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THREE ESTATES CUPAR
Scottish Charity No — SC048967
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
THREE ESTATES CUPAR
SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
Trustees’ Report
For the year ended 31 March 2025
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Reference and Administrative Information
Charity name
Three Estates Cupar
Charity no
$C048967
Address
59 Bonnygate CUPAR Fife KY15 4BY
Current Trustees
Independent examiner
James Hair & Co 59 Bonnygate CUPAR Fife KY15 4BY
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THREE ESTATES CUPAR SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
Structure, Governance and Management
Constitution
TEC is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (a SCIO). It was registered on 17 January 2019. Its constitution provides for both Trustees and Members. The present five Trustees who signed the Declarations of Suitability prior to registration were deemed to be the first Trustees and first Members. Meantime, they are the only Members.
Appointment of Trustees
Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting. There must be a minimum of five and a maximum of eleven Trustees. The five Trustees were re-elected at the 2024 AGM.
Charitable purposes
TEC’s aims are to advance education, community development, culture and understanding of heritage as well as providing recreational activities to improve the conditions of life of the residents of, and visitors to, the town of Cupar, Fife (as defined by the boundaries of the area served by Cupar Community Council), the area of the Scottish Parliamentary constituency of North East Fife, and Scotland.
Objectives, Activities and Aspirations
TEC’s principal means of delivering its charitable purposes are promoting and celebrating the history and heritage of Cupar and its surrounding area.,
A major focus is Scotiand’s earliest surviving play, Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis , written by Sir David Lindsay of The Mount, Cupar, and given its first performance on Cupar’s Castle Hill, on 7th June, 1552. TEC’s Name, Three Estates Cupar, is a recognition of the play, and its importance to Cupar. The Trustees commissioned and hold a new script of the Ane Satyre, shortening it from a performance time of over six hours to just over two. It has not yet been possible to deliver a full performance of the new script of the Play, but extracts have been read at events in the area, and it is planned that elements of it will be performed again in September 2026.
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THREE ESTATES CUPAR
SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
Objectives, Activities and Aspirations (continued)
At the request of Cupar Development Trust (CDT), the TEC Trustees have widened their remit, so that it now covers all aspects of Culture, History, and Heritage. in collaboration with local SCIOs Cupar Heritage and Cupar Arts, they are developing events and promotions of “The Historic Sons and Daughters of Cupar & District” They continue to celebrate the area’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), especially in Old Scots. This embraces the work of not only Sir David Lindsay himself, but also his sixteenth century cousin, Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie, Cupar, author of the first history of Scotland in Old Scots, the Historie and Chronicles of Scotland 1436 to 1565, and nineteenth century authors Robert Duncan Milne and Sarah Tytler, and Painter Charles Lees.
TEC’s aspirations remain promoting and encouraging festivals and other activities celebrating the history and heritage of Cupar and its surrounding area including theatrical and poetry performances in Old Scots. The TEC Trustees continue to work with other organisations in the area, including Cupar Arts, Cupar Heritage & Museum, and Cupar Development Trust, Fife Council, Cupar & District Community Council, The Sunshine Kitchen, ABCD Cupar Businesses’ Association, the Fife Family History Society and the area’s schools, including Kilmaron Special School. The Trustees work closely with CuparNow, the successor from 1st April 2025 to Cupar’s Digital Improvement District, and acknowledge the contribution it makes both to the Trustees’ aspirations and to the area.
Raising funds is a permanent challenge for the Trustees. In the year of report, they continued to make applications, including for presenting a new play by EEEin old Scots, about Sir David, Davie Lindsay and the Vagabond King. Sadly, after the year end, Creative Scotland Open Lottery Fund turned down the application, and the Trustees are now considering possibilities for 2026.
The Trustees have put to good use funding previously raised. In the previous year, TEC had received generous funding from a private source to pay for a Scoping Study to identify the best location in or around Cupar for an Arts & Culture Hub, incorporating performance spaces, a larger museum, arts and music workshops, permanent and temporary exhibition space, and welcoming community spaces. The consultants’ report of the Scoping Study was delivered in December 2023, identifying Watts, Ferguson Square and the County Buildings as the most likely sites. During the year of report, Watts was sold (subject to Planning), and the Ferguson Square site became CDT’s choice for a major project, the Cupar Food Station, which the Trustees would not wish to delay. The Trustees have agreed that their SCIO partner in the study, Cupar Arts, should take forward discussions with Fife Council about the County Buildings.
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THREE ESTATES CUPAR
SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
Objectives, Activities and Aspirations (continued)
The Trustees continue to play a full part in promoting the area’s heritage in Old Scots, including at Cupar’s historic Market Cross each September during Cupar’s Big Celebration Weekends. They have organised readings in Old Scots (including extracts from new script of Ane Satyre), and, working with Cupar Heritage and Museum, arranged relevant materials to be displayed in the Duncan Institute in the display cases provided by the TEC Trustees., and have an excellent working relationship with the team at Cupar Library.
The Trustees regularly consult academic experts about Old Scots, Sir David and his play, and Sir David’s cousin, Robert, to ensure the quality and validity of their endeavours. In particular, they are supported by experts in Old Scots from the Universities of St Andrews, Edinburgh, and Nottingham, who have given online talks, and are advising on future activities.
Thanks to support from CuparNow, all previous TEC and CDT talks are available at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrfZHFBQz1202IVneZ7ygx9xi_YfABKVT
In line with their acceptance of the wider remit in culture and heritage, The Trustees support the developing Cupar Sculpture Trail, having assisted in the administration and publicity for the creation and installation of the agricultural horse’s head “Geo” at Robert Duncan Milne Court on Carslogie Road, and support St James’s Church and Cupar Arts in promoting Milne as one of “The Historic Sons and Daughters of Cupar & District”.
