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2024-09-30-accounts

Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors) Scottish Charity No SC043649 Annual Report and Financial Statements

For the period ended 30 September 2024

Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 30 September 2024

Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors) came into being in September 2012 and the organisation was first registered with SCIO in Dec 2012.

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements and the independent examiner’s report for the period ended 30 September 2024.

Reference & Administrative Information

Charity Name

Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors)

Charity No

SC043649

Structure, Governance & Management

Constitution

The charity is an incorporated body having charitable status under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. It is governed by its constitution which was adopted in November 2012. The organisation was granted charitable status by OSCR on 13 December 2012.

Appointment of Trustees

The management committee, which normally meets on a monthly basis, are the charity’s trustees. Membership of the management committee is open to all members of Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors), unless they are an employee of Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors) or they are disqualified from being a trustee under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting which is normally held in January / February each year. Under the constitution there must be a minimum of four and not more than nine elected trustees.

Management

The trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and governance of the organisation, whilst day to day coordination of activities is delegated to the Street Pastors Co-ordinator, who is a paid member of staff. The Coordinator attends the trustee meetings to discuss progress and development.

The trustees are particularly aware of their responsibilities for Health and Safety. In addition to the rigorous training courses which all members must attend before taking part in Street Pastor activities, all staff and volunteers have disclosures under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme

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Objectives and Activities

Charitable Purposes

The organisation’s purposes are:

Activities

Our activities mainly involve being on the streets of Elgin on week-end nights to provide a caring and listening attitude to those attending pubs, clubs and other activities and to provide a helping hand where appropriate to ensure that people get safely home. These activities can extend to other venues at other times of the week. We also carry out work at Elgin High School and Forres Academy as part of the development of School Pastors in partnership with both schools.

Achievements and Performance

2024 has once again been a challenging year, with both Street Pastors in Elgin, and the School Pastors initiatives in Elgin and Forres needing to recruit more volunteers. However, toward the end of the year, we saw a number of new recruits start their training to become street and school pastors. As in 2023 we were unable to carry out street pastor patrols every Saturday, however 2024 saw an increase in the amount of street pastor patrols carried out. This was due to the amount of our volunteers being willing to carry out more than one patrol per month, which is very much appreciated. An additional reason for the increase was us beginning Friday patrols to engage with young people. This was instigated by a request from the Moray Crime and Anti Social Behaviour Project Steering Group to help out with a youth engagement exercise in April, using our safe zone vehicle. It was so successful that we continued doing Friday evening patrols, once and sometimes twice a month. As reported in previous years, we do not do Saturday patrols in January as both ourselves, and our partners Police Scotland agreed there was little need for us as the streets are so quiet at that time. However, from February onwards we were able to carry out night-time patrols on at least three Saturdays per month, when we had enough available volunteers. During 2024 we spent 708 hours on patrol, which is 75 less hours than we managed in 2023.

During our patrols in 2024, street pastors engaged in conversation with 2,580 people and supported 31 vulnerable people. Practical help given during the limited number of patrols involved giving out 95 pairs of flipflops, 83 bottles of water or hot drinks, 941 lollipops, and 7 foil blankets all of which have decreased from the numbers achieved in 2023. People do seem to be acting more responsibly, which may explain why the numbers have gone down. Helping to make the streets of Elgin safer, we have picked or swept up 213 glass bottles/glasses and picked up 216 cans. The numbers of glass bottles/glasses and cans picked up have also decreased greatly, probably also due to people acting more responsibly. We also handed out 13 Spikeys/Stoptopps, which are placed on the tops of bottles, and over glass tumblers to prevent the spiking of drinks. We have continued to

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develop a working relationship with Moray Rape Crisis, and the Violence Against Women and Girls partnership and inform them of any such problems we encounter during our patrols. We supported both groups by providing stewards and a tabletop display for their Reclaim the Night event and march, which was held in November. We also assisted the Elgin Community Resource Group (ECRG) in setting up an emergency plan for Elgin.

