**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: SC028174** 

## **Report of the Trustees and** 

## **Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

**for The Ecology Centre** 

Brett Nicholls Associates Herbert House 24 Herbert Street Glasgow G20 6NB 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

|||**Page**|
|---|---|---|
|**Reference and Administrative Details**||1|
|**Report of the Trustees**|2|to  4|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**||5|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**||6|
|**Balance Sheet**||7|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|8|<br>to  20|





**The Ecology Centre** 

**Reference and Administrative Details for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **TRUSTEES** 

## **PRINCIPAL ADDRESS** 


**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER** SC028174 **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Brett Nicholls Associates Herbert House 24 Herbert Street Glasgow G20 6NB **BANKERS** Bank of Scotland The Mound Edinburgh EH2 3EW 

Page 1 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). 

In this Fiscal Year, The Ecology Centre further developed our exciting strategy that engages and collaborates with the community, enhances our environment and invests in developing our staff and board to effectively deliver on our vision: 

‘To connect people and the environment for the sustainable wellbeing of both.’ 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims The Ecology Centre's mission:** 

Through nature connection and celebration we foster health and well-being for our community. We believe in inclusive, meaningful and hands-on education and volunteering experiences. We are dedicated to sustainable ecological practice across our land management, partnerships and operations. 

## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities** 

**Environmental education:** Our highly skilled education team delivers quality forest and outdoor learning for young people, families, youth organisations, and community groups. To increase the overall quality and impact of learning, the team has shifted focus from facilitating large one off, whole class sessions to delivering smaller group work over a number of weeks. This ensures that participants can grow and thrive within our programmes with real and lasting benefits. This person-centred approach means we can meet individuals’ needs within our groups. We have **increased delivery of environmental education from 7833hrs (FY22/23) to 9471hrs (FY23/24)** and given **educational training to 1424 individuals.** 

**Volunteers:** Our diverse volunteer community is critical to the delivery of our charity’s services. Community members range in age from 16 to 84 and many are from challenging backgrounds. With the support of Lottery funding and Opportunities Fife, we have been able to continue to grow our volunteer numbers and provide more meaningful volunteer experiences. This year we estimate that together, **volunteers gave over 8000 hours of their time to delivering The Ecology Centre’s mission** , including: 

- **Site volunteers** help the ecologically-friendly development of grounds by Kinghorn Loch so it can be used by the community for outdoor, recreational activities. They grow fresh fruit and vegetables and support the maintenance of some of our neighbour’s land. 

- **Tool shed volunteers refurbished around 2000 tools this year** that were then loaned, sold or donated at home and abroad. This included Malawi where our tool kits help people to exit extreme poverty. 

- **Café volunteers** serve the public and provide free meals for our other volunteers. 

- **Corporate groups** provide support through their volunteer days. 

- **Professional volunteers** provide skills such as legal, HR, finance, horticulture, and ecology to support our charity. 

**Biodiversity:** our volunteer botanist, continues to monitor the flourishing plant and wildlife around the Loch. In the last 7 years, **the number of species recorded around the loch has increased from 400 spp[1] , to almost 1750 spp** . In 2024, we consciously started to leave more areas of grassland to grow in small, distributed meadows. These provide additional and beneficial habitat for biodiversity and created areas for people to sit, eat and relax. 

Driven by WWF, the Restoration Forth project (supporting oyster and seagrass reintroduction) is supported by our resident marine biologist who is based at The Ecology Centre. This project team has **planted 135,000 seagrass seeds in this year** , up from 25,000 last year. 

1 spp - Plural of ‘species’ 

Page 2 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE** 

## **Charitable activities** 

**Food production & Nutrition:** We created **12 new garden plots for local community use, and we are growing most of our own fruit and veg for café use and distribution to the local community** . We continue to collaborate with our loch neighbours to ensure the ecology of the loch is considered as one joined up, holistic entity. 

Our **Nest Café** provides high quality food, in a great lochside setting with excellent service. Our amazing team have **doubled the café footfall in the last year,** which is frequented by members of the local community and those from further afield. 

