Craignish Village Hall Trustees, annual report and accounts for the year ending 31 October 2024 Scottish registered charity number: SC022883 Stru¢ture. governance and management Craignish Village Hall is a chaiitable unincorporated association. Its purposes and administration arrangements are sei out in its founding Trust Deed dated 26 December 1950. The organisation has been a registered charity from 08 September 1994. Craignish Village Hall. Ardfern. Lochgilphead. PA31 8QN haritabl The principal object of the chority is to maintain ond operate o village hall for the benefit of the communily of Craignish,Ardfern. Bafbreckand Lunga; lorthe purpose of physical and mental training and recreation and social, moral and intellectual development through the medium ol reading and recreation rooms, library, lectures, classes, recreation and entertainment or otherwise as may be found expedient by the inhabitants of the Parish of Craignish lin the County of Argylll and its immediate vicinity,without distinciionof sex or of any politlC81. religious. or other opinions Subject to the provisions of these piesents. ur ose The Committee members (from whom the trustees are appointedl are elected 8t the Annu81 General MeetingiAGMI which is held in Novemberof each year. The Committee may co-opt members at monthly meetings, but new members are officially appointed at the AGM. Succession is managed through fixed terms of office, and regular skills audits to identify gaps in relation to business need. Committee members are recruitedthrough 8(fvenisingvi8 appiopriate channels. and through existing committee members, wider networks. Applicants 8re invited to complete an expression of interest, meet the Chair and the hall manager. and attend a eommittee meeting as an observer. The Committee meet monthly to discuss operational effectiveness, review the spend against budget and to manage risk. Additionally, a subset including the Chair, Treasurer and Hall Manager meet quarterly to review income and expenditure and any other financial matters arising. The Committee are closely engaged in providing direction and support for the small. freelance and mostly part-time staff team. Workinggroups are established for key projects or activities. including strategic planning, funding applications. capital schemes of work and our emerging environmental agenda. Riskmana ement The Committee is responsible for managingthe risks of the organisation. Risks are reviewed at every Commitlee Meeting with a focus on mitigating and preventive actions. The controls that the Committee uses are- Formal agendas for all Committee Meetings Monthly operational report Monthly arts/creative programming rewrt Quarterty finance meetings Established organisational structure and lines of reporting Schedule of Delegation setting out financial controls Our defined operation81 kyocedures 8nd polici88 Key partnarshlps and networks We continueto share learnin8and best practicewith other rural communityvillage halls. andthis year P8rtnered for the f irst time with Artmap Ar8yII. We regulBriy engage with orgBnisations such os thg Scottish Council for Voiuntory Organi8ation8 ISCVOI, Scottish Rural Action ISPAI, Scott18h Communiry Tourism ISCOTOI, Craignish Community Company IC31, Craignish Community council and the Ar￿11 Third Sector Interface. Actlvltlos and Impact, 2023-2024 In the spirit of fostering our community and those who visit it. Cralgnish Village Hall provides a welcoming and safe space for local interest groups, supports intergener8tion81 community g8therings, and encourages active participation from all 8ge8. Ourvibrant art8 programme dr8W8 broader audience to the village. and we ai80 create opportunitie8 for 8mall independent bu8inesse8 within our locale to thrive. Our hl8hly adaptable venue is used for a wide range of wrposes. including cultur81 and educatlonal events. local gatherin89. conferences. exercise and wellbein8 cla8888. and prlvate celebrations lincludingweddin8S and funer81s1. We act as a hub for community engagement by hosting fetes, lestivals, fairs,exhibitions. and fundraising event5. Wlth a particular focus on 5UPPOrting local artists. rafters, and small enterpri¥es, and upholding many local traditions. Ho¥tinggn ovgr8gg of 50-60 bookings per month from August to May and slightly fgwer during holiday month8 of Jung and July, Ci8igni8h Village Hau is truly a community hub- a vibrant and busy space. In