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Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust
Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation Scottish Charity Number SC034029 Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 23" February 2026
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 24" Feb 2025 To 23" Feb 2026
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Scottish Charity Regulator
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Reference and administration details
Charity name Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust
Other names charity is known
by Registered charity number $C034029 Charity’s principal address “Barremman”, Clynder, Argyll and Bute.
Postcode G84 0QX
Names of the charity trustees on date of approval of Trustees’ Annual Report
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Trustee Dates acted if Maing of person
name Office (if any) Sat ior whole veut (or body) entitled to
y appoint trustee (if any)
1. + Vivien Dance Convenor
2 Anthony Dance
3 David Stewart
4 | Kenneth McGrath
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- 5 Paul Jack
Structure, governance and management
Type of governing document
The Trust is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) and is governed by a Constitution adopted on 11" June 2019.
Trustee recruitment and appointment All Trustees are re-elected by members at the Trust’s AGM. In addition, the Board may co-opt any member to be a Trustee. Recruitment of additional Trustees is a standing item at all Board meetings.
Objectives and activities
Charitable purposes
The Trust’s objective is the provision of festive lighting in Helensburgh, the provision of recreational activities and the organisation of recreational activities, with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the Community of Helensburgh and Lomond as a whole (the three electoral wards).
Summary of the main activities The Trust’s activities comprise the provision, storage, repair, in relation to these objects maintenance and installation of Helensburgh’s festive lighting display, the establishment of storage and workshop facility, Health and Safety training, fundraising activities and grant funding applications.
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APPENDIX 1
Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the financial period.
Objectives and Governance.
The Trust's Strategic Plan states, "the Trust aspires to repeat the Christmas lights spectacle on an annual basis and to secure sufficient funds to make this possible" The Trustees are delighted to be able to report that the volunteers, known locally as the "Helensburgh Elves" once again achieved this very challenging objective and surpassed all previous outcomes. It was an outstanding year on a number of fronts.
Significant activities.
All repairs were completed in the Spring and Summer and we were grateful to N.J. Slee Welding and Fabrication for welding repairs to number of features (including Caroline Mundie’s very special diamond) which ensured they were part of the Christmas show. The team completed the testing and repairs of all the features in time for an October installation. Fundraising continued and the sale of donated cacti and succulents at the market raised E2125 plus Gift Aid and also helped to maintain a high profile for the Trust and its community project.
Installation on the lights began in October and by the beginning of November the elves had installed the annual Christmas lights display throughout the town centre. Once again 150 features, two over street features in Sinclair Street, sixteen illuminated living trees and fifteen halos on the seafront were ready for the switch on, scheduled for the 22"? November. Luss Estates once again donated and delivered the Christmas tree for the square and, with the help of local businesses, West Coast Cutters, M&T Builders Merchants and James Daly & Son Scaffolders, a magnificent thirty-five foot fir tree was installed. The elves moved in and decorated "Douglas", completing all the work needed for the town to be ready to welcome Santa. These donations in kind are worth many thousands of pounds to the charity and we are very grateful for the unstinting efforts of our business friends which enables Helensburgh to have a sparkling centre piece in the square year on year. This year the Christmas Lights Switch On once again received funding from Argyll and Bute Council's Strategic Events and Festival fund and this enabled the Trust to expand the community entertainment on the stage, all organised by local volunteer, Donna Hicks, who made sure all our entertainers were welcomed and appreciated. We are very grateful for the support given by Argyll and Bute Council and our band of happy entertainers.
Thanks to the efforts of the Heritage Fire and Rescue Heritage Trust, Santa arrived on time, splendid atop the magnificent fire engine. Colquhoun Square was full and loud applause and cheers from the huge crowd could be heard throughout the town as Santa worked his way to the stage.
We were delighted to welcome our supporters from Bethesda and Baptist churches who encouraged everyone to join in with their hearty carol singing. Our usual band of very enthusiastic teenagers, dressed as characters from Christmas stories, welcomed Santa to the stage and presented their very own dance routines. The countdown began and Santa pressed the magic button and the crowd gasped as the tree and all the lights burst into action.
The lights were spectacular, our refurbishment over the summer months of a number of lights had added more colour to the display and we received very positive feedback on the lights this year, with many commenting that this was our best show and we had obviously bought a number of new features! Let's hear it for the repair team, well done all of you.