**Events:** We encourage the local community to be involved at the centre, learn new skills and enjoy the environment through a **varied programme of events** . We have hosted Ore Housing Big Day Oot, Seagrass party, High School POPSHOP summer party, Environmental funders day, Humanist society, and Rotary club. 

## **Funding & income generation** 

We sincerely thank all our funders without whom we could not continue to fulfil our mission. In 2023/24 we started to diversify our funding strategy. We began to transition from having many valued but very small individual funders, to fewer, more substantial grants. Our Café and education teams continued to serve our growing community, and we had several events in 23/24. We are now creating an engaging monthly events calendar for the coming year, which we hope will reach an even wider audience and provide important revenue. 

Donations unfortunately decreased in this Fiscal Year. However, we continue to welcome affordable contributions from all our supporters. All donations are put to good use in delivering our overall mission. 

## **STAFF** 

Our staff team is critical to successfully evolving and delivering our objectives. In this Fiscal Year we continued to strengthen by investing in new talent and welcoming a new General Manager, Finance Officer, Training Officers, and Café Supervisor. We are further investing to develop the talent of our existing employees. 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

## **Financial position** 

The accounts for the year to 30 June 2024 show a surplus of £23,401 (2023: £871). 

At 30 June 2024, total reserves stood at £727,470 (2023: £704,069), with £61,601 (2023: £52,402) of these being unrestricted general reserves, £104,616 (2023: £60,801) being restricted reserves and £561,253 (2023: £590,866) being designated funds representing the book value of tangible fixed assets. 

## **Reserves policy** 

The Executive Committee (The Committee) of The Ecology Centre manages its reserves in such a way as to ensure that it has sufficient funds to meet various identified contingencies and foreseeable costs. The Committee considers it prudent to encompass within its policy the monitoring of the following buffers: 

- The cash requirement to cover 3 months' running costs 

- Sufficient funding to cover legal and financial liabilities pertaining to the wind up of the organisation 

A savings account is held with the Ecology Building Society where "spare" funds are retained gaining higher interest. 

The Trustees estimate their required reserves to be £86,000. At 30 June 2023, unrestricted free reserves stood at £61,601 (2023: £52,402). The Trustees are aware that the figure is not sufficient to meet the requirement of the policy being applied but will seek ways to change this through unrestricted income generation. 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Governing document** 

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity. 

## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** 

Trustees are recruited to ensure representation of a broad and appropriate range of skills, experience and qualities, to create an effective governing Board. Applicants go through a formal recruitment process before being appointed. Each year, one third of the Trustees shall retire and then present themselves for re-election. 

Page 3 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Organisational structure** 

Full membership of The Ecology Centre is open to all those living in defined postcodes of the Kinghorn, Burntisland, Aberdour and Auchtertool areas. Full members are eligible to attend AGMs and take part in decision-making over the running and future of the Centre. Those based outside this radius may join as Associate Members, but do not have voting rights. 

The internal management team deal with the day-to-day management of the organisation as overseen by the General Manager. 

## **Summary** 

Continued collaboration with all our key community stakeholders will allow us to evolve our contribution to society with even more focus, energy, and collaboration, in a fun and environmentally friendly way. Our thanks go to all of you who believe in us enough to invest your time and hard-earned money to support what we do. It is hugely appreciated. This will continue to be required in the future as the reduction in available funding, combined with more charities applying makes it even more difficult to raise the required finances to do good things for the communities we serve. 

## **The Ecology Centre is open to absolutely everyone who shares our values, so please come and see what makes it such a special place.** 

30 January 2025 

Approved by order of the Board of Trustees on .......................................... and signed on its behalf by: 


....................... 

Page 4 



## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Ecology Centre** 

I report on the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2024 set out on pages six to twenty. 

