**STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** ## **Charity Registration No: SC046698** **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 15 AUGUST 2024** **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** |CONTENTS|PAGE| |---|---| |Trustees’ Annual Report|1-5| |Independent Examiner’s Report|6| |Statement of Receipts and Payments|7| |Statement of Balances|8| |Notes to the Financial Statements|9-11| **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 15[TH] AUGUST 2024** The Trustees present their annual report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the period ended 15 August 2024. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS **Registered Charity Name** Strathnairn Music Initiative **Charity Registration Number** SC046698 Bankers The Royal Bank of Scotland, Inverness Independent Examiner Page 1 **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 15[TH] AUGUST 2024** ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The Charity is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), registered on 8[th] July 2016. It is a two-tier charity as described in its constitution. All participants, taking part in the charity activities automatically become Members of the Charity, from their enrolment date until they decide to cease their activities. In the case of participants under the age of 16, a responsible adult is instead designated the Member of the Charity. The Charity is structured in accordance with the requirements of its Constitution and of OSCR. Governance is undertaken by the Trustees meeting formally approximately once a term. Trustees also meet informally weekly during the Charity activities, where they work as Volunteers. This ensures a direct and regular contact with Members of the Charity and timely response to operational issues encountered during the activities. ## **Trustee Recruitment and Appointment** Trustees are appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting, where all the Members are invited. The position of Trustee is open to all members and is advertised in the local free newsletter supplied to all homes in Strathnairn, issued at least 14 days before the date of the actual meeting. The next Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 2[nd] May 2024 where the new Trustees will be appointed, and these financial statements will be approved. ## **Charitable Purposes** The objective of Strathnairn Music Initiative (also called SMI) is to provide a means to the local community to start or further their music education. Activities are open to all generations, run locally and made affordable. Ultimately this initiative will provide the community with musical opportunities where people from across generations, social classes and income brackets will be able to meet and play, sing, learn and enjoy music together throughout the year. The initiative will endeavour to recapture the musical heritage of Strathnairn and adapt it to our current demographic. ## **Summary of main activities run in the period by the Charity and plans for future development** The Initiative’s operations started on 6th September 2016, following funding approval from our main funder, Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund and has focused on two main aspects in order to bring together residents who are either experienced or beginner musicians, in local venues, 1) Instrument group tuition, and 2) Adult Singing (local choir). Our annual music activities follow the school calendar year, starting in August and finishing at the end of June, with school holidays off. This equates to 39 weeks throughout the year, and all activities are held at Farr Community Hall. Page 2 **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** By the end of the academic year, the different music organised by the SMI team and led by qualified Music Teachers was: - Group Music Lessons (Wednesdays, 3.15pm to 7.45pm) – lessons in violin, drumming, piano, ukulele, guitar, and the Fun Music Session for the very young participants, which equated to 110 allocated slots delivered weekly, 93 participants. - Adult singing lessons (Wednesdays, 8pm to 9pm) – 13 regular attendees. - Children’s singing lessons (Friday afternoons, 2pm to 3.15pm) – 7 regular attendees. - Strathnairn Music Group (Tuesdays, 7.15pm to 8.15pm) – intergenerational group music project with 10 regular attendees. Making a total of 140 music slots taking place each week. The project is popular with families due to the localised and affordable service provided, which is not available elsewhere. A good portion of the caring adults in these families have taken on music sessions themselves, helping to imbed a musical heritage across our Strath, and we are excited to see this continue to develop over the years. ## **Group Music Lessons (Wednesdays, 3.15pm to 7.45pm)** Lessons are taught in groups for guitar, ukulele, piano, drumming, violin, Fun Music Session. Each year the groups come together for a Seasonal Ensemble. This year it was delivered across 1- hourly teaching groups where the students played together and showcased their favourite tunes. It was wonderful to hear the different music from across the various age groups and proficiencies, and all delivered with great community spirit. ## **Adult singing lessons (Wednesdays, 8pm to 9pm)** The adult singing