2024-12-31-accounts

Scottish Charity No.SC014926 Dornoch Free Church of Scotland Trustees, Report Year Ended 31 December 2024 Page l of 12

Dornoch Free Church of Scotland Chureh Information Trustees A list of a¢tive Trustces durin8 2024 is provided in the Ttwstees, R¢port on Pag¢ 3. Addrcss Bankers Bank of S¢otland Tower Street Tain R05s-shire IV19 IDY Independent Examiner Voluiitary Groups Sutherland Alba Main Street Golspie Sutherland KWIO 6TG Page 2 of 12

Dornoch Free Church of Scotland Report of the Trustees The Trustees are pleased to pr¢s¢nt their report together with the financial statements of the church for the year ended 3 l D¢cemb¢r 2024. Stfitus of Ch*rfty Governing Document Dorno¢h Free Church of Scotland is unincorpornted and gov¢rned by its Constitution. The ohur¢h is a registered S¢ottish Charity (SC014926). Aims and AtTiliv4tion Dorno¢h Free Church of Scotland is a congregation of the Free chU￿h of Scotland workiThg towards the common aims s¢t out below. It is a Presbyterian church adhering in its worship And doctrine to the position of the Chur¢h of Scotland at the Reformation. The Free Church of Scotland has an explanatory document which explains the origins of the Church and which gives the historical background to the Church ¢ovning into being in 1843 and lists documents in which is embodied the constitution of the Church. Th¢ document IS Available on requ¢st from the Fre¢ chU￿h of Scotland, 15 North Bank St., The moun￿ Edknburgh, EHI 2LS. The Free Church of Scotland currently has over 100 congregations in Scotland, as well as one in London and four in North Americ4 and sister Chur¢hes founded by mission work in Indi& Peru and South Africa. The Church also has a seminary in Edinburgh for the training of m&nisters and other Christian workers and sustains an extensive missionary Pro￿amme relative to the size of the ¢hurch. The principal activity of th¢ Church is th¢ ¢onduct of public worship and associated matters in th¢ context of local congr¢gations. Dating from 1843 but with its roots in the Reforrnation. th¢ Free Church of Scotland owes its distinctive titl¢ to its historical struggle to r¢main 'frce' from stste intsrference in its internal affairs. It has Close and a¢tiv¢ r¢latioThs with many other Refornied churches of Jesus Christ throughout the world and stands rirnily in the tradition which accepts the Bible ill its entirety as th¢ Word of God and, th¢refore, d¢riv¢s its forn)s of twhin& worship, ministy and government from it. The main emphasis of our worship is the prea¢hin8 of the gospel - the good news of a free and sovereign salvation through Jesus Christ alone. The Congregation is authorised by the Church to have a minister paid from central funds of the Church. The Church buildings and the Minister's manse are the propety of the congr¢gation. Trustees and Office Bearers The congregation is govern¢d and adminiSt¢￿d by elethed O￿lce bearers (all volunte¢TS) and its miftister. The Kirk S¢ssiorE, being th¢ minister and elected eldet3. has responsibility for spiritual oversight, while the Deacons, Court, composed of Kirk S¢s5ion memb¢rs plus ¢I￿ted deacons, ov¢rsees financittl and property matters. Under Charity Law, th¢ Deacons. Court are deem¢d to be th¢ trustees of th¢ congr¢gation as those with responsibility for day to day management and control. This is distinct from th¢ role of property (Con￿gatIOnal) trustecs who ar¢ responsible only for holding property in tn￿t. Th¢ m¢mbers of th¢ D¢a¢ons' Court {th¢ Trustees) who s¢rved during th¢ year wer¢ ￿ follows'.- Page 3 of 12