## **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)(a) to (c) of the 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 the independent examiner's report** 

My examination was carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. 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 seeking explanations from you as 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 connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 

- (1) 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; and 

- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations 

have not been met; or 

- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 


Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Brett Nicholls Associates Herbert House 24 Herbert Street Glasgow G20 6NB 

31 January 2025 Date: ............................................. 

Page 5 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**<br>**Notes**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>Donations and legacies<br>3<br>17,868<br>264,614<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Charitable activities<br>6<br>77,324<br>3,298<br>Other trading activities<br>4<br>2,373<br>-<br>Investment income<br>5<br>1,061<br>-<br>Other income<br>7<br>150<br>-<br>**Total**<br>98,776<br>267,912<br>**EXPENDITURE ON**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>8<br>Charitable activities<br>117,887<br>225,400<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>(19,111)<br>42,512<br>**Transfers between funds**<br>21<br>(1,303)<br>1,303<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>(20,414)<br>43,815<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>643,268<br>60,801<br>**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**<br>622,854<br>104,616|**2024**<br>**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>282,482<br>80,622<br>2,373<br>1,061<br>150<br>366,688<br>343,287<br>23,401<br>-<br>23,401<br>704,069<br>727,470|**2023**<br>**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>313,793<br>74,229<br>4,752<br>406<br>15|
|---|---|---|
|||393,195|
|||<br>392,324|
|||<br>871<br>-|
|||871|
|||703,198|
|||704,069|



## **CONTINUING OPERATIONS** 

This statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities in both years. Comparative figures for the previous year by fund type are shown in Note 13. The notes on pages 8 to 20 form part of these financial statements. 

Page 6 



## **The Ecology Centre** 

## **Balance Sheet 30 June 2024** 

|**Notes**<br>**FIXED ASSETS**<br>Tangible assets<br>14<br>**CURRENT ASSETS**<br>Debtors<br>15<br>Cash at bank<br>**CREDITORS**<br>Amounts falling due within one year<br>16<br>**NET CURRENT ASSETS**<br>**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**<br>**CREDITORS**<br>Amounts falling due after more than one year<br>17<br>**NET ASSETS**<br>**FUNDS**<br>21<br>Unrestricted funds:<br>General fund<br>Designated Fund<br>Restricted funds<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>561,253<br>3,607<br>205,616<br>209,223<br>(11,524)<br>197,699<br>758,952<br>(31,482)<br>727,470<br>61,601<br>561,253<br>622,854<br>104,616<br>727,470|**2023**<br>**£**<br>590,866<br>42,034<br>119,157<br>161,191<br>(10,951)<br>150,240<br>741,106<br>(37,037)<br>704,069<br>52,402<br>590,866<br>643,268<br>60,801<br>704,069|
|---|---|---|



The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. 30 January 2025 and were signed on its behalf by: 


The notes on pages 8 to 20 form part of these financial statements. 

Page 7 



**The Ecology Centre** 

**Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **1. GENERAL INFORMATION** 

The Ecology Centre (SCIO) ("the charity") is Scottish charitable incorporated organisation governed by its constitution. It was registered as a charity in Scotland (registered number SC028174) on 11 August 1998. Its registered address i 

## **2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** 

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value. 

The financial statements are prepared on an accruals basis, and on a going concern basis, in accordance with: 

- the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005; 

- Regulation 8 (Statement of account - Fully accrued accounts) of The Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 

- 2006; 

- the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, published in March 2018 ("FRS 102"), to the extent that it applies to small entities and public benefit entities; 

- 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, published in October 2019 (FRS 102)' ("the Charities SORP"); 

- UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 

- the historical cost convention. 

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. 

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value, unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy. 

The financial statements are presented in UK sterling, which is the charity's functional currency, and rounded to the nearest pound. 

There have been no changes to the basis of preparation this financial year or to the previous financial year's financial statements. 

## **Income** 

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. 

## **Expenditure** 

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. 

## **Cash at bank and in hand** 

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. 

## **Debtors** 

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. 

Page 8 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued** 

## **Creditors and provisions** 

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. 

## **Financial instruments** 

The charity has financial assets and financial liabilities that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value. 

## **Going Concern** 

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. 

## **Tangible fixed assets** 

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. 

|Freehold property|- 10% on cost and in accordance with the property|
|---|---|
|Plant and machinery|- 33% on cost and 10% on cost|
|Motor vehicles|-  20% on cost|



It is the policy of the Trustees to capitalise any tangible fixed assets purchased where the cost exceeds £1,000. 

## **Taxation** 

The Ecology Centre is a charity within the meaning of Section 467 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 of Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 and section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that such income or gains are applied for charitable purposes only. 

