## **Trustees’ Annual Report**
## **For the period:**
|**From**||**To**||
|---|---|---|---|
||1stJanuary 2025||31stDecember 2025|
|||||
|**Charity Name**||**10th Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group**||
|**Charity Registration Number**||**701064**||
|**HQ Registration Number**||**6660XS**||
## **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**|Our Group provides an inclusive and varied programme, for indoor
and outdoor activities, for 4 to 14 years old members. This includes
games, adventures, crafts, and challenges.
There is a plentiful and diverse range of badges to aim for, and
members can do as many or as few as they like, working together at
meetings, whilst away at camps and events, and even at home.|
|**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.
The Trustees also confirm, specifically, that the Regulatory Advice
Note issued by the Charity Commission subsequent to a fatality in
Llandudno has been carefully read, and was added to the Trustee
Board meeting agenda. Our Trustee Board met to discuss the|
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] Jan 2025 to 31
Regulatory Advice Note, to remind us as a team about the responsibility we have as Trustees and the processes we have in place to assure ourselves that all our Scout sections comply with the controls, procedures and structures in place to keep everyone safe in Scouts. We have retained a copy of the Regulatory Advice note with our records, as part of the meetings minutes _**You may choose to include**_ The Trustee Board is keen to ensure that everybody in the Group _**further statements, where**_ has the opportunity to participate in all activities, and considers _**relevant, about:**_ making grants or loans to Sections, or to individuals facing hardship _Policy on grant making_ (on a case by case basis and with respect to data protection/privacy), to facilitate that.
## **Achievements and performance**
**Summary of the main** No increase in Subs despite increase in annual costs. **achievements of the charity during the year identifying the** Set up a ‘Disadvantaged Fund”, funded with £1K **difference and impact the charity’s work has made,** Group continued to thrive, setting up a new Section for Squirrels, and **including on sustainability** maintaining member numbers generally.
||**_You may choose to include_**
**_further statements, where_**
**_relevant, about:_**
_Achievements against_
_objectives_
_Fundraising activities_
_Contribution made by_
_volunteers_|In line with objectives set at the end of the previous year, we
continued spend to improve HQ, internally (and externally as far as
possible), after many years of heavy usage. Extensive joinery,
groundworks and roof-works were completed to improve facilities,
to provide a welcoming environment, and to maintain and improve
the safety of the premises. Work was covered by the Groups
Building Fund, without impact to our Contingency Fund or any other
ring-fenced monies.
Our varied program of fundraising events included Christmas and
Summer Fayre’s, Chocolate Bingo, a Fashion Show, a Halloween
Party, and Breakfast with Santa. The Group also received
donations totalling £175, from Philip Garton-Pope (Procam), stall
holders at the Fayre’s, and a total of £555 was contributed to the
Chamboree 2026 fund by Scarlett Foggin (sewing on badges) and
Eliot Cooper. (marshalling).
Every adult with a role in the Group is an unpaid volunteer. Their
contributions are vital to the Group and cannot be overstated.||
|---|---|---|---|
## **Financial review**
|**Review of the financial**
**position**|Closing balance for the year is £138,682, £13,321 down on the
previous year end, largely due to the high costs of work on
Headquarters. Of the £138,682 carried forward to financial year
2026, £131,867 is restricted.|
|---|---|
|**Policy on Reserves, why they**
**are held, and the amount of**
**reserves**|The charity's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to
continue the charitable activities of the Group should income and
fundraising activities fall short. The Trustees aim to continually
maintain a £5K contingency.