thi8 financial year we had over 70 regularvolunteers who donated over 650 hour8. Volunteers play key role8 which contribute to the long-teim vi8bility ot the h811. IM)ether pr8ctlC811y supporting the delivery of evenis or by actively fundralslngfor us. we genuinely couldn't 8UStaln our levels of pro8rammlngwlthout them. As partof our Arts Programme,funded by Creative Scotlond, The Touring Network. private donors and rhe Cr8ignish Trust, Croignish Vi118ge Ho11 hosted 15 events. which attracted over 520 participants, plus 311 visitors to ArtmapArgyll, and a furthgr 310 visitors to the Sunday Sgs8ion8 and our first ever annual Fei¥. Solocted highlight¥ B¥ follow¥: MissLinds8y'sSecretexpioredthe intimatetale of a Scottish seamstress through perform8nc8 8nd que8tion-and-an8wer 8e88ion. In January. Craignish Villa8e Hall offered a sneak-preview of ￿MM￿ltI-8ward-Wlnnlng document8ryfilmAg8instth8 ride. following two indigenous fishermen in M mb and howthey deal with the thieats of changes in climate. Thi5 was followed ￿ a live Q&A wit An Danns8 Dub joined us in March, summoning thejoyous communal energy of a ceilidh. Born from a love of traditional Scottish folk. dub. reggae and dance music. their sound celebrates the ancient Gaelic and West African rhythms that influenced reggae and, in turn, modern dance music. This was swiftlyfollowed bythe astounding musical 8ndvisu81 experience of Ea18 Shailein IThe Sw8n of S8lenl- a projected ballet-film with a live score provided by The Willow Trio- and then Fox and Hound Theatre Company bringing us their dynamic working-class story ol friendship and music Because We Said We Would. A new regular arts event is our Vinyl Night sessions. These welcome local people to present a Vinyl set as a DJ. and we offer this as a free entry community event. We established a new partnership with ArtmapArgyll. acting as both hub and an exhibition hall. showcasing some of the most talented and diverse artists in our region. This was our first time as an Artmap Argyll host. We focused on young artists from the local area who were just startingtheir lurthereducation studying various art mediums at Scottish universities. aswell aswelcoming exhibits from other local artists who do not have theirown exhibition space. Artmap was closely followed by a wonderfullycre8tive experience of dance and movement workshops and performance titled Listen to the For8st. October brought Scottish folk Musician￿othe h811 as part of ourfunded arts programme. as supported by a very talented village resident. singerAngie Bird. Our funded arts programrne is complemented by several direct hall bookings from performers. In 2023-2024 these bookings included.. the Mad Ferret Bandwho brought their Whirl Tour of Scotlandto Argyll, celebrating a blend of traditional Scottish and folk music. delivered with high energy and fun. Corsaig Films screening of It'll Never Work, celebrating the release of a local documentary about the UK'S first fully electric fishing boat. set in nearby Tayvallich: and a musical evening with singer- songwriterAdam Holmes. A dedicated proportion of our arts programme is t8ilored to families and young people, with as many of these as possible remainingfree to access. Selected highlights include.. February brought about the annual Lanterns FestlV81. with local schools. residents and volunteers all coming together in weeks prior to co-create beautiful hand-made lanterns for use during the parade. This year's theme was Under the Sea, celebrating not only our location but also our commitment to rising environment818wareness. colla￿)ratIng with Iocol environmental organisation S8gwilding. Overthe summerwe offereda lineup of events for all the family. The Feis Craiginis celebrated Gaelic culture and language through a packed progvamme including 8 family ceilidh, creative wriling and dance workshops and music sessions, launching the new Craignish Musical Instrument Library. Our youngfamilies also enjoyed a day of creativity with Clyde-Built Puppets. Communit events We hosted 40 events as part of our dedicated community off ering. including- Our annual Christmas market saw over 20 stall holders participate. offering local handmade arts Bnd crafts. gifts and more. The market lelt more important than ever this year. given many local independent businesses had seen a drop in trade as a result of the main road closure. We hosted a community celebrationwhenthe m8in