2025-07-31-accounts

Mearns Community Radio Ltd Trustees’ Annual Report 1[st] August 2024 – 31[st] July 2025

Charity contact information

Mearns Community Radio

Scottish Charity Number: SC038508

Registered Address:

1[st] Floor, 5 Abercrombie Court, Prospect Road, Westhill AB32 6FE Email: [e-mail]

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Charity Trustees

Name all of your charity trustees for the period, and the date they left if they were not in post for the whole year

1. Carol Dalmon

2. Brian Davie

3. Peter Greig

4. Andrew Harding (appointed 06.10.24)

5. Paul Hayworth

6. Gavin Harper (resigned 23.03.25)

7. Lynne Kerr (resigned 06.10.24)

8. Ronald Kerr

9. Michael Smith

10. Maxine Smith (appointed 06.10.24)

11. Ross Sutherland

Objectives and activities

As a local community radio station we broadcast on FM, DAB and online 24 hours a day.

We aim to make a positive difference to the local community by:

• (i) giving people the chance to access training in radio and social skills and gain qualifications in radio production leading to higher levels of employability regardless of experience;

• (ii) providing an outlet for the local arts; whether they are groups, individuals or events in the fields of music, drama and the spoken word;

• (iii) promoting local businesses and charities, and the services they provide; and (iv) support local events such as galas and festivals by providing public address services.

All income generated is used to support our charitable activities (including the running costs of the radio station).

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Structure, governance and management

Type of governing document

The charity is a company limited by guarantee. Our governing document is our Articles of Association.

Trustee recruitment and appointment

Two trustees were appointed during the year, one of whom is also a presenter, while the other does not present but brings audio engineering skills to the organisation which has enabled us to undertake more challenging external community events.

Both have a background of serving on other boards/governing bodies.

Stonehaven Fireworks

Gourdon “Party in the Park”

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Achievements and performance

Highlights this year include:

Re-launch on DAB

We had to close our full-scale DAB service two years ago due to the high costs. Since then Small-scale DAB (SSDAB) has become available in the North Aberdeen/shire area. This is important to us because:

• government still plans to shut of FM broadcast band - although the initial date for the FM shut off has been pushed back from 2025 to 2027 (and may be delayed further to 2030 at the earliest) this presents us with a potential issue down the line and a need to have another broadcast outlet

• Listeners - there is now increased ability for current listeners and commuters to listen for longer and gives us the opportunity to welcome new presenters from within our SSDAB area

• It is hoped that a South Aberdeenshire service will follow (which is more within our traditional area).

New Presenters

We have five new presenters on air with more in the pipeline working through our training programme and mentorship from our existing presenters.

Events

• We have supported over 35 community and private events over the past year and income has increased from £5,500 to £8,500 from 2023/24 year

• we purchased a number of items of new equipment which allows us to carry out two events professionally on the same day at the same time, this was mostly due to funding we secured from Scott James and associates and Port Of Aberdeen.

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Financial review

Financially we have had a successful year, having moved from a small loss in 2023-24 to a surplus of £7,755 this year:

	2024-25	2023-24
Total Income	27,240	23,496
Total Expenditure	19,485	23,790
Surplus(deficit)	7,755	(294)

This has enabled us to increase our reserves from £1,980 to £9,735.

Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

We aim to hold sufficient reserves to cover operational costs for six to nine months – around £8,000 to £10,000. Our income is primarily from three sources (members’ facility fees, events and radio advertising). Experience from the COVID-19 period demonstrated that events and advertising revenue can quickly disappear, and is also seasonal.

Reserves also allows us to invest in equipment, although our strategy is always to seek grant funding where possible to support this.

Edzell Gala Wuka event, Stonehaven Pool

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Future plans

Our objectives for the coming year are:

Enhance Events Capability

• strengthen our ability to deliver purpose-driven events that expand our community reach, support paid and repeat bookings, and enable live broadcast potential

• includes replacing our petrol generator with rechargeable battery units and wireless audio links.

OFCOM Key Commitments

• further develop training programme and CPD for presenters

• feature more Aberdeen voices and increase opportunities for live broadcasts and interviews with local musicians and community representatives

• collaborate with business, charities, promoters, and community groups to broaden engagement

• promote presence on SSDAB.

Develop Advertising and Sponsorship Strategy

• Develop a structured, measurable, and targeted approach to advertising and sponsorship.

Knowledge Sharing and Communication

• Build a unified, accessible internal information and communication system based around the Microsoft 365 platform and Teams.

Location Strategy – Stonehaven Focus

• Explore the feasibility of opening a second studio in Stonehaven. This would enhance opportunities for local musician interviews, community drop-ins, and improved regional inclusion within the broadcast area.

Improve FM coverage around Catterline, Barras, Gourdon and Arbuthnott

• Replace the Inverbervie transmitter with a higher power unit, and explore relocation of it to Bervie Brow.

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Declaration

Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:

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Print name Designation

Date

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