The Group held reserves of £5K contingency at year end. This is
below the level required for operating expenses, but monies
restricted for the Group 'Building Fund' may also be used as
contingency, exceptionally, and subject to approval by the Trustee
Board.|
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] Jan 2025 to 31
||The Trustee Board routinely monitors funds that are restricted/ring
fenced for specific uses (see the Financial Statement for details of
these funds).|
|---|---|
|**Policy on Investments and**
**investment performance**|The Group currently requires quick and easy access to its funds so
does not invest in longer term investments. The Group has adopted
a risk averse strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are
held in cash using only mainstream banks. The Trustees regularly
monitor the levels of bank balances and the interest rates received
to ensure maximum value and income from its banking
arrangements.|
|**A description of the principal**
**risks**|**Material mismanagement or damage/loss**:
The Group operates internal controls to provide reasonable
assurance, bank accounts are multi signatory, and finance is
routinely reviewed at every Trustees meeting.
Most regular payments to the Group, for subs, events etc., are
automatically collected via GoCardless (a direct bank payment
network), which significantly reduces the amount of cash handled
and is supported by a comprehensive electronic audit trail.
The Group’s use of prepaid Expense Cards also reduces the
amount of cash handled, and aids transparency. Overseen by the
Group Treasurer, these cards are issued by approval of the
Trustees to selected volunteers, with a money loading appropriate
to their role, and are used as a debit card for purchases or
payments that are solely related to approved Scouting activities.
The Group accounts are externally audited at the end of each
financial year by an MAAT qualified examiner.
The Group has sufficient buildings and contents insurance in place
to mitigate against permanent loss, and in case of damage or loss
would request the use of buildings, property and equipment from
neighbouring organisations such as other Scout Groups if
necessary.
**Injury to leaders, helpers, supporters and members;**
Risk Assessments are undertaken before all activities. The Group,
through membership fees, contributes to the Scout Associations
national accident insurance policy.
**Reduced income:**
The Group relies on regular income from subscriptions and
fundraising. Should this income reduce, the Group holds monies in
reserve that could be used to enable continuity of activities, and
could also consider raising the cost of subscriptions, even
temporarily. Aware of the risk, the Group is continually alert to
accessing additional funds that may be available through grants.
**Reduction or loss of leaders, or Members:**
The Group is totally reliant upon volunteers to run and administer
the activities of the group. If there was a reduction in the number of
leaders to an unacceptable level in a particular section or the group
as a whole then there would have to be a contraction, consolidation
or closure of a section, and in the worst case scenario the complete
closure of the Group.
The Group provides activities for all young people aged 4 to 14. If
there was a reduction in membership in a particular section or the
group as whole then there would have to be a contraction,
consolidation or closure of a section, and in the worst case scenario
the complete closure of the Group.|
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] Jan 2025 to 31
## **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.|
|**Trustee selection methods**|The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy
Organisation and Rules of the Scout Association.|
|**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 4 Trustees
(including 1 Ex-Officio Trustee) and meets a minimum of 6 times a
year half termly.
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;
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|
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] Jan 2025 to 31
- 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. N.B. The Group does not have any employees.
## **Plans for future periods**
## **Plans for future Periods**
To welcome 8[th] Ditton Scout Group, joining us with effect from 1[st] January 2026
The Group has secured a Social Investment Business Grant, to be paid to the Group early 2026. The Trustee Board will closely manage the Grant, to ensure that all conditions specified for spend, audit, reporting, and timescales are met.
To continue efforts to increase the numbers of trustees, leaders, assistants and members.
The Trustee Board will continue to meet regularly, to make sure that the Charity is well managed, risks are assessed and mitigated, buildings and equipment are in good working order, and that everyone follows legal requirements and the organisations policies and rules.
To continue efforts to protect the future of the Group and Scouting and Guiding in Hough Green.