Dornoch Free Church of Scotland Report of the Trustees Appointment ofcharity Trustees The Kirk S¢ssion ex¢rcises its discretion in detcrmillillg the most appropriate method of electing n¢w Trust¢¢s (Eld¢rs and D¢a¢ons). Any election process must involve the communicant membership of the ¢on8re8ation. There is no fixed term for Trustseship. Prior to th¢ir appoiThtment, new Trustees would have served the Church for some time in various roles and would b¢ familiar with the Church's values, its aims and objectives as well as its day-to-day operations. As part of their induction programme, new Trustees are required to understand their statutory r¢sponsibiliti¢s as w¢ll a5 the responsibilities of their offi¢¢ within th¢ congregation as ¢ld¢r or d¢a¢on. Aehlevements and Performance 2024 saw the Chur¢h ¢omplete the renovation of the church building after a 16 year programm¢ of works. A Dedication Service was held in June and was well attended. We now have a new first floor Worship Room accessed by a lift and stairs and a ground floor Community Room as well as a Café area all with toilets, kitchen and storage space. Sunday morning services are live streamed and can be viewed online at any time. Activities are provided for all ages within our community, e.g. Little Lamb5, Living Room. Youth Club, Services in a local Retirement Home and an annual Holiday Bible Club which attracted more than 50 primary aged children for & week in the summer. The congregation continued its comtnitsnent to support the Fr¢¢ Church of Scotland at national level. spiritually. financially and practically with an Elder serving on the Board of Trustees and associated ommitt¢¢5. Th¢ Minister serves on the nation￿ Communications Committ¢¢. ￿ally? thc Minister is a member of the Northern Presbytery Strategy Committee. an Elder has served on the Presbytery and another Elder has s¢rv¢d as Ass¢ssor Eld¢r for another congregation. LOCLI Community Groups and individual users continue to use the Community Room on a r¢8ular basis, including a weekly Falls Prevention Group> Dementia ￿ffee mornings. Kids Parti¢s etr. Financial review In relation to ¢ongr¢gational funding: An 80/• reduction in donations from church memb¢rs and adherents via standin8 ord¢rs. weekly offerings and Gift Aid donations. (2024 - £56,027,. 2023 - £61,115). This was largely due to the cost of living crisis imp￿ting donations. £10,441 was received as Gift Aid in¢ome from HMRC for genernl and Holiday Bible Club donations (2023 - £10,630). The majority of tsx pay¢rs within the church that donate r¢gularly tn¢Tnbers of th¢ Gift Aid seheme. Restricted Income of £66,665 allowed us to ¢omplet¢ the Church Building Renovations and mak¢ scheduled loan repayments of £12.000. The congregation was abl¢ to ￿MIt £41.053 to ¢¢ntral ¢hurch funds (2023 - £41,387) and fully m¢t our commitment of the full costs of Ministry and the Administrationllraining Levy and part of the Mission Levy. Prlnelpulsourees offuxdlng The congregation receives it funding by way of standing orders, weekly offerings and Gift Aid donations. Resulislor rfheyear The fillancial statements for the year set out in this document. The Ststement of R￿elpt5 and Payments reflects a ttet decrease of £l6,818 b¢for¢ the revaluation of fixed assets and investments, ompar¢d with a n¢t incrwe of £17,607 in 2023. This is largely due to the cost of completing the building renovation works at the church. In relation to the ¢hurch building renovations in 2024. £77.954 was spent and £66,665 was received. Pa9e4 of 12

Domoch Free Church of Scotland Report of the Trustees Reserves It is the policy of the congregation to maintsin a reasonable level of unrestricted funds, i.e. funds not committed or invested in fixed assets. This allows sufficient funds to enable th¢ ongoing work of the church to be maintained. The balance of unrestricted Bank Current Account Cash Ass¢ts at 31 D¢cemb¢r 2024 amounted to £1,751 (2023 - £1,836). Total r¢s¢rv¢s. including th¢ net book value of fixed assets and balances on restricted funds less loans outstanding amounted to £344,750 {2023 - £308,047). Grallt Making Policy From tim¢ to tim¢ th¢ congregation makes grants and donations from its gift incom¢ to individual$ and org8nisations whose aims are compatible with the congregation's objectives. During 2024 donations were made to India Village Ministries. Statement on Risk The Trustees assess the major risks to which the congregation is ¢xposed on an ongoing b&sis and hav¢ established prwedures to mitigats those that are identified as a result of these reviews. On behalf of the Trustee8 Trustee/Congregaiional I￿£￿￿rer Dated: 21 January 2025 Page 5 of12

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Dornoch Free Church I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 12. Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in acGordance with the terms of th& Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 {"the 2005 Act.) and the Charities Accounts (Scotlandl Regulations 2006 las amended) Iyhe 2006 Regulations"). The charity's trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(11(d) of the 2006 Regulations does not apply. It 18 my responsibility lo examine the accounts as required under Section (44)(1){c) of the 2005 Act and to stat8 whether particular matters have come to my attenlion. Basis of Indepondont Examinorfs Statement My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Regulatlons. 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, I do not 8xpr8ss 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 attentlon.. 1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that. in any material respect, the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance wtth section 44(1)la) of the 2005 Aot and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Regulations, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Regulations have not been met, or 2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in orderto enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed.. Date.. 1015 Page6of 12

