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Registered Charity No: SC005463
FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
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FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
CONTENTS PAGE
Legal and administrative information 1
Trustees’ Report 2-6
Report by the Independent Examiner 7
Receipts and Payments Account 8
Statement of Balances 9
Notes to the Accounts 10-11
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FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Charity Name: Forth and Clyde Canal Society
Registered Office and
Operational Address: Boat Users’ Block
Unit 4 Southbank Marina
Strathkelvin Place
Kirkintilloch
Glasgow
G66 1XT
Charity Registration Number: SC005463
Board Members: James Miller
Scott Castel (Resigned 13 May 2025)
Tuulia McCourt
Paula Braceland
James McFarlane
James Pert
Ronnie Tucker (Resigned 23 November 2024)
William Boyle
Fiona Murray
Mary Carnie (Resigned 23 November 2024)
Secretary: Paula Braceland
Independent Examiners: Wbg Services LLP
168 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 4TP
Bankers: Virgin Money
110 Cowgate
Kirkintilloch
Glasgow
G66 1JU
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FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year
ended 30 September 2025. The trustees made the decision to prepare receipts and payments
accounts for the year ended 30 September 2025. The 2024 comparative figures have been
restated to receipts and payments also (previously prepared on the accruals basis).
The legal and administrative information on page one forms part of this report.
Objectives and Activities
It is our objective to continue to promote the history, heritage and navigation of the Forth and
Clyde Canal, ensuring its maintenance and use for generations to come. It is widely
recognised that there are great benefits to health and mental wellbeing when individuals have
access to fresh air and enjoyment of the natural environment, which the canal provides. The
interaction with nature helps to reduce stress levels and improves moods as well as being a
great relaxation tool.
This year we increased our presence in the local community by promoting the Society at
various gala days, community events and volunteer fairs. This resulted in recruiting over 20
new volunteers and several additional charters. We held fund raising Mother’s Day Afternoon
Tea Cruises and Easter Bunny Cruises both were hugely popular and likely to be repeated in
2026.
We were fortunate to receive over £3k from the National Lottery Community Fund to host free
Discovering the Forth & Clyde Canal trips for children. The purpose of these trips is to
enlighten over 450 children with a brief history of the Canal, provide some fun activities and
introduce them to the delights of the Canal with a 90 minute sail. Additional funding was also
received from East Dunbartonshire Council to purchase and fit a marine toilet on Voyager and
a Canopy on Gipsy.
Crew training normally stops in September however, this year we decided to continue our
weekly training sessions throughout the winter and continue our social nights to help forge
and develop friendships within the Society and retain existing volunteers.
As a Society, we are committed to being involved in diverse areas of the community and can
advise that nearly 20% of our new volunteers are from an ethnic minority background.
We have continued to develop the Social Group, Friends of Forth and Clyde where we offer a
warm space, free cuppa and friendly chat every Friday to combat loneliness and have a
number of regular visitors some of whom have become volunteers.
Achievements and Performance
Our slipway has continued to generate regular income as many boaters on the Forth and
Clyde Canal need to do necessary repairs. Our volunteers managed a regular flow of boats
up and down the slipway throughout the year which generated welcome revenue.
Our boats continue to be booked throughout the year. This includes various clubs, schools,
church groups, families and individuals. We have a number of groups that book regular annual
charters which reinforces the success of these trips.
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FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Achievements and Performance (continued)
There is a continued interest in the chartering of our vessels, ensuring regular income to help
maintain them. The number of charters has been helped by our increased presence at
community events.
We are in the process of arranging for our smallest vessel, Maryhill, to become an overnight
accommodation facility being let initially to our volunteers and their friends and families. This
should produce a steady flow of income through spring and summer 2026 and will help to
cover the running costs of this vessel,
We continue to communicate with the general public via our website and Facebook page,
which is updated on a regular basis and has a large following. There are also members of the
Forth and Clyde Canal Society who deliver talks to groups within the community who have an
interest in the history and heritage of the Lowland Canals.
The Society also continues to produce and distribute the Canal News magazine three times
per year to the membership body, various interested groups, and local authorities. The Canal
News magazine is available in both paper and digital format and a copy is available on our
website. Paper copies are well received as marketing tools at community events. All of this
would not be possible without the many unpaid hours spent by a small group who produce
this interesting publication.
