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2025-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: SC034774

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

for

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Mann Judd Gordon Ltd Chartered Accountants

26 Lewis Street Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2JF

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 6
Independent Examiner's Report 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8
Balance Sheet 9
Notes to the Financial Statements 10 to 15
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 16

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. 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).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims

The organisation is established for charitable purposes only and is independent of any other organisation, the objects are:

Page 1

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities

Advocacy Western Isles is a member of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA).

Advocacy Western Isles is an independent advocacy service and provides independent advocacy support to individuals and groups, as required and as resources allow. The service covers the Western Isles. Priority is given to individuals with a mental health issue, learning disability, the elderly, children and young people and their parent/carer, people with alcohol or drug issues, cared for people and carers. Advocacy Western Isles is the primary provider for independent advocacy in the Scottish Children's Hearing System. Other client groups come under the generic service, when people or issues do not fall into any of the aforementioned project categories.

Advocacy Western Isles has a staff team of 10 (5 full-time and 5 part-time) comprising:

The staffing structure was revised by Trustees and the management team in October 2024 for review after a 6-month period. The aspiration is to create a staffing structure that provides robustness, resilience, flexibility, accountability and a genuine sense of being a team.

Of the ten members of staff, 7 (the General Manager, Business and Finance Manager, four Advocacy Workers and the Administrator) joined the organisation between 30 September and 14 October 2024. A significant amount of induction and training has taken place to ensure that new staff are familiar with the aims, objectives and purpose of Advocacy Western Isles, are well-grounded on the principles of independent advocacy and are supported to provide the highest quality service for clients. We have focussed on developing systems and relationships that are subject to ongoing quality assurance measures to provide us with:

The corporate identity of Advocacy Western Isles has been updated, with a new logo, new corporate colours and a new, bilingual strapline. Informational literature, providing a simplified, accessible summary of our services, has been produced, printed and distributed. In addition, we have expanded our office space to take up both floors of the rear wing of 16 Francis Street. As part of this process, we have reimagined and streamlined our use of the physical spaces available to us, to include a significant level of digitisation of paperwork.

We offer advocacy support in six distinct areas:

The Speak Out Group is a collective advocacy group for adults with learning difficulties. It is coordinated by one of our Advocacy Workers with support from the Admin Assistant, other members of staff and partner agencies. We have begun to develop a partnership with An Lanntair to provide creative mediums for members of the group to express themselves and explore different ways of communicating around particular issues that affect them. The Speak Out Group had been inactive for most of the first half of the reporting year, but has met monthly since November 2024.

Page 2

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

We are exploring the possibility of the Speak Out Group having more frequent meetings, in addition to expanding the offer to the Uists and Barra; although the group meets in Stornoway, some members join via Teams and we are keen to ensure that adults with learning difficulties right across the Western Isles can access be members of the group. In addition, we are exploring funding options which would enable us to run a similar group for children and young people with learning difficulties.

We used dyslexia-specific funding to procure two high-quality electronic reading pens. This equipment will enable service users with dyslexia or other similar challenges to independently access written materials, thus boosting their self-esteem and sense of independence.

We continue to be the Primary Provider for children and young people, and their families, going through the Children's Hearing System. Colleagues from Who Cares? Scotland offer a similar service for care-experienced children and young people, and we are developing working conditions to ensure that vulnerable children and young people in our community are accessing the most appropriate support to meet their needs.

As part of the funding we receive from the Outer Hebrides Alcohol and Drug Partnership, we undertake experiential interviews to provide qualitative data that is used to inform the Scottish Government's implementation of MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) Standards. We have one Advocacy Worker who has been fully trained to carry out these interviews, to gather the required information and to submit it for analysis.

The demand for Advocacy Western Isles' service is very high, and we have received constantly positive feedback from service users, funders and partner agencies, who have welcomed the spirit of collegiality and respect which we have embedded within our staff team.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

The organisations' aim is to maintain reserves for the rental cost/maintenance of the building and to ensure staffing remains at current levels and are protected.

Trustees note that the organisation's unrestricted reserves have decreased by £9,088, to £48,274. The continued strengthening of the financial position is an ongoing focus of the trustees.

Restricted funds

Transfers from Restricted Funds to Unrestricted Funds represent the reallocation of restricted costs in the year under review.

The Restricted Fund balance at the year end was comprised as follows:

Fund
Bank of Scotland
Children In Need
Learning Disabilities Project
A Dyslexic Life
Robertson Trust
£
13,876
26,899
45,836
620
6,836
94,067

Page 3

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

FUTURE PLANS

In 2025-26, we aim to:

All members of staff and Trustees have continued to give their best efforts to make Advocacy Western Isles a professional and competent organisation and will continue to do so thereby ensuring that individuals who use the service are satisfied with the help and assistance provided by Advocacy Western Isles.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, the SCIO Constitution.

The SCIO, which is a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, is operated under the rules of its Constitution which came into effect on 28 May 2013. The management of the SCIO is the responsibility of the Trustees who are appointed in terms of the Constitution.