DORNOCH FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Statement of Recelpts and Payments - For the Year Ended 31 December 2024 Congregational & Fabri Fabric & Build Receipts Not8 UnrestrirJDesign Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2024 2023 Voluntary R8ceipt8 Donations & Gift Aid 71,149 19,990 91,139 129,262 GrantslLegacy 250 40,000 40,250 36,000 Fund Raising 4,643 4,643 Bank InteresUDividends 205 129 334 322 Receipts from Charitable Activities 4,336 6,546 10,882 37,907 Loans 86,688 80,583 66.665 147,248 290,179 Payments Cost of Fund Raising Cost of Charitable Activltles 10 85,841 77,954 163,795 272,572 Grants & Donations 271 271 Govemancé Costs Total Payments 86,112 77.9S4 164.066 272,572 SurplusllDefi¢it) for the year (5,529) (11,289) (16,818) 17,607 Transfers between funds (11,289) 11,289 Surplusl(Deficit) for the year {16,818) 0 116.818) 17,607 Page7 of 12

DORNOCH FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Statement of Balances - As at 31 December 2024 UnrestrlDesig Restrl¢ted Total Total Funds Reconciliatlon Funds Funds 2024 2023 Cash at Bank & In Hand - 0110112024 2,570 28,556 31,126 13,519 Surplusl(Deficit) for year {5,529) (11,289) (16,818 17,610 Intra Fund Transfers" 10.000 (10,000) Cash at Bank & In Hand- 3111212024 12 7,041 7,267 14,308 31,126 '28 Jun £4,000 from R8Stric to Unrestr 5 Dec £6,000 from Restric to Unrestr other Assets (Unregtrlctod Fund) Manse Building Investments h8ld by Free Church of Scotland 425,000 400,000 8.438 7,435 Benevolent Loan 1,300 433,438 408,735 Liabilities Loans(Chur¢h Building & Manse Renovatlons ) Total Net Assets 88,688 100,688 344,750 308.047 JI Loans 1Jan24 Drawdown Re 31 Dec 24 Loan 1 Church Loan 2 Church Loan 3 Manse Total 100,688 All loans are interesl free with flexible repayment slruGtures 68,000 26,169 12,000 26,169 6,519 88.688 The Notes on pages 9 -12 form an integral part of these accourrts. Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by'.- Congregational r6asur8rffrustee 21 January 2025 Page 8 of12

DORNOCH FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Notes to the A¢Gounts For the year ended 31. December 2024 Basis of Accounting These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts & Payments basis in accordan￿ with the Charities & Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 las amended). V.A.T. The Congregation Is not registered for V.A.T. and expenditure includes V.A.T. where applicable. Tax Refunds Tax Refunds shown in the Income and Expenditure A¢¢ount are the tax refunds adually received from HMRC in respect of Gift Aid Donations and (qualifying) VAT incurred through the Church Building Renovation project reclaimed from the Listed Places of Worship scheme. Nature and purpose of funds For the purpose of the Receipts and Payments account as shown on page 7, funds are defined as follows: Unrestrlcted funds a￿ those that may be used at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of th8 objects of the charity. Deslgnated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for a specific essential or future purpose. Re$trl¢tsd funds are those which have been received for the objects of the charity and specified for a restricted purpose within these objects by the donor. Flxed Assets.'.The congregation owns the church building and Hall at Church Street, Dorno¢h and the manse at Rowan Crescent, Dornoch. The manse was informally valued by Court members at 31" De￿mber 2024, on the basis of sales of similar property, at £425,000 and is shown at this amount in the Balan￿ Sheet. The Church and Hall have not been valued in view of the limited market available and are not included in the Balance Sheet. The manse is insured for £1,000,000, the Church for £4,308,950 and the Church contents for £86,095. 3. Related Party Transactions No remuneration was paid to the trustees or to any connected persons durlng the year. Pa9¢ 9 of 12

