mecharity Registration No. SC031149 (Scotland) KÉon Patfj BALFRON PATHWAYS (A Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 BALFRON PATHWAYS CONTENTS Page Legal and administrative infomation Trustees report Independent examinerfs report Receipts and payments account Statement of balan Notes to the financial statements LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Trustees Chairman Secretary Charlty number(Scotland) SCC131149 Principal Office Moorfands Strathview Terrace Balfron Glasgow GE3 OPT Independent examiner Bank8rs Bank of Scotland 2 Station Road Milngavie Glasgow G62 8Aq TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. The accounts have been prepared in accordan￿ the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's constitution, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The legal and administrative infomiation on page 1 fomis part of this report. Objectives and activities The charity is a registered Scottish CharÈtable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). The main objectives of the charity, in accordan￿ with its constitulion. are: The maintenance and development of multi-use path5 in and around Balfron wtth the object of improving recreational facilities in the surrounding area. The promotion of responsible access to the countyside through provision of infomiation on the need to protect the environment. The protection and conservation of the fresh water habitat and rtearby semi-natural habitats that support species of national and intemational Importan￿ wthin the Endrick Water Srte of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI} and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) through the control of non-native invasive species and by increasing awareness of the value and vulnerability of the SSSIISAC. The advancement of citizenship and community cohesion by encouraging local residents and other community groups to become involved in the work of the organisats.on or by making use of an expanding ne￿ork of paths Achievements and perforniance The Charity was successfvl in resolving the access issue along what is now called Donaldson Loan. a traditional route from the surrounding farms to the village. Working wtth the Local Coun￿1 who have taken ownership of the route, the majority was hard sUrfa￿d, and a protective fence erected along one side. The remaining 'link' section was completed by the charity through funds raised locally and the Donaldson Loan section of the Balfron Greenway was completed. It has proved to be a great success and is well used. The volunteers continued throughout the year maintaining and improving the path network through our workdays programme This offers opportunities for the communty to volunteer their time and expertise both at weekend and weekday tasks. A local paths leaflet was produced which enables the community to idents'fy and therefore aC￿sS the path ne￿Ork around the village. In addition, three newsletters vrfere produced to advertise our work and appeal for support. These are available in the library and on-line via Fa￿boOk. The group contributed Slgntfican￿Y to the Local Pla￿ Plan, an opportunity for our Communty Council to influence the Local Authority statutory planning document. This ensured that the importance of local access and opportunities ft)r walking in and around the village was highlighted. The trustees met on six occasions during the year and we corrtributed to other groups, such as being represented on the Stirfing Council Access Forum. Financial review During the financial year 2024-2025, the charity raised £11.080 for its continuing operations. This included grants amounting to £10,500. All the grants were Un￿strIcted. The charity's expenditure of £7.922 comprised £620 towards a local paths leaflet, with most of the remainder for plant hire and materials for path maintenance. The trustees are responsible for establishing and maintaining the systems of internal financial control which aim to give reasonable assurance that issues are idents'fied as they arise and are dealt with appropriately in an effective and timely manner. The trustees meet regulady to review the firk3ncial perfO￿n8n￿. BALFRON PATHWAYS TRUSTEES REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Going Concern After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity will be able to raise suffiGient resources to corrtinue in operational existen￿ ft)r the foreseeable futu￿. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concem basis in preparing the accounts. Rlsk The Tnjstees have 8ssess&Y the msjor risks to whM* the charty is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitsgate exposure to major risks. Future plans The charity plans to continue to carry out the duties outlined in the objectives. These will indude carying out essential work on local pathways. Structure, govemance and manageff*nt The trustees who serve(1 during the year and up to the date of signature of the finanaal statements are detailed on page 1 of the accounts. They meet regulady to review the charity's performance. None of the trustees are pai¢J but they are occasionally refunded for small amounls of expenditure incurred on behalf of the chari The charity has reviewed its pollaes relating to induction and tryaining to comply with the new guidelines and recommendations from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. This has ensured that its policies are SLrffiaent tc meet the training needs of its trustees and that the Gharity conbnues to maintain the highest possible standards of ser11￿ delivery. Statement of trustees. responslbllltles The charity's trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees. annual report and financial statements in accordance Mrith applicable law and United Kingdom Aco)unting Standards (United Kingdom Generally AC￿pted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in Scotland requires the trustees to prepare financial statemenls