## **Braid District**
## **Scout Council**
# **Trustees’ Annual Report and Statement of Accounts 2025**
Registered Scottish Charity No: SC011339
## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025.**
## **Section A: Reference and Administration Details**
**Charity name:** Braid District Scout Council, also known as Braid District **Registered charity number:** SC011339 **Charity’s principal address:** 8 Morham Park EDINBURGH EH10 5GF
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## **Board of Trustees**
Names of the charity trustees on date of approval of Trustees’ Annual Report
**1. Chair** *
**2. Treasurer** *
**3. District Lead Vounteeer** *
**4. District Youth Lead** *
**5. Trustee**
**6. Trustee**
**7. Trustee**
**8. Trustee**
- _Denotes ex offico member of the board_
_Year indicates start of three term of office._
Names of all other charity trustees during the period, if any, ( _for example, those who resigned part way through the financial period_ )
## **Members of the District Leadership Team:**
**District Lead Vounteeer**
**District Youth Lead**
**Programme Team Leader**
**Support Team Leader**
**Volunteering Development Team Leader 14-24 Team Leader**
**14-24 Team Leader**
**All Group Lead Vounteers**
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## **Independent Examiner for the reporting year:**
## **Bankers**
Bank of Scotland Plc Edinburgh George Street PO Box 17235 EDINBURGH EH11 1YH
## **Braid Scouts**
For news and updates follow the District on Facebook. Find us at /BraidDistrict
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## **Section B: Structure, governance and management**
## **Type of governing document:**
The Scout District is constituted in terms of the Rules of The Scout Association, which is a charitable body incorporated by Royal Charter. The District is a registered Scottish Charity - No SC011339.
## **How the charity is constituted:**
The Scout District is a trust established under its rules which are common to all Scouts.
## **Trustee recruitment and appointment:**
Trustees are recruited and appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation & Rules ("POR") of The Scout Association.
## **Section C: Objectives and activities**
## **Charitable purposes:**
Our purpose is to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.
## **Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects**
The main activities in relation to these objectives are detailed in Section D.
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## **Section D: Achievements and performance**
## **Chair’s Report**
Hello and welcome to the Annual Trustees Report for the year ending 31st March 2025. The detailed accounts are attached, and I am assured by our Treasurer, Ruth, that all is in order. As Trustees we have considered that to retain the value of six months operating costs in reserve is appropriate and this is shown in the balance of the General Fund. Other than that, we are again building up the fund for the next World Scout Jamboree to be held in Poland in 2027 to help support any of our young people who are lucky enough to be selected to attend. We have also maintained a sum to cater for any financial applications for any young member going on their first international adventure. This fund is known as the fund and during the reporting year we did not receive any applications so the total available remains ring fenced at £2,000. Similarly, we have the Development Fund set aside to assist with adult training where there may be substantial costs incurred in attending a training course but again, we have received no applications in the reporting year. These funds are available for application, which are then approved by the Trustees, and I would urge you to share the message with our members and encourage anyone to apply.
During the year the Scouts experienced the biggest reorganisation change since 1966 as we moved to a new volunteer structure with a focus on a team-based approach, moving away from individual role descriptions to teams with clear purposes and shared tasks. This included simplified role titles, a new approach to learning and a new digital system. On that I would like to encourage you all to check your records on the new system (log in to scouts.org.uk and sign in to ensure that you are up to date). I would also like to clarify that the Safety module has been revised to incorporate the Scouts response to the coroner’s prevention of future deaths report issued following the tragic event at the Great Orme in Wales in 2018. This additional training is mandatory, and most of you will have until the 14th of July this year to renew. It only takes 30 minutes and can be accessed through My Learning on the new system.
As District Chair it is with great pride that I can report that Braid District had four Explorer Scouts on parade at Windsor Castle, London to celebrate their achievement of being awarded The King’s Scout Award, the highest youth award in Scouts. Please review the video of the parade which was held on the 1st May where they were presented to the Duke of Kent, who is the Joint President of the Scouts. Well done to you all you are a shining example to all other Explorers and Networkers who follow you. You are our very best.
As we now look forward to the summer (if we have not already had it) may I wish you all, all the best for the future and have a great summer term, whatever it is that you are up to with the young people in your sections.
Stay safe,
Yours in Scouting,
## **Chair of the Braid District Board of Trustees.**
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## **District Lead Volunteer’s Report**
It was a tremendous honour and a great privilege to be appointed District Commissioner, as it was then titled, and to succeed Judith when her time in role ended at the beginning of September. It would be very remiss of me if I did not at this point recognise and thank for her commitment and dedicated leadership of the District over her tenure. Particularly as she guided the District through the most challenging time ever experienced by Scouts, the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was incredibly pleasing to be able to appoint a full District Leadership Team shortly after starting in role. The new volunteering structure, introduced in November, provided an opportunity to refresh. Some existing appointment holders agreed to continue. Others are new to the team, some of whom were identified by the DC search group. I am also very grateful to have inherited a team of GSLs. With Jacqui agreeing to take on the GLV role at the 139[th] , 14 of our 16 Groups now have at least one Lead Volunteer. We now have a well-balanced mix of experience and enthusiasm across the team who are settling into their remits and duties. Although it has only been a few months, much has been done.