## **Fund accounting** 

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees. 

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. 

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. 

## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits** 

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. 

## **3. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES** 

|Donations<br>Grants|**2024**<br>**£**<br>10,034<br>272,448<br>282,482|**2023**<br>**£**<br>17,526<br>296,267|
|---|---|---|
|||313,793|



Page 9 

continued... 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **3. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES - continued** 

Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: 

|Cares<br>Fife Environment Trust<br>Food Insecurity Group<br>Hubbub Foundation<br>Kick Start<br>Mushroom Trust<br>National Lottery Community Fund<br>No One Left Behind<br>WWF UK<br>Outdoor Community Play<br>R S McDonald<br>Business Gateway<br>Other small grants<br>FVA Supported Volunteers<br>New to Nature<br>Rural & Island Communities Ideas into Action<br>Woods for Wellbeing<br>National Lottery<br>Scottish Power<br>Cycling Scotland<br>Opportunities Fife Partnership<br>Outdoor Community Play - Thrive<br>**4.**<br>**OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**<br>Fundraising events<br>**5.**<br>**INVESTMENT INCOME**<br>Interest receivable|**2024**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>2,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>62,221<br>4,856<br>-<br>-<br>3,084<br>21,652<br>9,594<br>-<br>-<br>47,088<br>5,000<br>20,122<br>91,975<br>4,856<br>272,448<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>2,373<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>1,061|**2023**<br>**£**<br>9,340<br>4,383<br>8,000<br>5,728<br>5,221<br>560<br>19,363<br>9,827<br>58,334<br>9,480<br>10,042<br>3,000<br>15,904<br>22,011<br>9,594<br>17,542<br>31,099<br>56,839<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
|---|---|---|
|||296,267|
|||**2023**<br>**£**<br>4,752<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>406|



Page 10 

continued... 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

|**6.**<br>**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**<br>**2024**<br>**Activity**<br>**£**<br>From activities<br>Charitable activities<br>80,622<br>**7.**<br>**OTHER INCOME**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>Gain on sale of tangible fixed assets<br> 150<br>**8.**<br>**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**<br>**Direct**<br>**Support**<br>**Costs (see**<br>**costs (see**<br>**note 9)**<br>**note 10)**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Charitable activities<br>248,331<br>94,956<br>**9.**<br>**DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>Staff costs<br>194,713<br>Activity costs<br>43,698<br>Fuel and vehicle costs<br>666<br>Training<br>4,606<br>Travel<br>4,648<br>248,331<br>**10.**<br>**SUPPORT COSTS**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>Staff costs<br>28,103<br>Insurance<br>6,498<br>Light and heat<br>5,480<br>Postage and stationery<br>2,231<br>Sundries<br>1,201<br>Bank charges<br>918<br>Advertising<br>-<br>Legal fees<br>3,223<br>Telephone<br>1,154<br>Repairs and maintenance<br>8,271<br>Subscriptions and memberships<br>3,246<br>Recruitment costs<br>1,496<br>Loan interest<br>1,002<br>Accountancy<br>-<br>Depreciation of tangible and heritage assets<br>28,603<br>Carried forward<br>91,426|**2023**<br>**£**<br>74,229<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>15<br>**Totals**<br>**£**<br>343,287<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>181,243<br>71,168<br>675<br>4,295<br>5,358<br>262,739|
|---|---|
||<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>47,793<br>6,258<br>5,751<br>578<br>1,342<br>291<br>1,674<br>16,231<br>1,120<br>11,702<br>1,464<br>928<br>1,141<br>1,934<br>28,633<br>126,840|



Page 11 

continued... 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **10. SUPPORT COSTS - continued** 

|Brought forward<br>Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets<br>Independent examination fee<br>Loss on investment|**2024**<br>**£**<br>91,426<br>1,010<br>2,520<br>-<br>94,956|**2023**<br>**£**<br>126,840<br>-<br>2,520<br>225<br>129,585|
|---|---|---|



## **11. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** 

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 June 2024 nor for the year ended 30 June 2023. 

## **Trustees' expenses** 

During the year the trustees received a total of £47 (2023: £nil) in expenses. All payments were made in furtherance of the charity's objectives. 