We were delighted that we had very few problems this year and the lights lit up the town for seven weeks bringing many visitors and much needed footfall for our businesses.
The features were removed the week after Twelfth Night but the sixteen trees in the town square remained lit until the end of March, an extremely popular attraction for residents and visitors alike in the dark
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APPENDIX 1
months of winter. The provision of Helensburgh's festive lighting display involves over eight thousand hours of voluntary labour from a team of eight volunteers including a new fourteen year old “Elf” who is a very welcome and hardworking member of the team.
The volunteers work at least one day a week on the Christmas lights project in the grotto, kindly donated by an extremely generous and supportive local businessman without whom this project would not be possible, and additionally spend two weeks on the installation and one week on the take down.
Our team of volunteers works together to ensure a professional and competent approach to what is a very complex project and compliance with all current Health and Safety requirements is standard practice.
We are very grateful for the help that we receive from local officers of Argyll and Bute Council, particularly with regards to the crib.. We are extremely pleased to record that our Partnership Agreement with Argyll and Bute Council has been extremely successful and productive over many years.
Investment in infrastructure both at the grotto and for the Switch On event is now paying dividends and we are able to stage a very professional event in the town and comply with the very high standards demanded nowadays from event organisers.
In addition to actually completing all the work, the elves have to raise all the necessary funds for the project. This year we completed the financial year with £28,000 of income showing on our books, a most impressive figure given the current economic times. We received a number of very generous donations this year including Bethesda Church, the Lions Club,RAOB, D.C Fraser, the Ashton bar and once again our local Knit and Natter group selected the Christmas Lights as their chosen charity. We also receive an impressive number of donations in kind from local businesses, particularly the Clyde Café and Viton Services Ltd. which saves on revenue costs. We are greatly indebted to the local community for the support that we receive and the fun we have achieving the common goal of the town's Christmas Lights. In particular, we are grateful for the support we receive from the Beacon Trust who assist us with transport of infrastructure and we are pleased to be able to support them in return.
The "elves" receive many appreciative comments and feedback and the lights are still worthy of the accolade, "Best in the West". Local traders tell us that the Christmas lights are a significant economic boost to town businesses. The work involved in the Christmas lights project is very demanding of the volunteers as expectations now run very high because of the outstanding standard of Helensburgh's festive display. Our enthusiasm does not diminish as the years pass because of the appreciation we receive from the local community and the tangible support we receive from sponsors and the town as a whole.
During the year the five Trustees met regularly to ensure the delivery of the lights. The governance of the organisation is robust and the Trust continues to meet all its statutory obligations.
Strategic planning
We intend to maintain our small efforts in support of climate change by further reducing our use of plastics and recycling whenever possible as we move to adopt the use of more multi use plastic ties, an item that is unfortunately a mainstay of our repairs to the features and our working practices. However, a trial on the multi-use items has been successful and we will expand this in future years. All our features are now LED after a number of years of investment and replacement of the original stock.
Fundraising will always need to be the focus of attention for the Trustees in the years ahead as responsibility for this rests solely with the Trust. Our application to Argyll and Bute Council's Strategic Events and Festival fund for E5000 has again been successful for Christmas 2026 and we are delighted that our contribution to the town over the winter months has been recognised and we are very grateful for the generous support. New ideas will be pursued and the Trust will widen the scope of its search for funds and trust that the track record of the organisation and the superb five month display of town lighting will attract funders as it represents an excellent investment when assessed against economic impact and "bang for your buck" criteria.
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APPENDIX 1
The Trust always aims to hold a small fund for contingencies, such as weather damage, and repair of features but always takes the view that funds donated to the Trust are for investment in the project, not for retention in the bank, hence the impressive spend this year on the lights and events, both of which are significant contributions to the life of the Helensburgh community.
The Trust is sitting with a significant bank balance at the end of this financial year and £5000 of that sum has been earmarked to kickstart the following special event and lighting upgrade:-
In August 2026 the Trust will celebrate its 25" birthday of being a registered charity working for the betterment of Helensburgh. As a celebration of this milestone year plans are underway to give the sixteen trees in the square a “facelift” provided that funds can be raised as the cost will be in the region of £15,000. a big challenge on top of the usual Christmas lights display and the fundraising needed for that but the Trustees will do their best as always.