ro8d re-opened allowingus to reconnect again in- person with friends, family, school staff and children fiom whom we had been cut off, owing to the landslide. Our ennuBI CommunityHogman8yP8rtyis g hugelyonticipeted pert of the village calendar. This year, we h8d an 8m8zing light show, a local ceilidh band, 8nd a DJ set. Our Community Ceilidh8 are alw8ys P8rlicul8rly well-attended by our 12-25-ye8r demO￿aphIc. who 811 enjoy participating in the tradition81 dances they learnt as youngchildren. In March. the hall hosted the ever-popular Boatjumble with over 20 stall holder5 and 12 car boot Sellers. The event welcomed over 140 visitors and raised money for the local Boat Club in Cr8igni$h, who ran the event in conjunction with the hall. Stople regulor f8vourite8 such 8s KnitgndN8tter. the Sundaysessons. Craignish Coffee Club gnd the Children's Lego and Crgft Club continued throughout the ye8r. We are often the ¢ho$en venue for localsto run theirown fundraisingevents for chosen charities-this year including MocMilLan Concer Support and the Children's Hospices Acro88 Scotland. A8 81w8y8. we're grateful for the symbiotic re18tionship between the h811 and our community. and we're delightèd we can sustain a venue which can support many small local busin8ss88. In 2023-24weaveraged504Obooknngs perrnonthfrom septembertojune.with the summer months of July and August being slightly quieter. averaging 3040 booking$ per month. Our hall hirers offer o wide range of private or group events. includin8 yoga. Taichi, Pilates. massage therapy, sound bathing and 8rt199nal workshops. Th¢ hall also $¢Ne$ 08 8 reguLfyrvonuo for blrthday p•rtle$ for10¢o1$ of all ages. A long-term booknng of Hall 3 iry a local heritage charity, using our premises 88 safe storage, and meetingl 8tudyvenue. provided a 8t8ble and much•needed 80urce of income until the end of June 2024. In October 2023. Ardfern was cut om almost entirely after unprecedented rain triggered a serles of disiuptive event¥. A once￿in-0-111Qt1rne catastrophi¢ land¥lide left our community without 8¢ce¥$ to Lochgilphead. and emergency repairs were needed to make bridges on the main route to Oban safe. This eff8ctively meant Ardfern and our neighbouring villages had limited accg$s to critical services, Such 88 rnedicol care. shops. petrol stations etc, without si8nific8nt diversion. Our tiny vi118ge wa8 brought to notionaland internotiongl media attention. as the vulngrability of rgmote rural locations in the face of the climate emergency was highlighted. C18igni8h Vi118ge Hall played a key role in the heart of the iespDnse- providing 8 hub for residents Seeklng suppon and information. Our Community Council used the h811 to host an online zoom meetingwith ourlocal councillorsand roads departmenttoallow an opportunityfor local residents to talk directly to those handling the response at the eouncil. The h811 twice hosted STV News reporters to hear Irom the experiences of loeal people. We also organlsed arKI hosted a R08d Opening Party once the m8in road was opened again to b003t local morale. Beyond emergencies. Craignish Village Hall plays an ongoing role in addressingeveryday social needs. We provide an inclusive and safe space for some of our most vulnerable residents. Our community programming prioritises low-income hou$eholds. older adults. and thoso With limited mobility or access to tr8nsport. Ourvi118ge primary school continued to use the hall theirweekly PE lessons during the winter months, and for several bookings throughout the year for school shows and 8W8rd ceremonies. Additionally. with the closure of local churches. the hall has become one of the few remaining Civic spaces Capable of hosting key life events such as funerals. weddings, and other commemorative gatherings, ensuring our small community has 8 dignified p18ce to come together in times of both sorrow and celebration. During the ye8rwe hosted three funerals and wakes and three weddings. italen ement Allour active social media platformshave seen an increase infollowers overtheyear. likely due to the shift towards digital from both our resident and visiting audiences. and possibly partly due to circumstance. as we provided regular and consistent updates on the challenges facing our community following the landslide in October. Facebook continues to be our primary source of digital engagement. with over 1,300 followers. Instagram has been increasing in popularity. with