## **12. STAFF COSTS** 

|Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Other pension costs<br>The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:<br>Employees||**2024**<br>**£**<br>212,003<br>7,485<br>3,328<br>222,816<br>**2024**<br>15|**2023**<br>**£**<br>218,055<br>7,565<br>3,416<br>229,036<br>**2023**<br>12|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|||||



## Employees 

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. 

In the opinion of the trustees there is one member of key management personnel, the General Manager. The total cost to the charity for this post in 2023/24 was £15,699 (2023: £38,234). There was no cost for this relating to this role for period from November 2023 - February 2024. 

## **13. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**<br>**£**<br>Donations and legacies<br>17,526<br>296,267<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Charitable activities<br>74,229<br>-<br>Other trading activities<br>4,752<br>-<br>Investment income<br>406<br>-<br>Other income<br>-<br>15<br>**Total**<br>96,913<br>296,282|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>313,793<br>74,229<br>4,752<br>406<br>15<br>393,195|
|---|---|



Page 12 

continued... 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued** 

## **for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

|**13.**<br>**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**EXPENDITURE ON**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Charitable activities<br>126,621<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>(29,708)<br>**Transfers between funds**<br>14,496<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>(15,212)<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>658,480<br>**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**<br>643,268<br>**14.**<br>**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**<br>**Freehold**<br>**Plant and**<br>**property**<br>**machinery**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**COST**<br>At 1 July 2023<br>698,594<br>62,123<br>Disposals<br>-<br>(2,878)<br>At 30 June 2024<br>698,594<br>59,245<br>**DEPRECIATION**<br>At 1 July 2023<br>141,935<br>33,116<br>Charge for year<br>17,690<br>8,313<br>Eliminated on disposal<br>-<br>(1,868)<br>At 30 June 2024<br>159,625<br>39,561<br>**NET BOOK VALUE**<br>At 30 June 2024<br>538,969<br>19,684<br>At 30 June 2023<br>556,659<br>29,007<br>**15.**<br>**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>Trade debtors<br>Social security and other tax<br>Prepayments and accrued income|**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>265,703<br>30,579<br>(14,496)<br>16,083<br>44,718<br>60,801<br>**Motor**<br>**vehicles**<br>**£**<br>15,750<br>(2,750)<br>13,000<br>10,550<br>2,600<br>(2,750)<br>10,400<br>2,600<br>5,200<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>1,015<br>917<br>1,675<br>3,607|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>392,324<br>871<br>-<br>871<br>703,198<br>704,069<br>**Totals**<br>**£**<br>776,467<br>(5,628)<br>770,839<br>185,601<br>28,603<br>(4,618)<br>209,586<br>561,253<br>590,866<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>6,527<br>-<br>35,507<br>42,034|**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>392,324|
|---|---|---|---|
||||871<br>-|
||||871<br>703,198|
||||704,069|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||



Page 13 

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**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

|**16.**<br>**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>Bank loans and overdrafts (see note 18)<br>Trade creditors<br>Social security and other taxes<br>Accruals and deferred income<br>**17.**<br>**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR**<br>Bank loans (see note 18)<br>**18.**<br>**LOANS**<br>Bank loans<br>Payable within one year<br>Payable after one year|**2024**<br>**£**<br>5,556<br>485<br>-<br>5,483<br>11,524<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>31,482<br>**2024**<br>£<br>37,038<br>5,556<br>31,482<br>37,038||**2023**<br>**£**<br>5,556<br>35<br>1,704<br>3,656<br>10,951<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>37,037<br>**2023**<br>£<br>42,593<br>5,556<br>37,037<br>42,593|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|||||



The Bounce Back loan which the charity has taken in the previous years has no security over it, as this is a government backed loan with the government guaranteeing 100% of the loan value. It is repayable over 10 years. 

## **19. LEASING AGREEMENTS** 

At the reporting end date the charity had uncancellable lease commitments of £3,485 (2023: £5,575). 