Financial review
| Briefstatement ofthe charity’s policy | The Trust aims to hold a reserve account sufficient to make | |
|---|---|---|
| on reserves | payments when they fall duewithout recourse to borrowing. | The |
| Board reviews the appropriate level ofthe Trust’s uncommitted | ||
| funds regularly in the light ofthe Trust’s ongoing and anticipated | ||
| future activities. A financial statement is discussed ateach | meeting | |
| of the Trustees. | ||
| Details ofany deficit | None | |
| Donated facilities and services (ifany) | The provision of a site for the Trust’s storage containers and | |
| workshopfacility,ie.”TheGrotto”. |
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
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Signature(s)
OSCRwillaccept {| -° , °Z MN.
digitalsignatures or typed } wrLou) ‘ aS
Full name(s) Vivien Rose Dance
Position (e.g. Chair) Convenor
Date 27 March 2026
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APPENDIX 2
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Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust 34029
a\@ ab. Receipts and payments accounts
Scottishewe es bY Forthe period | [7JT tol bs [ives]
Charity Regulator from [23rd | February} 025
Section A Statement of receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted stains — Total funds Total funds last
funds funds —funds santanafunds current period period
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
A1 Receipts
Legacies, 10,589 10,589
Grants |5,000 | Bae| [5,000] ees es
[Receipts from fundraising activities | 2,838 | |260| ||
Income from investments other than
land and buildings
Rents from land & buildings ht all Be Pee
Gross receipts from other charitable
activities
AT Sub total 18,128 18,128
A2 Receipts from asset &
investment sales
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets PY
Proceeds from sale of investments io 8d
A2Subtotal]=|
A3 Payments
Expenses for fundraising activities ; one Ges
fnvesment managanent cos | ese A
activitiesPayments relating directly to charitablehm ga
coveraneecos aot Ge
Audit / independent examinationha, Panes Sees
Preparation of annual accountsPY Eee eae
ae aie Bees
A3 Subtotal} 16,123| 16,123
A4 Payments relating to asset and
investment movements
Purchases of fixed assets fs
Purchase ofiwesimenisAa Sub toral[|
Net receipt / (payments) Ea Ga] es ans
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APPENDIX 2 Py . .
Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust 34,029
Section B Statement of balances
un Expendable Permanent
fui— Restricted funds endowment endowment —o Total last period
B1 to nearest £ to nearest£ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest£ to nearest£
Cash funds Cash and bank balances at start of year 40,289 10,289
Surplus / (deficit) shown on receipts and
Payments account
Cash and bank balances at end of year | 12,289 rae
(Agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details Fund to which asset belongs Market valuation Last year
-_ == Hl to nearest £ to nearest=
Total
Details Fund to which asset belongs Cost (if available) Currentavailable) value (if Last —year
to nearest £ to nearest£ to nearest£
a == ==
Total
Details Fund to which liability relates Amount due Last year
to nearest £ to nearest £
i = =
Total
Details Fund to which liability relates seen raed Last year
to nearest £ to nearest £
a — —
Total
Signed by one or two trustees Date of
on behalf of all the trustees Signature’ignature Print Name approval
——a -—
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2015-02-24-rp-accs-cs-version-excel-with-amended-cell (41) / Statement of balances
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December 2007
APPENDIX 3
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Scottish Charity Regulator
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Independent examiner’s report onthe accounts vz
Report to the Charity name
trustees/members of Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust
Registered charity SC034029
On the accountsnumberof the Period startdate Periodenddate >
charity forthe period _ Day __ Month Year Day __Month Year
to
23rd February 2025 24" February 2026
Setouton pages | mfr dA 2. Hoatberaof scdnicosl shoot,
Respective The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance
responsibilities Of with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the
trustees and examiner Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity trustees
consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) 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 independent My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts
examiner's statement 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, | do
not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s _ In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention fethertharthat-
statement diselesed-on-the-attachedpage”]
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 comply with
Regulation 9 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.
Signed: -~2-— Date: Zo |o3)2026
Name: Sead Davrd
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body PV AD
(if any):
Address: 9 CZAGfoaNit G4e0 ens
Lécl CLEF TAS
Q$4 oy
Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. If the words do apply, set out those matters which have come to your attention on the
following page.
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** OSCR will accept digital or typed signatures