SCOTTISH CHARITY NUMBER: SC023424
STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees Annual Report | 1 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 7 |
| Statement of Balances | 8 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 9 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 11 |
STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS
Scottish Charity Number:
SC023424
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
The Society is an unincorporated association and is operated under the terms of its constitution. The Society was formed in 1992 and was registered as a charity with effect from 7 March 1995.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
The management of the Society is the responsibility of the office bearers and council members who are elected or re-elected under the terms of the constitution by the Society's members at the Annual General Meeting which is held in March each year. The Society's council members are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Charitable purposes
The objects of the Society are to advance the education of the public about the history, heritage and culture of Stornoway and the Island of Lewis.
Page 1
STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Summary of main activities
The year was dominated by the summer exhibition which commemorated 150 years of the RNLI, and we did this by highlighting the services provided around the island over the years by the Stornoway Lifeboat, with its iconic Lifeboat Guild, and Coastguard. The exhibition was the result of a productive and enjoyable partnership between SHS and our local lifeboat station. Feedback indicated that the visitor experience was appreciated by the services and visitors alike.
FINANCE
Over the year income received from donations at the exhibition and the Winter Series of Lectures was gratefully received. The Treasurer sought out grants covered in the financial statements and these included sums awarded by the Crown Estate Fund, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Stornoway Trust, Pentland Power, Lewis Wind Power, and CnES Councillors’ Ward Fund. The latter award helped pay up computer upgrades and licences while the other grants helped with salaries and overheads. Membership has remained healthy. The support from the membership and the community is much appreciated by the committee during difficult economic times where we are having to increase our membership rates.
EXHIBITION
During the month of March and again during the summer months, the Society held an exhibition in our main office to commemorate 200 Years of the RNLI by displaying photographs, artefacts, models, mannequins, parchments, medals and family trees associated with Stornoway Lifeboat Station since 1887. Much work, especially from our ladies went into preparing for the event which was staffed by our committee, our members and RNLI members. With the new deep water harbour open, many interested and interesting visitors from all over the world paid us a visit. A total of 2,890 visitors were recorded.
EMPLOYEES
The Society, as an approved Gateway organisation, has been able to continue the employment of an Apprentice Archivist from 2022. Initially the employee was engaged for six months (25 hours per week) under the Government's Kickstart Scheme. Since then a donor provided money to engage the employee for a further six months. The Society has then sourced further income to keep the post filled and the Apprentice Archivist continues to make inroads into cataloguing the Society’s files, photographs and artefacts. He has signed up to start a Modern Apprentice Scheme with Museum Galleries Scotland. This is a most welcome outcome for the post-holder and for the Society. The Society recruited a cleaner for the offices (1 hour per week) from the first week of January 2022. She works out of hours but the work is greatly appreciated.
DISPLAY & STORAGE SPACE
Our main book stock, cabinets, tables and many other items not required immediately, are located in Marybank Depot within an unused office in a heated portacabin. This followed discussions with CnES to find storage. This enabled the Society to hold the RNLI exhibition in the summer of 2024. The Society also has a collection stored in the Marybank Depository.
OFFICE
A “new” second-hand photocopier/printer has been networked to serve our five workstations. Office costs include £1,000 per annum for licenses and Adobe Software and there are also fees for our website, etc. Nevertheless, apart from the Apple Mac computer the four other Society computers are getting old and require replacing.
A “Doors Open Day” was held on 21[st] September in conjunction with a Scottish initiative.
