BENNACHIE CENTRE TRUST COMMITTEE REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 SC025431
BEMMACHIE CENTRE TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026 The Tnsstees pent thw'r and Ihe financi?1 stalpments forth& year ended 31 2025. ontsct addr888 BennAchie Wisitor C8ntr8, Ptt¢aplè, Aberdeonshtre, AB515HY. Rornjitmgnt and appolntmert of trustees Trustees are appolrKe(I by the slIng (Mlee of truste8S. Govemlng document The governing docwnent was a Trusl Deed and charilabte st8iu8 W88 attaln8d 1 Oclober 19. The Trust Jopted * SCll>ba88d ConstrlLtty)n when ttw bgxme a SCIO (Scollish Charitsbl8 IncOrpated OrqanlsallcA)) in 2016. Charltable purposes The purpose of Ihe Trust is io advancB the educaiion of the publk by the provislon. nStruCtion aThJ Subwa1 managenth of ¢entre fcf the development of environmental ethjcafjon. conservation and we5ervalion of the flora, fauna. geok)oy and hiOry of the area around 8enfiadbie. Summary of the main a¢tivities In relatlon to tho8¢ objects The Trusl hdd 4 formal burneSS meellngs during the year., most have tse a blend of In-pwn ¥EkJ online attendan<t, facilrlaled by the Srnart t¥)ard 8Wronlc system al Ihe Cenire. Several a¢JditK)n81 meetings wer8 hekl. for speufic issues Indudiro.. installing a new card paymant machine, devel¢)pmenl of additiond edub"on81 display board Ixynlent, annIng upgrades to Centre equipmenVdlsF4ayx, and UF¥Jabng spreadshts used a(xryJnts. Actlvttlos and a¢hlevemerrts The Centre opd for lh& 2024 Sea cffi Frklay 29 March. Protle occurred wilh the gxisliro card payment m¥hine for the shop. leavirq Ihe CentrE Unae to take card pamfjnts. Fdlowlng unsu¢$1uJ effDrts kn resdv& the Situation, a replacement card paym( mach'ne was pur¢has&J from another rA)mparw. The new system Is cheaper io op8rat8 and has work&J 11 over the year. A 2Q25 calendarwas produced to celebrats 30 annivèrsary ofthe Trust and Centrg. in cl&l)ration Y1h local Schools and artists. featuring al1 interpretirvJ Bennachi8 in 8 range of rneAia. The Galendar5 were sold iwTr the shry), other local oullots. and 1n¢ through the new card payment 5ySt8rn, sWMsful ralgng funds lor the TrusL A 2026 calendar is now bw'ng develo. The Lord Lleutenant of Aberdethre vi5rted in May, aThJ Trustees shtr•ed hlm around the Centre and ex He was enthusiasli and complimèntwl the Trust on the Centre facilrfes and educational ¥alu&. and delighted lo repr8s8nt tha Twst at the Royal Garden Party. HOWNJ In Juty. lainthl the Trusfs activibes. Te subsequenty in¥ited, A prror3mme of publlc evenis wovluing opportuniti&8 to (JIscAmr aThY appredate the n8lurl and culiur81 hwrtage of Bennhle, Iluded a Creative writing workshop. a Noadle-felting workshop, a rond life art dass. an Art and Craft Faif1455 visltortsl. a 'Door6 Op¢n weekend'1247 visitors), and the Garfo¢h Ranger held 3 pU1C events120 adults. 22 thildrenl. The Centre host&J NEOS (Noth East Open Sludros) again. featuthg 4 lo¢al artists and their Bennachie-in$pitvJ alrk over a trthek in September. attracting 1600 visitors.
