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← Strathnairn Music Initiative

2025-08-15-accounts

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 2025

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 2025

The Trustees present their annual report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the period ended 15 August 2025.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Charity Name Strathnairn Music Initiative Charity Registration Number SC046698 Principal Office Address Milton Farm Aberarder Inverness IV2 6UE

The Trustees under charity law who served the charity during the period were:

Frances Matheson Kristina High Marielle Piron Rachel Moore Philine Vanderheide Lisa McGregor

With 1 Co-opted member responsible for PVG compliance:

Eva Craig

Bankers The Royal Bank of Scotland, Inverness

Independent Examiner

Roy Campbell ATT Mission House Tomatin Inverness-shire IV13 7XZ.

Page 1

STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 15[TH] AUGUST 2025

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 usually 14 days before the date of the actual meeting. The annual General Meeting was be held on Thursday 11[th] May 2026 where these financial statements were approved and the Trustees appointed.

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.

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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:

Making a total of 139 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, 3pm 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. As per the previous year, 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, 7:45pm to 9:15pm)

The adult singing continues to go from strength to strength as the group establishes with Julie leading the sessions.

The group sang beautifully at Daviot Church in September 2024 featuring 13 singers and drawing an audience of approximately 25. A total of £150 was raised for ‘ Highlands Supports Refugees’ .

Christmas carols and winter songs performance at Daviot Church was a great success followed by cake and coffee. ‘Sing and Feel Good’ participated in a singing workshop event alongside other singing groups in Gorthleck.

The group continue to attract new members following their successes.

Children’s singing lessons (Wednesdays, 5pm to 6pm(2 sessions))

Singing lessons are split into two age groups:

The groups sang at the Seasonal Ensemble & Music Cafes.

SMI Performance Music Group (Tuesdays, 7.15pm to 8.15pm)

This intergenerational music project aims and works towards the group being prepared to play music at community events (where participant availability allows). This year the group prepared and played at the SMI Ensemble, and the Music Cafe.

At the end of the academic year, changes in Music Teacher availability and a reduction in participant numbers meant that we took the decision to ‘pause’ with the group and review in January 2026. The Traditional Music Group continues to meet up and will be prepared to play at community events.

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STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)

SMI Traditional Music Group (Tuesdays, 7.15pm to 8.45pm, once per month)

In October last year we started organising Traditional Music Open Sessions for adults, which are now taking place once monthly. The numbers have varied over the year but are now fairly stable at around 7 musicians per night. The sessions are very much enjoyed by all, and we are building up more of a repertoire.

We played at the recent Gala and hope to perform at similar events in the future. The aim for coming year is to focus more on tunes written by local musicians. We do not charge for the sessions as there are no teacher costs. Of course we are grateful for use of the community hall.

Other Community Music Events:

Music Café

A Music Café took place in September 2024 and February 2025. This is an opportunity for musicians to perform in an informal setting and to enjoy playing music together.

The Café is open for everyone; you don’t have to play music, you can also just listen, chat with others and enjoy a cuppa and tasty home-baking. The music side of the café is led by one of the SMI teachers, who ensures that all adults and children musicians get a chance to perform. We take donations, which will partly cover the costs for the teacher.

Financial Review and Reserves Policy

Annual funding is necessary for the charity to perform its charitable objectives. In 2024-25 the trustees sought external funding to cover about 50% of its projected running cost and received a total of £26,700 (2023-24: £25,500) from Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund. The trustees are extremely grateful for this contribution that consisted of a contribution of £19,000 towards the running costs of the charity for the current academic year and a supplement of £7,700, ring-fenced, to cover the cost in the next academic year of a new part-time Charity officer. No other contributions were received in the year from other funding bodies. 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 running costs of the charity were covered by fees collected from the participants who took part in the previous academic year (2023-24), a total of £16,005, and donations obtained in the same year (£225). The fees and donations raised in the current year (2024-25), a total of £15,864 will go towards meeting the costs of 2025-26 academic year.

Donations raised from events run by the charity totalled £639 (2023-24: £225) in the year.

The price paid per participant (£3-£4.5/session) 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.

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STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)

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 £29,951 (2023-24: £23,857).

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. This total expenditure was for the year £34,768 (2023-24: £34,457).

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees

Fran Matheson Charity Chairperson and Trustee

Date: 11[th] May 2026

Page 5

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STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)

Strathnairn Music Initiative

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS for the period ended 15[th] August 2025

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
19,639
15,225
34,864
36,092
378
-
36,470
(1,606)
-
(1,606)		 Restricted
Funds
7,700
-
7,700
-
-
-
7,700
-
7,700		 2025
Total
Funds
27,339
15,225
42,564
36,092
378
-
36,470
6,094
-
6,094		 2024
Total
Funds
25,425
16,005
41,430
35,846
120
-
35,966
5,464
-
5,464

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STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)

Strathnairn Music Initiative

STATEMENT OF BALANCES As at 15[th] August 2025

Opening Cash at bank
and in hand
Surplus / (Deficit) for the
period
Closing Cash at bank and
in hand		 Unrestricted
Funds
23,857
(1,606)
22,251		 Restricted
Funds
-
7,700
7,700		 2025
Total
Funds
23,857
6,094
29,951		 2024
Total
Funds
18,393
5,464
23,857
Other Assets (Unrestricted Fund)
Total cost		 5,608
5,608		 5,230
5,230

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

Frances Matheson (Chairperson & Trustee)

Date 11[th] May 2026

Page 8

STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 15[TH] AUGUST 2025

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.

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STRATHNAIRN MUSIC INITIATIVE (A SCOTTISH CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 15[TH] AUGUST 2025

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. In the current financial year, restricted funds have been issued by the granter to cover the cost of a charity officer in the subsequent academic years.

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
19,000
639
19,639		 Restricted
Funds
7,700
-
7,700		 2025 Total
Funds
26,700
639
27,339		 2024 Total
Funds
25,200
225
25,425

2024-25 grant awarded from Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund was £26,700 (2023-24: £22,000). This year’s grant included an amount of £7,700 to allow the trustees to contract a part-time charity office for running the day to day operations of the charity on their behalf, covering a period of a year and a half, starting from academic year 202526. The charity didn’t receive any other grant fundings in the year (2023-24: £1,000 from Highlife Highland 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 2025

6 Income from Charitable Activities

Members’ fees
Total Income from Charitable
Activities		 Unrestricted
Funds
15,225
15,225		 Restricted
Funds
-
-		 2025 Total
Funds
15,225
15,225		 2024 Total
Funds
16,005
16,005

7 Cost of Charitable Activities

Music facilitators fees and expenses
Instrument
purchase
and
other
equipment
Facility rental
Insurance and other professional fees
Stationery and other miscellaneous costs
Total Cost of Charitable Activities		 Unrestricted
Funds
34,768
378
-
902
422
36,470		 Restricted
Funds
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2025 Total
Funds
2024 Total
Funds
34,768
34,457
378
120
-
-
902
887
422
502
36,470
35,966

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 and last year (2023-24) ’s financial statements was paid on 2[nd] May 2026 (£100 in total).

Page 11