A series of five talks by the Honorary Presiden (interviewer) and (camera/sound). Two recording devi d by in action recording of recording oral his
s now on You Tube. We thank
hey have already been memories. Three of the Society’s committee undertook this invaluable work
Page 2
sroRNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIErY TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 PUBLICATIONS SY Gone By, the Srxiews bi-annual magazine continue5 to sell over 700 copies a year. Printed by Tradeprint in Dundee, costs of paper have risen considerably and postage has soared causing the Society to raise membership , which, wth adVesing, help to make the printing costs economical. The most recent booL A Con&derable Town, a monumental and superbly illustrated work about the built heritage of Stornoway has now sold half of the print and is now in profitability. PROJEcrs The recording of memorial inscriptions at New Sandwick Cemetery was completed by the Chairman in 2020 and we hope to make the information available to the public in due course. We are seeking fvnding to undertake this. One of the Old Sandwick Cemetery booklets published over 20 years ago exhaustd the stock and we have reprinted 100 copies. Optical character rec Revtsitedby nitron (R) was undertaken by the late Ian Madennan on the bwk Oldstomoway Work is required to collats this and reprint this book which sold out in 2002. We are happy to report that all of the Journals and Sy Gone Bymagazines are now digitised. Work continues in digitising our stock of old Valuation Rolls as the paper copies are now very fragile. (All these projects are very time consuming as one can imaginel) TRAINING AND SEMINARS The Community Archives & Heritage Group, Heritage Nthork Forum. Arthive Focus Group and a Digitsl Archive meeting were held during the year and attenda by committee members. SCHOOLS The Archivist played a significant part in the publication of The Nicolson Institute History book. Due to pressure5 on the committee through exhibition preparation we were unable to parbcipate in the Dileab Project about Lord Leverhulme. rER SERIES OF LECTURES In January we hosted ho set the RNLI Project off to a gwd stsrt by delivering The History of the Stomoway Lifeboa elivered a lecture on the Gibson letters of over an ave a talk on the Harris Tweed Industry in March after the AGM. In Octobp e cen enary of the Lewis War Memorial with the history of the building arKI plaques. tslked with vigour and humour about a3C Cars in November. DLdUUII covere OTHER TALKS The Chairman gave a tslk about the Iolaire to Pairc Historical Society. Over the year three talks were delivered to Befrienders by different committee members and the Society ha5 also contributed to the monthly Sporting Memories group. MUSEUM NAN EILEAN The Sc(iety contiibuted on loan. five artefacts for display at the Museum which opened in 2016. The Museum also requested for use A Timeline for the Lews Ca#kD and Seaforth LLRtse which had appeared in SY Gone By. Paje 3
sroRNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIErY TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 DUN EISDEAN With the closure of both Dun Berisay and Dun Eisdean. and the opening of the new home Taigh Shiphoirt. the conn&tion that Dun Eisdean had wth the SS Jvoryetragedy in 1904 has efftivelY closed. In 2006 a bench was erected to commemorate a ntenary visit by relatives of the victims and suNivors of the sinknng of the emigrant ship near Rockall. Dun Eisdean was built close to Coulregrein House where the survivors were treated in 1904. Sadly the bench collapsed last year but the Himalayan Birch tree {Betula utilis Jacquemontii) planted at the ts"me, has thrived. SHS liaised with the new developers of the foTher Dun Eisdean who have replanted the tree not far from its original site. The tree remains in Stomoway a5 te5bmony to the rw)le from Scandinavia, Russia, Poland and afar who had sought a new liFe in the Americas 120 year5 ago. NAMING OF DEVELOPMEiwrs The Sc(iety continues to be consulted warnling the names of new developments and streets. OTHER BODIES During 2024 the Society consulted with or was represented on the following bodies: Sustainable Communities Group, Comhairfe nan Eilean Siar, Stornoway Library, Museum nan Eilean, Tasglann nan Eilean, Stornoway Tnjst, Harris Tweed Authority, UHI, Highlands & Islands knessors, Stx)rtscodand, Heritage Nthod< Forum, 150th Anniversary of The Nicolson Instittrte, Point & Sandwick TN5t, Stornoway Community Council, Iolaire Centre Group, and other historical societies. PROPOSED IOLAIRE CENTRE In 2024 the Society met with members of the prowsed lolaire Centre. This induded Event, a design congjltancy company. They wished to evaluate thoughts, ideas, perptionS on the proposals made to dats towards the Centre. Eventhave prewously designed the Titanic CentsE in Belfast and the Burrell Cdlecbon building in Glasgov4. ANNIE JANE PROJEcr The Socie hel d to co-ordinate and oversee finances for the project. This event, chorec<Jraphed by local singer saw Scots and Irish singers, musicians and dancers (induding l¢xal artistes) perfomi in the Hebrides and Ireland. Many of the Ann Jane victims were Irish. LEWIS CHEMICAL WORKS SSEN Transmission, upon consultation. received feedback from a range of stakeholders, induding the landowner, the Stornoway Trust, etted members, Marybank and Maryhill Community Association, the Stomoway Historical Society, the Stomoway Angling Association, local crofters and other local communty interest groups and members. Our Archivist helped to ensure that the proFX)sed site of a HVDC Connettor Ststion and Sub Ststion