more visitors to the area using this 8S 8 means of seeingwhat's On before they visit. We continue io be mindful of both OUT direct environmental impact, and the indirect positive benefit an organisation like ours can have. Much of our programming is thematically connected to the natural world, and we look to promote local awareness of environmental issues where appropriate. We continue to practice our green principals to a high standard ensuringthat we recycle as much as possible. source ecological products and remain faithful to our zero-wgste target. In 2025,we plan toundertake an Environmental Impact Assessment so we can better understand our own carbon footprint and where we can make positive changes for future sustainability. Reimagining our purpose, together- a visioning journey In recent years. our rural community has laced a convergence ol challenges that have tested our resilience, adaptabilityand unity-The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life in ways we never could hove imagined. It reshaped how we gather, howwe support one another, and howwe see the role of shared SP8ces in foslering connection, belonging and wellbein& At the same time, climate-related pressures- from our hyper-local extreme w88ther events to th08e playing out on a glob81 stage - have added new layers of urgency to the way we think about suslainabilily, preparedness and long-term relevance. These experiences have prompted us to pause and ask bi& essential questions- What is our role in this evolving landscape? How can we best serve our community- not just now. but for decades to come? As an organisation deeply embedded in the fabric of our village life, we recognise that the time has come to revisit, reimagine, and realign our purpose, our activities, and our ambitions. We're proud of all we've built and achieved, but we also know that remaining relevant, sustainable and inclusiv8 means embracing change with courage. curiosity and care. That's why, in the 2025 financial year. we've committed to starting a comprehensive revisioning exercise. a values-led process that will guide us into the next phase of ourjourney. allowing us to create space for new voices, ideas and direction. This initiativewill be especially meaningful as it Coincides with the 20th anniversary of our village hall building- a space that has come to symbolise so much more than bricks and mortar. Two decades on, it feels right to celebrate that legacy by Lookingfo￿ard, with intention and imagination. Through this process, we will- Reflect deeply on ourvalues. ensuringthey are inclusive. fLrture-facin£ and true to our community's evolving identity Review our strategic aims, aligning them with the needs, hopes and feedback of our many st8keholders Re-energise our organisation, so we remain ayjle. authentic and responsive in 8 changing world Reconnect with our purpose. embracing innovation while holdingfast to the principles that have guided us from the beginning We hope this to be more than a strategic refresh. but an opportunity to reclaim our narrative, reinvest in what matters most, and shape a shared vision that brings energy. relevance and resilience into everythingwe do. FinalAccountsforthe period 18t November2023to31°'October2024 RECEIPTS IncomeType Arts Grants, HallGrants Arts Events Bar and Refresh Donations Arts Donations 2024 2023 £49.070 £22.563 £6.796 £4,902 £5,957 £6.206 E6,495 £12,584 £10.627 £1.087 £1.850 £5,784 £9,069 £2.270 £62 £1,315 Fundraising Events Rental- On& Off Rental- Regulai Rental- Arts Programme Repairs and Maintenance Services Admin £3.399 £8,702 £12,032 £434 Unclassified Income Wedding Income Xma Market ProxyAccount £423 £900 £3,639 £2.312 Total £106.164 £72,314 PAYMENTS Payment Type Admin CVH & Arts £26,192 £25,296 £350 Donations Arts Donations Arts Events £162 £15.283 £6.913 £2,224 £7.783 £3.419 £1,680 £576 £1,252 £510 Bar & Refreshments Bins, Cleanin& etc C8Pltal Equipment Community Events Fundraising Events Funeral Costs £371 £203 Insuranc8 Licences marketing Office Suppliers Purchases- Minor £2,219 £496 £200 É1.842 £301 £150 £647 É318 E1.014 £71 Refunded Expenses Repairs and Maintenance Staff Costs, Travel. Training Utilities, Gas. Elec. Phone, Rates Warm Spaces Wedding Expenses Xmas Market Proxy Account £74 £13.989 £768 £209 £3,407 £432 £2,718 £795 £1,544 £2.312 E2.179 £69 Total £77,426 £50,540 SURPLUSIDEFICIT £28,738 £21.774 