continues to go from strength to strength as the group establishes with Julie leading the sessions. The group sang beautifully at the SMI Summer Concert and attracted new members following their success. ## **Children’s singing lessons (Friday afternoons, 2pm to 3.15pm)** Singing lessons are split into two age groups: - 1) P1 to P5 - 2) P6 onwards to Secondary school age The groups also sang at the two community Music Cafes and at the SMI Summer Concert in June. ## **Strathnairn Music Group (Tuesdays, 7.15pm to 8.15pm)** In March 2023, SMI successfully received funding from SCBF to run this intergenerational music project with the aim that the group be prepared to play music at community events (where participant availability allows). We also received funding from the William Syson Foundation in July to support with the costs of running this group for the coming year. The group accepts enrolment at the start of each term and agrees which community events to work towards and the music to be played. This year the group prepared and played at the SMI Summer Concert in June and attracted new members as a result they also played two community Burns Supper events. Looking to next year, the group plan to play at the Music Cafes, the SMI Summer Concert, and more local events! Page 3 **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** ## **Other Community Music Events:** ## **Music Café** Over the year twice a music café was held, in September and in February. These events have now become well established as part of SMI activities and the plan is to continue to run these twice a year. One of our SMI teachers Sarah Smith has been facilitating the musical part of the café. Musicians from Strathnairn but also from Inverness and beyond came to play together. Some gave a little solo performance. The strength of the café is that it is a very informal setting where people have fun playing music together and where young and old can perform, also those who would not feel comfortable in giving a more formal performance. People don’t have to play music they are also welcome to come and just listen, chat and enjoy a cuppa and home baking. Donations for the home making contribute to meeting the costs for the Music Café. The previous year we had also received a grant from High Life Highland which has helped to fund the events over the past year. ## **Burns Suppers** A group of young SMI students supported two Burns Supper events by playing their tunes practised for last year’s concert and this year’s ensemble. They attended the Farr Burns Supper, and received a welcomed donation for attending the Dores Burns Supper. We hope to support events like this in the future. ## **Summer Community Concert** This year was our 8th community concert, and we filled the hall to standing. Students from all our music activities took part – instrument lessons, adult singing, children’s singing, and the Music Group. Thank you to our music teachers and students for all the work they put into this annual community event. We also ran a successful raffle at the concert to help raise funds for SMI. Thank you to all those who contributed to the amazing raffle prizes, especially the adult singing group. ## **Financial Review and Reserves Policy** The application for funding in 2023-24 was to cover the majority of the running cost forecast in the academic year. A total of £25,200 (2022-23: £21,874) was received in the year. The charity would like to thank Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund for a contribution of £22,200, Highlife Highland for a contribution of £1,000 and William Syson Foundation for £2,000. The Charity’s aim is to provide an affordable service for the community and would not be able to meet this important objective without annual funding from the community and other grant providers. The remaining costs were covered by fees collected from the participants who took part in the previous academic year, a total of £12,696, and donations obtained in the same year (£567). The fees and donations raised in the current year (2023-24) will go towards meeting the costs of 24-25 academic year. A total of £16,005 (2022-23: £12,696) was collected in fees from members in 2023-24. Donations raised at the concert and other events totalled £225 (2022-23: £567) in the year. The increase in fees received in the year, reflects the increase in participation by the community and increase in prices in the Charity’s offered services. Page 4 **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** Our participant fees for this academic year were: - £4.5 per person for instrument tuition (2022-23: £4) - £3 for the Fun Music Session, Adult Singing, the Strathairn Music Group, and, - £3 for children’s singing (2022-23: £2). The price paid per participant is comparable to the charges for other group activities in the local and extended area, and the fee level has been found affordable for our members, whilst keeping in mind the ethos of being accessible for as many in our community as possible. It is also our policy to set a minimum charge to ensure an acceptable level of motivation and attendance throughout the year. Indeed, fees are paid in advance per term time. However as mentioned, our aim is to be inclusive to all and our Trustees would consider reducing the charge to specific participants for