at Creed North was abandoned and the te of the Lewis Chemical W0S was saved from this project. Another stte has been pursued by SSEN. ENQUIRIES BY EMAILILErrER, Erc We dealt with 78 mail inquiries {115 in 2023), plus 19 (15) on Fal1k. Several of these involve research and follow ups. Fabook likes in 2024 came to 97 (122). Fabk followers have gone up to 3,420 {3,172) and visitors have reduced to 13,597 {13.905). The Chair has dealt with 30 (20) enquiries sent direcuy to him. These enquiries do not include enquiries from other Comunn Eachdraidh, from CnES stsff or the above bodies. No charge is made for this Se1. There has been a continuing media use of the Socaety for research purposes and for photc¥Jraph acquisition. The ScKiety charges £20 each for the first four copies and £15 per additional copy. The Archivist deals wth these requests. The above figures do not record these enquiries. Neither do they cover all dealings with management, contractors, etc. Paje 4
sroRNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIErY TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 WEBsrrE The website 15 currently being updated. It first went live 22 years ago this year. It has continued to delNer to the wodd with 25,824 hits (22,224). There were 80,156 page views (no comparable figure available). Site wsitors are now able to purchase membership and publications online through a PayPal and Credit Card feature. YOU TUBE Lethres appear on You Tube and these have reiVed favourable comments from all over the wodd. You Tube hannel subscrikrs in the year amounted to 570 (457) with 17,587 video views {11,372). FACEBOOK FaCebk followers number 3,420 (3,172) and F3boOk page VItorS were 13.597 (13,905) COMMrrrEE The committee worked hard behind the scenes to deliver our Exhibibon and SYGone 8y. Many of the committee members have turned out regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays to research and work on the exhibition. joined the committee in May 2024. It was deemed appropriate to reduce the committee by two Plac in compliance with the S¢xiety's Constitution which stipulates conditions pertaining to the committee numbers, so no further appointments were made. MEMBERSHIP Membership has been sustained throughout another difficult year. Considerable work was undertaken by the Membership Secretsry to set up and manage membership records on Ex1,. and a mail merge for labels for the delivery of SY Gone By addresses has helped administration considerably. As at December there was a totsl of 269 individual and family memberships. This was an increase of 8 on the previous year. ARCHIVES The arthive continues to grow considerably. At the end of 2024 the numEer of ttems catslogued exceeded I2.0. REMEMBRANCE A lety wreath is laid at the Lewis War Memorial on Remembran Sunday. ACHIEVEMENfs AND PERFORMANCE Summary of main achievements During the year, the Scciety continued to be instnjmental in raising awareness of the general public to the need to preseNe all aspects of the town's early and most recent history. The Society actively paCIPated in the presentstion of infomiation on the town through exhibiknons, public leIreS and publicatnS. The Sc<iety also conts.nued to maintain. preSee and add to its collects.on and archive. FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position The Society finances remain relatively strong and membership has remain&J healthy. The SUPFQrt from the membership and the community is muth appreaated by the committee during difficult economic times. As a result of the surplus of £14.726 for the year (2023 - deficit of £3,765) unrestricted ndS have increased to £8.351 (2023 - £5,657) and restricted funds have increased to £15.627 (2023 - £3,595). The tnjstees consider that the level of free reseeS in unrestricted funds held at 31 December 2024 is suffiaent to meet the Society's ongoing operational requirements and enable the charity to continue with tts activities for the forthcoming year. Paje 5
STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Reserves policy
The general fund represents unrestricted funds from past operating results not yet utilised. It also represents the free reserves of the charity. The trustees have examined the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the charity and consider that three months operating expenditure, which equates to £9,000, should be held in unrestricted reserves. This would allow the charity to continue to operate in the event of an interruption in its income streams and the unrestricted reserves held at 31 December 2024 is in line with this target. Funds are also raised for specific projects as required.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Date: 31 March 2025
Page 6
STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| funds | funds | funds | funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | ||||
| Donations | 670 | - | 670 | 235 |
| Grants | 1,470 | 32,000 | 33,470 | 39,790 |
| Subscriptions | 3,966 | - | 3,966 | 2,975 |
| Gross receipts from other charitable activities | 11,744 | - | 11,744 | 20,169 |
| Income from investments other than land and buildings27 | - | 27 | 33 | |
| ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | |
| Total receipts | 17,877 | 32,000 | 49,877 | 63,202 |
| ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ | ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ | ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ | ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ | |
| Payments | ||||
| Payments relating directly to charitable activities | 13,956 | 19,968 | 33,924 | 66,044 |
| Governance costs: | ||||
