**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: SC006535**
## **Report of the Trustees and**
**Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **for**
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
Stevenson & Kyles Chartered Accountants 25 Sandyford Place Glasgow G3 7NG
**Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1 to 3|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**|4|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|5|
|**Balance Sheet**|6|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|7 to 12|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**|13 to 14|
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Charitable purpose:**
(a) to promote the study, teaching, and writing of Scottish literature
(b) to promote the study and teaching of the languages of Scotland
(c) to collect and disseminate information concerning these studies in Scotland and throughout the world
(d) to stimulate and co-ordinate the publication and editing of works of Scottish Literature
(e) itself to publish at suitable intervals, edited texts, reprints, and such studies and periodicals as may be from time to time determined
## **Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects:**
ASLS received £19,250 from Creative Scotland towards the publication of the 2024 edition of New Writing Scotland.
The Association also received £29,000 from the Education Department of the Scottish Government to support our activities promoting and supporting the teaching and study of Scottish literature and languages in Scotland and internationally.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the financial period:**
The 2024 volume of New Writing Scotland was published under the title 'Don't. Even. Ask. Too. Hot'.
For schools, we published a new Scotnote study guide, on 'Exploring Scottish Place-Names'. Our annual Schools Conference was held in person at the University of Glasgow on Saturday 5 October 2024. Video recordings of the lectures have been uploaded to our YouTube channel. The Schools Conference also saw the publication of 'A Queer Warld: Four Short Stories' by ,edited by , along with a
downloadable teaching note with questions and suggestions for classroom activities, and 'The Poems of ', a selection of thirteen medieval Scots poems edited and introduced by with parallel translations into modern English and notes by . With support from the Scottish Government, we distributed free class sets (thirty copies per set) of printed copies of 'A Queer Warld' to twelve secondary schools in Scotland; we also made 'A Queer Warld' and 'The Poems of
free to download from our website. Further free downloadable Teaching Notes and Teaching Units on Scottish literature for Primary and Secondary schools were added to our website.
A new volume in our International Companions series, The International Companion to Scottish Children's Literature, waspublished in October 2024.
ASLS also published two issues of Scottish Literary Review, a scholarly journal which enjoys an international audience; and two issues of 'The Bottle Imp', a free online magazine of Scottish literary culture. The Spring/Summer issue of Scottish Literary Review was a guest-edited issue on "Queer Form in Scottish Writing", and was launched at a seminar at the University of Glasgow on 10 July 2024. This issue was made available free online via Open Access.
Our AGM was held online on Saturday 6 September.
Page 1
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
At 31 March the Association held £74,916 in the bank, with a further £43,481 from a substantial legacy on deposit with the Nationwide Building Society and £749 in our PayPal account. The Council Members consider that the charity has sufficient funds to meet its present needs.
The accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 show a deficit of £3,024 (2024 - £16,718 deficit).
## **Donated facilities and services:**
The University of Glasgow provides ASLS with accommodation. The value of this is estimated to be £6,000 per year.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
ASLS was founded in 1970 and became a registered charity on 8 May 1976. It is an unincorporated association and is governed by its Constitution.
## **Trustee recruitment and appointment**
New Council members are proposed and voted on at our AGM. There are no more than eight ordinary elected members of the Council and no more than two co-opted members (co-opted members serve for one year but may serve further terms at the Council's discretion).
Page 2
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
ASLS Scottish Literature 7 University Gardens University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QH
## **ASLS Council Members 2024-25**
## **Council Members:**
## **Editors and Conveners**
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 5 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Page 3
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 set out on pages five to twelve.
