## **Our activities in 2024/2025** 

Once again Wild Skies Shetland has had a very busy year. 

## **Award winners** 

The first few months of the year were boosted by us being announced as winners of the **SURF Creative Regeneration Award** at a fabulous awards dinner in Glasgow in December 2023. This incredible recognition reflects the importance of community in the Wild Skies Shetland project. 

## **Wild Skies Shetland** 

## **Annual Report,** 

## **April 2024 - March 2025** 

Since March 2020 Wild Skies Shetland (WSS) has been a registered charity – technically a SCIO, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. 

Our charity number is SC050009. 

## **Our objectives** 

The purpose of Wild Skies Shetland is to benefit the Unst community by promoting the local natural environment, with a focus on the skies. This has aspects of advancement of the arts, heritage, culture and science by providing opportunities for people to experience and understand the constantly changing skies. The benefits to the people of Unst are through increased visitor numbers and local availability of educational and recreational activities related to the sky. 

The judging panel was particularly impressed with our focus on local language, culture, and heritage, as well as the positive impact of our activities on the island’s economy, wellbeing, education, and community engagement. This award is a testament to the dedication of our community, whose participation played a key role in our success. 

Being the winner of this prestigious award has elevated Wild Skies Shetland’s profile, opening doors to funding, support, and increased visibility among visitors and tour operators. 



Influential visitors
We have welcomed a lot of visitors, tour
guides, journalists and social media
influencers throughout the year.
Another early visitor was a commissionin
editor from the Rough Guide
who visited in April and not only saw Unst at
its most beautiful in the spring but spent an
unforgettable acoustic evening at the Shetland
Folk Festival concert in the Baltasound Hall
during a power cut, an experience that will
live on in Shetland Folk Festival folklore for
The first visitor we hosted was our MSP
ho was delighted to meet
some of the trustees and go on a tour of some
of the sky stops on our newly-opened Sky
Trail.
many years to come!
We were the subject of a parliamentary
motion when we were short-listed for the
SURF award. Recognition of getting that far
and winning was a fantastic achievement! You
can read the Parliamentary Motion HERE.
Here's Wild Skies Truste
showin
ur virtual realty headsets,
which are available to use throughout the
winter at the Unst Leisure Centre and during
the spring and summer at the Unst Heritage
Centre.
The power cut in Boltosound Holl did not dompen
unyone's spirits and the musicians carried on
without electncity making ITt truly (J night to
remember.
In June 2024, Instagram influencer
as guided around Unst by two of
our Trustees. Despite poor weather she
enjoyed her visit and saw the film An Asteroid
called Unst,.
AN ASTEROID
¢A.LLED UNST

isited Unst once again in the
summertime, along with nature expe
they led a group of wildlife- watching
guests. Whilst some of the group went to
Hermaness NNR others stayed behind and
were fed and entertained by Wild Skies
trustees with tales of Norse mythology, local
dialect and astronomical phenomena.
We hope that some o
guests will come
back again and visrt us next year.
Various picnics were hosted on the Wiking
Longship including one with Rough Guide
freelance Journalist
In January 2025 we were delighted to meet up
with the television broadcaster and journalist
nd her Up Helly Aa tour group
who had come to Shetland to experience the
Lerwick Up Helly Aa. They had a fantastic day
in Unst and met WSS Trustee
who told them all about Wild Skies Shetland
and what we do.
-and reluxiTng on the Skidbl(Jdner VITking longship
replica.

## **Other highlights** 

For the first time Wild Skies Shetland played a small part in the successful **Shetland Wool Week** ! Local expert fine lace knitter and tutor osted a class during Wool Week where her students knitted a piece of fine lace inspired by a shooting star i.e. a meteor. 

as invited to talk to the students about the sky and meteorites.  We really hope this is something we can do again next year. 


We re-installed the **Planetary Trail** on Saxa Vord over the summer months. As part of UnstFest led a Planetary Trail Walk which was great fun and was well-attended by solar system enthusiasts young and old! 


## **Other events and activities** 

Wild Skies Shetland’s photographic exhibition ‘ _Wonders of the Shetland Skies’_ was once again hosted by the Unst Heritage Centre during the busy summer visitor season, as were the virtual reality headsets. The headsets mean that visitors can see the aurora in all its glory whilst sitting in the Centre if their visit doesn’t coincide with the ‘real thing’. 

## **Pinterest workshop** 

Wild Skies Shetland’s social media officer Melanie Mouat ran a free learning session **‘Boost your business with Pinterest’** to help local businesses in Unst learn how to use Pinterest to attract more customers and grow their tourism or service business 

As part of this, WSS set up a legally compliant database of supporters to help manage the ‘Friends of Wild Skies Shetland’ scheme that we are planning to launch next year. 

## **Solar eclipse 29[th] March** 

Wild Skies Shetland put together a special Solar Eclipse Viewing Pack for people to watch the magical solar eclipse The packs were made available in local shops and outlets in Unst and other parts of Shetland with guidance on how to enjoy this sky event safely. 




