2025-03-31-accounts - Volunteer Centre Western Isles

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SCOTTISH CHARITY NUMBER: SC027472

VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO

CONTENTS OF THE ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

	Page
General Information	1
Trustees’ Report	2
Receipts and Payments Account	5
Statement of Balances	6
Independent Examiner’s Report	7

VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO

GENERAL INFORMATION

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

ADDRESS:

SCOTTISH CHARITY NUMBER:

SC027472

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER:

CIB Services Chartered Accountants 63 Kenneth Street Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2DS

BANKERS:

CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

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VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

Scottish Charity Number

Current trustees

Other trustees during the year

Contact address

SC027472

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

The charity became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 22 January 2018 and the purposes and administration of the charity are set out in our constitution.

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

The Association’s trustees are appointed or reappointed by the members at our annual general meeting and the board may at any time appoint any member.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Charitable purposes

Aims

Actively, encouraging, supporting and promoting volunteering.

Purposes

to advance citizenship and to actively encourage, support and promote volunteering throughout the Western Isles;
to advance education through reducing barriers to education and training opportunities and delivering effective developmental initiatives to improve skills and employability opportunities to the community.

Vision

Our Vision is of a community where everyone volunteers. Where volunteering is recognised as integral to the health, wealth and vitality of the Outer Hebrides. Where the Volunteer Centre Western Isles provides a highquality localised service that supports the growth of volunteering in all islands, in every community, in each home, to any individual.

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VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO

TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Activities and achievements

Volunteer participation has grown significantly over the past year across the Hebrides, reflecting renewed community spirit and the dedication of our team. Supporting volunteers is key to reaching vulnerable individuals, and staff continue to invest in their development. While demand is rising, the cost-of-living crisis poses challenges. National data shows a decline in volunteering, but rural areas like ours remain strong - 9% above the Scottish average. Volunteer behaviour is shifting toward local causes, with digital volunteering now common. We support over 200 volunteers and 100 organisations annually, helping create new roles, register volunteers, and match them to opportunities. Our intergenerational work and strategic engagement continue to strengthen community resilience across the islands.

Highlights of the last year are:

Staff registered 123 volunteer opportunities across the Western Isles registered on MILO and marketed through www.volunteercentrewi.org search and Volunteer Scotland.
70 volunteers placed with volunteering opportunities.
15 new organisations registered for support from the Volunteer Centre.
105 organisations provided with volunteer guidance, one to one training or support on volunteer management and developing placements over 1,358 interactions.
Youth volunteering developed and supported.
Working in partnership with schools, colleges and other educational settings across the islands.
Various schools have been signed up for Saltire and Callanish award schemes island wide with a school in Perth hearing about our Callanish awards and asking if they can use it. Something we are interested in developing.
201 Volunteer Centre Callanish Youth Awards issued.
59 new Saltire registrations.
185 Saltire Awards.
The Volunteer Centre has run 5 awards ceremonies with a further 11 ceremonies being directly supported.
2 new Saltire award eligible organisations have been registered.
We continue to facilitate the YPI programme on behalf of the Wood Foundation with each of the 4 secondary schools this term.
Intergenerational work continued and further developed within primary schools and community groups.
Short term volunteering opportunities developed with various craft projects to support charity appeals.

Trustee remuneration and expenses

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

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VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

As a result of the deficit of £7,852 for the year (2024 - deficit of £6,534), the charity had unrestricted funds of £55,019 (2024 - £61,843) and restricted funds of £994 (2024 - £2,022) at year-end, which the Trustees consider adequate to enable the charity to continue for the forthcoming year. Restricted funds represent grant funding received to assist with ongoing projects.

Reserves policy

The general fund represents the 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 currently equates to £36,000, 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 at 31 March 2025 is in excess of this target. Funds are also raised for specific projects as required.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Date: 26 August 2025

