CUNNINGSBURGH UNITED FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
Scottish Charity No. SC002187
A Congregation of the United Free Church of Scotland, Designated Religious Charity No.SC008167.
Congregation Report and Financial Statements
Year ending 31 December 2024
Principal place of worship and of Congregation activities: United Free Church Cunningsburgh, Shetland, ZE2 9HB
Congregation Report and Financial Statements
Year ending 31 December 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Contents | 2 |
| Trustees and Office Bearers | 3 |
| Congregation Report | 4 - 7 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 8 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 9 |
| Statement and Movement of Balances on Congregational Funds | 10 |
| Notes to Financial Statements | 11 - 13 |
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Office Bearers, Trustees and Members of the Courts of the Congregation serving during Year ending 31 December 2024
Trustees and Elders
Correspondence Address
Skerryvoe Gord Cunningsburgh Shetland ZE2 9HG
Bankers Bank of Scotland Commercial Street Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0DN
Independent Examiner
Tregonning and Co Ltd Staney Brae Dunrossness Shetland ZE2 9JG
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Trustees’ Annual Report for Year Ending 31[st] December 2024
1. Constitution and Principal Activities of the United Free Church of Scotland
The United Free Church of Scotland, with all the Churches of the Reformation, acknowledges as its Supreme Standard, the Word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
The Church holds as its Subordinate Standard the Westminster Confession of Faith; by its Declaratory Acts it recognises liberty of judgment on points of doctrine which do not enter into the substance of the faith; and it claims the right as duty may require, to interpret, add to, modify, or change her subordinate standards, under the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, and with a direct responsibility to her Lord.
The Church approves the emphasis of the Declaratory Acts on the love of God for all mankind, the free offer of salvation to all, the obligation of the Universal Church to make known the Gospel throughout the world, and the renunciation of coercion, persecution and intolerance in matters of religion.
Accordingly, this Church accepts the obligation to witness to the truth of the Gospel and to serve men in the name of Christ with regard alike to their spiritual and material welfare, both at home and overseas.
2. Responsibilities of the Congregation
As a Congregation of the United Free Church of Scotland this Congregation is under the jurisdiction and oversight of the superior courts of the Denomination i.e. the Presbytery of the North (in which this Congregation resides) and the General Assembly of the United Free Church in all matters pertaining to its spiritual and temporal (including financial) affairs. It seeks to exercise these obligations within its fellowship and to the people in the community of which it is part.
3. Responsibilities and Appointment of Office Bearers
All matters affecting the spiritual wellbeing and order of the Congregation is exercised by the Kirk Session of this Congregation. The Kirk Session consists of its Minister and Trustees. All temporal affairs (including financial) of the Congregation are administered by the Trustees.
The Minister of this Congregation is appointed by the Presbytery of the North. Trustees and Elders are elected by the Congregation at the Annual General Meeting or at a meeting of the Congregation specifically called for that purpose. Office Bearers are appointed by the Trustees.
All offices of the Church are open to any member in full communion. Each Congregation appoints elders to the Presbytery and to be Commissioners to the General Assembly. Presbyterianism means the government of the Church by elders.
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4. Activities and Achievements
2024 continued in the same format as the last year with continuing to work three days per week as our Pastoral Assistant.
Church also continued as last year, with services on first and third Sundays of the month at 11.00am, breakfast church on second and fourth Sundays at 9.30am and Café Church at the Public Hall on the fifth Sunday of a month at 7.00pm.
Youth work within the Church continues, number of children at Sunday School is quite small but there are opportunities to support our local school in partnership with the Salvation Army, who manage a community Poly Tunnel where children can get practical experience growing produce. The School has also used the church for end of term events like Christmas.
A midweek Bible Study is held on Wednesday evenings and a Prayer Meeting on Saturday evenings
Our monthly lunch bag ministry to the elderly and lonely continues. The Olive Branch Café is also held when we have enough volunteers.
Our fellowship still has a desire to find a larger property to give us more space and flexibility. Unfortunately the opportunity purchase a local property has not materialised.
The Church fabric is in good repair with the exception of the Portacabin roof which needs replacing, this is scheduled for next year. As the manse is vacant, minor internal repairs and redecoration was done and it has been let on a short term lease.
This summer we had a stand again at the local Agricultural Show.
5. Financial Statements and Funds
In accordance with the Charities and Trustee investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (‘the 2005 Act’) and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (‘the Regulations’) and being a charity with an annual gross income less than £250,000, the Financial Statements of this Congregation set out on pages 9 to 12 consist of a Statement of Congregation Funds and movements thereon during the Year ending 31 December 2024 and details of the Receipts and Payment, Surplus (Deficit), and Net Movement on Funds during the year with supplementary notes thereon where appropriate.
6. Accounting Policies
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There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
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The main sources of income are the voluntary offerings, donations and other giving of members, adherents, and related organisations, and interest or dividends on Congregation Funds.
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The Receipts and Payments of Congregation Funds are recorded and reported on a cash received and cash paid (as invoices/accounts are received) basis respectively. In the event that a commitment is made after the date of the Statement of Balances which will materially reflect on the amount of any Fund(s) this will be reported in the accompanying Notes to
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these Statements.
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The Balances of Congregation Funds represents sums available for the ongoing work and activities of the Congregation, stating whether each Fund is Unrestricted, Designated, Restricted or Endowment:
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Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
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Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
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Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
7. Land and Property
Land and Property consist of the Church at Cunningsburgh, together with fittings and furnishings (including communion, other ecclesiastical articles).
These are held as functional property for the use of the Congregation in fulfilling its aims and mission and in which its activities are carried out and not for investment and/or resale. No market value is placed on these Assets.
