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Trustees Report Nov 2021 – Nov 2022
SCIO No: 047899
Who are Learners Together?
Learners Together are a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation currently based in Dumfries. The Lochside and Lincluden areas of Dumfries are officially recognised in the Scottish Governments Index of Multiple Deprivation as areas of high social deprivation and Learners Together hope to assist in the building of stronger local communities and provide wider opportunities to the local population.
Our mission statement:
The advancement of education through provision of lifelong learning primarily in Northwest Dumfries, and Dumfries and Galloway, so to help reduce the impact of social isolation.
The advancement of health and wellbeing through provision of educational opportunities which will help the participants to make informed lifestyle choices.
What do we do?
As a group of enthusiastic volunteers we raise funds to provide free adult education classes for the people of Dumfries and the surrounding areas. We have all participated in adult education classes learners in the past and recognise the value that such courses can have for individuals and the wider community by providing opportunities for learning new life skills and for reducing the effects of social isolation. In the face of austerity measures throughout society we felt that we could help to raise funds so that these opportunities continued to be available to our local communities. We began as a constituted group in March 2013 and became a SCIO in Nov 2017. Funds are raised by various methods such as coffee mornings and applications to various funding organisations. These funds are then used to facilitate
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classes, usually in 12 week courses, which are provided free of charge to the learners as we believe education should be available to everyone regardless of their personal circumstances. The activities usually take place at the Bridge, which is a facility owned by Dumfries & Galloway Council and works as a hub for community education.
Why are these classes needed?
All of the classes are designed to provide the learners with the chance to acquire new life skills or take part in social activities in a relaxed, informal environment. Many of our learners may have had unhappy learning experiences in the past or may be struggling with long term health problems of their own (either mental or physical), may have caring commitments or have been long term unemployed. We hope that our courses will help them to re-engage with learning to improve their life chances and help them to make healthier lifestyle choices and to increase their social networks to reduce loneliness and social isolation.
What classes do we provide?
Basic IT and Digital Skills.
In the increasingly digital society many people become isolated and disadvantaged through a lack of knowledge and interaction with modern technology. Dumfries and Galloway has one of the highest levels of computer illiteracy in Scotland due to many factors such as an older general population who may not be familiar with technology and its rural geography which can
mean a lack of broadband availability over wide areas. Learners Together aim to provide learners with opportunities to engage with technology at a very basic introductory level, whether it is computers, tablets, mobile phones or whatever else they need to improve their social or employment situations, in a safe, relaxed, nonthreatening environment amongst their peers. For many people technology can be intimidating with the possibilities of computer fraud and identity theft but once they learn to recognise possible risks we find many of the learners are enthusiastic about engaging with the digital platform and often go on to further studies. Some learners have moved into employment after learning how to use computers and many of our older learners make new connections with family and friends through social media as well as forming new social networks within the class groups thus reducing the effects of loneliness.
The sting of the pandemic heightened awareness of need for digital skills as people relied on interaction over the internet. This also highlighted the ‘haves and have
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nots’ – both in terms of finances and location/rurality. Learners Together were quick in responding to the pandemic and worked with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Lifelong Learning Service to help facilitate classes online. In March 2022 we were finally allowed to go back to face to face classes and because we had kept in touch with our learners throughout that horrible time, our learners came back to classes quickly. We also were mindful that not 100% of our attendees would be able to come back; some people’s ill health made them vulnerable so we ensured these people were not disadvantaged and now have a good mix of blended learning – some preferring to work from home and use Zoom to attend classes virtually. We hope to continue this vital work into 2023 and must now seek further funding as the Lottery funding is now almost all used.
Basic Cookery for Beginners .
On hold at the moment. These six week courses are aimed at any members of the local population who want to learn how to prepare healthy nutritious meals from
scratch to improve their own and their family’s health. Learners range from young mum’s who want to give their children healthier meals to older gentlemen who find themselves alone on widowhood and have never had to cook before and all sorts of people in between. The sessions last for two hours and during that time the learners participate in quizzes and discussions
about where to find hidden sugar, salt or fats in food, how to read food labels when shopping and how to cook on a budget. This is then followed by actually cooking a meal from scratch using ingredients supplied free of charge to the learners. After a sit-down tasting and discussion at the end of the session the learners take what they have cooked home. By encouraging learners to try more vegetables and fruit and lower fat options for meat we hope that they will make healthier lifestyle choices and pass the knowledge on to family and friends thus benefiting the health of the wider community. The classes are always well attended and teach six learners at a time. Funding was supported by local groups such as St Michaels Church, Dumfries and Lincluden Community Council and also by working in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council during the earlier part of the year. Continued funding has now been accessed through the Big Lottery Awards for All scheme under our Mind, Body & Soul project which is scheduled to run from Sept 2019 to Sept 2020. In 2023 we hope to secure more funding to be able to deliver more cookery classes in Dumfries and Galloway.