whom the fee level would remain a barrier to participate. We have also encouraged the lending and donation of instruments in the community, which some of our members have already benefited from. The Charity’s expenditure was within budget. The amount raised in Members’ fees, donations, and cost savings, has enabled the Charity to accumulate a reasonable fund by the end of this academic year. This prudent approach was adopted by the Charity from the start of its activity to ensure a smooth start in the following academic year in the event of delays in the annual funding provision. This year end cash balance was £23,857 (2022-23: £18,393). Following the large purchase of music instruments in the first year of operations, the main expenditure for the charity remains annually the hourly cost of the music facilitators excluding travelling expenses. The total expenditure for the year was £34,457 (2022-23: £31,675). The increase in cost reflects the increase in demand for music sessions and therefore the increase in music provision. **The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.** ## **Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees** **Charity Chairperson and Trustee** **Date: 14[th] April 2025** Page 5 sfRATHNAIRN MUSIC INrnATIVE IA SCOTllsH CHARIYABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION) Strathnalrn Musk Initiati4 on thE unauilted fi￿￿14151ateMert$•f Strthnairn Music Inbll•U¥e I report on thE financial statements of Strathnawn InitiatNe for the Per￿ ended 15 Augurt 2024. wbkh comprlse the statement of fi￿n¢la$ artNitles. the balan￿ sheet and the rdated rbotes. These fln3rKk11 ststements have been prepared Undert￿ htslorttal costcoAvenkn arKI the •¢tountlw pc4luesset thereln. ThtCharfVsTrustee$3Te respon51ble lorthe p￿paratiOnOfthe1CCWnts Inacrordancewlth thetermsofthecharftles and Trustee Investment Iscothndl 2C•IS Att and the Charr(1È5 Iscodondl Re8ulaUons 21Q6. The Charfty TTustg85 con51der rhat the req￿rement of Reoul•tkn l(411 Idl of AccrMJnts Re8ulation$ does thot app￿. rny responsfjbSlltyto exèm1nelhel￿countslsleq￿1red undersertSon4411l IcloftheA£t4ndt05t3tewhether particular mattevs havecorneto myattentknn. myexaminat1on15￿Tr￿ oui Inx£ordancewlth Re8ulatk)fi ll01t￿Ch¥hIeSACC0unts iknilandl Rewlatlms 2CQ6. An examination indudes a I￿*?* ol the •ccoUrtiTr8 retord5 kept by the Char*y a cornparfson of the Kcounts presented wth ih)se records. ti •ls¢ inchjdes conyderatyon of ary unusual Items w￿￿￿)Sure$ In the accounts and see*s explan•tithis friTh theTrusttts concemlni ary such matters. ThÈ pr(xedures undertaken do rK)t provlde all the e￿dence that would be requlred In an audtt and. consequenty. Ido not ¢xpre5$ afi a￿l￿opIn￿n on the accounts. In the course of my examlnatkryfi. fio m•tter has ￿met0 rny thntlon l. whlch &￿eS me reaxtsnab* uuseto be1￿￿that in any material res*d ￿ requlrernents". . to keep atcourrtin8ryrord5 in I￿Ord01￿e￿oth sectlM 44¢11 {*) tylthe 2C¢)5 ALtand Rryulatlon 4 of the 2C#)6 Accounts Rryul*lons. and . to pre￿re accounts whth actordwith ¢h¢attountlTr8 recordsandeornpty ¥Ath Regu￿tIon 9 ofthe 2W6 Accwnts Re¢U￿1)n$ h•¥e not been met, or towhlch. myoOnion. •tten¢*Jn shwkl bedrawn In 0￿r ￿en￿ble ¥ prLwr understsndln8 ofthe acmunts to be reathed. Page 6 **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** ## **Strathnairn Music Initiative** ## **STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS for the period ended 15[th] August 2024** |**Note**
**Receipts**
Voluntary Income
5
Income from Charitable
Activities
6
**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
Cost of Charitable
Activities
7
Payments relating to
assets
7
Governance Costs
**Total Payments**
**Surplus / (Deficit) for the**
**period**
**Transfer between funds**
**Surplus / (Deficit) for the**
**period**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
25,425
16,005
41,430
35,846
120
-
35,966
5,464
-
5,464|**Restricted**
**Funds**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**2024**
**Total**
**Funds**
25,425
16,005
41,430
35,846
120
-
35,966
5,464
-
5,464|**2023**
**Total**
**Funds**
22,441
12,696| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||35,137| |||||32,659
771
-| |||||33,430| |||||1,707| |||||-| |||||1,707| Page 7 **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** ## **Strathnairn Music Initiative** ## **STATEMENT OF BALANCES As at 15[th] August 2024** |**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Opening Cash at bank**
**and in hand**
18,393
**Surplus / (Deficit) for the**
**period**
5,464
**Closing Cash at bank and**
**in hand**
23,857
**Other Assets (Unrestricted Fund)**
**Total cost**|**Restricted**
**Funds**
-
-
-|**2024**
**Total**
**Funds**
18,393
5,464
23,857
**5,230**
**5,230**||**2023**
**Total**
**Funds**
16,686