For myself, and the Leadership team, I embarked on a programme of meeting each GLV and each UTL to help take stock of needs and support requirements. It is incredible the level of commitment and dedication you all have to providing Scouting to young people in our community. Our census return in 2025 provided some amazing highlights through quantifying this dedication. Over the year, adult volunteers are up by 7% to 365, youth membership up by 6% to 1588. As part of our recovery from the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Group sections, excluding Squirrels, are now back to 93% of 2020 numbers. Team Leaders and Team members have recovered and are now at 103% of 2020 numbers. During the reporting year four new sections opened. These where two Squirrel Drays at the 114[th] and 162[nd ] and reopening of the Colony and Pack at the 9[th] . The Scout and Cub sections remain our biggest, each with over 370 members. Squirrels, as expected, had the biggest growth but is also very pleasing to note the Explorer and Network sections followed with also impressive growth percentages of 16% and 45% respectively.
and her Volunteering Development team, and in particular as the Learning Team Leader have done a tremendous job in moving from Training Teams and Training Advisers to Volunteering Development Team. Not only in understanding the changes but also supporting adult volunteers with adjusting to these changes from Adult Training Scheme to Learning. Getting Started training is now known as Growing Roots, which now includes two additional mandatory skills – as modules are now called. These are Creating Inclusion (was Module 7 - Scouting for All) and Delivering a Great Programme (which was Module 3 - Tools for the Role (Section Leaders), Module 12A - Delivering a Quality Programme, Module 12B - Programme Planning and Module 17 - Running Safe Activities). If these modules where not completed under the Adult Training Scheme, they are now mandatory learning. Leaders were requested to ensure these additional skill courses were completed within six months of Go Live. However, that requirement has currently been suspended but you are still encouraged to complete if required before enforcement is reapplied. There has been a big effort to ensure all adult volunteers are compliant with Safety and Safeguarding renewals. As the Chair mentioned, the Safety skill course has been revamped and so has a renewal date of 14[th] July for most. Scouts have started enforcing noncompliance suspensions when Safety or Safeguarding renewals exceed 60 days. It is very pleasing to note the exceptionally high compliance rate in Braid – Well done everybody. First Response renewals are the next skill to have active enforcement, so please make sure renewal is timeously completed when due.
Another area of responsibility is the Awards and Recognition Team. This small group have made a strong and positive contribution to ensuring our volunteers are recognised with appropriate good
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service awards. This was and remains one of my personal missions on taking up role. If everything goes to plan, the Council meeting will revel in the fruits of this teams labour, with more to come as the year progresses. I am incredibly proud of the work done to recognise the level of good service given by some of our dedicated and outstanding volunteers.
Angie and her Programme Team, joined by Alex and his Youth Team have embarked on a programme of section visits across all Groups in the District. Cub Packs and Scout Troops are the main focus for the Programme Team. Dreys and Colonies will be included when Team Leads are found to support these sections. All sections though have been the focus of and his Youth Team. If they have not been to your section yet, the programme of visits continues into the next reporting year (i.e. now). Activity Permit holders and Nights Away Permit Assessors are placed in the Programme Team. We are also developing a local mechanism to approve permit activities when not run as part of a Night Away experience.
and his Support team have been getting used to the new, expanded remit and duties. Plans are progressing with digital support through Microsoft 365 and OSM, recruitment initiatives, fundraising initiatives, community engagement including social media channels, website, and physical. They also take on responsibility for looking after District owned equipment. Work is ongoing to accurately register such. The Badge Secretary is now a Support Team Member, but Elaine will be continuing her duty as usual.
and their 14-24 Team have continued as normal. continues with similar duties that he had as the DESL and Laura that she had as the DNSL. The Explorer Units have continued with their tremendous programmes of exciting and adventurous activities offered to their youth members. As with Sections, partnership agreements and financial mechanisms are being reviewed to ensure they maintain compliance with charity legislation and regulations. We also look forward to welcoming a new unit in the second quarter of 2025. Laura has worked hard to begin resurrecting the network section with a programme of activities planned to encourage and support reengagement which we look forward to in the spring of 2025.
I would like to close by expressing my deepest thanks and appreciation to all Lead Volunteers, Team Leaders, Team Members and Trustees for your dedication and support so willingly given. Also, for your understanding, patience and tolerance during what has been a year dominated by a period of change and adjustment.
