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← 28th Glasgow Giffnock Scouts Group

2025-07-31-accounts

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28[th] Glasgow (Giffnock) Scout Group Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31 July 2025

Registered Scottish Charity No. SC014819

giffnockscouts.org.uk

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Administrative information

The Trustees of 28[th] Glasgow (Giffnock) Scout Group present their annual report together with financial statements and the independent examiner’s report for the year ended 31 July 2025.

Charity details

Charity name: 28[th] Glasgow (Giffnock) Scout Group Charity number: SC014819 Principal address: The Scout Hall 2 – 4 Arthurlie Drive Giffnock Glasgow G46 6UP

Trustees

James Gallagher Chair Graeme Stevens Chair (From April 2025) Hetty Woolley Lead Volunteer Claire Newton Treasurer (Until January 2025) Marie Paterson Secretary (Until January 2025) Janette Dickson Graham Kyle (Until January 2025) Lindsey Tollan (Until January 2025) David Hatfield Derek Ritchie (Until December 2025) Gillian Harkness-McKinlay (Until March 2025) David Christie Josh Zeitlin

Structure, governance and management

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. The Group is a trust established under those rules which are common to all Scouts. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Policy, Organisation and Rules of The Scout Association.

The Group is managed by the Group 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 the legislation applicable to charities. This includes registering the charity, keeping proper accounts, and making returns to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) as appropriate.

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The Trustee Board consists of the Chair, Treasurer, Lead Volunteer, and representation from parents and the wider community. It meets every 2 months or as required. Members of the Trustee Board complete ‘Trustee Induction' and other relevant Scout training modules within the first 5 months of joining the board.

The 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 high quality and safe programmes that gives young people skills for life.

Risk and Internal Control

The Group Trustee Board has identified the major risks to which they believe the Group is exposed. These have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate against them. The main areas of concern that have been identified are:

The Group is primarily reliant upon income from subscriptions and fundraising. The group does hold a reserve to ensure the continuity of activities should there be a major reduction in income. The Board could raise the value of subscriptions to increase the income to the Group on an ongoing basis, either temporarily or permanently.

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.

The Group has in place systems of internal control that are designed to provide reasonable assurance against material mismanagement or loss. These include 2 signatories for all payments and comprehensive insurance policies to ensure that insurable risks are covered.

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Objectives and activities

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 cooperate 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:

The Group meets the public benefit criteria for charitable status under both the advancement of education and the advancement of citizenship or community development headings.

Achievements and performance

2024–25 has been another vibrant year for the 28th Glasgow (Giffnock) Scout Group, marked by diverse programmes, a wide range of badges awarded, and several adventurous activities. Across all sections, young members embraced new challenges, developed practical and leadership skills, and strengthened their sense of community, supported throughout by the continued dedication of our volunteers, helpers, and families.

From hands-on skills nights and creative challenges to camps, sleepovers, community fundraising, and international planning, the Group delivered a varied and exciting programme that reflected Scouting’s aim of preparing young people with skills for life.

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Beavers

Both Monday and Friday Beaver Colonies enjoyed a busy and imaginative year, packed with creativity, learning, and fun. Programmes focused on developing confidence, teamwork, and awareness of the world around them through games, crafts, outdoor exploration, and practical challenges.

Highlights included disability awareness sessions, British Sign

Language finger spelling, visits from a therapy dog, police and emergency services visits, recycling and eco-building activities, planting projects, map reading, and nature walks at Rouken Glen. Beavers explored

healthy eating, cooking, and sensory challenges, and enjoyed active evenings in local parks and halls.

A major highlight of the year was the joint Beavers and Cubs sleepover at the Glasgow Science Centre, giving many Beavers their first large-scale overnight experience. Seasonal celebrations such as Halloween, Chinese New Year, Burns Night, and Christmas added to an already packed programme, with many Beavers earning badges and top awards, with several completing the Chief Scouts Bronze Award.

Cubs

The Cubs programme continued to balance traditional Scouting skills with creativity, teamwork, and cultural learning across Tuesday and Wednesday Packs. Cubs worked on teamwork challenges and communication skills, while also enjoying sports, wide games, cycling, crafts, cooking, and first aid.

Cultural and themed evenings included Burns Night, Chinese New Year cooking sessions, Founder’s Day, and international activities. Practical Scouting skills were developed through pioneering, rope making, fire lighting, marshmallow cooking, and water challenges, alongside digital safety and problemsolving activities.

The 2025 Cub Camp was another standout success which proved to be a memorable and confidence-building event for so many.

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Scouts

The Scout Troop experienced a full and ambitious year, welcoming new members and growing to around 50 Scouts. Early in the year, Scouts focused on patrol systems, teamwork, codes of conduct, and personal challenges, laying strong foundations for the months ahead.

Throughout the year, Scouts developed a wide range of practical skills including sewing, bike maintenance, pioneering, fire lighting, knife, axe and saw work, cooking, first aid, DIY projects, navigation, map reading,

and space-themed activities. Outdoor learning featured heavily, with visits to Whitelee Wind Farm for stargazing and navigation, fires at Lapwing Lodge, and local orienteering challenges.