| Accountancy fees | 672 | - | 672 | 420 |
| Payroll fees | 375 | - | 375 | 323 |
| Legal and professional fees | 180 | - | 180 | 180 |
| ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | |
| Total payments | 15,183 | 19,968 | 35,151 | 66,967 |
| ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ | ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ | ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ | ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ | |
| Net (payments) receipts | 2,694 | 12,032 | 14,726 | (3,765) |
| Transfers to (from) funds | - | - | - | - |
| ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | |
| Surplus/(deficit) for year | 2,694 | 12,032 | 14,726 | (3,765) |
| ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | ═════ |
Page 7
STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
STATEMENT OF BALANCES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| funds | funds | funds | funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Bank and cash in hand | ||||
| Opening balances | 5,657 | 3,595 | 9,252 | 13,017 |
| Surplus/(deficit) for year | 2,694 | 12,032 | 14,726 | (3,765) |
| ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | |
| Closing balances | 8,351 | 15,627 | 23,978 | 9,252 |
| ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | |
| Reserves | ||||
| General fund | 8,351 | - | 8,351 | 5,657 |
| Restricted funds | - | 15,627 | 15,627 | 3,595 |
| ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | |
| Closing balances | 8,351 | 15,627 | 23,978 | 9,252 |
| ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | ═════ |
Approved by the Trustees on 31 March 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Page 8
STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1. Grants
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Membership grant | 350 | - | 350 | - |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Ward Priority Fund | 1,120 | - | 1,120 | 2,400 |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Crown Estate Funding | - | 24,000 | 24,000 | 24,000 |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Bord na Gaidhlig grant | - | - | - | 8,000 |
| The Stornoway Trust - Wind Farm Grant Scheme | - | 7,000 | 7,000 | - |
| LWP Sponsorship Fund | - | 1,000 | 1,000 | - |
| Point and Sandwick Trust | - | - | - | 5,000 |
| Bakkafrost Scotland | - | - | - | 390 |
| ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | |
| 1,470 | 32,000 | 33,470 | 39,790 | |
| ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | |
| Gross receipts from other charitable activities | ||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
| funds | funds | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Newsletter and publications | 5,801 | - | 5,801 | 12,407 |
| Lectures and exhibitions | 4,654 | - | 4,654 | 4,837 |
| Images and photographs | 310 | - | 310 | 780 |
| Consultancy work | - | - | - | 1,182 |
| Employment Allowance | 854 | - | 854 | 854 |
| Other income | 125 | - | 125 | 109 |
| ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | |
| 11,744 | - | 11,744 | 20,169 | |
| ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | |
| Income from investments other than land and | buildings | |||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
| funds | funds | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Bank account interest | 27 | - | 27 | 33 |
| ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | ═════ |
2. Gross receipts from other charitable activities
3. Income from investments other than land and buildings
Page 9
STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
4. Payments relating directly to charitable activities
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Newsletter and publications | 4,616 | - | 4,616 | 13,247 |
| Exhibitions and events | 24 | 117 | 141 | 25,219 |
| Projects | - | 3,478 | 3,478 | 4,405 |
| Wages | - | 16,102 | 16,102 | 16,154 |
| Pensions | - | 271 | 271 | 271 |
| Premises costs | 5,578 | - | 5,578 | 3,864 |
| Repairs and renewals | 428 | - | 428 | 689 |
| Equipment | 215 | - | 215 | 435 |
| Cleaning expenses | 631 | - | 631 | 550 |
| Insurance | 603 | - | 603 | 370 |
| Postages, printing and stationery | 770 | - | 770 | 526 |
| Website expenses | 144 | - | 144 | 120 |
| Donations | 720 | - | 720 | - |
| Sundry expenses | 25 | - | 25 | 103 |
| Bank charges | 199 | - | 199 | 88 |
| Interest payable | 3 | - | 3 | 3 |
| ––––––– | ––––––– | ––––––– | -––––– | |
| 13,956 | 19,968 | 33,924 | 66,044 | |
| ═════ | ═════ | ═════ | ════= |
5. Trustees remuneration and expenses
The trustees did not receive any remuneration or expenses during the year.
6. Nature and purpose of funds
General fund
The general fund represents unrestricted funds which the trustees are free to use in accordance with the charitable objects.
Restricted funds
This represents funds received from public funding agencies and trusts for a specified purpose.
Page 10
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF STORNOWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages seven to ten.
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) (d) of the 2006 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 independent examiner’s statement
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. 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 express an audit opinion on the view given by 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:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
-
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.
CIB Services 63 Kenneth Street Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2DS
Date: 2 June 2025
Page 11