19* Argyll (Lochgilphead) Scout Group
Annual Report and Accounts For the period 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024
Charity Number SC040986
PQ. SCOLOF EL, AAA
19th Argyll (Lochgilphead) Scout Group independent Examiner’s Report For the period 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024
Registered Charity SC040986
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of 19th Argyll (Lochgilphead) Scout Group | report on the financial statements of the 19th Argyll (Lochgilphead) Scout Group (“the Group”) for the period 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The Charity Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(d) of the Accounts Regulations 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 Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. 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 explanation 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 do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:-
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1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that , in any material respect, the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations and
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- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations have not been met or
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2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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Signed Date {0 | 10 | ZY Name Relevant professional qualifications or body (ifany) ¢ pF) -a
19th Argyll (Lochgilphead) Scout Group
Statement of Balances
|Bank Balance at01/08/23
|
t—(itis‘CSsSCSCiszY
ScoutsAccount
1402015|
|---|
|ScoutsAccount
| 10953.05|
|Surplus/Deficit for
the
year
(from previous page
8626.80|
|Er
in
Scouts Account
3385.33
Po
17596.67,
|
~~a~~|
|TotalBankBalancesat31/07/24
20982.00|
Approved by the Scout Group Committee and signed on its behalf by
ee
19th Argyll (Lochgilphead) Scout Group Receipts & Payments Account For the period 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2024
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Current|Previous|Previous|Previous|Previous|
|01/08/23 to|01/08/22|to|—-01/08/21|to|01/08/20 to|01/08/19 to|
|RECEIPTS|31/07/24|31/07/23|31/07/22.|31/07/21|31/07/20|
|Donations|in|lieu|ot Subscriptions|0.00|0.00|780.00|2594.50|
|Subscriptions - Explorers and Scouts|5235|4182.00|3022|0.00|2533|
|Subscriptions|- Cubs Beavers and Squirrels|4766.00|3374.50|1952.50|0|1282|
|Miscellaneous income|43.78|24.50|68.50|0|80|
|Activity|/ Camps|9079.10|15602.93|4798.50|0|780,|
|Donations & Grants|16177.41|1200.00|3200.00|5974.03|1934|
|General Fundraising|2690.66|1299.68|0.00|17.34|2287.64|
|Nepal|Refunds|via|District|3150.00|
|Nepal|0.00|8617.44|0.00|0|0|
|‘Gift Aid|0|673.05|0.00|0|0|
|Bank Interest|148.52|45.78|0.74|0.79|2.04|
|Go Cardless fees|-664.76|-598.80|
|Total Receipts|40625.71|34421.08|13822.24.|8506.66|8890.65|
|PAYMENTS|
|Uillean|7010.19|
|Malaysia|0|0.00|0.00|1500|
|Capitation fee|4482|3555.00|3154.00|1421.00|2730|
|Activities & events|302.13|1420.61|5279.37|0.00|1114.05|
|Camps|10920.53|16807.90|0.00|0.00|1196.59|
|Equipment (See also Misc Costs)|2344.48|322.99|0.00|87.47|
|Uniform & badges|896.48|1459.18|1499.53|8.31|1912.23|
|Hall hire|1226.25|1119.00|737.80|0.00|966|
|Nepal|3150|9500.00|0.00|0.00|0|
|Miscellaneous|costs|1605.15|979.56|481.35|1346.89|762.94|
|Donations|0|30.00|0.00|0.00|0|
|Training|61.7|400.00|520.00|0.00|75|
|Total Payments|31998.91|35271.25|11|995.047|2,776.20|10,044.25|
|Surplus/(Deficit) for year|8626.8|-850.17|1827.20|5810.46|-1445.60|
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19th Argyll (Lochgilphead) Scout Group
Trustees Annual Report
For the period 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2024
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements and the independent examiner's report for the period ended 31st July 2024
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Charity Name 19th Argyll (Lochgilphead) Scout Group
Other names the charity is known by None
Registered Charity Number SCO40986
--; this:
Constitution The Scout Group constitution was adapted from the Scout Association POR constitution and approved by the Scout
Group Committee on 25 August 2015.To comply with new guidance from the Scout Association the group will adopt an updated constitution
and a new governance structure at the 2024 AGM.
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Trustee recruitment and appointment Since 25 August 2015 the full Scout Group Committee have been the charity trustees. This will change in August 2024 to comply with Scout Association POR and a new Trustee Board will be appointed to oversee governance. The day to day management of the Group will be undertaken by a committee appointed by the Group Scout Council
Charitable purposes and main activities The purpose of the Scout Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, social and spiritual potential
Achievements and Activities in the 2023/24 academic year. Prudent budgeting and generous donations from parents during the Covid pandemic had enabled the Group to avoid increasing subscriptions for a number of years at a time of financial pressure for many families so the numbers of young people engaging in Scouting activities continued to increase. A small increase in subscriptions in 2023 enabled the group to end the year in a strong financial position. Numbers of members in the Group continue to grow.
