The Hope Chest Community Project
Annual Accounts to December 2025
SC051693
Hope Chest Community Project Based at Wellesley Parish Church Old Hall Wellesley Road, Methil, Fife, KY8 3PE
Annual Report 2025
The Hope Chest Community Project operates in the old Church Hall at Wellesley Parish Church. Our aims are:
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➢ The relief of poverty of those in need because of unemployment, low income, or other reasons, by the provision of free or low cost goods, such as furniture, household goods, clothing and bric a brac.
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➢ The relief of poverty of those in need by the provision of Starter Packs for cleaning, setting up a home, and adjusting to life in a tenancy by provision of basic essentials including food.
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➢ The advancement of environmental protection or improvement that promotes the reduction of pollution or wastage by reusing donated furniture, household goods and clothing.
The Hope Chest Community Project achieves this through:
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➢ Being open to the public five days per week – Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm
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➢ Operating a referral system with partner agencies in the area which provides furniture and household goods free of charge to people in need
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➢ Accepting donations from the area to ensure our shelves are fully stocked and we are able to meet referral requests
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➢ Operating a van which collects donations and delivers referral items and purchases
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➢ Recruiting volunteers to staff the showroom, referral system and operate the van
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➢ Maintaining a social media presence for advertising the work we do
2025 has seen our project grow again, particularly in terms of the amount of referrals received, and also in terms of how busy the showroom is. The donations we receive have also increased substantially as we have become better known in the local area and requests to collect donations happen almost daily.
The team has grown too, with over 40 volunteers for the van and the showroom being involved regularly, and Manager Gary Nurse, and Trustees Laura Walker and Sheena McCallum lead the day to day operation, with others dealing with the referrals as Pat Reid has had to step back because of her health. Well over 150 families have been helped by referrals this year, and many more through the low prices offered in our showroom. Deputy Manager Freda McIntoch resigned in the autumn, and the role has not been replaced at present.
The Trustees have met regularly throughout the year, and have reviewed all our policies, and insurance liabilities. We have public liability insurance, employee liability insurance and comprehensive van insurance to safeguard the operation of our service. We closed for a month in the autumn to upgrade the internal shopfittings and displays and this was a very successful project.
Due to the income we are generating, we have been able to purchase white goods required for referrals, delivering washing machines and tumble dryers where required, as well as purchasing new beds. The van purchased last year has proved
to be an excellent resource for us to use in the operation of the project. Sadly the van was vandalised on two occasions in August and in September, and we were without a van for many weeks until repairs were done.
The AGM was held in May and all the officebearers stood down as per our Constitution. The Trustees remained Gary Nurse, Lynn McMahon, Sheena McCallum, Amy Mathewson, Joan Graham, Laura Walker, Fiona Scobie, the Rev Dr David Coulter and Rev Gillian Paterson throughout the year. We will continue to offer necessary training for all volunteers and to review all aspects of the project on a regular basis.
Laura Walker
Chair of the Trustees 2025-2026
30.03.2026
Hope Chest Community Project - SCO51693 Accounts for year ending 31 December 2025
| Receipts £ Gross trading receipts 43,151 Fashion Show 620 Donations 400 Bank Interest 159 Total Receipts 44,330 Payments £ Donations 16,494 Property & Equipment 14,223 Transport Costs 5,056 Utility Costs 4,628 Gifts & Lunches Volunteers 1,115 IT Costs 328 Fashion Show 298 Other Costs 635 Total Payments 42,777 Surplus for the year 1,553 Funds Brought forward 44,988 Funds as at 31 December 2025 46,541 Statement of Balance as at 31 December 2025 Cash Funds £ Cash in bank - Current Account 26,372 Cash in Bank - Deposit Account 20,169 Cash Funds as at 31 December 2025 46,541 |
Receipts £ Gross trading receipts 43,151 Fashion Show 620 Donations 400 Bank Interest 159 Total Receipts 44,330 Payments £ Donations 16,494 Property & Equipment 14,223 Transport Costs 5,056 Utility Costs 4,628 Gifts & Lunches Volunteers 1,115 IT Costs 328 Fashion Show 298 Other Costs 635 Total Payments 42,777 Surplus for the year 1,553 Funds Brought forward 44,988 Funds as at 31 December 2025 46,541 Statement of Balance as at 31 December 2025 Cash Funds £ Cash in bank - Current Account 26,372 Cash in Bank - Deposit Account 20,169 Cash Funds as at 31 December 2025 46,541 |
2024 £ 49,070 0 930 10 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 50,010 | |||
| £ 6,038 12,068 3,975 7,616 807 422 0 1,496 |
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| 32,422 | |||
| 17,588 | |||
| 2024 £ 24,978 20,010 |
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| 44,988 | |||
| Other Assets Vehicle - Ford Transit 350L3 Van |
At Cost £ 23,674 |
Current Value £ 15,920 |
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Hope Chest Community Project - SCO51693 Analysis of Payments 2025
| Analysis of Payments 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Donations Wellesely Church Levenmouth Foodbank CHAS Aberhill PS Xmas Appeal Toys for Xmas Appeal Poppy Scotland Total Donations Property & Equipment Costs Rent Purchase of Goods & Equipment Fife Council Bins/Cleaning Alarm & CCTV System Property Insurance Fixtures, Fittings & Repairs PAT Electrical Testing Total Property & Equipment Costs Transport Costs Van Insurance Skip Hire & Container Clearance Van repais, MOT & servicing Road Tax Fuel Van Hire Mileage & Bus Fares for Volunteers Total Transport Costs Utility Costs Gas Costs Electricity Costs Telecomms Contribution to Wellesley Church Total Utility Costs |
2024 £ £ 15,000 5,000 500 500 500 0 300 300 194 170 0 68 |
| 16,494 6,038 |
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| £ £ 5,500 4,700 4,467 2,878 1,726 1,221 1,209 1,891 686 669 499 602 136 107 |
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| 14,223 12,068 |
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| £ £ 2,093 1,459 1,369 1,160 806 367 345 335 230 580 203 0 10 74 |
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| 5,056 3,975 |
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| £ £ 3,131 1,322 1,364 1,294 133 0 0 5,000 |
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| 4,628 7,616 |
Hope Chest Community Project - SCO51693 Analysis of Payments 2025 - Continued
| Gifts & Lunches Catering Flowers Gifts Total Gifts & Lunches IT Costs Internet Charges Mobile Data Laptop & Dongle Total IT Costs Total Fashion Show Costs Other Costs CCLI Licence Stationery Consumables Customer Refunds Meeting costs Protective Clothing Auditor Gift David Baum Helping Hand Products for resale Total Other Costs TOTAL COSTS |
£ £ 567 349 367 160 181 298 |
|---|---|
| 1,115 807 |
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| £ £ 268 69 60 57 0 296 |
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| 328 422 |
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| 298 0 £ £ 268 259 182 0 85 472 58 285 42 30 0 237 0 100 0 57 0 55 |
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| 635 1,495 |
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| 42,777 32,422 |
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Hope Chest Community Project Trust
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out above.
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 (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 accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether 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. My examination included 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 examiner’s statement
During my examination, no matter has come to my attention to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached:
In concluding I am satisfied that the accounting records presented to me are complete and that the accounts for year ending 31 December 2025 agree to these.
Name: G D A Thomson
Professional Qualification: Chartered Management Accountant CGMA ACMA
Address: 38 Rosemount Grove, Leven, Fife. KY8 4FY
Date: 11 June 2026