Excluding maintenance and training, the number of volunteer hours involved with
administration, crewing and social group has exceeded 3,000 hours this year. A phenomenal
amount from such a small group.
Boat Maintenance and Crew Training
We must maintain our boats to Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Boat Safety standards
to allow us to carry passengers in the numbers we do. This is made possible by a group of
enthusiastic maintenance volunteers who devote many unpaid hours working on our boats
ensuring they meet the required standards of passenger carrying vessels.
Gipsy Princess was downgraded this year from MCA to Boat Safety Scheme resulting in
reduction of permitted passengers from 35 to 12. As a direct result of this the cost of
maintaining Gipsy e.g. insurance etc has greatly reduced making the vessel much more
financially viable,
Due to updated MCA regulations, Voyager had to have a Fixed Fire System installed this year
at considerable expense and was unavailable for hire whilst system was being resourced and
fitted.
Crew training recommenced in full in March 2025 and we have had a regular core of 19
volunteers across maintenance and crewing this year. It is hoped that we can recruit or get
some volunteers to achieve Boatmaster level in 2026.
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FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Financial Review
The charity had incoming resources of £47,865 (2024: £23,574) and incurred expenditure of £29,009 (2024: £21,073), resulting in a surplus of £18,856 (2024: £2,501). At 30 September 2025 the charity had unrestricted funds of £56,477 (2024: £41,501) of which £12,567 represented designated funds (2024: £12,601), leaving free reserves of £43,910 (2024: £28,900).
~~Principal Funding~~ Principal funding source comes from our Membership Fees, Donations and income from Charters and Slipway bookings.
~~Reserves Policy~~ The Society continues to monitor its running costs on a monthly basis and we still have a balance which allows us to maintain and run our boats, produce and distribute our Canal News magazine and cover the ongoing costs of our website. Current year result is showing a surplus of 18,856, which includes higher than normal charter income from long term hire by the Scottish Canals, Grants received from National Lottery and East Dunbartonshire Council and Insurance Claim refund relating the break-in during 2022. These additional income items were offset by installation of new fire prevention system to one of the boats as a result of regulation change by Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Income and costs from normal operations of the charity would have been showing loss on the financial statements, mainly due to high maintenance costs due to the age of the boats. The Trustees continue to ring-fence an amount of £12,500. The amount of money we ringfence has to be flexible to include unforeseen circumstances with regard to our assets i.e., our three boats. These assets are subject to annual depreciation which has to be considered. Structure and Governance
Current Office Bearers are Chairman — James Pert, Secretary — Paula Braceland and Treasurer — Tuulia McCourt who are supported by another 4 Board Members — Jim Miller, William Boyle, Jim McFarlane and Fiona Murray.
We will be holding our Annual General Meeting on 29th November 2025 where we elect the Board and update our membership body on finance, plans for the future and condition of our assets. This also gives the membership the opportunity to question the Board and put forward their ideas.
The Forth and Clyde Canal Society operate under a Memorandum and Articles of Association which were drawn up on the formation of the Society. The charity is constituted as a company, limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.
Persons shall be admitted to membership of the Society upon written application in the terms laid out in the Society agreed membership application form and upon payment of the subscription appropriate to the class of membership. The subscription is subject to annual renewal which the Board agreed should be in March. The Trustees of the Society are made up of the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, who are also designated as Directors of The Forth and Clyde Canal Society Ltd as registered at Companies House.
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FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Reference and Administrative Details
The Forth and Clyde Canal Society is a company limited by guarantee. Registration Number
SC077067 and is registered in Scotland as a charity, Registration Number SC005463,
Registered Office: Boat Users Block, Unit 4, Strathkelvin Place, Southbank Marina,
Kirkintilloch, G66 1XT.
The Trustees of the Forth and Clyde Canal Society Ltd are Mr. James Pert, Mrs Paula
Braceland, and Mrs Tuulia McCourt. The aforementioned are also directors of the company
and members of the Society Committee of Management who look after the day-to-day
operation of the Society. Trustees, who since the inception of the Society, have been the
Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary of the Committee of Management are sought from the
membership of the Society and are subject to election each year at the Annual General
Meeting of the Society.
All the Trustees and members of the Committee of management are all volunteers and no
remuneration is given or sought by them for their work.
