



6  LT700001 (14 September 2024) 



**Pg 1 of 4** 

**Ripon and District Scout Council Year Ending 31st March 2025** 

## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR-ENDING 31.03.25** 

## **Overall** 

The result of income less expenditure for the year is a surplus of £1,542.39 (last year deficit £2,844.50) Detailed comments are in the Notes on the I&E tab 

The main contributors to the surplus were: £2,567.72 bank interest £1,605.50 levy on capitation £803.93 Explorer units £680.04 badge sales 

## **Explorers** 

## **Spitfire** 

A surplus of £455.75 for the year increased their funds to £2,316.43. Funds are held in their own bank account 

## **White Horse** 

A surplus of £110.85 for the year increased their funds to £1,833.75. Funds are held in their own bank account 

## **Fountains** 

A surplus of £120.46 for the year increased their funds to £537.93 

£408.66 in cash held by Fountains and £129.27 held within the District bank account 

## **Herriot (newly formed in the year)** 

A surplus of £116.87 for the year. Funds are held in their own bank account 

## **Badge income & expense** 

The result of income less expenditure was a surplus of £680.04 

This includes £156.60 for St Georges Day badges issued FOC 

## **Badge stock** 

Badge stock decreased from £3,200 to £2,538 (26% decrease) 

Badge stock includes old stock of £901.08 (1,234 badges not moved in last 2 years at least) Propose to write this old stock off against the provision. It is still available to be sold but will no longer included in the badge stock figure and so will not required to be counted each year 

This would reduce the obsolescence provision to £1098.92. To be reviewed and possibly released next year if felt not required 

Agreed to write-off obsolete stock at on-line meeting of Trustees 28.04.25 

## **Bank Interest and Charges** 

£2,459.73 interest received on the Skipton BS account. The interest rate: 5.25% (Rate decreases to 4.35% from 12.09.24) £107.99 interest received on the Lloyds savings account 

## **District Events** 

See attached sheet 



**Ripon and District Scout Council Year Ending 31st March 2025** 

Pg 2 of 4 

|**Ripon and District Scout Council**<br>**Year Ending 31st March 2025**||Pg 2 of 4|
|---|---|---|
|**Receipts and Payments account**|**Receipts**<br>**Receipts**<br>**2025**<br>**2024**<br>1,260.00<br>586.50<br>860.00<br>0.00<br>0.00<br>334.50<br>12,922.75<br>8,436.84 <br>0.00<br>0.00<br>1,230.00<br>2,430.00<br>4,624.52<br>4,000.18<br>725.00<br>300.00<br>0.00<br>0.00<br>0.00<br>0.00<br>2,567.72<br>1,017.00<br>0.00<br>100.00<br>461.02<br>254.32<br>34,892.00<br>30,475.00<br>0.00<br>59,543.01<br>47,934.34<br>(58,000.62)<br>(50,778.84)<br>1,542.39<br>(2,844.50)<br>65,536.08<br>1,542.39<br>67,078.47|**Payments**<br>**Payments**<br>**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**Notes on 2025 receipts & payments**<br>1,200.00<br>488.95 Beaver Day at Gullivers 29 Sep 24<br>1,023.00<br>0.00 District Cub Day 20 Apr 24<br>391.40<br>287.63 St Georges Day event<br>12,118.82<br>7,136.54 <br>0.00<br>65.00 <br>1,043.00<br>1,783.67 Scout Camp 14-16 Jun24   (82 scouts)<br>3,944.48<br>4,432.72 Surplus £680.04<br>2,255.85<br>997.04 First Aid courses x 3, Tomahawk x 2, Safety & Rescue & SUP Instructor<br>870.91<br>1,611.21 Rebates on-hold from Dec24 ie no more claims can be made<br>0.00<br>0.00 <br>540.05<br>573.46<br>94.00<br>94.00 <br>0.00<br>35.37 <br>119.00<br>0.00 <br>500.00<br>500.00<br>5.70<br>10.00<br>56.39<br>79.13<br>0.00<br>66.80 Interest from Skipton B/S Bond & Lloyds savings account<br>90.50<br>83.00<br>0.00<br>60.00<br>461.02<br>254.32<br>33,286.50<br>29,820.00 2025 Census received & paid Mar25. £2.50 levy applied<br>0.00<br>0.00 <br>2,400.00 <br>58,000.62<br>50,778.84|
|Beavers<br>Cubs<br>Scouts<br>Explorers<br>DAS<br>District Camps<br>Badges<br>Training<br>Rebates<br>Grants & Donations<br>District Equipment<br>Insurance<br>Expenses claimed<br>Hall hire<br>Storage rent<br>Postage & Stationery<br>IT costs<br>Bank Interest & charges<br>Sundries<br>AGM costs<br>Gift Aid<br>Capitation<br>Capitation rebate<br>Jamboree<br>LESS Payments<br>**Surplus/(deficit)**|||
|**Total Reserves as at 31.03.25**|||
|b/fwd reserves at 01.04.24<br>Surplus/(deficit)<br>Reserves as at 31.03.25|||





