Scottish Charity Number SC038141
POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Church information | 1 |
| Report of the Trustees | 2 - 4 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 5 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 6 |
| Statement of Balances | 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8 - 9 |
POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
CHURCH INFORMATION
TRUSTEES
A list of the active trustees during 2024 is provided in the Trustees Report on page 3.
CHURCH ADDRESSES Seafront, Aultbea Riverside, Poolewe
CLERK
TREASURER
BANKERS Bank of Scotland Gairloch IV21 2BE
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
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POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
TRUSTEES REPORT
The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the church for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Status of Charity and Governing Document
Poolewe and Aultbea Free Church of Scotland is established by Constitution and registered as Scottish Charity Number SC038141.
Aims and Affiliation
The Free Church of Scotland currently has around 100 congregations in Scotland as well as two in London and five in North America plus sister churches founded by mission work in India, Peru and South Africa. The church also has a full time degree awarding college in the heart of Edinburgh for the training of ministers and other Christian workers and sustains an extensive missionary programme relative to the size of the Church.
Dating from 1843, but with its roots in the Reformation, the Church owes its distinctive title to its historic struggle to remain 'free' from State interference in its internal affairs. It has close and active relations with many Reformed churches of Jesus Christ throughout the world and stands in the tradition which accepts the Bible in its entirety as the Word of God and therefore derives its forms of teaching, worship, ministry and government from it. The main emphasis of our worship is the preaching of the Gospel, the good news of a free and sovereign salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
The Free Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian church adhering in its worship and doctrine to the position of the Church of Scotland at the Reformation. There is an explanatory document that sets out the origins of the church and gives the historical background to the Church coming into being in 1843 as well as listing the documents that are embodied in its constitution.
Poolewe and Aultbea Free Church of Scotland is a congregation of the national Free Church of Scotland working towards the common aims set out above. The congregation is authorised to have a minister paid from the central funds of the Church.
The church buildings and minister's manse are the property of the congregation and held in trust by locally elected trustees.
Trustees and Office Bearers
The congregation is governed and administered by elected office bearers (all volunteers) and its minister. The Kirk Session, being the minister and elected elders, has responsibility for spiritual oversight, whilst the Deacons' Court, composed of Kirk Session members plus
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POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
TRUSTEES REPORT (continued)
elected deacons, oversees the financial and property matters. Under Charity Law, the Deacons' Court are deemed to be the trustees of the congregation as those with responsibility for the day to day management and control. This is distinct from the role of property (congregational) trustees who are responsible only for holding property in trust. The members of the Deacon's Court (the Trustees) who served during the year were as follows:
Elders -
Deacons - Minister -
Appointment of Charity Trustees
The Kirk Session exercises its discretion in determining the most appropriate method of electing new trustees (elders and deacons). Any election process must involve the communicant membership of the congregation. There is no fixed term for trusteeship. Prior to their appointment new trustees would have served the Church for some time in various roles and would be familiar with the Church's values, aims and objectives as well as its day to day operations. As part of their induction programme, new trustees are required to understand their statutory responsibilities as well as the responsibilities of their office within the congregation as elders or deacons.
Activities
The principal activities of the congregation are the conducting of public worship on the Lord's Day, midweek meetings, youth fellowship and regular visits to and conducting of worship in the Isle View Nursing Home, Bible studies and other meetings of fellowship and the running of a community youth club.
Results for the year
There was a deficit for the year of £46,940 (2023 Surplus, £42,694) and at the year end the church held funds amounting to £0,663 (2023, £67,603). The deficit for this year arises mainly from paying the costs of the Poolewe Church refurbishment. The operating deficit for the year was £3,392.
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POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
TRUSTEES REPORT (continued)
Reserves
The trustees are satisfied with the level of reserves retained by the charity.
On behalf of the Trustees
Trustee
Dated
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POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 9.