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31110124 2024 2023 C8sh Hall and Equipment at Cost £101.835 £70,736 £612.292 £714.127 É612.292 £683,028 TotalA880ts General Fundopening Balance PfofitllLo8sI for the year Gener81 Fund Closing Balance £35.609 £28.738 £48.962 £21.774 £64,347 £612,292 £70,736 £612,292 VSllage H811 Capital Fund Total Llablutl £714.127 £683.028 D•btor# É29 £3.492 Credltor8 H•at Pump Loan £4,959 In accordance with OSCR rules, debtors and creditors for the current year have not been recorded In the Recelpts and Payments account above. Notes: l. We have received £40,IK)O funding from Creative Swtland. Although ihis is shown in full in the year end accounts, il should be noied this sum is to cover the petiod I" November 2024 Io 301h April 2026. 2. Building repairs carried out in the previous year have now been paid in full, amounting to £8,500. 3. Thcre were no interest payi￿ltS in this fjnancial ycar due to tbc PassLx)ok for thc savings account not bcing scnt in for uplating with intcrcst paynKnts. Approved bythe Truste￿ and slgned on their behalf: We are sincerely grateful to everyone who continues to support the hall- whether by volunteering, booking our facilities, attendingevents, or making donations. Every form of support contributes to our ability to operate and grow. In particular, we acknowledge and thank 8 sm811 but mighty group of regular local donors, whose ongoing financial contributions form a vital foundation for our work. As part of our commitment to improving resilience and long-term sustainability, we have begun to take a more proactive approach to fundraising. We recognise the importance ot diversifying our income and reducing reliance on any single stream of support. We have seen first-hand the positive impact that external funding- such as support from Creative Scotland - can have on our programming and capacity- In 2025. we will develop a more structured approach to fundraising. This will include: A priorit188d programme of activily to guide funding applications A clear and realistic fundraising ￿an aligned with our values and strate￿C aims Ongoing efforts to identify. apply for, and manage external grants and partnership opportunities We remain fully committediothe Code of Fundr8isingPractice8nd uphold the Fundraising Promis& in all our fundr8isingactivities. Oveisight is provided by the committee, with the Chair taking 8 lead role in planning and monitoring our approach. All fundraising is carried out with transparency, accountability, 8nd respect for our supporters. The Trustees and Commitee Members did not receive any rgmuneration or allowances during the year. The sustained growth in rental income and range of activities on offer have contributed to a healthy surplus 8t the year end, further strengthening CVH'S strong 8al8nce Sheet. In 2025 we plan to revisit our reserves policy, to allow for incremental improvements to the infrastructure and built environment. 10 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Craignish Village Hall Committee I reporton the accounts ofthe charityfortheyearended 31 * October2024 which are set out on pages 7t09. 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 Iscotlandl Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotlandl Regulations 2006 las amended). The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 1011 I Idl of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44111 Icl of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Bas1$ of Independent examlner's statement My examination iscarried out in accordancewith Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and 8 comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes Consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations Irom the trustees concerning any such m8tter8. The procedures undert8ken do not provide 811 the evidence th8t would be required in an 8udlt, and Consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view givon by the accounts. Independent examlner's statement In the course of myexamination, no matterhas cometo myattention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44111 lal of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations to prepare accounts which accord with theaccounting records 8nd comply with Regulation 9 ofthe 2006 Accounts Regulations have not been met, or 2. to which. in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandingof the accounts to be reached.