2025-12-31-accounts

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The Ross County Foundation Scottish Charity No SC045500 Annual Report & Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Trustees’ Annual Report

For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements and the independent examiner’s report for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Reference & Administrative Information

Charity Name

The Ross County Foundation

Charity No

SC045500

Address

Global Energy Stadium, Victoria Park, Dingwall, Ross-shire, IV15 9QZ

Current Trustees

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Other Trustees who served during the year

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Structure Governance & Management

Constitution

The Charity is Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation and was granted charitable status by OSCR on 18 March 2015.

Appointment of Trustees

The management committee, are the charity’s trustees. Membership of the management committee is

Any person, nominated individual or body who/which wishes to become a Charity Trustee must sign a written application for Charity Trusteeship; and for a corporate body, 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 corporate body, or veto the proposed authorised officer acting as a representative of a corporate body, 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.

Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting. The gap between one AGM and the next must be no longer than 15 months. Under the constitution, there must be a minimum of three and not more than 12 elected trustees.

Management

The trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and governance of the Foundation.

The trustees are particularly aware of their responsibilities for Health and Safety, especially for the children. In addition to comprehensive insurance, our staff and volunteers all have disclosures under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.

Objectives & Activities

Charitable purposes

All work undertaken by or on behalf of the Trust will aim at addressing one or more of the following:

1.The advancement of public participation in sport, primarily in The Highlands and Islands through the promotion, alone or in conjunction with others, of participation in football and other sporting activities and acting as advisors in relation to the development of football and other sporting activities.

The provision of recreational facilities, or the organisation of recreational activities, with the object of improving conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities or activities are primarily intended.
The advancement of health primarily in The Highlands and Islands by the promotion, alone or in conjunction with others, of the benefits of physical activity and provision of assistance in relation to sports-related and healthy lifestyle matters.

4.The advancement of community development primarily in The Highlands and Islands by promoting alone or in conjunction with others, participation in football clubs and other sports clubs, literacy, numeracy, employment skills, life skills, social inclusion, and social activities to all sections of the community.

5.The promotion of equality and diversity by encouraging participation and integration into a range of inclusive and accessible programmes which strive to bring together all sections of the community, regardless of race, religion or creed, age, gender, sexuality or physical ability.

The advancement of education by the promotion, alone or in conjunction with others, of programmes and activities which have educational value.
The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.

Activities

The activities undertaken to achieve the Foundation’s charitable purposes will be progressed under the following identifiable pillars:

Positive Activity – Initiatives which increase the number and variety of people actively involved in any sport or other constructive recreational activity.

Health & Wellbeing – Activities which promote improved mental and physical health & fitness.

Equality & Inclusion – Initiatives designed to address inequalities across communities, and to access and provide opportunities to those persons or groups who may be ‘excluded’ for whatever reason.

Good Citizenship – Initiatives designed to provide interesting and varied diversionary activities, and those which increase positive behaviours and social responsibility.

Learning – Initiatives which promote the value of lifelong learning and personal development via academic, vocational and experiential opportunities.

Achievements & Performance

This reporting period 2024/25, has seen a growth in delivery in all areas of Foundation work. We delivered programmes in over 23 Primary schools and 10 Secondary Schools received delivery of the Personal Development Project. During the school holiday periods, holiday programmes were delivered in Dingwall, Stornoway, Orkney, Wick, Thurso, Portree, Ullapool, Gairloch, Fort William and Nairn. In addition, soccer centres were delivered in Dingwall and Inverness and the ever popular mini kickers (pre school) held in Dingwall and Smithton. Weekly football sessions were also delivered to the local Additional Support Needs school. The Foundation organised the “Festive Friends” in conjunction with the SPFL Trust. This provided a 3 course Christmas dinner and gift to 25 elderly or vulnerable members of the community at the football stadium. In addition, 25 Christmas hampers were delivered to selected members of the community.

A partnership between Seaforth Walking Football and The Ross County Foundation was established and continues to be well supported. This provides a social activity aimed at male and females aged over 50yrs.

A Grant received this year from The Robertsons Trust of £10,000, supported the delivery of the Personal Development Project to the secondary schools.

Following the successful Extra Time programme application made to the SFA / Scottish Government to run the Extra Time programme, delivery of a daily breakfast club and after school club was run throughout the reporting period. The criteria targeted a primary school in Alness where food poverty, different cultures, non-engagement with the school and social depravation is evident. The grant amounted to £55,384.

The Foundation worked closely with and supported our charity partners, Mikeysline, St Clements School, The Archie Foundation, Highland Hospice and CHAS. A number of other local charities were supported in various ways throughout the reporting period. Overall the Foundation has had its most successful year since it was established in 2015.

Our main source of income continues to be grants received from funding bodies and donations.

Reserves Policy

The Foundation has reserves of £4,216. The organisation responds to expenditure needs as and when they arise and frequent committee meetings ensures that reserves are always available and when necessary fundraising activity will take place.

Ross County Football Club have made the difficult decision to close down The Ross County Foundation. The club believes that it will be able to deliver what is delivered by the charity under the banner of “County In The Community”. The structure of the club is such that it will be in a stronger position if everything it does comes under one strong brand. A massive thank you must be given to all who have contributed to The Ross County Foundation over the years. Their input and contributions, large or small have helped so many people and put smiles on lots of faces. THANK YOU on behalf of Ross County Football Club.

Approved by the trustees on!3 05 /%*%nd signed on their behalf by:

Independent Examiner’s Report

For the Year Ended 31 March 25

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Ross County Foundation

I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 8 to 10.

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 (“the 2005 Act”) and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) (“the 2006 Regulations”). The charity’s trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(d) of the 2006 Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section (44)(1)(c) of the 2005 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 2006 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, 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:

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 Regulations, and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 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.

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Date: 11[th] June 2025

Statement of Receipts and Payments – For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Receipts Donations Grants Other Payments Cost of Charitable Activities Grants & Donations Governance Costs Total Payments Surplus/(Deficit) for the year Transfers between funds Surplus/(Deficit) for the year			Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 4,837 4,837 1,988 71,384 71,384 35,787 - - - - 76,221 76,221 37,775 98,379 98,379 20,791 700 700 - 50 50 50 99,129 99,129 20,841 (22,908) (22,908) 16,934 - (22,908) (22,908) 16,934

Funds Reconciliation	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
	Funds	Funds	2025	2024
Cash at Bank & In Hand - 31/3/2024	27,124		27,124	10,190
Surplus/(Deficit) for year	(22,908)		(22,908)	16,934
Cash atBank& In Hand -31/3/2025	4,216		4,216	27,124
Bank & Cash Balances
Bank CurrentAccount			4,216	27,124
			4,216	27,124

Approved by the trustees on /3 /05 / 225 and signed on their behalf by:-

Notes to the Accounts – For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1 Basis of Accounting

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

2 Nature and purpose of funds

Unrestricted funds are those that may be used at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity.

3 Related Party Transactions

No other remuneration was paid to the trustees or to any connected persons during the year (2023: Nil).

4. Grants Received Highland Council The Robertson Trust Scottish Football Association	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2025 Total 2024
	6,000 10,000 55,384 6,000 10,000 55,384 787 10,000 25,000
	71,384 71,384 35,787

5. Cost of Charitable Activities Project Costs Membership IT Advertising Hospitality Travel & Accommodation SFA Courses Other	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2025 Total 2024
	96,608 19 204 396 1,152 - - - 96,608 19 204 396 1,152 - - - 18,491 1,496 204 360 - 105 120 15
	98,379 98,379 20,791

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