**Ripon and District Scout Council** 

Pg 3 of 4 

**Balance Sheet as at 31.03.25** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
31.03.25 31.03.24<br>£ £<br>Current Assets<br>Cash   Petty Cash - Fountains ESU 408.66 288.20<br>Bank Lloyds - District …760 5,003.34 5,014.24<br>Lloyds - District Savings …563 8,208.14 10,100.15<br>Lloyds - White Horse ESU 1,833.75 1,722.90<br>Lloyds - Herriot ESU 116.87<br>HSBC - Spitfire ESU 2,316.43 1,860.68<br>HSBC - Fountains (within a/c …801) £129.27 at 31.03.24<br>Credit Card Soldo A/c Used for badge purchase - -<br>Building Society Skipton BS 49,269.89 46,810.16<br>Badge Stock 1,637.49 3,200.52<br>Less Badge stock obsolescence provision (1,098.92) (2,000.00)<br>Other debtors - -<br>Prepayments - -<br>Total Current Assets 67,695.65 66,996.85<br>Total Assets 67,695.65 66,996.85<br>Current Liabilities<br>Other Creditors Badge Floats 572.18 1,185.77<br>Deposit L Priest paid in error to District. Xfer to 6th Ripon APr2 45.00 275.00<br>Total Current Liabilities 617.18 1,460.77<br>Total Assets less Liabilities 67,078.47 65,536.08<br>Reserves<br>Surplus b/fwd 65,536.08 68,380.58<br>Adj:<br>Surplus/(deficit) (Current Year) 1,542.39 (2,844.50)<br>67,078.47 65,536.08<br>Difference - -<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Reserves Allocation** 

|General Account<br>Adult Support & Training<br>Designated<br>International Fund<br>Designated<br>Explorer Fund<br>Designated<br>Development Fund<br>Designated<br>Activity Centre Fund<br>Designated<br>White Horse ESU - (Lloyds a/c)<br>Designated<br>Spitfire Fund ESU (HSBC a/c)<br>Designated<br>Fountains ESU Fund<br>Designated<br>Herriot ESU Fund<br>Designated|**31.03.25**<br>6,099.25<br>5,491.11<br>3,800.00<br>3,500.00<br>2,500.00<br>41,000.00<br>1,833.75<br>2,316.43<br>537.93<br>116.87<br>67,078.47|**31.03.24**<br>3,713.07<br>7,021.96<br>3,800.00<br>3,500.00<br>2,500.00<br>41,000.00<br>1,722.90<br>1,860.68<br>417.47<br>65,536.08|
|---|---|---|



