1[st] Ardrossan 15[th] Ayrshire Scout Group Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024
Charity Number SC011044
1[st] Ardrossan 15[th] Ayrshire Scout Group Report of the Trustees For the Period 1 Sep 2023 to 31 Aug 2024
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the above period.
Reference and Administrative Details Charity Number SC011044 Principal Office Scout Hut, Kilmeny Terrace Ardrossan Trustees Following the AGM held 6 Feb 2024 are:
Lead Volunteer Chairman Treasurer Elected member Elected member Elected member
Group Secretary:
Governance
The Group’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 of the Scout Association.
Organisation Structure and Management
The Group is an educational charity managed by a Trustee Board.
The Trustee Board consists of independent representatives, Chairman, Treasurer, Lead Volunteer and elected and co-opted members. They meet quarterly or as required either in person or using digital on-line systems such as WhatsApp and Zoom. Board members are all volunteers who work together to make sure the Scout Group is run safely and legally. The Board is responsible for:
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safeguarding,
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GDPR,
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charity registration,
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keeping proper accounts,
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making returns to the Charity Commission
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maintenance of Group property,
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raising funds and the administration of the Group finances,
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the insurance of persons, property and equipment,
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Group public occasions
All trustees must be registered with the Scout Association and must complete relevant Scout Association training modules.
Risk Management
The Group has in place systems of internal controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss; these include dual authorisation for all significant payments and a comprehensive insurance policy to ensure that insurable risks are covered.
Aim and Method
The aim of the Group aligns with the aim of the Scout Association, which is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and
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international communities. The method of achieving the Aim is by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and Law and guided by adult leadership.
Achievements and Performance
Once again our section leaders worked hard to provide a balanced Scouting programme.
The group operates three separate age based sections for boys and girls. We also have a very close affiliation with the Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston Explorer Scout Unit (SAS) and provide our premises for their meetings and activities.
| Section | Age Range |
Members 2022 |
Members Jan 2023 |
Members Jan 2024 |
Target 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beavers | 6 - 8 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 23 |
| Cubs | 8 - 10½ | 15 | 13 | 24 | 23 |
| Scouts | 10½ - 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 20 |
Our Beaver and Cub sections are at capacity and we have a waiting list in place. We anticipate an increase in Scout section numbers in 2024/25 with young people moving up from the Cub section.
It is encouraging to report that we were able to register 21 adult volunteers this year.
Community Usage of Our Premises
In addition to scout related activities, our premises continue to be used by a number of community groups. Over the period covered by this report there were 8 community groups regularly (mostly weekly) conducting their activities in our hall. It is our aim to increase this number over the coming years.
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SEhVE&S Some of the things Beavers leam about through their badge worf( include disabilty awareness, road safety. gardening. helping in the home. first ald. fath, building things, books, baking and awareness of other culre$. They often work tsJether in groups fcy activltses. All section activities are planned with a purpose in mind, rmiallY wot*ing towards an award in the form of Scout Badges. Beaver badges all have broader leaming outcomes. such as Creat"ve Skills, Farth & Communty. Teamwork. Rdiability and Responsibilty. et¢_ cubs Our Cub Scouts take many of the skills leamed in Beavers to a higher level. Examples of this would be first aid. cTh)kinglhome help. the phonetic Iphabet, how lo understand disabilty. home safety, teamwork and leadership. Activities include archery. leaming abcmjt local history, beach games, hiking. camping and lighting fires (Safe). The Secmjt section is, in tum, a prOgressic from Cubs. The same ethos applies. but actNitses are a brt more wide ranging, a0entUrouS arKI challer¥Jing. EXPLORERS Explorer Scouts are aged tetsveen 14 and 18 Yea of age are the next progression for our Seout section members. The S.A.S {Sarteoats, Ardrossan, Stevenstonl Explorer Seout Unf( was fonned in 2002 wf(h members coming from Scout Groups based in the three towns of Sattcoats. Ardrossan and Stevenston {the info.als frcffi the three towns forming the name for the unrtl. The unrt is based in Ardrossan S(xxrt Group premises.