BENNACHIE CENTRE TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 ActlvltI and achlevèments {¢ontinuedl Social media provided effeetiv& ¢ommunication, wth 4.5 k fojlowers on the Bennachie Vlsttor Centre Facebook pa9e. Events were also publicised through the Bennachie Community Council newsletter and Spotlight magazine. The Cenlre provided a venue for a range of educational courses, and supported events run by other bodies, incAuding hill navigation (Hillgoersl. wildlife identification skills courses. a hill race and the Bennachie Ultramarathon In October. Educational display 8rd$ on ojnifer identification, hill safety and wldlife IdentifiOn have teen pd and fvrlher boards are being developed. A'Birds of Benftachie, leaflet is currently being developed with 8 local artist. Work continues on upgrading electronics in the Centre, including linking internal screens to wildlife cameras lexisling and newl and r8-eStablishing the live-feed hill view camera, in conjunction a specralisl local firm. Exhibitions al the Centre included the Homecoming Art Project. butterfies and moths. and arthrk from the calendar. Other displays included.. Pictish symbols, the Bennachie r Crash, conifer identifi¢3tion, autumn leaves, and the Scottish Ouldr AsS Ccx1e ISOACI. with inlwactive displays on 'discoveT the season,, animal babies, nature alphabet and 'how many?, Exhibition space was provided for local schools and organisations, wlh displays by Huntly Swift Group, Premnay Prirnary School, Westhill Academy and Inverurie Academy. The Garioch Ranger led 8 group events176 adults, 112 ¢hilLlrelll and provided environmental education for 30 schools1104 adults, 843 children) through acbvilies promoting discovery and appreaation of the natural and cuttural history of Bennachie, improving the local environment and biodiversity. promoting benefits of accessing outdoors, sponSible access and engagement of marginalised people. Aberdeen Mounlaln R&vJJe equipment is now stored * the Centre, slnce Benn3chie is a frequent location for emergency call-outs, and discussions on provision of safety training are undenvay. The Trust continues to liaise and work wth the Bailies of Bennachie in support of shared objectives. providing facilities for public events and noti¢eboard space in the Genlre, and receivtng assistance from Ballies work parties when requested for outdoor works. The Community Pay Back Team painted wooden ould(KJr features and dearÈd weeds from the courtyard. Trustees also weeded the courtyard Ihrough 2024 and before Ihe 2025 opening. The Centre maintained ts *stsr rat'ng with the Wisil Scotland Quality Assurance Stheme in 2024, bLrt the scheme ended in March 2025. Work continued to improve the visitors, experience, featurfng the BCT brand and raising the Trusfs profile. Visitor numbers lo the Centre remained around 30,000 for the Season. similar lo last year. Visitr)r comments continued to indicate high saltsfaction levels, and the communty room had 42 bookings. As part ofthe strategy to increase visitor numbers and communty room use during quiettimès, a group visit package featuring 8 talkjevent and refreshments, has been produced and is advertised by poster and on swal media. The Trust increaseil the annual contribution to Aberdeenshire Council, for service5 induding rent, electr+cty, waste, watsr servicing and contribution towards staffing. The Trust also substanfjally contributed towards upgrading and maintenance costs for the Centre, induding the hot water system, plurnbing and alarm systems, and funded new taps in the public toilets and ¢ourtyaYd wall repairs. With stones gathered by a Corporate vdunteer group. Work is ongoing to improve intemal Ilghting, and to uwlate orientstion panel and Interactive displays. Publi¢ toilet access continued lo be provided when Cet7tre w8s dosed overvAnter. For• & Land Scotland discontinued their longstsnding provtsion of bird food for the wildlffe vien9 area, and the Trust is exploring ways to eover the additional cx)$1s. including targeted donations. Efforts lo increase income from shop sales with an expanded rangè of goods oJntinued'. new items indude a range of Field Studies Council laminated identificab.on sheets, Bvc-branded g1fva, artwoik by local artists and a'Bennachie Brew. rev4ards scheme to encourage coffee sales. A nèw shelving unlt was purchased. providing better display space. and a new display freezer. Additional ways of improving the retail space are under consideration. Fundraising by Ihe'heart appeal, continued, selling iterns with 117e heart logo, to cover mwntertance of the Public Awss Defibrillator IPADI at thè Centre. A substsnlial anonymous don8tion has funded items lo improve the wldlrfe viewng experienee, including live feed cameras, interactives, new feeders, a water feature, storage contsiners and new educational display boards. The Bennachie Ultramarathon event org8nisers also donated a significant sum, and other large donation5 were receiveil from Hillgoers, NEOS arbsts. Craft Fair sta15holder5 and hill race organiseis. The Tnjst Is very gratefijl lo all donors for thoir generous gifts. Thè Trust Is also participating in sthemes providing money for recyding comp(rter ink cartridges, and for old equipmentlforeign curreno elc. At her tirnent presentslion, the Trust thanked Loma for 30 years of excellent deaning seiCe atthe Centre. The Centre opened for the 2025 season on Saturday 29 March.