## **20. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Fixed assets<br>561,253<br>-<br>Current assets<br>104,607<br>104,616<br>Current liabilities<br>(11,524)<br>-<br>Long term liabilities<br>(31,482)<br>-<br>622,854<br>104,616|**2024**<br>**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>561,253<br>209,223<br>(11,524)<br>(31,482)<br>727,470|**2023**<br>**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>590,866<br>161,191<br>(10,951)<br>(37,037)<br>704,069|
|---|---|---|



Page 14 

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**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **20. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS - continued** 

## **Comparatives for analysis of net assets between funds** 

||||**2023**|**2022**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Fixed assets|590,866|-|590,866|604,831|
|Investments|-|-|-|3|
|Current assets|100,390|60,801|161,191|158,572|
|Current liabilities|(10,951)|-|(10,951)|(17,615)|
|Long term liabilities|(37,037)|-|(37,037)|(42,593)|
||643,268|60,801|704,069|703,198|



**21. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS** 

|**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>Designated Fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Community Biodiversity Works<br>Reforesting Scotland<br>R S McDonald<br>Action Earth<br>Food Insecurity Group<br>Hubbub Foundation<br>Mushroom Trust<br>Outdoor Community Play<br>WWF UK<br>Fife Environment Trust<br>FVA Supported Volunteers<br>Nature Save<br>New to Nature<br>Woods for Wellbeing<br>Woods for Wellbeing Family<br>National Lottery<br>Cycling Scotland<br>Opportunities Fife Partnership<br>Outdoor Community Play - Thrive<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|**Net**<br>**movement**<br>**At 1/7/23**<br>**in funds**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>52,402<br>10,502<br>590,866<br>(29,613)<br>643,268<br>(19,111)<br>551<br>(551)<br>372<br>(372)<br>1,565<br>(1,565)<br>-<br>(32)<br>3,105<br>(2,655)<br>2,555<br>(2,555)<br>199<br>-<br>4,856<br>(4,856)<br>-<br>3,774<br>2,374<br>-<br>13,841<br>3,029<br>919<br>(1,689)<br>449<br>(1,599)<br>3,813<br>(3,813)<br>7,310<br>(7,310)<br>18,892<br>1,944<br>-<br>20,122<br>-<br>37,314<br>-<br>3,326<br>60,801<br>42,512<br>704,069<br>23,401|**Transfers**<br>**between**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>(1,303)<br>-<br>(1,303)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>32<br>(450)<br>-<br>(199)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>770<br>1,150<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>1,303<br>-|**At**<br>**30/6/24**<br>**£**<br>61,601<br>561,253<br>622,854<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>3,774<br>2,374<br>16,870<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>20,836<br>20,122<br>37,314<br>3,326<br>104,616<br>727,470|
|---|---|---|---|



Page 15 

continued... 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **21. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: 

|**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>Designated Fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Community Biodiversity Works<br>Reforesting Scotland<br>R S McDonald<br>Action Earth<br>Food Insecurity Group<br>Hubbub Foundation<br>Outdoor Community Play<br>WWF UK<br>FVA Supported Volunteers<br>Nature Save<br>New to Nature<br>Woods for Wellbeing<br>Woods for Wellbeing Family<br>National Lottery<br>Cycling Scotland<br>Opportunities Fife Partnership<br>Outdoor Community Play - Thrive<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|**Incoming**<br>**Resources**<br>**Movement**<br>**resources**<br>**expended**<br>**in funds**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>98,776<br>(88,274)<br>10,502<br>-<br>(29,613)<br>(29,613)<br>98,776<br>(117,887 )<br>(19,111)<br>-<br>(551)<br>(551)<br>-<br>(372)<br>(372)<br>-<br>(1,565)<br>(1,565)<br>250<br>(282)<br>(32)<br>-<br>(2,655)<br>(2,655)<br>2,000<br>(4,555)<br>(2,555)<br>4,856<br>(9,712)<br>(4,856)<br>65,519<br>(61,745)<br>3,774<br>21,652<br>(18,623)<br>3,029<br>-<br>(1,689)<br>(1,689)<br>9,594<br>(11,193)<br>(1,599)<br>-<br>(3,813)<br>(3,813)<br>-<br>(7,310)<br>(7,310)<br>47,088<br>(45,144)<br>1,944<br>20,122<br>-<br>20,122<br>91,975<br>(54,661)<br>37,314<br>4,856<br>(1,530)<br>3,326<br>267,912<br>(225,400 )<br>42,512<br>366,688<br>(343,287 )<br>23,401|
|---|---|



