## **1st Greyabbey Scout Group 5 April 2025 Barry Mitchell** 

In accordance with the Commission's Directions, the following independent examination of 1st Greyabbey Scout Group for the period ended 5 April 2025 was completed: 

||**Record of work done**|**Matters arising**|
|---|---|---|
|**Direction 1:**<br>**Examination and**<br>**accounting thresholds**|Section 65(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (the Act) outlines that charity trustees may elect to have<br>an independent examination, as opposed to a statutory audit, if their gross income in that year is less than<br>£500,000.<br>Section 64(3) of the Act outlines that where gross income in that year is less than £250,000, the charity trustees may<br>prepare:<br>- a receipts and payments account, and<br>- a statement of assets and liabilities,<br>instead of a statement of accounts as prescribed by regulations made by the Department (e.g. an accruals account).<br>For 2025 the Scout Group treasurer and secretary have:<br>- elected to have an independent examination rather than an audit; and<br>- prepared receipts and payments accounts.<br>This is appropriate on the basis that:<br>- gross income for 2024-25 was £6,095. This has been confirmed through review of bank statements and general<br>ledger activity; and<br>- there is nothing in the group's governing document which requires any form of professional audit.|<br>No matters for<br>attention.<br>Conditions for<br>independent<br>examination, and<br>receipts and<br>payments accounts<br>have been met.|



|**Direction 2:**<br>**Independence**|There are no actual or perceived conflicts of interest that prevent me as examiner from carrying out an independent<br>examination of the Scout Group's accounts.<br>I confirm that:<br>- I am not a trustee of the group;<br>- I have no financial or commercial relationship with the group;<br>- I have no control or influence over a major donor to the group; and<br>-I have no close personal relationships with the Scout Group trustees.|No matters for<br>attention. I am<br>independent of the<br>Scout Group.|
|---|---|---|
|**Direction 3:**<br>**Documentation**|<br>This record, along with supporting working papers where relevant, will document the examination procedures<br>carried out to address each of the Commission's Directions.|No matters for<br>attention.<br>Appropriate<br>arrangements have<br>been put in place to<br>document<br>examination<br>procedures.|
|**Direction 4:**<br>**Understanding the**<br>**charity**|The charity is a Scout Group. It exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development,<br>empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. The trustees are made up of volunteer leaders.<br>Receipts are generated membership fees and grants. These receipts are then applied to scout group activity and<br>governance costs. Review of accounting records, constitution and minutes has confirmed my understanding of the<br>aims and objectives of the Scout Group.|No matters for<br>attention. An<br>understanding of the<br>Scout Group has<br>been obtained in<br>order to plan<br>specific examination<br>procedures.|



|**Direction 5: Check that**<br>**accounting records are**<br>**kept and not materially**<br>**misstated**|Accounting records have been maintained for transactions during the year. I have been able to agree general ledger<br>transactions to the bank statement and supporting documentation. See the 'Analytical_Review_&_Testing' tab for<br>further details.<br>While the Scout Group has largely gone cashless, it is recommended that controls are established for the counting,<br>storage and lodgement of any subsequent cash received.|Complete<br>accounting records<br>have been kept for<br>the transactions<br>included in the<br>financial statements.<br>Controls for cash<br>counting, storage<br>and lodgements to<br>be established.|
|---|---|---|
|**Direction 6: Check that**<br>**the charity accounts are**<br>**consistent with the**<br>**accounting records**|Accounts are consistent with accounting records.|See above|
|<br>**Direction 7: Check that**<br>**any identified conflicts**<br>**of interest or related**<br>**party transactions were**<br>**properly authorised and**<br>**appropriately disclosed.**|No conflicts of interest or related party transactions have been identified from a review of accounting records and<br>supporting documentation. No private benefit to a trustee identified from the Scout Group activities during 2024-<br>25.|No matters for<br>attention. No<br>conflicts of interest<br>or related party<br>transactions<br>identified.|
|**Direction 8: Analytical**<br>**Review**|N/A - 2024-25 is the first year of activity, therefore an analytical review is not possible.|No matters for<br>attention.|



|**Direction 9: Check the**<br>**form and content of**<br>**accounts**|Form and content of the accounts confirmed in the record of work done above as follows:<br>- Direction 1 - confirmed that it is appropriate for the Scout Group to produce receipts and payments accounts.<br>- Direction 6 - confirmed that the required statements have been prepared and agree to supporting records. In<br>addition, appropriate funds have been identified and presented in the accounts.<br>Accounts prepared are in accordance with Commission pro-forma.|No matters for<br>attention.<br>Appropriate<br>accounts have been<br>prepared and<br>presented.|
|---|---|---|
|**Direction 11: Compare**<br>**the trustee' annual**<br>**report with the**<br>**accounts for consistency**|Trustee annual report not yet provided, but AGM reports have been reviewed and are consistent with the accounts.|AGM report<br>obtained and agreed<br>to the accounts for<br>consistency.|