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Art classes.
The value of art classes as a major benefit to the participants’ mental well-being is now widely recognised. Many people have very complicated personal lives and these classes can be a welcome oasis of calm in otherwise busy and difficult situations whilst some learners living with or recovering from health problems find the classes can help with expressing their emotions at these times.
Learners have often not taken part in structured art activities since their school days and the discovery of forgotten or undiscovered talents can surprise them and boost confidence in a significant way leading to further benefits in other areas of their lives. Some learners have gone on to Further Education courses at local colleges or continue to develop their skills through further courses. Many of our learners value the classes for the time it gives them to focus on themselves for a while.
These classes are funded by grants from local groups such as The Moorheads Hospital Trust, Dumfries and St Michaels Church, Dumfries and further funding is now available from the Big Lottery Awards for All fund for 2019/ 2020 through the Mind, Body & Soul project.
In March 2022, art classes restarted in Dumfries, much to our learners delight! Because we had worked closely with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Lifelong Learning Service, we were able to keep in touch with learners – the Council kindly facilitated online classes during the 2 years that we were unable to offer face to face classes. We are happy to report that classes are now back and are as popular as ever. The Lottery funding is now finished so we are hoping to secure more funding for these interesting and well-loved courses.
Messy Play
In early 2022, Learners Together branched out into family learning. In partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Lifelong Learning Service, we ran a very successful Messy Play group in Dalbeattie. We purchased resources for the group and ran sessions for 6 months for parents/carers and their babies from 0-2. This has now developed into a regular session now that Lifelong Learning have taken over for us as it was so popular and we ran out of funding. It gives us great pleasure to know that we listened to the voices of those in this community, started this group and that is has become a huge success. We will continue to look for further funding for other family learning activities across the region.
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Craft Group
In early 2022 we were approached by a group of learners regarding the start of a craft group – people were feeling very isolated after Covid and even afraid in some circumstances. They needed to feel part of something again, part of a group, socialising with others. We looked into opening a craft group, again, in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Lifelong Learning Service. This worked very well and we have funded this group for nearly 12 months. Funding has now finished but we hope t o secure more funding for similar projects in the future.
What are Learners Togethers plans for the future?
Learners Together aim to continue to provide opportunities for adult learning within the Dumfries and Galloway region.
As a small group of volunteers recruitment is an ongoing problem but we will work to the best of our abilities to continue with the courses we already have in place and hope to expand our programme if possible.
We will continue to adapt to new situations and find ways to continue to provide the educational opportunities that we so firmly believe are beneficial to the health and well-being of our local communities.
Learners Together would like to thank all of our local groups and other funders for their continued support.
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List of Trustees 30-11-2021 to 30-11-2022
Trustees were active for whole period unless otherwise stated.
| Trustees were active for whole period unless otherwise stated. | Trustees were active for whole period unless otherwise stated. | Trustees were active for whole period unless otherwise stated. |
|---|---|---|
| Trustees Name | Remarks | |
| Chair | ||
| Vice chair | ||
| Treasurer |
----- Start of picture text -----
OO
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Chair, Learners Together
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APPENDIX 2
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LEARNER'S TOGETHER
| Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | Receipts andpayments accounts | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period start date | Period end date | Period end date | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| For the period from |
01 Day |
12 Month |
2021 Year |
to | Day 30 |
Month 11 |
Year 2022 |
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| Section A Statement of receipts and payments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Expendable endowment funds |
Permanent endowment funds |
Total funds current period |
Total funds last period |
Total funds last | |||||||||||||||||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||||||||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Donations | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Legacies | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grants | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Receipts from fundraisingactivities | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross tradingreceipts | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income from investments other than | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| land and buildings | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rents from land & buildings | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross receipts from other charitable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| activities | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| A1 Sub total | A1 Sub total | 25 | 25 | 25 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 25 | 25 | 25 | - | - | |||||
| A2 Receipts from asset & | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| investment sales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of fixed assets Proceeds from sale of investments A2 Sub total - - - Total receipts 25 - - ~~—~~ |