Page 16 

continued... 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **21. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

## **Comparatives for movement in funds** 

|**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>Designated Fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Scottish Police Authority<br>Community Biodiversity Works<br>Reforesting Scotland<br>Ground Maintenance<br>R S McDonald<br>Business Gateway<br>Burntisland & Kinghorn Rotary<br>Cares<br>Food Insecurity Group<br>Hubbub Foundation<br>Kinghorn in Bloom<br>Mushroom Trust<br>Outdoor Community Play<br>Fife Environment Trust<br>FVA Supported Volunteers<br>Nature Save<br>New to Nature<br>Woods for Wellbeing<br>Woods for Wellbeing Family<br>National Lottery<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|**Net**<br>**Transfers**<br>**movement**<br>**between**<br>**At**<br>**At 1/7/22**<br>**in funds**<br>**funds**<br>**30/6/23**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>54,440<br>(26,112)<br>24,074<br>52,402<br>604,040<br>(3,596)<br>(9,578)<br>590,866<br>658,480<br>(29,708)<br>14,496<br>643,268<br>780<br>(780)<br>-<br>-<br>2,784<br>(2,233)<br>-<br>551<br>425<br>(53)<br>-<br>372<br>3,019<br>(3,019)<br>-<br>-<br>2,583<br>(1,018)<br>-<br>1,565<br>-<br>3,000<br>(3,000)<br>-<br>200<br>(200)<br>-<br>-<br>2,276<br>9,220<br>(11,496)<br>-<br>9,350<br>(6,245)<br>-<br>3,105<br>415<br>2,140<br>-<br>2,555<br>78<br>(78)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>199<br>-<br>199<br>4,625<br>231<br>-<br>4,856<br>-<br>2,374<br>-<br>2,374<br>-<br>13,841<br>-<br>13,841<br>-<br>919<br>-<br>919<br>-<br>449<br>-<br>449<br>-<br>3,813<br>-<br>3,813<br>-<br>7,310<br>-<br>7,310<br>18,183<br>709<br>-<br>18,892<br>44,718<br>30,579<br>(14,496)<br>60,801<br>703,198<br>871<br>-<br>704,069|
|---|---|



Page 17 

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**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **21. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: 

|**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>Designated Fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Scottish Police Authority<br>Community Biodiversity Works<br>Reforesting Scotland<br>Ground Maintenance<br>R S McDonald<br>Business Gateway<br>Burntisland & Kinghorn Rotary<br>Cares<br>Food Insecurity Group<br>Hubbub Foundation<br>Kick Start<br>Kinghorn in Bloom<br>Mushroom Trust<br>No One Left Behind<br>Outdoor Community Play<br>WWF UK<br>Cash for Kids, Bauer Radio<br>Community Food Growing<br>FC Climate Action<br>Fife Environment Trust<br>FVA Community Warm Spaces<br>FVA Supported Volunteers<br>Greener Kirkcaldy<br>Nature Save<br>New to Nature<br>NL Community Anchor<br>Paths for all<br>Rural & Island Communities Ideas into<br>Action<br>Scottish Community Fund<br>VM Action Earth<br>Warburtons<br>Wills Charitable Trust<br>Woods for Wellbeing<br>Woods for Wellbeing Family<br>National Lottery<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|**Incoming**<br>**resources**<br>**£**<br>**Resources**<br>**expended**<br>**£**<br>**Movement**<br>**in funds**<br>**£**<br>96,913<br>(123,025 )<br>(26,112)<br>-<br>(3,596)<br>(3,596)<br>96,913<br>(126,621 )<br>(29,708)<br>-<br>(780)<br>(780)<br>-<br>(2,233)<br>(2,233)<br>-<br>(53)<br>(53)<br>-<br>(3,019)<br>(3,019)<br>10,057<br>(11,075)<br>(1,018)<br>3,000<br>-<br>3,000<br>-<br>(200)<br>(200)<br>9,340<br>(120)<br>9,220<br>8,000<br>(14,245)<br>(6,245)<br>5,728<br>(3,588)<br>2,140<br>5,221<br>(5,221)<br>-<br>-<br>(78)<br>(78)<br>560<br>(361)<br>199<br>9,827<br>(9,827)<br>-<br>9,480<br>(9,249)<br>231<br>58,334<br>(58,334)<br>-<br>1,350<br>(1,350)<br>-<br>1,450<br>(1,450)<br>-<br>3,954<br>(3,954)<br>-<br>4,383<br>(2,009)<br>2,374<br>2,500<br>(2,500)<br>-<br>22,011<br>(8,170)<br>13,841<br>500<br>(500)<br>-<br>2,000<br>(1,081)<br>919<br>9,594<br>(9,145)<br>449<br>19,363<br>(19,363)<br>-<br>1,500<br>(1,500)<br>-<br>17,542<br>(17,542)<br>-<br>1,000<br>(1,000)<br>-<br>250<br>(250)<br>-<br>400<br>(400)<br>-<br>1,000<br>(1,000)<br>-<br>21,914<br>(18,101)<br>3,813<br>9,185<br>(1,875)<br>7,310<br>56,839<br>(56,130)<br>709<br>296,282<br>(265,703 )<br>30,579<br>393,195<br>(392,324 )<br>871|
|---|---|