One of the highlights of the year was the completion of the purchase of the land at Uillean. Work has already begun on clearing the land and a change of use planning application has been submitted to enable an old building on the site to be used for storage. The next milestone will be the installation of composting toilets so camping can go ahead on the site without the additional cost of hiring in welfare facilities. A generous donation from a supporter has been received and other grant applications are being submitted.
Each of the sections had another exciting year and we are very grateful to all the volunteers who made this possible —
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e Squirrels — The new Squirrels section, now in its second year, had 15-16 members who earned a total of 228 badges. 5 Squirrels earned their Acorn Chief Scout's Award. Lots of craft activities included making paper planes and helicopters and building dens. Visits were made to the beach and to Kilmartin Museum. A St Andrew's Night celebration was held. The Group went shopping and then made pizzas and pancakes.
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e Beavers — 18 Beavers were very active during the year with more girls than boys for the first time ever. 211 badges were awarded including 6 Bronze Chief Scout Awards and 4 Scottish Beaver Thistle Awards. There was an exciting sleepover at the Glasgow Science Centre, a camp at Ormsary anda visit to Gigha. Photography, tent pitching and using power tools to build bug houses were included in a wide range of activities.
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e Cubs — The Cubs currently have 20 members and although 15 members moved up to Scouts during the year numbers for the coming year are expected to remain around 20-25. 10 Cubs joined the Glasgow Science Centre Sleepover. An under canvas camp in Inveraray provided many Cubs with their first experience of sleeping in a tent. All attendees earned at least one badge. 8 Chief Scout Awards were added to a total of 218 badges over the past year. This included teamwork, hikes, first aid, backwoods cooking and local knowledge.
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e Scouts — An average of 30 Scouts attended each week anda full range of activities meant that 310 badges were awarded including 10 Gold Chief Scout Awards. Scouts were offered 8 different residential experiences which were all well attended. Camps included the National Scout Adventure Camp, a trip to JNI Scout Group in Paisley and a joint camp with 16" Argyll at Southend. A Camp on Gigha included completing a community project with the Gigha Ranger. Three camps are already scheduled for next year.
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e Explorers — After their amazing trip to Nepal in 2023 Explorers started back in September with 24 Explorers and 4 Leaders. They attended a well organised camp with Campbeltown Scouts and Explorers at Southend Village Hall in September, and enjoyed hiking and outdoor cooking. A number of Explorers attended Lapwing Lodge at the end of September for selection to Blair Atholl International Jamborette and six Explorers were successful- the largest group ever to attend from the 19". These six Explorers attended five training camps throughout the year, camping in some quite extreme weather conditions and learning all the skills required for a traditional 12-day camp in patrol tents, earning their Zodiac camping. An eventful Bronze Duke of Edinburgh and Platinum Chief Scout expedition was run at the end of October. The route had to be changed at the last minute due to the severe flooding and landslides. Four Explorers achieved their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and a further seven achieved the expedition element of the Platinum Chief Scout Award at this stage. The Explorers organised activity evenings for the Scouts to explore how Christmas and Easter are celebrated around the world, which also achieved some of the requirements for the Platinum Chief Scout Award. Six Explorers have signed up to complete a ten-day Explorer Belt expedition in Galicia, Spain in October 2024. Their training started in March, with route, transport and accommodation planning as well as team building exercises. The Group hope to be able to award at least four Diamond Chief Scout Awards and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards next year.
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Training Both current and newly recruited Leaders will continue to participate in a variety of training. Past investment in training enables the Group to offer a variety of events and activities.
Policy on reserves An informal reserve of £3000 was originally agreed by the committee on 25 August 2015 and remains unchanged after review. This ensures the Group will always have sufficient funds to pay the annual capitation fees and insurance. The Group has no other mandatory outgoings.
Details of any surplus
The surplus generated this financial year reflects the funds earmarked for a planned trip to Lochgoilhead Outdoor Centre later this year, funds held in reserves for developing Uillean and advance payments for camps where expenses have not yet been incurred. All these monies together with the £3000 reserve referred to above are ringfenced in a separate interest earning account. Operating expenses for the group are all covered form the general account.
Donated facilities and services Around 100 young people benefitted from outdoor activities. These were facilitated by Scout Leaders assisted by parents and committee members.
All leaders, committee members and parents are volunteers.
Approved by the Trustees on 27 August 2024 and signed on their behalf by
Treasurer