Page 4

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Qualifications for Charity Trusteeship

Charity Trusteeship is open to;

Application for Charity Trusteeship

Any person, nominated individual or body who/which wishes to become a Charity Trustee must sign a written application for Charity Trusteeship, that application must be signed by an appropriately authorised officer of that body who will remain as the representative of that corporate body until such time as the corporate body informs the Board otherwise.

The application will then be considered by the Board at its next Board meeting.

The Board may, at its discretion, refuse to admit any person, nominated individual, or veto the proposed authorised officer acting as a representative to Charity Trusteeship.

The Board must notify each applicant promptly (in writing, which includes by e-mail) of its decision on whether or not to admit him/her/it to Charity Trusteeship.

Number of Charity Trustees

Organisational structure

The structure of the organisation consists of the charity trustees who are also the organisation's only members and comprise the organisation's board.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number

SC034774

Principal address

Rear Wing 16 Francis Street Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2XB

Page 5

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES Report of the Trustees ror tbe Year Ended 31 MArch 2025 Tj'iislees "ice Chair Treasurer S¢￿etary (appointed 26.9.24) (aptK)inted 26.9.24) (apwinted 31. 10.24) (resigned 29.1.25) (apSK)inted 31. 10.24) (resigtled 29.1.25) (resigned 26.9.24) (resigned 26.9.24) (resigned 3 1.10.24) Independent EIamiller Mann Judd GoTdoll Ltd Chartered Accountants 26 Lewis Street Stornoway Isle of Lev*iS HSI 2JF STATEMENf OF TRI STEES, RESPONSIBILTTIES The tn￿tee$ are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statenients in accordallce with applicable la￿, and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accountillg Practice). The law applicable to charities in Scotlan& the Charities and T[￿Stee Ini"estment (Scotland) Act 2(K15. Charities Accowits (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the proi"isions of the cliaritys constilulion. requires the trustees to prepare fu￿claI slatements for each flliallcial year M'hich 8ii-e a true and fair i.iew of tbe state of affairs of the charity and of the incomills resources and appb'cation of resources. includin8 the income and expendilure. of the ch￿lty for that period. In preparin8 those fllwicia] statements. the tr￿SteeS are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply thetn consistently. observe the n]ethods and principles in the Charity SORP: make judgements and estin]ates that are reasonable and pnjdent: prepare the financial ststements on the going concau basis uoless it is inapprop￿te to presuule that the charity wjll continue in business. The In￿te¢S are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose Teasofjable accurdcy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply the Charities and Tn￿tee InTresttnent (Scotland) Act 2(K)5. the Charities Accoullts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as ajnaided) and the proTrisions of the cknty's constitution. They are also respo￿lbIe for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for takins reasonable steps for the prei"ention and detection of fraud and other irre8ularities. ApproTr"ed by Order of the board of trustees oll 26 June 2025 and signed on its behalf by: Page 6

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Advocacy Western Isles

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 set out on pages eight to fifteen.

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 :

have not been met; or

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

Mann Judd Gordon Ltd Chartered Accountants 26 Lewis Street Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2JF

26 June 2025

Page 7

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
2
5,386
Charitable activities
3
Charitable activities
59,147
Total
64,533
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Charitable activities
86,048
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(21,515)
Transfers between funds
9
12,427
Net movement in funds
(9,088)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
57,362
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
48,274
Restricted
fund
£
21,348
252,720
274,068
263,780
10,288
(12,427)
(2,139)
96,206
94,067
31.3.25
Total
funds
£
26,734
311,867
338,601
349,828
(11,227)
-
(11,227)
153,568
142,341
31.3.24
Total
funds
£
1,749
281,778
283,527
252,827
30,700
-
30,700
122,868
153,568

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 8

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES Balance Sheet 31 Vlarch 2025 31.3.25 Total fi￿&S 31.3.24 Total fiwds Ullrestricted fi￿d Restricted fi￿d Notes CURREN[ ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank and in haud 18.694 75.373 18.694 l3l.Ol2 55.639 l62.541 55.639 94.067 149.706 162.541 CREDTTORS Amounts falling due within one yeaT (7.365) (7.365) (8.973) NET CURR￿￿ ASSETS 48.274 94.067 142.341 153.568 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CLRRENT 48.274 94.067 142.341 153.568 NET ASSETS 48.274 94.067 14?.341 153.568 Unrestricted fillm Restricted fimds 48.274 94.067 57.362 96.206 TOTAL FUNDS 142.341 153.568 The financial statements w￿¢ approi.ed by the Board of TnLStees and authorised for issue on 26 Juue 2025 and were Signed on its bel￿f by: The notes forni part of these financial statements Page 9

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounts preparation

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.

Until 31 March 2020 accounts were prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis. For the year ended 31 March 2021 the accounts have been prepared on an Fully Accrued basis because income exceeds £250,000.

The presentation currency of the accounts is Pound sterling (£).