CLLD Funding (formerly known as LEADER)
allowed us to continue promoting Wild Skies
Shetland through social media, newsletters,
and blogs.
We also received a grant from the SIC Coastal
Communities Fund and Economic
Development Unit to recruit a part-time
Project Development Officer for the next 3
years.
Interviews were conducted in conjunction
with Visit Scotland in February 2025 and
resulted in the appointment of Sharyn Emslie,
who has many
ears of experience in heritage
interpretation.
led the team from CMC
Associates that produced the Sky Trail so she
is very familiar with Wild Skies and its work.
She accepted her appointment and started
her contract in April 2025.
Communications
In December 2024 we began issuing rnonthly
Newsletters to everyone on our mailing list.
This is a fabulous new way for us to stay in
touch with our supporters and keep them
abreast of happenings, both in the sky and
events that we organise on the ground in
Unst. We continue to grow interest in our
activities and are adding new names to the
database each week.
rings o weolth of experience ond o huge
love of Shetland und Unst to the role of WSS
Projert Development Officer.
ill be focusing on developing new
opportunities, building partnerships and
helping us share the magic of Shetland's skies
with even more people. This is an exciting step
forward to ensuring the long-term
sustainabiltty of Wild Skies Shetland.
Funding Success
We were delighted to end the year securing
two major funding sources to support our
future sustainability.

## **Our Board** 

Wild Skies Shetland is run by volunteers and 2 part-time workers. 

Wild Skies Shetland has an active Board of 7 Trustees, who meet regularly. 

Our trustees are: 

Our Workers are: 

_Wild Skies Shetland, Little Hamar, Baltasound, Unst ZE2 9D2_ 



APPENDIX 2
Wild Skies Shetland
SC050009
n&cR
Receipts and payments accounts
For the pgrlod
from
Scottish Chaiity Reiulaloi
.Ji e4 L
l.03.
CJ
Section A Statement of receipts and payments
Unrnstriet•d
fund?
Expendable
ndowmènt
funds
Pornianent
èndowmgnt
fund*
Rg5tri¢tsd funds
Total funds
Currgnt period
Total funds lagt
poriod
lo
to nMro•te
to nArBst£
lo n•ar•st£
to
A1 Recèi
DonatM)ns
3.020
3,020
413
Log&tses
Grants
3,000
1,748
Receipts from funLlraisin9 activities
Gross lTrding re(xipts
Income from investments other than land
and buildinos
Rènts IroTn laTYJ & bull dlngs
Gross receipts from other tharitab
activth"e5
1.748
3.239
A1 Sub total
7.768
7.768
3.652
A2 Recelpts from a8Net & Investment
sales
Pr(￿￿j$ Irom $8Eè offixed assets
PrcKeeds frorn Sa￿ of investrnents
A2 Sub totsl
Tot81 r8¢elpts
7.768
7.768
3,652
A3 Payments
Expenses for fundraising actNitse5
Gross trading paymeTrts
Investment rnanagement costs
P8ym8nts ￿lating directly to chantable
activities
Grants and donations
133
133
6.137
,137
14,119
Goveman£E costs..
Audit l independent ex8min8ts.on
PreparatK)ll Ot 8nnuhl accounts
Legal costs
Other
A3 Sub total
6.270
6.270
14.119
A4 Payments rnlatlng to auet and
nv•stmètrt mov•mènts
Purth8ses of fred assets
Purchase of Trnvestmenls
A4 Sub total
6.270
6.270
14.119
1.498
110.4671_
AS Transfer8 to l {from) funds
Su￿u$l{defi¢l¢j roryear

APPENDIX 3
OSCR
5cottsh fvnty Regulator
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Report to the Charity namè
trustOa8lm•mbors of
WILD SKIES SHETLAND
Reglstered charlty SCO50009
number
On the accounts of the
charity for the period
Period start date
Month
Period end date
Month
Day
Year
Day
Y•ar
01
04
2024
to
31
03
2025
Set out on pages
(femernber io iidude p89e
numbars ofadd1ti0fi81 she818}
Respectlve The charity's trustees are fesponsible for the preparatson of the accounts in accordance
responsibilrtles of wrth the terThs of the Charities and Trustee Investm2nl (Scotlandl 2005 Act and the
trustees and examSner Charities Accounts (Scotlandl Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charty trustees
consider that the audit requirement of Regulats'on 10{1) {d) of the Accounts Regulations
does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section
44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have corne to my attention.
Bas18 of Ind•p•ndont My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 cf the 2006 Accounts
•ximinerf$ Statement Regulations. An examinats'on includes a review of the accounting records kept by the
chanty and a ¢ompariGon of the accounts presènted with those records. It also includes
consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks
explanations from the trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken
do not provide all Ihe eviden￿ that woukl be required in an audit and. consequently, I do
not exwess an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examine￿6 In the course of my examination. no matter has come to my attention [•lkofvÈ
stat•m•nt
which givès rne reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements"
to keep accounting records in accordance Nwth s￿tion 4411) (a} of the 2005 Act and
Regulation 4 of the 2￿6 Accounts Regulakn'ons, and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting iecords and comply with
Regulation 9 of the 2CI)6 Accounts Regulations
have not been met, ar
2. to which, in ry opinion, attention should be drawn In order to enable a proper
to be reached.
Date:
Signed
Name:
Rélevant professional
qualifl¢atlon(8) or body
(rf any):
**•
20rtt November 2025
Address:
ase delete the words kn the brarxets rf Ihey do noi amly. If the words do appty, 8Ot out those rnattèrs whth havè coff* to your attention on the
following page.
- OSCR will actept dlgrtal ortype(I swanatwes

APPENDIX 3
Disclosure section
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.
Gwe here brief details of
any items that the
examiner wishes to
disclose