- - |
- - |
- - |
- - - 25 |
- - - 25 |
- - - 25 |
- - |
- - |
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| A3 Payments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expenses for fundraising activities | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross trading payments | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment management costs | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payments relating directly to charitable | Payments relating directly to charitable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| activities | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5,938 | 5 | 5 | 5,938 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Grants and donations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Governance costs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Audit / independent examination | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preparation of annual accounts | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legal costs | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Other | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| **A3 Sub total ** | - | - | - | 5,938 | 5,938 | 5,938 | 5,938 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5,938 | 5,938 | 5,938 | - | - | ||||||
| A4 Payments relating to asset and | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| investment movements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of fixed assets - Purchase of investments - A4 Sub total - - - - - - Total payments - 5,938 - - 5,938 - Net receipts / (payments) 25 5,938) ( - - 5,913) ( - A5 Transfers to / (from) funds - Surplus / (deficit) for year 25 5,938) ( - - 5,913) ( - ~~SSSSS=~~ ~~=——————~~ |
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APPENDIX 2
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LEARNER'S TOGETHER
Section B Statement of balances
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B3 Other assets B5 Contingent liabilities B4 Liabilities B1 Cash funds B2 Investments |
Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 8,354 25 |
Restricted funds to nearest £ 7,383 5,938) ( |
Expendable endowment funds to nearest £ |
Permanent endowment funds to nearest £ |
Total current period to nearest £ |
Total last period to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and bank balances at start of year | 15,737 | ||||||
| Surplus / (deficit) shown on receipts and payments account |
5,913) ( |
||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| Cash and bank balances at end of year (Agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
8,379 | 1,445 | - | - | 9,824 | - | |
| - | - 0 | - Fund to which |
- asset belongs |
- 0 |
- | ||
| Market valuation to nearest £ |
Last year to nearest £ |
||||||
| Details | Fund to which | asset belongs | Total Cost (if available) to nearest £ |
||||
| Current value (if available) to nearest £ |
Last year to nearest £ |
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| Details | Total Fund to which l |
- | - |
- |
|||
| iability relates | Amount due to nearest £ |
Last year to nearest £ |
|||||
| Details | Fund to which l | Total iability relates |
- | - | |||
| Amount due (estimate) to nearest £ |
Last year to nearest £ |
||||||
| Signature | Print Name | Total | - | - |
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| Date of approval |
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2 LEARNERS TOGETHER OSCR REPORT 2021-2022 (003).xlsx / Statement of balances #OFFICIAL
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APPENDIX 2
LEARNER'S TOGETHER
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Section C Notes to the Accounts
C1 Nature and purpose of funds (may be stated on analysis of funds worksheets)
Funds are for the provision of adult education classes within the Dumfries and Galloway area. Restricted funds are from grants and donations for specific projects. Unrestricted funds are from fund raising activities, such as car boots sales etc.
Individual / Number of grants £ Type of activity or project supported institution made C2 Grants Total - C3a Trustee remuneration If no remuneration was paid during the period to any charity trustee or person connected to a trustee cross this box (otherwise complete section 3b) x £ Authority under which paid C3b Trustee remuneration - details
C4a Trustee expenses If no expenses were paid to any charity trustee during the period then cross this box (otherwise complete section 4b) x Number of £ trustees C4b Trustee expenses - details
| C4b Trustee expenses - details C5 Transactions with trustees and connected persons |
Nature of transaction | Number of trustees £ |
Number of trustees £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature of relationship |
Transaction amount (£) Balance outstanding at period end (£) |
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C6 Other information
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LEARNERS TOGETHER OSCR REPORT 2021-2022 (003).xlsx / Notes
December 2007
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Additional analysis (1)
Analysis of receipts and payments
1 Donations
| 1 Donations | 1 Donations | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Expendable endowment funds to nearest £ |
Permanent endowment funds to nearest £ |
Total current period to nearest £ |
Total last period to nearest £ |
||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| Total 2 Grants |
- | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| reference Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
- Restricted funds to nearest £ |
- | - | reference Total current period to nearest £ |
- Total last period to nearest £ |
||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| Total 3 Gross receipts from other charitable activities |
- | - | - | - | |||||
| - Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
- Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Expendable endowment funds to nearest £ |
Permanent endowment funds to nearest £ |
- Total current period to nearest £ |
- Total last period to nearest £ |
||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
4 Payments relating directly to charitable activities