Financial Review The financial 5tstements are presented pages 6 to 9 of thi5 reporL The Group's main asset is the Seout Hut at lmenY Terrace along with the ground on which it is buitt. The group also owns camping equipment and other equipment activities. Unrestricted Reserve Policy It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestrcted fvnds at a level to meet 6 months operational costs of the Group. Grant Funding Over the past year. and indeed over previous years. considerable grant fvnding towards the refurbishment of our premises has been received by the Grow). We are indebted to many fvnding bodies, including.. The Moffat Trust The Hugh Fraser Foundation The Robertson Trust Garfield Weston The Robert Barr Trust The Leslie Sell Charitable Trust Cunninghame Housing Association North Ayrshire Council ASDA Scottish Landfill SE Nel Zero Fund Group Plans for the Future Period The group is continuing its effort to IneaSe ytyjth membership across the sections and grow the leadership team. We have embarked on phase 1 of our refvrbishment project to rercof, insulate and install eco-friendly heating and lighting in the east wing of our Premises. The project has been delayed, largely due to drfficulty engaging surlable contractors, however, progress is being made and we estimate that phase 1 will be completed by May 2025. The pwr physical state of our building is a constraint on our abiltty to fijlly utilise the premises for the maximum possible benefft to ourselves and our communtty. Our aim is to retrofft as dose as possible to the EnerPHit standard {the new PassNhaus refijrbishment stsndard from the Passivhaus Inslitutel. This will provide a safe, warm and cornfortable faality for our 5COUt group and our community. It will also help us move towards a Net Zero goal. Signed Trustee Board Chairperson Date 13 Jan 2025
tst Ardr05¥a 15th Ay3hlre o¥t Group IlePendent Examihers Report Forthe Year Ended 3tst A8t 2024 Inde ndent Examlhers Re A hlre sto Giou I reporton the financialstatement of the 1st Ardf055an 15th Ayrshire knut Group for the Period Ended 3J5t Auwst 2024 whth are Set out the pa8es thai fdlow. to theTru •éthe IstArdrossan 15th nsl)ilff4ie5 OIT and Exèmlner The charity'5 tru5tee5 are resPg1)sibk loi the preparailon of ihe accounts In CordanCe with the terms of the Charitie5 and Trusiee In¥estment lotlandl21M)5 Art and the charttie5 Accounts Ikotlandl Re6ulai0Tr5 2006. The charity trustee5 con5iderihat the audt reqremellt Of Regulation 10111 lal to O of the AcCoUt5 Regulations Ljoes not appw. It is Iny fesponsibilily to examine the aicounu as requlred uTrJer sectlon 441110 ol the Act and to stale whether particular [are have cometo my attenzion. BJs15 of Inde ndent examlner's statement My examindriorb t5 carried out In accordance wtth Re8ulation 11 otthe CharttE5 Accounts 15cotlandl Regulations 2(th. An examlnationiThclude5 a review ol the accounting records kept by the charttyand a comparlson Df the Kcounts presented wth the rords. It also Includei tonsideratlon of any unusual Items c dwlosures in the accounts and seeks explanadon fromthe trustees cancwning any5uch matters. The PT¢cedure5 undertaken do not pr(Nide all the evidence that woul¢J be requwe<J in an audit and, conwuentty, I do not express an aLtdit oplnlon on Ihe accounts. Ind rrtlent Exniner's statement In course of my exam4n3tion. no matter has come to my attentn:_ l. 1(h gNes ffle reasonable causeto believe tbat in any material respert tFr requirements lal to keep aCCOUming records in accordance with the re8ulationsand Ibl to prepare accounts whKh agree with th&iccountin8 rerdS and comp th the Regubtions have not been met, or 2. To which. in my opinion. &tention should be drawn In orderto enablea proper understanding of the accounts to be rèached. Date
1st Ardrossan Isth Ayrshire Scout Group Re¢elpts and Payments A¢¢ount For the Year Ended 31st Au8ust 2024 Voluntary Income Subscripiions Donations and Gran FUndraIsidltWrtIes and Other Irw71e 8164 97245 6383 ltsJ30 116875 10998 Group Actlvilies Camps and Outings In¥estmant Income Bank itSt 4157 1979 115949 139882 Pa GroupA(tivities Camp. Outlngs, Actwities and Mernbership Badges and Lln¢form5 Training Premises Admtni5tration Costs 7595 1065 10882 831 235 6214 23620 2748 39603 51091 41782 luslorthe Perlod 981(K)
1st Ardrossan 15th Ayrshire Scout Group Ststement of Balance As at 31st August 2024 2024 Z023 Cash and Bank Balances unrestrlrted Balance as at 1st April 2023 174261 76161 Surplus for the Year 64858 981LXJ Balance as at 3tst August 2024 239119 174261 Represented by .' Bank Accounts 239119 174261 Cash in Hand 239119 174261 Other The gr¢up owns the scout hut and garage at 15 Kilwneny Terrace. Ardrossan. togther with the land on which the premises are buitt the area immediately 5urroundinE them. It also Owns equipment for campin8 and other activitbes. Said equipment 15 kept within these buildings. There 5s also a library tr With many iiook5 donated in memDry of the late Signed .ITru5teel Date ..14: 11, 24.................
tst Ardrossan 15th AyTshlre 5¢out Group Notes to the COunts For the Year Ended 31st August 2024 l. Funds The group maintains a general accouni its financial tran5*ions. 2.Trustees Remuneration and The trustees did n¢X receive any remuneration or expenses durin8thi5 period. 3.5ul)s¢ri on Income 2024 2Q23 Group Membership 8164 Less.. Fees paid to District Net Income 8164 l(X)30 4. Don fjrants Pfoject 92375 1147(K) Other 4870 2175 97245 116875 5.Fund Rai Income Group Fundraisng Attivtties 67 1396 Hall Hi 2755 3276 Events 3561 6326 6383 10998 6. Grou A¢tfvlties Mernber5hip Costs Events 2916 4679 2470 8412 7595 10882 7.Prèmises Utilitie5 Insurance Maintenance and Cleaning 2368 4070 380 2748 2144 6214 8.Administration Project Costs Other 35145 21123 2497 39603 23620