Page 18 

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**The Ecology Centre** 

**Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **22. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** 

During the year, the charity received a grant of £5,000 (2023: £nil) from ScottishPower. a trustee of the charity, is employed by ScottishPower. The trustee declared their interest to the Board of Trustees and did not participate in decisions regarding the grant application or acceptance. 

## **23. PURPOSE OF FUNDS** 

The designated funds relate to the land and buildings that The Ecology Centre operates 

from. Scottish Police Authority, Install of fencing around tunnels. 

Community Biodiversity Works, Funding for development of the site and its facilities. 

Reforesting Scotland. Reforesting Scotland provided funding for the purchase of an iPad for the centre, helping staff and volunteers to minimise the use of paper and reduce the centre’s carbon footprint. 

Ground Maintenance. Private Donations towards employment of grounds staff. 

R.S. McDonald Trust. R.S. MacDonald Charitable Trust provided funding to develop our new dementia-friendly tool shed sessions. 

Business Gateway. Funding used for Covid support. 

Action Earth. To provide volunteer service for people with support needs 

Burntisland & Kinghorn Rotary. Grant to award the development of the Queens Tree Planting 

Cares. Funding to install Air to Air Heating System and additional solar panels. 

Fife Environment Trust. Match Funding for Heating, Solar Panels and Pond restoration project 

Food Insecurity Group. Funding to support Community Fridges and Volunteer Lunches 

FVA Mental Health & Wellbeing. Funding to run a supported volunteering group across the site 

Hubbub Foundation. Funding to set up Community Fridge 

Kinghorn in Bloom Funding towards plants and trees. 

Mushroom Trust Funding for Signage around the site. 

Outdoor Community Play Funding to run outdoor play sessions across Fife. 

WWF UK. Funding toward the Restoration Forth project, focusing on Seagrass, Shellfish and citizen science. 

National Lottery, support to pay staff wages. 

FVA Supported Volunteers. To staff and run a volunteer day weekly for those with more complex support needs on site with the aim of improving their physical and mental well-being. 

Nature Save. To purchase timber required for shipping crates for tools for Malawi project for tool shed. To contribute to tool shed overheads. 

New to Nature. To provide salary and training for a 1 year contract for a trainee gardener to learn and co-ordinate activities in the market garden. 

Woods for Wellbeing. Funding to staff and deliver 3 blocks of 10 week woods for well-being including participants gaining a FOLA 4 qualification and improving their physical and mental well-being. 

Cycling Scotland. To create a lasting legacy of improved cycling infrastructure and facilities in the local area. 

Page 19 

continued... 



**The Ecology Centre** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 June 2024** 

## **23. PURPOSE OF FUNDS - continued** 

Opportunities Fife Partnership. Gives Volunteers the opportunity to gain confidence and break barriers to look for employment opportunities. 

Outdoor Community Play - Thrive. To provide and run outdoor play sessions across Fife. 

Page 20 