Scouts took part in multiple Nights Away, including a hall sleepover focused on homelessness and disability awareness, SubZero winter camp with Explorers, a spring camp at Meggernie, and an expedition. Community involvement remained

central, with major contributions to the Jumble Sale and Nearly New & Book Sale, and fundraising efforts such as completing the Kiltwalk to support the Switzerland 2026 expedition.

Troop forums, talent nights, creativity challenges, and leadership opportunities ensured Scouts had a strong voice in shaping their programme while continuing to earn badges and build confidence.

Explorers

The Explorer Unit enjoyed another engaging year of varied and youthled activities, balancing fun, challenge, and personal development. Weekly programmes included mystery nights, international and science-themed evenings, fire lighting, sports, treasure hunts, gokarting, climbing, exam de-stress sessions, and social activities such as BBQs.

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Explorers also took part in SubZero winter camp, sharing demanding winter conditions and outdoor challenges with the Scout section.

As always, the programme encouraged independence, teamwork, and confidence as

Explorers prepared for future awards, leadership roles, and adventures.

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Fundraising

The return of our biggest fundraising events, the Jumble Sale and Nearly New & Book Sale, once again demonstrated the strength of support from our local community. These events, alongside sponsored challenges and camps, were only possible thanks to the time and effort of volunteers, parents, Scouts, and supporters.

Top Awards

We were delighted to welcome HM Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, Colonel Peter McCarthy, and Regional Lead Volunteer, Marion Rankin, in June 2025 to present a number of special awards to members of our group. Explorer Steven was awarded with the Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct, after performing lifesaving first aid to save a close family member, not long after attending a first aid course with Scouts.

James, Craig and Amy were presented with the King’s Scout Award, the highest award a young person can achieve in Scouting. James was also awarded the Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service and Amy the Chief Scout’s 5-year Service Award.

Congratulations to Steven, James, Craig and Amy.

Thank you

As we close the 2024–25 year, we celebrate the energy, resilience, and enthusiasm shown by our young people across every section. From first Investitures to major camps, community service, and international planning, the Group continues to thrive because of the commitment of our leaders, helpers, young leaders, and families.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed time, skills, and encouragement this year. Together, we continue to provide meaningful, fun, and challenging Scouting experiences.

Financial review

Reserves Policy

The Group's policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue the charitable activities of the group should income from fundraising activities fall short or should the Group face large and unexpected bills relating to the maintenance of the Scout Hall.

Each of the 6 sections within the Group (ie 2 Beaver Colonies, 2 Cub Packs, 1 Scout Troop and 1 Explorer Scout Unit) deals with day-to-day management of its own funds – which are consolidated into the Group accounts at the end of the year. The Group’s policy is that each section should have sufficient funds to meet its week-to-week running costs, to provide an appropriate amount of working capital (eg to cover the payment of deposits for camps or other activities) and to provide the leaders of the section with an appropriate degree of flexibility to

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deal with the unexpected (eg to pay for additional transport, accommodation or activities if there is an exceptionally wet spell of weather at camp). In aggregate the sum required to meet those requirements is £10,000 - £15,000.

The policy in relation to the funds held by the Trustee Board is that it should have a contingency reserve fund of £60,000 set aside to allow the Group to continue to operate if the Hall were out of commission for any reason (this would require the hire of alternative premises until the Hall could be brought back into use and would also significantly reduce the Group’s income as most of its fundraising activities involve use of the Hall) or if it were faced with unexpectedly large repair bills (eg if dry rot was discovered in the floor joists). In addition, it should hold a general fund equivalent to about 2 years of the routine costs involved in running and maintaining the Scout Hall and associated equipment. An analysis of costs over the 5 years to 2017 (and with some adjustment to take account of recent inflationary pressures, including increases in the cost of gas and electricity) indicates that these costs amount to around £20,000 per year on average.

In order therefore to maintain an appropriate degree of financial stability and resilience, the Group’s policy is to seek to maintain total unrestricted reserves of around £110,000 - £115,000.

Finally, it should be noted that the Group does not usually solicit cash donations from the public to support its regular activities. In normal circumstances, most of its income from fundraising is earned – through Jumble Sales, Nearly New Sales and Book Sales etc.

Investment Policy

The Group's income and expenditure is relatively small and as a consequence it does not have sufficient funds to invest in longer-term investments such as stocks and shares. The Group has therefore adopted a low-risk strategy for the investment of its funds. All funds are held in cash using only mainstream banks or building societies.

The Group Trustee Board regularly monitors the levels of bank balances and the interest rates received to ensure the group obtains maximum value and income from its banking arrangements. Occasionally this may involve using an account that requires a period of notice before funds may be withdrawn, however before doing so the Group Trustee Board considers its cash flow requirements.

Declaration

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

J. Gallagher

Trustee 07/02/2026

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Receipts and Payments Account Year from 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025

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Trustee

02/07/2026

Asst Treasurer

02/07/2026

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28th Glasgow (Giffnock) Scout Group Independent Examiner's Report Year ended 31 July 2025

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the 28th Glasgow (Giffnock) Scout Group

I report on the financial statements of the 28th Glasgow (Giffnock) Scout Group ("the Group") for the Year Ended 31 July 2025 which are set out on pages 9 to 10.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The Group's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 ("the Act") and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 ("the Regulations"). The Group's Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(d) does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1)(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 the Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Group 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 audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent Examiner's Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: -

N. Melville

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