for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resour￿5 of the chanty for that period. In preparing these finan¢Fal statements, the Irustees are required to: - seleGt suitable accounting pclicies and then appty them C(#￿IstentIy- - observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and ptuden( - state whether ap￿1¢able UK Accc4JntirKJ Standards have been followed. subject to any malerial departures disclesed and explained in the financial statements,. and prepare the financial statements on the going C£In￿rn basls unless it is inappropriate to p￿Surne that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose ￿1th reasonable accuracy at any time the finanaal position of the charity and to enable thwn to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts {ScoUand) Regulations 2006 las amend8d) and the provisions of the charity's consbtubon. They are also responsib18 for safeguar(Jing the assets of the charty and taking reasonabte steps for the preventi¢￿ and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Irustees r rtwasao the tn.Ist8es 8Dd sinned on theii behalf by BALFRON PATHWAYS INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BALFRON PATHWAYS I report on the accounts for the year @r￿ed 31 Marth 2025, which are set out on pages 5 to 7. Respectivè responsibilities of trustees and èxaminer The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparatIC￿ of the accounts in accordance wrth the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investrienls (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts {Scotlandl Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charitys trustees conslder that the audit requirement of Regulation 10{1){a) to (c) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my resp)nsibility to examine the financial stalemerrts as required under section 44{1)(c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of independent examinerfs statement My examination is carTied out in accordance Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the chanty and a comparison of the accounts presented with those rocords. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts. and s&ks explanations from the trustees Con￿mIng any su¢h matters. The procedures undertaken do rK)t provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and cOnSeq￿nt[Y 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.. {a) which gives me ieasonatAe cause to believe that in any matenal respect the requirements". to keep aC￿￿n{ing records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and (li) to prepare accounts whith accord with Ihe accounting records and comply wrth R￿UlatIOn 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations: have not been met or (b) to which. in my opinion. attenlion should be drawn in order to enable a proper understsnding of the fina￿la1 statements to be reached. BALFRON PATHWAYS RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 2025 2024 Notes Income from". Charitable activities 11.080 3,025 11,080 3,025 Expenditure on: Direct charitable activib'es 7.922 740 Net income for the yearl Net movement in fvnds 3.158 2.285 Fund balan￿ at 1 April 2024 4,762 2.477 Fund balances at 31 March 2025 7,920 4.782 STATEMENT OF BALANCES AS A T31 MARCH 2025 2025 2024 Cash at bank and in hand at start of year 4,762 2.477 Surplus on receipts and payments account 3.158 2.285 Cash at bank and in hand at end of year 7,920 4.762 The financia statements were approved by the Trustees on 2025 BALFRON PATHWAYS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Accounting F)olicies 1.1. Accounting convention The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention wth items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otheThvise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Chanties preparing their accounts in accordan￿ wth the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Chartties and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities AcrA)unts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). Balfron Pathways meets the definition of a public benefft entsty under FRS 102. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound. 1.2. Going concern At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity will be able to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the finanaal statements. 1.3. Charitable funds Unrestricted fvnds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtheran￿ of their charitable objectives unless the fijnds have been designated for other purposes. Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of any restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements. 1.4. Incoming resources All income is recognised on receipt. 1.5. Resources expended All expenditure is accounted for on a payments basis. All costs have been directly attributed to one of the functional categories of resources expended. The charity is not registered for VAT and accordingly expenditure is shown gross of irrecoverable VAT. 1.6. Cash at bank This comprises cash held by the charity's bankers. BALFRON PATHWAYS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Income from charitable activities 2025 2024 Grants and donats'ons: Clackmannanshire and Stiding Environment Trust 4,000 Private donation 4,000 Dunclay Charitsble Trust (note 4) 1,000 500 Dyers, Company Charitable Trust 1,500 1,500 Clachan events- Batfron 10K 500 Sundry 400 305 10,900 2,805 Membership fees and donations 180 220 11,080 3,025 Direct charitable activtties 2025 2024 Insurance 101 78 Materials and plant hire 6,977 267 Design and printing of leaflet 620 350 Display boards 179 Meetings 45 45 7,922 740 4 Trustees None of the trustees (or any persons connected viith them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year. There were no trustees, expenses reimbursements paid in the year. Trustee Duncan Gilmour deciares an interest in the Dunday Charitable Trust of which he is also a Trustee 5 Related party transactions