1. Analysis of Donations Congregatlonal & Fabric Fund 30,608 7,067 18,352 10,441, Bulld Fund 2024 30,608 7,067 18,352 18,018 12,413 2023 38,170 5,040 16,829 23,396 41,252 1,076 1.017 482 Offerings - Standing Order Offerings - Envelop8 Offerings- Plate & Other Tax Refunds - Gift Aid Donations - Building Renovats Donations Paypal Donations- Holiday Bible Club Miscellaneous Donations - Study Books Donations- Ex Denom Donations- Little Lambs Totals 7,577 12,413 3,297 501 432 281 170 71,149 3,297 501 432 281 170 91.139 129,262 19,990 S. GrantslLegacy Congrogational & Fabric Fund Bulld Fund 30,000 5,000 5,000 2024 30,000 5,000 5,000 250 2023 Legacy- MaGkintosh Baird Trust Ferguson Bequest Fund Co-op (Holiday Bible Club) Fyrish Foundation Benefact Trust Totals 250 30,000 6,000 36,000 260 40,000 40,250
2. Fundraislng Activltle8 Congregational & Fabr1¢ Fund 4,643 4,643 Bulld Fund 2024 4.643 4,643 2023 Holiday Blble Club Totals
3. Bank InteresUDlvldonds Congrogatlonal & Fabric Fund Build Fund 129 2024 129 205 334 2023 131 191 322 Bank Interest Dividends Totals 205 206 129

4. Recelpts from Charitable Activltles Congregational & Fabric Fund Bulld Fund 6,546 2024 6,546 2,401 1.400 535 10,882 2023 36,554 1,073 Tax refunds - VAT Letting Income Benevolent Loan repaid Flower Fund Totals 2,401 1,400 535 4,336 280 37.907 6,546 Qift Aido1%041 a￿]butabl¢ wHolidNy Bibl¢ Club Pgge 10 of 12

5. Loans - drawdown Congregatlonal & Fabrlc Fund Bulld Fund 2024 2023 54.000 26,169 6,519 86,688 Loan 1 (Church) Loan 2 (Church) Loan 3 (Manse) Totals

6. Cost of Charltable Actlvlty Congregatlonal & Fabric Fund 41,053 12,000 4.836 4.025 3,719 3,599 2,669 2,219 1,993 1,268 1,191 983 740 496 420 398 376 340 336 325 310 264 250 129 117 45 Bulld Fund 2024 41,053 12,000 4,836 4,025 3,719 3.599 2,669 2,219 1,993 1,268 1,191 983 740 496 420 398 376 340 338 325 310 264 250 129 117 45 2023 41,387 6,000 3,914 1,972 2,110 2,103 2,470 2,176 4,885 1,220 1,320 885 479 Denominational Commitment Building Loan Repayments Church Heat & Light Holiday Bible Club Manse Heat & Light Manse Council Tax Insurance- Church & Manse Cleaning A Maclnnes expenses Sundry Payments Church BroadbandlLift Northern Presbyiery Dues Pulpit Supply Manse Phone & Intemet Accounts Audit Fees Flower Fund study BookslBibles Leaving Gifts Lift SeNi¢ing Kitchen Supplies Sunday School CCLIIEasy Worship Li￿n￿$ Praise Band Church Magazines Church Vvebsite Outreach stationerylPrinting Benevolent Loan Repairs.. Church Manse 129 514 253 187 96 233 337 107 1,300 184,428 13,861 272,572 1.370 364 85.841 77,954* 79,324 384 163,793 Totals 77,954 Pa9e11 tsf12

*10a chU￿h Renovations Joinery Audio WisuaVBroadband Flooring Miscellaneous l Finishes Plumbing Electrical Professional Fees Roofing Steel Building works PlasterlPainting Total 31,923 22,153 12,466 4,461 2,923 2,440 1,044 544 71,764 1,760 1,488 9,659 28,312 3,000 47,715 11,318 8,934 183,948 77,954 11. Grants & Donatlons Congregatlonal & Fabric Fund Build Fund 2024 2023 Ex. Denomination donations:_ India Village Ministries Totals 271 271 271 271 12. Bank Account Closing Balancos at 31112124 Unrestricted Funds Domoch Free Church General ArKount Fabric Fund Account Total 1,750 1,751 Desi nated Funds Domoch Free Church General Account Holld8y Bible Club Total Total UnrestrictedlDesignated Funds 5.290 5.290 5,290 7,041 Restricted Funds Reserve Account Total Funds 14,308 End of R8POrt Pagè 12 of12