## **Reserves and Designated Funds movement** 

||**31.03.24**<br>**Receipts**<br>**Payments**<br>**31.03.25**|
|---|---|
|General Account<br>Adult Support & Training<br>International Fund<br>Explorer Fund<br>Development Fund<br>Activity Centre Fund<br>White Horse Fund ESU - (Lloyds<br>Spitfire Fund ESU (HSBC)<br>Fountains Fund ESU (within<br>District bank + cash)<br>Herriot Fund ESU (Lloyds)|3,713.07<br>49,515.26<br>(47,129.08)<br>6,099.25<br>7,021.96<br>725.00<br>(2,255.85)<br>5,491.11<br>3,800.00<br>3,800.00<br>3,500.00<br>3,500.00<br>2,500.00<br>2,500.00<br>41,000.00<br>41,000.00<br>1,722.90<br>2,574.80<br>(2,463.95)<br>1,833.75<br>1,860.68<br>6,222.95<br>(5,767.20)<br>2,316.43<br>417.47<br>505.00<br>(384.54)<br>537.93<br>3,620.00<br>(3,503.13)<br>116.87|
||**65,536.08**<br>**59,543.01**<br>**(58,000.62)**<br>**67,078.47**|





Pg 4 of 4 

## **Ripon and District Scout Council** 

**Explorer unit accounts Period: 01.04.24-31.03.25** 

## **White Horse explorer unit** 

|Receipts<br>LESS Payments<br>Surplus for the year<br>Balance brought forward<br>Balance carried forward|2,574.80<br>(2,463.95)<br>110.85<br>1,722.90<br>1,833.75 bank statement 31.03.25|
|---|---|



## **Fountains explorer unit** 

|Lloyds Bank (within District|account)||
|---|---|---|
|Balance brought forward||129.27|
|Balance carried forward||129.27|
|Petty Cash|||
|Receipts||505.00|
|LESS Payments||(384.54)|
|Surplus for the year||120.46|
|Balance brought forward||288.20|
|||408.66|
||||
|Total||537.93|
|**Spitfire explorer unit**|||
|Receipts|6,222.95||
|LESS Payments|(5,767.20)||
|Surplus for the year||455.75|
|Balance brought forward|1,860.68||
|Balance carried forward|2,316.43 bank statement 31.03.25||
|**Herriot explorer unit**|||
|Receipts|3,620.00||
|LESS Payments|(3,503.13)||
|Surplus for the year||116.87|
|Balance brought forward||.00|
|Balance carried forward||116.87 bank statement 31.03.25|





**LT700006 - Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees (July 2019)** 

## **Template 2: Unqualified report for a non-company charity preparing accruals accounts with a gross income of £250,000 or less in the relevant financial year** 

## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Ripon and District Scout Council** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Ripon and District for the year ended 31 March 2025. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity trustees of the Ripon and District you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). 

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

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Ripon and District as required by section 130 of the Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

I have no concerns. Any queries arising from my examination of the accounts have been satisfactorily answered and I 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 proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

Signed: 

Neil Mercer (Jun 21, 2025 10:42 GMT+1) 

Name: Neil Mercer FCCA 

Address: Holly House Carlton Miniott Thirsk YO7 4NJ 

Date: 21/6/2025 



## Ripons and District Scouts Examiners Report 2025 

Final Audit Report 

## 2025-06-21 

Created: 2025-06-21 By: Clare Mercer (clare.m@calculateduk.com) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAA1FVeGIsLEmcOuqJzz6_U_5sdZu5Xro4F 

## "Ripons and District Scouts Examiners Report 2025" History 

## Document created by Clare Mercer (clare.m@calculateduk.com) 

2025-06-21 - 9:34:44 AM GMT- IP address: 86.169.32.187 

Document emailed to Neil Mercer (neil.m@calculateduk.com) for signature 

2025-06-21 - 9:34:47 AM GMT 

## Email viewed by Neil Mercer (neil.m@calculateduk.com) 

2025-06-21 - 9:42:06 AM GMT- IP address: 172.225.176.240 

## Document e-signed by Neil Mercer (neil.m@calculateduk.com) 

Signature Date: 2025-06-21 - 9:42:40 AM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 86.169.32.187 

Agreement completed. 

2025-06-21 - 9:42:40 AM GMT 