## **Reference and administration details**
**Principal Address** Headquarters Hall Avenue Widnes WA8 8XS
||**Names of the charity trustees who**
**manage the charity**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|
|---|---|---|---|
|1|Jennifer Barrowcliff|Chair||
|2|Karen Foggin(ex-officio)|Lead Volunteer||
|3|Sue Rosbottom|Treasurer||
|4|Eliot Cooper|Trustee||
|5|Paul McLoughlin|Trustee||
|6|David Thorbinson|Trustee|w.e.f. 25/06/25|
|7|Gary Austin|Secretary|Until 25/06/25|
|8|James Barrowcliff|Trustee|Until 25/06/25|
|9|Maxine(Julie)Silk|Trustee|Until 25/06/25|
|10||||
|11||||
|12||||
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] Jan 2025 to 31
## **Name and address of advisors**
|**Name and address of advisors**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Type of advisor**|**Name**|**Address**|
|Independent Examiner / Auditor|Jayne Vernon|61 Spinney Avenue
Widnes
WA8 8LB|
|_Detail others_|||
## **Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees by:**
|**Signed on behalf of the charity’s**|**trustees by:**||
|---|---|---|
|**Signature**|**JBarrowclif**|**SMRosbottom**|
|**Full name**|**Jenny Barrowcliff**|**Sue Rosbottom**|
|**Position held**|**Chair of Trustee Board**|**Group Treasurer**|
|**Date**|**27th May 2026**|**27th May 2026**|
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] Jan 2025 to 31
|**10th Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group**
**Charity no. 701064**
**Financial Statement for Financial Year Ending 31st December 2025**|**10th Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group**
**Charity no. 701064**
**Financial Statement for Financial Year Ending 31st December 2025**|**10th Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group**
**Charity no. 701064**
**Financial Statement for Financial Year Ending 31st December 2025**|**10th Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group**
**Charity no. 701064**
**Financial Statement for Financial Year Ending 31st December 2025**|**10th Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group**
**Charity no. 701064**
**Financial Statement for Financial Year Ending 31st December 2025**|**10th Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group**
**Charity no. 701064**
**Financial Statement for Financial Year Ending 31st December 2025**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
||||**Income £**|**Expenses £**|**Net £**|||
|**Opening Balances**||**Sub-total**|**152,003.74**|**0.00**|**152,003.74**|||
|||||||||
|**Membership**||**Sub-total**|**2,005.00**|**(2,172.00)**|**(167.00)**|||
|||||||||
|**Levy**||**Sub-total**|**2,559.38**|**0.00**|**2,559.38**|||
|||||||||
|**Gift Aid**||**Sub-total**|**1,017.34**|**0.00**|**1,017.34**|||
|||||||||
|**Donations**||||||||
||Solicited||135.00|(1,000.00)|(865.00)|||
||Unsolicited||40.00|0.00|40.00|||
|||**Sub-total**|**175.00**|**(1,000.00)**|**(825.00)**|||
|||||||||
|**Grants**||**Sub-total**|**0.00**|**(591.00)**|**(591.00)**|||
|||||||||
|**Loans**||**Sub-total**|**0.00**|**(1,625.00)**|**(1,625.00)**|||
|||||||||
|**Fund Raisers**||||||||
||Christmas Fayre||1,304.55|(452.32)|852.23|||
||Summer Fayre||608.21|(253.51)|354.70|||
||Halloween Party||159.79|(48.24)|111.55|||
||Chamboree||555.00|0.00|555.00|||
||Fashion Show||280.00|0.00|280.00|||
||Chocolate Bingo||169.00|0.00|169.00|||
||Breakfast with Santa||195.00|(138.00)|57.00|||
|||**Sub-total**|**3,271.55**|**(892.07)**|**2,379.48**|||
|**Investment Income**||||||||
|**Investment Income**||||||||
||Interest on Bank Accounts|**Sub-total**|**1,674.56**|**0.00**|**1,674.56**|||
|||||||||
|**Sections**||||||||
||Squirrels||940.29|(174.96)|765.33|||
||Beavers||1,353.00|(1,149.91)|203.09|||
||Cubs||1,566.15|(401.47)|1,164.68|||
||Scouts||430.55|(364.49)|66.06|||
|||**Sub-total**|**4,289.99**|**(2,090.83)**|**2,199.16**|||