8. Independent Examiner
In accordance with the terms of ‘the 2005 Act’, Section 44 (1) (c), and as a Charity falling under regulation 9. of ‘The Regulations’, and not required to carry out an audit under paragraph 9(4), an Independent Examiner has been appointed in accordance with regulation 11 of ‘The
Regulations’ to carry out a competent examination of the Report and Financial Statements of the Congregation.
The Independent Examiner’s Report for the year to 31[st] December 2024 is on page 8.
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- Approval of Congregation Report and Financial Statements The Congregation Report and Financial Statements were approved by Trustees at their meeting on 6 June 2025. The Office Bearers authorised to sign the Report and Finance Statements on behalf of th8 Congregation are:_ Page-7-of12
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees and Office Bearers of Cunningsburgh United Free Church of Scotland
I report on the Report and Financial Statements of the Congregation for the year ending 31 December 2024 which are set on pages 4 to 7 and 8 to 12
Respective Responsibilities of Office Bearers and Trustees and Examiner
The Congregation’s Office Bearers and Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the Report and Accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (“the 2005 Act”) and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) (“the 2006 regulations”). The Congregation’s Office Bearers and Trustees consider that the requirements of Regulation 9 apply but not those of paragraph 9(4) of the Accounts Regulations.
It is my responsibility to examine the Report and Finance Statements as required under section 44(1) (c) of the 2005 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 2006 Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Congregation and a comparison of the report and accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the report and accounts, and seeks explanations from the office bearers and trustees concerning 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 report and accounts.
Independent Examiners Statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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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 report and accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 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 Report and Financial Statements to be reached.
TREGONNING & CO LTD Chartered Accountants
Staney Brae Dunrossness Shetland Scotland ZE2 9JG
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Cunningsburgh United Free Church of Scotland
Statement of Financial Activities
31 December 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| funds | funds | funds | funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | |||||
| Donations and legacies | 3 | 49,624 | - | 49,624 | 24,954 |
| Proceeds from asset sale | - | - | - | 77,872 | |
| Investment income | 4 | 6,280 | 2,072 | 8,352 | 1,050 |
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| Total income | 55,904 | 2,072 | 57,976 | 103,876 | |
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| Expenditure | |||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 5 | 36,980 | - | 36,980 | 42,827 |
| Investment related expenses | 6 | 1,924 | 1,924 | 5,649 | |
| Governance costs | 7 | - | - | - | - |
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| Total expenditure | 38,904 | - | 38,904 | 48,476 | |
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| Net expenditure and net movement in funds | 17,000 | 2,072 | 19,072 | 55,400 | |
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| Reconciliation of funds | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | 21,918 | 77,872 | 99,790 | 44,390 | |
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| Total funds carried forward | 38,918 | 79,944 | 118,862 | 99,790 | |
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The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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Cunningsburgh United Free Church of Scotland statement of Flnanclal Posltlon 31 December 2024 2024 2023 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Short term investments 36,790 82,072 19,790 80.000 118.862 99.790 Current liabilities Unpresented cheques Total assets less current liabilities 118,862 99.790 Funds of the charity Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 38,918 79,944 118.862 21,918 77,872 99,790 Total charity funds These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on June 2025 and are signed cm behalf of the board by= Page- 10- of 12
Cunningsburgh United Free Church of Scotland
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended 31 December 2024
1. General information
The charity is registered charity in Scotland and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is Swarthoull, Cunningsburgh, Shetland, ZE2 9HB, Scotland.
2. Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charity Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).
3. Donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | ||||
| Church offerings | 750 | – | 750 | 681 |
| Regular Gift Aid donations | 20,140 | – | 20,140 | 18,240 |
| Gift Aid reclaimed from HMRC | 26,136 | – | 26,136 | 5,787 |
| Olive Branch Cafe | 713 | – | 713 | 246 |
| Other donations | 1,885 | – | 1,885 | - |
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| 49,624 | – | 49,624 | 24,954 | |
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4. Investment income
| Investment income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted Total |
Funds | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Rental income | 6,280 | 6,280 | 1,050 | |
| Interest income | 2,072 | 2,072 | ||
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| 6,280 | 2,072 | 8,352 | 1,050 | |
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5. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Church ministry | 36,980 | - | 36,980 |
42,827 |
| Investment related expenditure | ||||
| (Manse Costs) | 1,924 | 1,924 | 5,649 | |
| Governance Costs | - | - | - |
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| 38,904 | - | 38,904 |
48,476 | |
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Cunningsburgh United Free Church of Scotland
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 December 2024
6. Investment related expenditure
| Investment related expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Manse Council Tax | 161 | 4,825 |
| Other Manse Expenses | 1,763 | 824 |
| _ | __ | |
| 1,924 | 5,649 | |
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Insurance for the rented manse was not separately identified in the prior year.
7. Independent examination fees
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Fees payable to the independent examiner for: | ||
| Independent examination of the financial statements | - | - |
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No fee is payable in regard to the independent Examination for the 2024 or 2023 accounts
8. Trustee remuneration and expenses
No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees.
No personal trustee expenses have been incurred.
During the year trustees were reimbursed for £1,028 (2023: £35) of expenditure paid on behalf of the church and authorised in advance by the Trustees.
9. Analysis of charitable funds
| 1 Jan 2024 | Income | Expenditure | 31 Dec 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds (unrestricted) | 21,918 | 55,904 | 38,904 | 38,918 |
| Building fund (restricted) | 77,872 | 2,072 | 79,944 | |
| Total Funds | 99,790 | 57,976 | 38,904 | 118,862 |
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The restricted Building Fund is the proceeds of the sale of the former church buildings in Sandwick, and are held in accordance with the wishes of the original donors of that building, to be used to provide and maintain suitable accommodation for the further work of the church. The income on the Building Fund is the interest earned on the short-term investment of these funds.