## **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 charity's trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) 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 the independent examiner's report**
My examination was 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 seeking explanations from you as 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 :
- (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
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Stevenson & Kyles Chartered Accountants 25 Sandyford Place Glasgow G3 7NG
- 5 September 2025
Page 4
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
|2025
Unrestricted
fund
Restricted
funds
Total
funds
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Notes
£
£
£
Donations and legacies
150
-
150
**Charitable activities**
Publishing
50,853
-
50,853
Other trading activities
2
39,701
-
39,701
**Total**
90,704
-
90,704
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Publishing
89,179
-
89,179
Other
4,549
-
4,549
**Total**
93,728
-
93,728
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(3,024)
-
(3,024)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
101,659
-
101,659
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
98,635
-
98,635|2024
Total
funds
£
4,996
42,082
41,780
88,858
99,010
6,566
105,576
(16,718)
118,377
101,659|
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Balance Sheet 31 March 2025**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
8
635
Cash at bank
119,147
119,782
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
9
(21,147)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
98,635
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
98,635
**NET ASSETS**
98,635
**FUNDS**
10
Unrestricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|2025
Total
funds
£
635
119,147
119,782
(21,147)
98,635
98,635
98,635
98,635
98,635|2024
Total
funds
£
2,048
119,857
121,905
(20,246)
101,659
101,659
101,659
101,659
101,659|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 5 September 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Office Equipment - 25% on cost
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Council in furtherance of the objectives of the Association.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the Association. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
## **Going Concern**
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue to operate and meet its obligations as the fall due. Therefore, the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
continued...
Page 7
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|**OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**|||
|---|---|---|
|Subscriptions
Sales of publications
Project MUSE
CDs|2025
£
20,058
10,498
9,145
-
39,701|2024
£
19,721
12,544
9,507
8|
|||41,780|
## **3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **4. STAFF COSTS**
|Wages and salaries
Other pension costs|2025
£
40,852
1,142
41,994|2024
£
38,843
1,073|
|---|---|---|
|||39,916|
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|
|Staff|2|2|
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
continued...
Page 8
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|Unrestricted
fund
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
4,996
**Charitable activities**
Publishing
42,082
Other trading activities
41,780
**Total**
88,858
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Publishing
99,010
Other
6,566
**Total**
105,576
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(16,718)
**Transfers between funds**
2,293
**Net movement in funds**
(14,425)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
116,084
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED**
**FORWARD**
101,659|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(2,293)
(2,293)
2,293
-|Total
funds
£
4,996
42,082
41,780
88,858
99,010
6,566
105,576
(16,718)
-
(16,718)
118,377
101,659|
|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 9
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **6. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REMUNERATION**
The Independent Examiner's remuneration amounts to £2,500 (2024 - £2,500).
## **7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|**COST**
At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
**8.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
VAT recoverable
**9.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other creditors
**10.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**Unrestricted funds**
At 1.4.24
£
General fund
101,659
**TOTAL FUNDS**
101,659|2025
£
635
2025
£
21,147
Net
movement
in funds
31.3.25
£
(3,024)
(3,024)|Office
Equipment
£
14,361
14,361
-
-
2024
£
2,048
2024
£
20,246
At
£
98,635
98,635|
|---|---|---|
||||
continued...
Page 10
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
88,858
**TOTAL FUNDS**
88,858
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
90,704
**TOTAL FUNDS**
90,704
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
Net
movement
At 1.4.23
in funds
£
£
General fund
116,084
(16,718)
**Restricted funds**
Life Members' Funds
2,293
-
**TOTAL FUNDS**
118,377
(16,718)|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(105,576)
(16,718)
(105,576)
(16,718)
(93,728)
(3,024)
(93,728)
(3,024)
Transfers
between
At
funds
31.3.24
£
£
2,293
101,659
(2,293)
-
-
101,659|
|---|---|
continued...
Page 11
**Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Page 12
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations and legacies
**Other trading activities**
Subscriptions
Sales of publications
Project MUSE
CDs
**Charitable activities**
Scottish Government Funding
NWS Grant
Other Grants
Publishers' Licensing Services
Other royalties
Bank interest received
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable activities**
Wages
Pensions
Cost of publications on sale
Cost of publications on subscription
Promotion
Distribution
Administration
Bank charges and interest
**Other**
Conference expenses|2025
£
150
20,058
10,498
9,145
-
39,701
29,000
19,250
-
759
453
1,391
50,853
90,704
40,852
1,142
3,403
18,316
820
14,172
4,487
698
83,890
4,549|2024
£
4,996
19,721
12,544
9,507
8|
|---|---|---|
|||41,780
30,000
8,422
364
525
1,525
1,246|
|||42,082|
|||88,858
38,843
1,073
8,684
27,076
1,065
14,537
2,383
649|
|||94,310
6,566|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 13
## **Association for Scottish Literary Studies**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
|**Support costs**
**Management**
Fixtures and fittings
**Governance costs**
Accountancy fees
Total resources expended
**Net expenditure**|2025
£
-
5,289
93,728
(3,024)|2024
£
651
4,049
105,576
(16,718)|
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14