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VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Year ended 31 March 2025 Year ended 31 March 2024 £ £ £ £ Receipts: Sponsorship: Lewis Wind Power 500 800 1,300 - Grants: Scottish Government 103,784 - 103,784 103,784 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 22,000 - 22,000 23,700 The Wood Foundation 1,495 - 1,495 1,760 Department for Work and Pensions 2,263 792 3,055 - Co-op Community Fund 500 - 500 - Employment Allowance 5,000 - 5,000 5,000 Other income 252 - 252 64 Interest received 141 - 141 166 135,935 1,592 137,527 134,474 Payments: Wages 102,279 - 102,279 91,809 Social security 5,694 - 5,694 5,234 Pensions 5,021 - 5,021 4,496 Rent 8,260 - 8,260 8,050 Projects 1,486 2,520 4,006 9,518 Travel 2,699 - 2,699 2,223 Conferences and training 1,269 - 1,269 952 Events 20 - 20 1,626 Heat and light 5,819 - 5,819 3,859 Insurance 1,931 - 1,931 1,896 Telephone 3,400 - 3,400 2,870 Postage and stationery 221 - 221 286 Office expenses 2,382 - 2,382 4,620 Software expenses 440 - 440 401 Advertising and promotion 410 100 510 473 Recruitment 95 - 95 490 Subscriptions and memberships 835 - 835 1,334 Meeting expenses 24 - 24 19 Bank charges 60 - 60 60 Accountancy fees 414 - 414 792 142,759 2,620 145,379 141,008 Surplus/(Deficit) for year (6,824) (1,028) (7,852) (6,534)	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Year ended 31 March 2025 Year ended 31 March 2024 £ £ £ £ Receipts: Sponsorship: Lewis Wind Power 500 800 1,300 - Grants: Scottish Government 103,784 - 103,784 103,784 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 22,000 - 22,000 23,700 The Wood Foundation 1,495 - 1,495 1,760 Department for Work and Pensions 2,263 792 3,055 - Co-op Community Fund 500 - 500 - Employment Allowance 5,000 - 5,000 5,000 Other income 252 - 252 64 Interest received 141 - 141 166 135,935 1,592 137,527 134,474 Payments: Wages 102,279 - 102,279 91,809 Social security 5,694 - 5,694 5,234 Pensions 5,021 - 5,021 4,496 Rent 8,260 - 8,260 8,050 Projects 1,486 2,520 4,006 9,518 Travel 2,699 - 2,699 2,223 Conferences and training 1,269 - 1,269 952 Events 20 - 20 1,626 Heat and light 5,819 - 5,819 3,859 Insurance 1,931 - 1,931 1,896 Telephone 3,400 - 3,400 2,870 Postage and stationery 221 - 221 286 Office expenses 2,382 - 2,382 4,620 Software expenses 440 - 440 401 Advertising and promotion 410 100 510 473 Recruitment 95 - 95 490 Subscriptions and memberships 835 - 835 1,334 Meeting expenses 24 - 24 19 Bank charges 60 - 60 60 Accountancy fees 414 - 414 792 142,759 2,620 145,379 141,008 Surplus/(Deficit) for year (6,824) (1,028) (7,852) (6,534)	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Year ended 31 March 2025 Year ended 31 March 2024 £ £ £ £ Receipts: Sponsorship: Lewis Wind Power 500 800 1,300 - Grants: Scottish Government 103,784 - 103,784 103,784 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 22,000 - 22,000 23,700 The Wood Foundation 1,495 - 1,495 1,760 Department for Work and Pensions 2,263 792 3,055 - Co-op Community Fund 500 - 500 - Employment Allowance 5,000 - 5,000 5,000 Other income 252 - 252 64 Interest received 141 - 141 166 135,935 1,592 137,527 134,474 Payments: Wages 102,279 - 102,279 91,809 Social security 5,694 - 5,694 5,234 Pensions 5,021 - 5,021 4,496 Rent 8,260 - 8,260 8,050 Projects 1,486 2,520 4,006 9,518 Travel 2,699 - 2,699 2,223 Conferences and training 1,269 - 1,269 952 Events 20 - 20 1,626 Heat and light 5,819 - 5,819 3,859 Insurance 1,931 - 1,931 1,896 Telephone 3,400 - 3,400 2,870 Postage and stationery 221 - 221 286 Office expenses 2,382 - 2,382 4,620 Software expenses 440 - 440 401 Advertising and promotion 410 100 510 473 Recruitment 95 - 95 490 Subscriptions and memberships 835 - 835 1,334 Meeting expenses 24 - 24 19 Bank charges 60 - 60 60 Accountancy fees 414 - 414 792 142,759 2,620 145,379 141,008 Surplus/(Deficit) for year (6,824) (1,028) (7,852) (6,534)
		134,474 91,809 5,234 4,496 8,050 9,518 2,223 952 1,626 3,859 1,896 2,870 286 4,620 401 473 490 1,334 19 60 792
		141,008
		(6,534)

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VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO

STATEMENT OF BALANCES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

	Unrestricted	Restricted	At 31 March	At 31 March
	funds	funds	2025	2024
	£	£	£	£
Bank and cash in hand	55,019	994	56,013	63,865
Funds
Opening funds	61,843	2,022	63,865	70,399
Surplus/(Deficit) for year	(6,824)	(1,028)	(7,852)	(6,534)
	55,019	994	56,013	63,865

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Date: 26 August 2025

Page 6

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF VOLUNTEER CENTRE WESTERN ISLES SCIO

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 5 to 6.

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.

Name:

Address: CIB Services Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers 63 Kenneth Street Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2DS

Date: 29 September 2025

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