**District Lead Volunteer.**
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## **Section E: Financial Review**
**Treasurer – Ruth Conn**
## **Reserves Policy:**
The Trustees believe that around **six** months of annual expenditure is an appropriate level of reserves in order to cover the timing differences between receipts and payments and to allow for any unexpected items of expenditure.
## **Investment Policy:**
The Scout District does not have sufficient funds to invest in longer term investments. The Trustees has therefore adopted a risk averse strategy to the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks or building societies.
## **Note about accounts:**
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Receipts
Donations, legacies and similar income
Membership subscriptions 80,718 66,687
- -
Less: Membership subscriptions paid on (National/Region/District) 73,712 60,294
Donations - 1,500
Legacies 4,000 1,000
Gift Aid 3,364 9,848
Youth Programme Fees 18,706 25,396
Badges 8,033
Sub total 41,109 44,138
Grants
- -
Maintenance grant
Other grants - 66
Sub total - 66
Fundraising events (gross)
Jumble Sale 6,459 5,868
Christmas Trees 3,543 3,623
Bag packing 2,482 1,103
Other fundraising activities 751 22,691
Sub total 13,235 33,285
Scout hut income
- -
Hire of building
- -
Hire of equipment
Other Scout hut income 2,264 1,335
Sub total 2,264 1,335
Investment income
Bank interest - -
Building Society interest - -
The Scout Association Short Term Investment Service - -
Other investment income - -
Sub total - -
Total Gross Income 56,607 78,824
Asset and investment sales, etc. - -
Total receipts 56,607 78,824
**----- End of picture text -----**
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Payments
Charitable Payments
Youth programme and activities 12,663 50,708
Adult support and training 215 231
Rent 2,658 2,811
- -
Water and Sewerage
- -
Electricity and Gas
Insurance 458 440
Repairs and Renewals 211 87
Materials and equipment 2,534 4,397
- -
Printing and photocopying
Contribution to camp costs 22,200 32,739
Uniforms 85 -
-
AGM and trustee expenses 1,139
Badges 8,488 50
Gift Aid Reimbursement 1,444 2,054
Online Scout Manager 1,296 25
Sub total 53,390 93,541
Fundraising expenses
Jumble Sale 1,874 1,450
Christmas Trees 1,931 1,892
- -
Bag packing
Other fundraising costs 681 2,573
Sub total 4,486 5,915
Total Gross Expenditure 57,876 99,456
Asset and investment purchases, etc. - -
Total payments 57,876 99,456
Net of receipts/(payments) - 1,268 - 20,632
Cash funds last year end 70,525 91,158
Cash funds this year end 69,256 70,525
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Year start date Year end date
For the year
01 April 2024 To 31st March 2025
from
Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year
31st March 2025 31st March 2024
Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds
£ £
Cash funds
Bank current account 69,256 70,525
Bank deposit account - -
Building society account - -
The Scout Association Short Term Investment Service - -
Cash/Floats - -
Total cash funds 69,256 70,525
(agree balances with receipts and payments account) ok ok
Other monetary assets
Tax claim - -
Debts due from the County/Area/District/Group - -
Insurance claim - -
Sub total - -
Investment assets
Investment property - detail - -
Quoted investments - -
Other investments - detail - -
Sub total - -
Non monetary assets for charity's own use
Badge stock - -
Shop stock - -
Other stock - -
Land and buildings - -
Motor vehicles - -
Scouting equipment, furniture etc - -
Other - -
Sub total - -
Liabilities
Accounts not yet paid - -
Expenses incurred but not invoiced - -
Subscriptions not yet paid - -
Loan - detail - -
Other liabilities - -
Sub total - -
Total net assets 69,256 70,525
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The above receipts and payments account and statement of assets and liabilities were approved by the Trustees on Wednesday , June 4[th] , 2025 (the date of the Trustee Board meeting that approved the accounts) and signed on their behalf by:
|Signature||Print Name||
|---|---|---|---|
||||**Chair**|
||||**Treasurer**|
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Independent examinerfs report to the Trustees of Braid District Scout Council
SC011339
I report on the accounts of the charty for the year ended 31st March 2024 which are set out on pages
10 to 12.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the
terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland)
Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charty trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation
10(l) lal to Ic) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply.
It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44{11 (c) of the Act and to
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Chartties Accounts (Scotland)
Regulations 2006 {as amended). An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the
charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of
any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any
such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an
audiL and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of my examination. no matter has come to my attention [other than disclosed below"]
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(11(a) of the 2005 Act and
Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. and
to prepare accounts which accord wtth the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8
of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met. or
to which. in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding
of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date:
0410612025
Name:
Address:
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## **Section G: Declaration**
Approved by the Board of Trustees of Braid District Scout Council and signed on its behalf by:-
|Signature||Print Name|Position
Date:
**Chair**
4thJune 2025
**Treasurer**
4thJune 2025|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
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Trustees’ Annual Report and Statement of Accounts Braid District Council Scout
Registered Scottish Charity No: SC011339