The Trustees consider that they should be active involved in local consultations and future planning. As well as commissioning the Scoping Study referred to, the Trustees supported Cupar Development Trust’s consultations for their Community Action Plan, covering Cupar & District, and their Local Place Plan. TEC has been active in the Forum of local organisations, particularly in planning for the annual Cupar Big Celebration Weekend, held on the third weekend of September, where TEC has welcomed visitors from the area’s Twin Town, St Menehould, in the Marne Department of France. During the Celebration Weekend in September 2024, TEC welcomed to The Cross representatives of 10 local organisations who spoke of their activities and aspirations, and — in all cases — of the need for additional volunteers.
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THREE ESTATES CUPAR SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
Objectives, Activities and Aspirations (continued)
Since its creation in 2019, TEC has raised some £20,000 for its charitable purposes. Most f these funds have been spent in-year, contributing directly to the charity's objectives, but without creating any assets to be added to the balance sheet. For example, the costs of performances, the scoping study, and the display cases given to the Duncan Institute were well spent, and have provided valuable legacies, without adding to balance sheet assets at the respective year ends. By contrast, the new script of Ane Satyre is an asset which the Trustees hold on behalf of Cupar for as long as they control the copyright, and it is included in the balance sheet at nominal value as a way of recording its existence.
Governance
The Trustees have kept in close touch both by email, and in-person, to fulfil their governance responsibilities. They have adopted appropriate Policies, including Trustee Etiquette & Responsibilities,and policies on Equal Opportunities and Ethical Fundraising.
Financial review
All financial information is contained in the statement of Receipts and Payments. TEC has neither staff nor premises.
At the year end total reserves were £392. This includes the remaining restricted reserves for the Scoping Study funding, amounting to £192.
Reserves policy
It is not yet appropriate for the Trustees to develop a policy on financial Reserves.
Plans for future period
The Trustees continue to plan for future activities, and keep in close contact with individuals and organisations likely to contribute to them. They plan further performances of extracts of the Lindsay works, and the new script, as well as short scripts specially written for school performances.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
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THREE ESTATES CUPAR
SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
| report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 7 and 8 and the related notes.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the financial statements under Section 44(1)(c) of the Act and to state where 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 Accounts Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, 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 | do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
independent Examiner’s 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 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations.
: to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
Have not been met; or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
James Hair | 59 Bonnygate CUPAR Fife KY15 4BY
ol Aa 2025
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THREE ESTATES CUPAR SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
Statement of Receipts and Payments For the year ended 31 March 2025
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|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total|
|Funds|Funds|2025|2024|
|Notes|f£|£|—_|££.|EO|
|Receipts|
|Donations|received|250|-|250|100|
|Gift|aid|reclaimed|-|-|-|280|
|Bank|charges|refunded|73|-|73|-|
|Total|receipts|323|-|323|380|
|Payments|
|Cost|of charitable|activities|5|413|-|413|17,373|
|Total|payments|413|-|413|17,373|
|Excess of (payments|over receipts)/|
|receipts over payments for the year|(90)|-|(90)|(16,993)|
|Transfers|between|funds|-|-|-|-|
|(90)|-|(90)|(16,993)|
|Total funds|brought forward|290|192|482|17,475|
|Total funds|carried|forward|200|192|392|482|
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THREE ESTATES CUPAR SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
Statements of Balances AsMarchat 31 2024
| Statements of Balances AsMarchat 31 at 31 Marchat 31 2024 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |||
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |||
| Notes | £ | £ | £— | P | a | |
| Openingcash atbankand in hand | 290 | 192 | 482 | 17,475 | ||
| Excessof(paymentsover receipts)/ receiptsoverpaymentsforthe year |
(90) | - | (90) | (16,993) | ||
| Transfer between funds | - | - | - | - | ||
| Closing cash atbank and in hand | 200 | 192 | 392 | 482 | ||
| Bank and cash balances | ||||||
| Bankdepositaccount | 200 | 192 | 392 | 482 | ||
| Assets | ||||||
| Ane Satyre Script | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Display materialsand library displays | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| - | 2 | 2 | 2 |
The financial statements were approved 1 July 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
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THREE ESTATES CUPAR SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
1. Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities and 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. The Trustees maintain a single unrestricted fund for day to day running costs.
Restricted funds may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purposes. Funds received in the period were unrestricted.
3. Relation party transactions
No remuneration was paid to, nor contracts entered into with, any of the Trustees or any connected persons during the period.
No trustee received expenses during the period.
| 4. | Costofcharitableactivities | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Scoping study costs | - | - | - | 11,808 | ||||
| Horse sculpture | - | . | - | 5,000 | ||||
| Internet costs | 42 | - | 42 | 64 | ||||
| Hire oftrumpeter | 350 | - | 350 | 100 | ||||
| Soundsystem hire | - | - | - | 25 | ||||
| Display boards | - | - | - | 240 | ||||
| Letting costs | - | . | - | 52 | ||||
| Bank charges | 21 | - | 21 | 84 | ||||
| 413 | - | 413 | 17,373 |
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THREE ESTATES CUPAR
SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC048967
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5. Movement of funds Opening Closing
Balance Receipts Payments Transfers Balance
£ £ £ —————————
Restricted funds
Scoping Study funds 192 - - 192
Unrestricted funds
General funds 290 323 (413) - 200
Total Funds 482 323 (413) - 392
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Purpose of restricted funds
Scoping Study — funding received towards the cost of a scoping study to identify the best location in or around Cupar for an Arts & Culture Hub
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