BENNACHIE CENTRE TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR E14DED 31 MARCH 2025 Flnanclal rnvl•w AS a result ol swplus of yèor of£S.33912024- £2,427) and allo•Ang tsthe movement In resole stoGk, the committee hehj unrestred funds of £105.73712024- £100.0521 al the year-ènd. C¢1ttee remuneraiion and ¢o$ts There £nll of o)sts relatiThJ to ts Centre12024- £nill re1Mbued to the Trustses during the year. Thi5 report was approved by the Trustees on i I and slgned on hs bew by
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE OF BENNACHIE CENTRE TRUST I report on accounts of the ¢n8rity for Ihe ended 31 March 2025 %4thich ate set out on pag8s 6 and 7. Respectfvè r•spoMibilitie$ of commllt•e and •xamln•r The charws CLMtee i¥ responsie fcf th8 Prepatr"On of Ihe a¢L(xJnts kn acLordarr* W¢h the temits of the Chariltes and Trustee Investment Iscouandl 2005 and the Chaiilies Acrnullts Iscollandl Regulations 2006. The charity Mittee considws that thé audit requirements of RwUlatiC 10111 (d) of the AUnIS Rewlation5 does not apply. It Is my responsikn'lty to examine tho ¢nts as requirèd under section 4411) Icl of the Ac4 10 Stale whether parbcular matt815 have [le to my attenllon. Bas18 of Ind•pgndent •xamlnefs $tat•fflent My 8xamination is carried out in eO¥nee with Regulation 11 of lh8 Charttle8 Account8 IS¢DInd) Regulakns 20rh. An exambnatknn indudes a reviv44 of the accounting record8 kept ty the charity and a MpariSOn of the acxounts presented wth those records. It also IrKJudes consideration of any LFnusual items or dlsclosure5 in ihe accounts, 3Thl sesks wlanalions frorn the mMItIe£ c¥)nGeming any such m8ltef5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evldence that w)uld be requireil in an audit, aThJ consequently I do not express an audtt opinlon on th8 VI gfv•n by the accounts. Ind•p•nd•n¢ ox4rTwnerfs statement In the c(r$e of my examination, Th) matter has o)me to my aftti 1. vthich 0fv88 mtt reasonabl8 causg io belleve that In any rnaterial res the qlreMents'. to keep •xounbng records in accordgnce with S8don 44{11181 of Ihe 2005 AGt a1 Regulatic 4 ofthe 20C6 AontS ts) acfAiunts vthlch vAlh the 8cI)yJnbng rA]rdS and exmnrty Regula11on 9 of the 2006 fvutyjnts RegulabS have not been mel. or Jn. alienttr)n should in order lo enat48 a prcw understaThJing of tho a¢Un be lehJ. CA Partrr James Wilne 5 High sIt Inverurie AB51 3QA
BENNACHIE CENTRE TRUST RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 2025 Totsl 2024 Total Ine¢ming resources Donations Heart donation Bank interest r1Ved Room hire Gallery sales Other income Card rebates Ticket sales Non food sales FL*)d & drink sale$ 7.422 3.065 1,243 1.174 290 263 292 2,711 827 1,295 127 283 8,416 19.778 535 5,868 18.964 Total Incoming resourcgs 42.212 31,699 Resources èxpend•d Goods for rwle Insur311¢e Independent examiners fee Repairs and maintenance Gallery costs Telephone costs Service charges including rent Equipment for BennaGhie Centre Bird food offi consumables Heart fund Ticket payment Bank charges Credit card machine ¢harges Website costs Book Trust Volunteer grfts Visit S¢oUand membership 16.461 347 330 5.186 766 275 9,500 767 238 1.291 1.086 14.S49 295 300 1.622 559 8.500 545 239 17 392 20 851 120 90 127 58 174 Total resour¢•s ¢xpended 136,8731 129.2721 Surplus for th• yr 5.339 2,427 All funds ar• unrnstri¢t•d
BENNACHIE CENTRE TRUST STATEMENT OF BALANCES AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 2026 2024 Stock Stock of gc<#Js for resale 5298 4.952 Openlng bank and ¢ash balanceB Bank accounts Deposit accniS Cash balance 2,814 91.838 450 561 91.862 450 95,100 92,673 Sur8 forth• ar 5,339 2,427 Total 100,439 95,100 Clo6lng bank and c4*h b•l•n¢e• Bank aixxjunts Deposit accounts Cash b8Lgn 2,442 97,547 450 2.814 91,836 450 IIKI,439 95,100 Clo¥lng reser 105,737 11X),052 All funds •r• untrIct• The financial Statents wwe approved by the Trustees on I I and si ned on its behalf b