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. The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10 (1) (a) (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 examiner’s statement
My examination is 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 seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to our attention
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, 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
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
| General | Fabric | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fund | Fund | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| RECEIPTS | |||||
| Offerings and donations | 29,575 | 35,820 | 65,395 | 69,840 | |
| Tax recoverable | 19,636 | - | 19,636 | 13,175 | |
| Other income | 2 | 31,187 | 17,816 | 49,003 | 62,979 |
| Total receipts | 80,398 | 53,636 | 134,034 | 145,812 | |
| PAYMENTS | |||||
| Relating to charitable activities | |||||
| Remittances to Central Funds | 44,359 | - | 44,359 | 42,026 | |
| Pulpit supply & communion expenses | 1,730 | - | 1,730 | 1,350 | |
| Minister's expenses | 1,838 | 878 | 2,716 | 3,628 | |
| Insurance and Council Tax | 2,675 | 6,852 | 9,527 | 9,201 | |
| Heat and Light | 13,963 | 816 | 14,779 | 10,396 | |
| Repairs and renewals | 3 | - | 29,510 | 29,510 | 5,725 |
| Donations | 916 | - | 916 | 1,999 | |
| Presbytery Dues | 1,560 | - | 1,560 | 840 | |
| Sundry expenses | 4 | 22,608 | 29,587 | 52,195 | 25,711 |
| Equipment | - | 23,682 | 23,682 | 1,892 | |
| Independent Examiner's fee | - | - | - | 350 | |
| Total payments | 89,649 | 91,325 | 180,974 | 103,118 | |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for year | (9,251) | (37,689) | (46,940) | 42,694 | |
| Transfers between Funds | 12,906 | (12,906) | - | - | |
| Net movement in funds | 3,655 | (50,595) | (46,940) | 42,694 | |
| Opening balance | 4.560 | 63,043 | 67,603 | 24,909 | |
| Closing balance | 8,215 | 12,448 | 20,663 | 67,603 |
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POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
STATEMENT OF BALANCES
| 2024 |
2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Bank and cash in hand | ||
| Opening balance | 42,603 | 24,909 |
| Movement in year | (21,940) | 17,694 |
| Closing balance | 20,663 | 42,603 |
| Loan (Interest free, repaid on 23 September 2024) | - | 25,000 |
| Total of monetary assets held | 20,663 | 67,603 |
| Represented by | ||
| Reserves | ||
| General funds | 8,215 | 4,560 |
| Fabric fund | 12,448 | 63,043 |
| 20,663 | 67,603 | |
| Approved by the Trustees on | 2025 | |
| and signed on their behalf by |
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POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1 Basis of Preparation and assessment of going concern
The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014, the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Trust’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Funds
The following definitions apply to the funds of the charity:
The Unrestricted General Fund comprises all voluntary income including grants and legacies that have been received for the objects of the church without further specified purpose and are available as General Funds.
Restricted Funds (the Fabric Fund) comprise income which has been received for the objects of the church and specified for a restricted purpose within these objects.
2 Analysis of other income
3
| Analysis of other income | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Grant for Family & Youth worker | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Family & youth worker donations | 4,632 | 5,631 |
| Women for Mission | - | - |
| Minibus hires | 596 | 898 |
| Loan received | - | 25,000 |
| Insurance claim refund | 2,588 | - |
| Property refurbishment donations | 31,187 | 21,450 |
| 49,003 | 62,979 | |
| Analysis of repairs | ||
| 2024 |
2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Church | - | 5,595 |
| Manse | 3,507 | 130 |
| Poolewe church refurbishment | 26,003 | - |
| 29,510 | 5,725 |
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POOLEWE AND AULTBEA FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
4 Analysis of sundry expenses
| nalysis of sundry expenses | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Books and magazines | 491 | 853 |
| Family & youth worker | 15,498 | 17,647 |
| Grass cutting | 788 | 615 |
| Website hosting | 583 | 90 |
| Sunday School and Holiday Club | 1,340 | 425 |
| Minibus running costs | 2,687 | 2,385 |
| Office expenses | 4,235 | 3,615 |
| Subscriptions | 21 | 21 |
| Cakes and meals | 440 | 60 |
| Hall rent | 1,062 | - |
| Loan repayment | 25,050 | - |
| 52,195 | 25,711 |
5 Trustee's remuneration and expenses
None of the trustees received either remuneration or expenses in their role as trustees during either this or the previous year. The minister was paid from the Free Church of Scotland central funds for his work as a minister and was reimbursed by the congregation for expenses incurred in that role.
6 Movement in funds
| ovement in funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening | Incoming | Resources | Movements | Closing | |
| balance | resource | expended | between | balance | |
| funds | |||||
| All figures in £'s | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General fund | 4,560 | 80,398 | (89,649) | 12,906 | 8,215 |
| Restricted funds | |||||
| Fabric fund | 63,043 | 53,636 | (91,325) | (12,906) | 12,488 |
| Total funds | 67,603 | 134,034 | (180,974) | - | 20,663 |
The General Fund encompasses all income and expenditure relating to the primary activities of the church other than those for which funding is restricted. The Fabric Fund, which is a restricted fund, represents income and expenditure related to the fabric of the buildings and other assets of the congregation.
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