1,707| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||18,393| |||||**5,110**| |||||**5,110**| The current ‘market’ value of the music instruments is estimated at 15% of original costs. **Liabilities (Unrestricted Fund)** - - The following notes on pages 9 to 11 are also part of these financial statements. ## **Theses financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and were signed on their behalf on** **Date 14[th] April 2025** Page 8 **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 15[TH] AUGUST 2024** ## **1 Status of the charity** Strathnairn Music Initiative was approved as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) on 8[th] July 2016. ## **2 Accounting Policies** ## _**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) ## _**Donations and donated services and facilities**_ All donations received are credited to the Statement of Receipts and Payments in the year to which they relate. Donations received or earmarked for specific purposes are accounted for as restricted funds. ## _**Grants receivable**_ Grants receivable are credited to the Statement of Receipts and Payments in the year to which they relate. Grants receivable or earmarked for specific purposes are accounted for as restricted funds. ## _**Income**_ Income has been classified under the following headings: Voluntary income – This comprises resources generated from voluntary sources including, for example donations and grants where the donor does not receive any direct return as a result of the donation. Activities for generating funds – This comprises fund-raising activities carried out by the charity to generate incoming resources which will be used to undertake its charitable activities. Charitable activities – This comprises all incoming resources received, which are a payment for goods and services provided for the benefit of the charity’s beneficiaries. It includes fees paid by members to participate to the charity activities. Page 9 **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 15[TH] AUGUST 2024** ## _**Expenditure**_ Expenditure has been classified into the following headings: Charitable Activities – This comprises all resources expended by the charity in undertaking its work to meet its charitable objectives. Such costs include the direct costs of the charitable activities together with those support costs incurred that enable these activities to be undertaken. Governance costs – This comprises the cost of governance arrangements, which relate to the general running of the charity. ## _**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. The trustees maintain a single unrestricted fund for the day-to-day running of the charity Restricted funds may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purposes. ## **3 Related Party transactions** No remuneration was paid to any trustee or related person ## **4 Taxation** The charitable organisation is recognised as a charity for the purposes of applicable taxation legislation and is therefore not subject to taxation on its charitable activities. The charity is not registered for VAT and resources expended therefore include irrecoverable input VAT. ## **5 Voluntary Income** |Grants
Donations and gifts
**Total Voluntary Income**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
25,200
225
25,425|**Restricted**
**Funds**
-
-
-|**2024 Total**
**Funds**
25,200
225
25,425|**2023 Total**
**Funds**
21,874
567| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||22,441| 2023-24 grant awarded from Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund was £22,200 (2022-23: £21,574). The charity also received £1000 from Highlife Highland in December 2023 (2022-23: £300) and £2,000 from The William Syson foundation. More information in relation to grants and donations received in the year can be found in the Trustees’ report, accompanying these financial statements. Page 10 **STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 15[TH] AUGUST 2024** ## **6 Income from Charitable Activities** |**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
Members’ fees
16,005
**Total Income from Charitable**
**Activities**
16,005
**Cost of Charitable Activities**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
Music facilitators fees and expenses
34,457
Instrument
purchase
and
other
equipment
120
Facility rental
-
Insurance and other professional fees
887
Stationery and other miscellaneous costs
502
**Total Cost of Charitable Activities**
35,966|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
Members’ fees
16,005
**Total Income from Charitable**
**Activities**
16,005
**Cost of Charitable Activities**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
Music facilitators fees and expenses
34,457
Instrument
purchase
and
other
equipment
120
Facility rental
-
Insurance and other professional fees
887
Stationery and other miscellaneous costs
502
**Total Cost of Charitable Activities**
35,966|**Restricted**
**Funds**
-
**Restricted**
**Funds**
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Restricted**
**Funds**
-
**Restricted**
**Funds**
-
-
-
-
-
-|**2024 Total**
**Funds**
16,005
16,005
**2024 Total**
**Funds**
34,457
120
-
887
502
35,966|**2024 Total**
**Funds**
16,005
16,005
**2024 Total**
**Funds**
34,457
120
-
887
502
35,966|**2023 Total**
**Funds**
12,696
12,696
**2023 Total**
**Funds**

31,675

771

-

764

220| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||||| |||||||| ||35,966||-||35,966|
33,430| ## **7 Cost of Charitable Activities** No remuneration and no expenses were paid during the period to any charity Trustee or person connected to a Trustee. The cost related to the independent review of this year’s financial statements will be recorded in next year’s accounts due to the timing of the payment which is outside the period under review. The amount was £50 (2022-23: £50 included in the ‘Insurance and professional fees’ balance). Page 11