We have continued to be well received on the streets of Elgin by members of the public, who still sought us out for a chat or help. We received spontaneous thanks on 312 occasions for being present on the streets. Partnership working with other agencies such as door staff, venue managers, and taxi marshals has continued, and we are still well received whenever we have a chance of a conversation. We are still communicating with police who are keen to see us back on patrol every weekend, as soon as the circumstances warrant it, to provide the best support to those who become vulnerable whilst on a night out in Elgin. We acknowledge and are very grateful for the continued full support and endorsement of The Moray Council and the Moray area of Police Scotland who have been very understanding of the difficulties we have faced with recruitment following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our silver Fiat Ducato Auto Trail camper van has been well used this year as a safe zone and youth engagement hub. It was of particular help on the weekend before Christmas. Although the safe zone has resulted in additional costs, due to vehicle insurance, maintenance, and fuel costs, we have found it to be a valuable resource, and expect it to be well used by the charity in years to come. We are very thankful for the financial backing we received during the year from our friends, members of the one-in-100 club, supporting churches and from businesses and organisations. However, 2024 has been a very challenging year financially, and like many other charities we have found grants difficult to come by. One of our team leaders, had therefore volunteered as a fundraiser to hopefully increase the amount of money we receive from funders.

In February we received £600.00 from the Moray Communities Health and Wellbeing fund to carry out dealing with trauma training for our volunteers. This was carried out in November and 26 people have received such training, which will be of great benefit, and we are thankful for the funding which enabled us to carry it out. The last year has been one of faithful service as Elgin School Pastors have once again sought to serve the Elgin High School community, where our presence within the school is encouraged, expected and valued. Pupils readily engage with School Pastors and staff while the school’s Senior Leadership Team routinely share their appreciation for ESP’s ongoing work and support.

Our primary involvement within school life at Elgin High comes through our weekly patrols and in support of the Breakfast Club. Both activities provide opportunities to engage with pupils and staff as well as members of the neighbouring community. On patrol, the challenge is always to create and prompt conversations in amongst the busyness of lunchtime. Such Interactions can be fleeting, but invariably welcomed. Over the last year, a game-changer in this endeavour has been the deployment of the first Elgin School Pastor dog. When you patrol with a golden retriever it seems no-one is reluctant or too busy to speak. Inevitably, we have been inundated with pupils and staff who want to say hello to the dog. They often linger and usually talk at length about all manner of things. By nature, the Breakfast Club offers time and space for more protracted conversations and for relationships to develop and broaden through regular contact. We are grateful for our Chair continued commitment and support of the club. His participation repeatedly leads to opportunities to get involved with other events within school life, further enhancing the School Pastor presence and profile.

While the team remains small in number with eight School Pastors on regular patrol over the year, the work continues to grow. Following a number of successful training events we have two new School Pastor colleagues, and are delighted to welcome Leslie Herron and Angela Forsyth both from River Church, Elgin onto the team. Both bring their invaluable experience and passion for ministry into school pastor work, and it’s great to have them on board. We also appreciate the ongoing interest and support of our numerous prayer partners.

Forres School Pastors have maintained patrols throughout the year, with two being at lunch times on Mondays and Thursdays each week. During fine weather we are usually outside, especially during the Autumn term when the 1st years are not allowed to leave the premises. During the winter and spring term we tend to be in the library, especially on a Monday. The lady who runs the library is always grateful for more adult presence. We play games, and chat with the students who are very welcoming. We have also continued to run breakfast club on Monday through to Thursday. The academy themselves run it on a Friday when the sixth form have been helping. At a recent meeting with the academy, it was arranged that they will also help the school pastors. We

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are currently trying to get funding to run the breakfast club, and the academy has informed us that the parent council are interested in providing some funding. We are also going to approach Tesco supermarket to see if we can be supported through their blue disc charity scheme. Another local supermarket Lidl has been good at providing occasional donations.

Sadly one of our volunteers moved away at the end of the summer term. However, we have a new volunteer who has just joined and is going out at lunchtimes and breakfast club accompanied to gain experience. Our coordinator who had been instrumental in setting up school pastors in Forres has stepped down, but continues to volunteer. has taken on the role as of the beginning of the Autumn term 2024. We currently have eight fully trained School Pastors in Forres, and all of them are available for lunch time patrols. We expect another one to be fully trained and available during March. Six of the volunteers continue to run the breakfast club, and one more will be available, after their training is completed.