The accounts are rounded to the nearest £1.

The charity has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland':

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.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

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.

continued...

Page 10

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Donations
1,000
-
Internal Management Recharge
4,386
21,348
5,386
21,348
3.
INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Activity
Grants
Charitable activities
Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:
NHS Western Isles
Children in Need
Inspiring Scotland SIRD
The Robertson Trust
Integrated Joint Board
Bank of Scotland
The National Lottery Community Fund
Scottish Government
Community Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund
Agnes Hunter Trust
Dyslexic Life
Bord na Gaidhlig
31.3.25
Total
funds
£
1,000
25,734
26,734
31.3.25
£
311,867
31.3.25
£
39,996
36,268
99,098
17,000
27,277
24,001
42,875
10,735
5,209
9,000
-
408
311,867
31.3.24
Total
funds
£
-
1,749
1,749
31.3.24
£
281,778
31.3.24
£
46,949
11,389
99,611
-
25,283
24,001
41,625
16,379
7,386
9,000
155
-
281,778

4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

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

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

continued...

Page 11

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

5. STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:


All staff
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
6.
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted
fund
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
1,750
Charitable activities
Charitable activities
56,745
Total
58,495
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Charitable activities
46,299
NET INCOME
12,196
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
45,166
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
57,362
7.
DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Other debtors
31.3.25

10
Restricted
fund
£
(1)
225,033
225,032
206,528
18,504
77,702
96,206
31.3.25

£
18,694
31.3.24
11
Total
funds
£
1,749
281,778
283,527
252,827
30,700
122,868
153,568
31.3.24
£
-

continued...

Page 12

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

8. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

31.3.25 31.3.24
£ £
Taxation and social security 5,805 -
Other creditors 1,560 8,973
7,365 8,973
9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
General Fund
TOTAL FUNDS
Net movement in funds, included in the above are
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
General Fund
TOTAL FUNDS
Comparatives for movement in funds
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
General Fund
TOTAL FUNDS
At 1.4.24
£
57,362
96,206
153,568
as follows:
Net
movement
in funds
£
(21,515)
10,288
(11,227)
Incoming
resources
£
64,533
274,068
338,601
At 1.4.23
£
45,166
77,702
122,868
Transfers
between
At
funds
31.3.25
£
£
12,427
48,274
(12,427)
94,067
-
142,341
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(86,048)
(21,515)
(263,780)
10,288
(349,828)
(11,227)
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.24
£
£
12,196
57,362
18,504
96,206
30,700
153,568

continued...

Page 13

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

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

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
General Fund
TOTAL FUNDS
Incoming
resources
£
58,495
225,032
283,527
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(46,299)
12,196
(206,528)
18,504
(252,827)
30,700

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
General Fund
TOTAL FUNDS
At 1.4.23
£
45,166
77,702
122,868
Net
movement
in funds
£
(9,319)
28,792
19,473
Transfers
between
funds
£
12,427
(12,427)
-
At
31.3.25
£
48,274
94,067
142,341

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
General Fund
TOTAL FUNDS
Incoming
resources
£
123,028
499,100
622,128
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(132,347)
(9,319)
(470,308)
28,792
(602,655)
19,473

continued...

Page 14

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

10. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

Transactions with trustees are recorded in note 4.

Page 15

ADVOCACY WESTERN ISLES

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities Detailed Statement of Financial Activities Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
31.3.25 31.3.24
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds funds
£ £ £ £
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Donations 1,000 - 1,000 -
Internal Management Recharge 4,386 21,348 25,734 1,749
5,386 21,348 26,734 1,749
Charitable activities
Grants 59,147 252,720 311,867 281,778
Total incoming resources 64,533 274,068 338,601 283,527
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
Wages and Pensions 69,790 179,969 249,759 208,636
Rent, Hire & Premises costs. 2,042 15,153 17,195 17,053
Insurance 200 1,392 1,592 1,507
Light and heat 562 974 1,536 1,030
Telephone 1,053 4,150 5,203 4,652
Postage and stationery 1,025 4,242 5,267 1,967
Travel & Subsistence 2,376 8,166 10,542 6,133
Sundries 1,456 684 2,140 2,876
Equipment 107 298 405 1,565
Photocopier 505 1,116 1,621 100
Advertising 386 1,189 1,575 310
Recruitment and training 1,205 3,505 4,710 3,182
Internal Management Recharge 2,807 22,927 25,734 1,750
IT Support 573 1,666 2,239 1,079
Repairs & Maintenance 469 1,665 2,134 -
Awareness Raising - - - 50
Faire Alarm 25 68 93 85
Memberships 86 370 456 -
84,667 247,534 332,201 251,975
Support costs
Governance costs
Accountancy and legal fees 610 1,368 1,978 852
Professional fees 771 14,878 15,649 -
1,381 16,246 17,627 852
Total resources expended 86,048 263,780 349,828 252,827
Net income (21,515) 10,288 (11,227) 30,700

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 16