|||||||||
|**Badges**||**Sub-total**|**0.00**|**(1,493.09)**|**(1,493.09)**|||
|||||||||
|**Disadvantaged Fund**||**Sub-total**|**1,000.00**|**0.00**|**1,000.00**|||
|||||||||
|**International Fund**||**Sub-total**|**269.83**|**(1,269.83)**|**(1,000.00)**|||
|||||||||
|**Chamboree 2026**||**Sub-total**|**1,460.00**|**(190.00)**|**1,270.00**|||
|||||||||
|**HQ**||||||||
||Maintenance||0.00|(18,166.89)|(18,166.89)|||
||Water and Sewerage||0.00|(391.79)|(391.79)|||
||Insurance||0.00|(1,850.14)|(1,850.14)|||
||Stores||0.00|(68.64)|(68.64)|||
||||**Income £**|**Expenses £**|**Net £**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Electricity and Gas||3,299.46|(1,521.87)|1,777.59||
||HBC Non Domestic Rates||0.00|(306.09)|(306.09)||
||Licenses and Fees||0.00|(20.00)|(20.00)||
||HQ Meetings||**0**|(43.80)|(43.80)||
||GoCardless Bank Fees||0.00|(321.72)|(321.72)||
||Stripe costs||10.00|(20.00)|(10.00)||
||Admin||0.00|(318.94)|(318.94)||
|||**Sub-total**|**3,309.46**|**(23,029.88)**|**(19,720.42)**||
|**Total Income and Expenditure**|||**173,035.85**|**-34,353.70**|**138,682.15**||
|**Internal Transfers(see Note 1)**|||**23,142.98**|**-23,142.98**|**0.00**||
|**Closing Balance c/fwd**|||||**£138,682.15**||
|**Note 1:**Includes £20,200 relating to transfers between NatWest Current and Reserve accounts. These accounts
are linked, but monies in Reserve not directly accessible for spend and must be transferred to the Current
account if needed, so transfer activity higher than typical due to HQ maintenance and emergency works.|||||||
|**MOVEMENTS IN RESTRICTED FUNDS DURING THE YEAR**|**MOVEMENTS IN RESTRICTED FUNDS DURING THE YEAR**|**MOVEMENTS IN RESTRICTED FUNDS DURING THE YEAR**|**MOVEMENTS IN RESTRICTED FUNDS DURING THE YEAR**|**MOVEMENTS IN RESTRICTED FUNDS DURING THE YEAR**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Balance**
**B/Forward £**|**Receipts £**|**Payments £**|**Balance C/Forward £**|
|Camps|1,055.64|0.00|
0.00|1,055.64|
|Contingency|5,000.00|0.00|
0.00|5,000.00|
|International Fund|1,739.97|269.83|
(1,269.83)|739.97|
|Woggle|1,000.00|0.00|
0.00|1,000.00|
|Sections|3,805.50|4,311.97|
(3,454.29)|4,663.18|
|Bequest from Mr Kenneth Dean|133,383.59|1,053.35|
(16,517.49)|117,919.45|
|Cromwell Memorial Fund Donation|300.00|0.00|
(300.00)|0.00|
|TK Maxx/Homebase CommunityFund Donation|500.00|0.00|
(500.00)|0.00|
|Widnes Rotary|97.67|0.00|
0.00|97.67|
|Asda Foundation|500.00|0.00|
(500.00)|0.00|
|Chamboree 2026|0.00|2,015.00|
(1,815.00)|200.00|
|Disadvantaged Fund|0.00|1,000.00|
0.00|1,000.00|
|Stripe/Expense Cards|81.09|601.00|
(519.11)|162.98|
||**147,463.46**|**9,251.15**|**-24,875.72**|**131,838.89**|
**STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
**LT700006 - Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees (January 2024) Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of 10[th] Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the **10[th] Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group** for the year ended 1[st] January 2025 to 31[st] December 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the **10[th] Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group** 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 **10[th] Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group** 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 **10[th] Widnes (Hough Green) Scout Group** as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no 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 proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: _Jayne Vernon_
Name: Jayne Vernon
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): MAAT
Address: 61 Spinney Avenue, Hough Green Widnes. WA8 8LB
Date: 31 May 2026
**LT700006 - Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees (January 2024)**