There is no doubt that the work and ministry of School Pastors is vitally important to both schools. We are welcomed and wanted, and so prayerfully hope that in the year ahead, the Lord will continue to use and guide us as we seek to serve and support the community in both Elgin High School and Forres Academy. Elgin has two response pastors who remain ready willing and able to help although praise God we have not been required for any national emergencies. Our coordinator stood down as the national coordinator for response pastors in the Autumn.

In relation to prayer, we are still using Zoom to hold our prayer meetings which are held from 7.00pm to 8.00pm on the last Tuesday of the month and it is encouraging to see those who attend still full of enthusiasm and gratitude for answered prayer. We would love to see even more people join us. Our weekly Prayer Matters newssheet is now being sent out monthly. However, urgent prayer requests are still priority and go out as soon as they are requested. Our prayer coordinator has attended a few Ascension Trust prayer gatherings online and participated in some local Moray 24/7 prayer rooms as a representative of Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors). We would like to thank everyone involved with our prayer outreach, for their continued support as they pray for street pastors, school pastors, providing assistance as the Lord leads, so we can bring His presence into each of our initiatives, through caring, listening and helping.

Despite team numbers fluctuating due to ill health and personal circumstances and being unable to patrol every Saturday, Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors) ended 2024 with twelve Street Pastors on regular patrol, one inactive for personal reasons, and three unable to patrol for health reasons. However, we also have a further five new recruits who have started training and one other applicant still to be interviewed. Elgin School Pastors had eight School Pastors, and Forres School Pastors also had eight on regular patrols.

Financial Review

Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors) are very grateful to the many churches, church organisations and individuals who regularly support their work with regular giving commitments and significant efforts at fund-raising also. Significant funding has been received as grant funding which has all been received for specific purposes. Other income sources are from donations and the collection boxes in various shops and buildings throughout Elgin. Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors) are very appreciative of continued support from all people who donate, whether regularly or through the collection boxes. Expenditure, as always, has been controlled tightly during the year, and unrestricted reserves have only been slightly depleted.

The main expenditure costs relate to salary of the Co-ordinator and all the day to day operational costs relating to the running of the charitable activity. All volunteers have uniforms and therefore are easily visible and recognisable. Other supplies are provided to help people in difficulties e.g. flip flops, bottles of water.

Receipts for the period were £11,500 (2022-23 - £57,225), with the majority in 2022-23 being from Grant funding of £45,988 specifically to assist the purchase of our Safezone vehicle, which is designated as restricted funds. The majority of income in 2023-24 was unrestricted and is made up of donations and fund raising activities.

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Payrnents for the period amounted to £17,08412022-23 E71,3601. wrth the majortty of fijnds in 2022-23 used for the Safeione vehicle. The maln expendtture related to employment tosts1£12.3021 and running costs of the organisation1£2.3581. Thls leaves a re5erye onied lorward at 30 September 2024 of £1,63712023- £7,2211, all unrestricted. Reserves Pollcy Moray Street & School Pastors 1p￿e￿oU5￿ Elw-n Street Pastors) V*))uld alm to keep a reserve figure relatlng to three months operational artivity at all times. The turrerit reserves of £1,637 are not within this rangè. Durln8 the challengin8 tlmes over the last three years the resèrves of the organisation have frdllen sharply. Thls is an issue bein8 taken forward by the Management Team. who are looking for support finance from Aseenslon Trust and new sources of Brant Intome. Approvod by the Trustees on 5 February 2025 and s18ned on thelr behalf by

Independent Examinerfs Report For the Year Ended 30 September 2024 Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Moray Street & School Pastors I report on the financial statements of the charity for the period ended 30 September 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 10. Respective responslbllltles of Trustees and Examlner The charit(s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotlandl Act 20051"the 2005 Act"} and the Charities Accounts (Scotlandl Regulations 2(KJ6 {as amended) I'the 2006 Regulations'l. The charity's trustees conslder that the audit requirement of Regulatlon Iolllldl of the 2006 Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as requlred under section1441{l}Icl of the 2005 Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attentlon. Basls of Independent Examlnerf5 Statement My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Regulation5. An examination includes a review of the accountin8 record5 kept by the charity and comparison of the accounts presented with those records, It also includes consideration of any unusual items or dlsclosures in the accounts and seeks explanatlons from the trustees concernln8 any such matter5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audlt and, consequently, I do not express an audit opinlon on the view glven by the accounts. Independent Examlnerfs Staternent In connection wlth my examination, no matter has Come to my attention:. l. which gives me reasonable cause to belleve that, In any materlal respect, the requirement5:_ to keep accountin8 records in accordance with sertion 44{1)lal of the 2005 Att and Re8ulation 4 of the 2006 Regulation5, and to prepare accounts whlch accord wlth the accountln8 records and comply wlth Regulation 9 of the 2006 Regulatlons 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. 20 February 2025 Page 6

Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors) Statement of Receipts and Payments - for the period ended 30 September 2024

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Note Funds Funds 2023-24 2022-23
Receipts £ £ £ £
Voluntary receipts
Donations and Gift Aid 9957 0 9957 9762
Grants 4 0 600 600 45988
Fund Raising 943 943 1475
Bank Interest 0 0 0
Receipts from Charitable Activities
Uniform payments 0 0 0
Other receipts 0 0
Total Receipts 10900 600 11500 57225
Payments
Cost of fund raising
Cost of Charitable Activities 5 13454 1206 14660 61532
Grants and Donations 6 270 270 320
Governance costs 7 2154 0 2154 9508
Purchase of Equipment 0 0 0
Total Payments 15878 1206 17084 71360
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year -4978 -606 -5584 -14135
Transfer between funds
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year -4978 -606 -5584 -14135

The Notes on pages 9 & 10 form an integral part of these accounts

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Elgln Street Pastors Statement of 8alances- •5 at 30 September 2024 Unrestricted Restritted Funds Funds Fund5 Reconclllatk>n Total 2023-24 Totsl 2022-23 Cash at Bank & in hand - Sept 2023 Surplus/lDeficitl for the year 6.615 14,9781 7,221 15.5841 21,356 114,1351 1606) Cashat Bank & In Hand- 30Sept2024 1.637 1.637 7,221 Bank & Cash 84lJnces Bank Current Account- 30 Sept 2024 Cash In hand- 30 Sept 2024 Income received late- 30 Sep 24 Payments not yet made- 30 Sept 2024 1,438 66 1,165 I1￿32) 5,817 34 1,557 1187) Total Bank & Cash Balances 1,637 7,221 Other A$5ets IUnre5tr1rted Fund) Glft Ald accrued on donatlons at year end The Notes on pages 9 & 10 form an integral part of these accounts roved Chair Treaswer Page 8

Moray Street & School Pastors (previously Elgin Street Pastors) Notes to the Accounts - for the period ended 30 September 2024

1 Basis of Accounting

These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities & Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).

Restricted funds may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purposes. During the year, Elgin Street Pastors received no restricted funds

3 Related Party Transactions

No remuneration was paid to the trustees or to any connected persons during the year. Elgin Street Pastors, similar to other Street Pastor organisations in Scotland, is governed by Ascension Trust (Scotland) to whom license fees are payable. The amount paid in this financial period amounted to £2,154 (2022-23 - £9,508)

4 Grants Received

Moray Communities
Mental Health and Wellbeing
TSI Moray - Just Transition
Participatory Budget Fund

Total
5 Cost of Charitable Activities
Salaries and National Insurance
Safe Zone Vehicle
Pastors Uniforms
Pastor supplies
Postage and Stationery
Telephone costs
Miscellaneous
Total		 Unrestricted Restricted
Total
Total
Funds £
Funds £
2023-24
2022-23
600
600
45,988
_
0
600 600
45,988
Unrestricted Restricted
Total
Total
Funds £
Funds £
2023-24 2022-23
11,146
1,156
12,302
11,814
1,306
1,306
47,034
0
0
1,413
376
376
535
292
292
164
224
50
274
236
110
110
336
_
13,454
1,206
14,660
61,532
11,146
1,306
0
376
292
224
110
_
13,454

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6 Grants and Donations made
Harvest Ministries Elgin
Oasis
Total		 Total
Total
2023-24
2022-23
220
220
50
100
320
320

7 Governance Costs

License fees are payable to Ascension Trust (Scotland). During the period of these accounts £2,154 has been paid for license fees (2022-23 £9,508).

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