| Room hire lincences/insurance tutor fees Total |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Expendable endowment funds to nearest £ |
Permanent endowment funds to nearest £ |
Total current period to nearest £ - - 2,000 - - - - - - - - |
Total current period to nearest £ - - 2,000 - - - - - - - - |
Total last period to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | |||||||
| - | ||||||||
| 2,000 | 2,000 | |||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | 2,000 | - | - | 2,000 | - | |||
| - | reference error | - | - | reference error | - |
LEARNERS TOGETHER OSCR REPORT 2021-2022 (003).xlsxAdditional notes (1)
December 2007
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APPENDIX 2
SC047899
Additional analysis (2)
| Additional analysis (2) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts 5 Breakdown of unrestricted funds |
Unrestricted fund 1 - enter name of fund below |
Unrestricted fund 2 - enter name of fund below |
Unrestricted fund 3 - enter name of fund below |
Unrestricted fund 4 - enter name of fund below |
Total unrestricted funds |
Total unrestricted funds last period |
|
| Donations | - | ||||||
| Legacies | - | ||||||
| Grants | - | ||||||
| Receipts from fundraisingactivities | - | ||||||
| Gross tradingreceipts | - | ||||||
| buildings | - | ||||||
| Rents from land & buildings | - | ||||||
| Gross receipts from other charitable activities | - | ||||||
| Sub total Receipts from asset & investment sales |
- | - | - | - | - | - | |
| cross ref error | |||||||
| Proceeds from sale of fixed assets | - | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of investments | - | ||||||
| Sub total Total receipts Payments |
- | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| cross ref error | |||||||
| Expenses for fundraisingactivities | - | ||||||
| Gross trading payments | - | ||||||
| Investment management costs | - | ||||||
| Payments relatingdirectlyto charitable activities | - | ||||||
| Grants and donations | - | ||||||
| Governance costs: | - | ||||||
| Audit / independent examination | - | ||||||
| Preparation of annual accounts | - | ||||||
| Legal costs | - | ||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| Sub total Payments relating to asset and investment movements |
- | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | |||||||
| Purchases of fixed assets | - | ||||||
| Purchase of investments | - | ||||||
| Sub total Total payments Net receipts / (payments) Transfers to / (from) funds Surplus / (deficit) for year |
- | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| cross ref error | |||||||
| Nature and purpose of funds | |||||||
| Facilitate adult ed | ucation classes for | general population of the Dumfries an | d Galloway area. |
LEARNERS TOGETHER OSCR REPORT 2021-2022 (003).xlsxAdditional notes (2)
December 2007
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APPENDIX 2
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LEARNER'S TOGETHER
Additional analysis (3)
6 Breakdown of restricted funds
| 6 Breakdown of restricted funds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | Restricted fund 1 - enter name of fund below |
Restricted fund 2 - enter name of fund below |
Restricted fund 3 - enter name of fund below |
Restricted fund 4 - enter name of fund below |
Total restricted funds |
Total restricted funds last period |
| Donations | - | |||||
| Legacies | - | |||||
| Grants | - | |||||
| Receipts from fundraisingactivities | - | |||||
| Gross tradingreceipts | - | |||||
| Income from investments other than land and buildings |
- | |||||
| Rents from land & buildings | - | |||||
| Gross receipts from other charitable activities | - | |||||
| Sub total Receipts from asset & investment sales |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| - | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of fixed assets | - | |||||
| Proceeds from sale of investments | - | |||||
| Sub total Total receipts Payments |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | ||||||
| Expenses for fundraising activities | - | |||||
| Gross trading payments | - | |||||
| Investment management costs | - | |||||
| Payments relating directly to charitable activities | 2,000 | 2,000 | ||||
| Grants and donations | - | |||||
| Governance costs: | - | |||||
| Audit / independent examination | - | |||||
| Preparation of annual accounts | - | |||||
| Legal costs | - | |||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Sub total Payments relating to asset and investment movements |
2,000 | - | - | - | 2,000 | - |
| cross ref error | ||||||
| Purchases of fixed assets | - | |||||
| Purchase of investments | - | |||||
| Sub total Total payments Net receipts / (payments) Transfers to / (from) funds Surplus / (deficit) for year |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| - | ||||||
| 2,000 | - | - | - | 2,000 | - | |
| cross ref error | ||||||
| 2,000) ( |
- | - | - | 2,000) ( |
- | |
| - | ||||||
| 2,000) ( |
- | - | - | 2,000) ( |
- | |
| cross ref error | ||||||
| Nature andpurpose of funds | ||||||
| Facilitate adult ed | ucation classes for | general population | of the Dumfries an | d Galloway area. |
LEARNERS TOGETHER OSCR REPORT 2021-2022 (003).xlsxAdditional notes (3)
December 2007
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Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees Learners Together- SC047899 th I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 November 2022. 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 (Scotlandl Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts IScotland} Regulations 2006. The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10111 Idl of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44111 Icl of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Independent examinerfs statement My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts Iscotlandl Regulations 2006. 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 examinerfs statement In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 4411) lal of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts 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. Name.. Relevant Professional body.. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland Address.. ADCA Scotland Limited, Chartered Accountants, 32-34 High Street, Sanquhar Date: 14102/2023