Funds held as custodian/agent on behalf of others
The Forth and Clyde Canal Society Ltd does not hold any funds or assets on behalf of others.
Plans for the future
The Society will continue to work with Scottish Canals, and other canal organisations who
have an interest in the canal network to maximise its use and enjoyment.
We will continue to update our training programme to MCA standards.
We will endeavour to make contact with the general public in as many ways as we can both
by personal contact and use of internet media and local press to inform and invite them to
become involved in volunteering along the canal network.
Where possible we will develop non boating activities eg Litter picking, Guided Walks etc and
participate in as many community events as possible.
We shall develop the Social Group ensuring that a safe space is provided for everyone who
comes
to visit.
We will continue to monitor our income and expenditure to ensure we remain a viable group
and therefore be able to continue to maintain our presence on the Forth and Clyde Canal.
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ce Melourt
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2025, which are set out on page 8 to 11.
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) 2005 Act 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 n 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 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, | 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
- which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: e to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and
e to prepare 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 accounts to be reached. Signed by: 0575527041FA406... Claire Dalrymple FCCA Wbg Services LLP 168 Bath Street Glasgow G2 4TP
Date: 8 December 2025
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FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
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As
Restated
Unrestricted Restricted 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Receipts
Donations 2,879 - 2,879 3,492
Receipts from Charitable Activities 37,290 5,160 42,450 13,011
Receipts from Other trading 2,527 - 2,527 7,071
Investment income 9 - 9 -
Total Receipts 42,705 5,160 47,865 23,574
Payments
Payments relating directly to Charitable
Activities 25,769 1,280 27,049 18,785
Payments in relation to Fundraising 712 - 712 740
Governance costs 1,248 - 1,248 1,548
Total Payments 27,729 1,280 29,009 21,073
Surplus for the year 14,976 3,880 18,856 2,501
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Payments Payments relating directly to Charitable Activities Payments in relation to Fundraising Governance costs Total Payments
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cr Melourt
FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
YEAR END 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
- Funds
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As
restated
Opening Closing
Balance Receipts Payments Transfers Balance
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted Funds
Contingency funds 12,500 - - - 12,500
Fixed assets 101 - - (34) 67
12,601 - - (34) 12,567
General Funds 28,900 42,705 (27,729) 34 43,910
Total Unrestricted Funds 41,501 42,705 (27,729) - 56,477
Restricted Funds
EDC grant - 1,520 (690) - 830
The National Lottery grant - 3,640 (590) - 3,050
Total Restricted Funds - 5,160 (1,280) - 3,880
Total Funds 41,501 47,865 (29,009) - 60,357
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a) The unrestricted funds are available to be spent for any of the purposes of the charity.
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The Trustees have created the following designated funds:
Contingency fund — represents funds set aside for unforeseen future expenditure.
Fixed assets — represents funds tied up in the charity's boats and other assets.
b) The charity has received the following restricted funds during the year:
EDC grant — funding towards the purchase new toilet for Voyager and to get a canopy for Gipsy Princess.
The National Lottery grant — funding towards organising free educational trips for over 400 children.
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FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
YEAR END 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
- Fixed Assets
Plant & Fixtures, Fittings Boat Machinery & Equipment Total £ £ £ £ Cost or valuation At 1 October 2024 205,446 9,635 508 215,589 Additions - - - - Disposals ~~-~~ At 30 September 2025 205,446 9,635 508 215,589 Depreciation At 1 October 2024 205,446 9,539 503 215,488 Charge for the year - 32 2 34 Eliminated on disposals - - - - At 30 September 2025 205,446 9,571 505 215,522 Net book value At 30 September 2025 - 64 3 67 At 30 September 2024 - 96 5 101 Debtors 2025 2024 £ £ Accrued income - 380 Other debtors 1,120 795 1,120 1,175 Liabilities 2025 2024 £ £ Accruals 1,542 1,248 Other creditors - 1,286 1,542 2,034
- Debtors Accrued income Other debtors 4. Liabilities Accruals Other creditors 5. Related party transactions and trustees’ expenses and remuneration
No Trustee received any remuneration or was reimbursed any expenses during the year (2024: ENil). No trustees made any donations during the year (2024: £ENil). No expenses were waived by trustees during the year (2024: ENil).
No Trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity in the year (2024: ENil).
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