THE BRIDGE 19-40 UNION CANAL SOCIETY {SCIO) (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER 2024 Charity No SC052003
THE BRIDGE 1940 UNION CANAL SOCIETY TRUSTEES REPORT th YEAR ENDED30 SEPTEMBER 2024 Tru5tee5 The trustees of the Scottigh Charitable Incorporated Organisation are trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this reptsrt are collectively referred to as the trustee5. The trustee5 serving during the year ended 30 September 2024 were as follows: All trustees were appointed by the Members of the Society at the Soclety's AGM on 5" December 2023 in accordance with its goveming document- the Constitution of an incorporated body having charitaEle status under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotlandl Act 2005. Charltable Puiposes To advance heritage by promoting awareness of the Union Canal and it5 benefits and helping people to understand the canal's hlstory. To provide recreational activities facilities and activities for our members wlth the primary aim of improving their conditions of life thfOLEh social inteTaction and leisure lime 3Ctivity and to the public at large, by encouraging them to experience the tranquillity of the canal from the water on our passenger boat. To promote. encourage and assist in the restoration, maintenance and use of the Union CaTral particularly around Broxbum, Winchburgi and Philpstoun as an amenity, and recreational watea¥, and to do all things necessary to that end including but not limited to litter pickin& trimming vegetation, and removing obstacles from the water using our workboat. Summary of the maln aGtlYlti6s in rolatlon to the8è objècts To work with all relevant organls3tlons Ipartlcularly Scott15h Canals, local and national government) to keep the waterways, Infrastructure well rnaiAtained, clear and accessible to all. To work with all volunteering groups, boating groups, charltable societies, and others with an interest in the heritage and on-going sustainability of the canal r)etWDrk in Scotland. To maintain the canal and its immediate environment particularly the stretch between Bridges 19-40. To acquire, preserve and restore to original condition wherever possible our vessels, and other equipment. To enable the direct involvement of members in all decisions affecting their lives and adivities on the anal, ro encourage the involvement of volunteers in the restoration and maintenance of the canal. To run Iow-c05t boat trips for the public, 50 that they can experience the tranquillity of the canal.
To share canal heritage and local history on our boat trips. To promote the need for more and betterfacilities for canal users. Including moorings, and services for canal users. To continue to give social and educational SUPPDrt about the heritage of the canal to communities on and beside the canal through events, communications, and involvement with relevant organisations. To raise funds by way of SU¢rIption, donation or otherwise to support Dur artivities. To use any income received by the Society only for the purposes indicated above. Sumrnary of the main achievements of the charity during the financial period Undoubtedlyihe high polni ofthe Sociery'syear was when we were able to announce thal-with the help, kindness. and generosity ot ppIe who attended our fundraising events and grants from a nurnber of private f unders we had reached our funding target which enabled us to purchase a replacement passenger boat. The procurement of the Society's new passenger boat including agreeing her specification. sourcing a builder. and contract negoti8tion, all to ensure that the Society achieved best value which aligns with our business needg. Regular visits to the builder's yard in to check on progress. All those who have visited the yard have been impressed by both the build quality and the bullder's attention to deialL The moneyraised through grants from amongothers the National Lottery Fund Scotland, Edinburgh Airport Community Fund andthe High Fraser Found8tion on the Society's beh81f by our fundraiser and the additional funding provided through others including 8roxburn and Uph8llTown Management Group, Probus andThomas Brown Funerals Broxburn. In December, the Society took part the Broxburn P8ri8h Church Christmas Fayre as a continuing mark of appreciation to the church ladies who had greatly 888i8ted the Society at tts fundrai8ing launch. In Maythe Society allended the official opening ceremonyofwinchburgh Marina. The Society was well repiesented with many metnbers in attend8n¢e and accompanied by the boats Millie and Roseann. In September, members agreèd that a final decision on the name and the colour of the new boat would be rnade at its October meeting. Subsequently members unanimously agreed thatthe name of the new boat would be Heatheibell. following the Society tradition of naming its boats after flowers, ana heather being both Scottish and purple. Members confirmed the decision reached at the August meeting that Ngming Partie3 should be held at both Pon Buchan andWinchbur8h. During the course of the year representatives of the Society attended Broxburn and Uphall Town ManagementGroup. Uphall Communitycentre Management Group, and Lowland Canals User Group. The undoubted low pointoftha y88rw88the sad pgssing of Sylvia Thompson who had greatlv 888iSted the Society in its Fundraising Launch for our new passenger boat in conjunction with Flotilla 200. Adonotion WB8 made in Sylvi8'gmemory in eccordance wfch herfamilty8 wishes. LookingAh8ad
Heatherbell is scheduled for delivery in November. Following her off icial18unch in Easter 2025 naming parties will be held at Port Buchan and Winchburgh to which funders, representatives from the local cornmunity, and Dther cenal users will be invited. Immedi8tely following Heatherbeii's delivery work will start on fitting her out to prep9re her for carryingpassengers by Easter 2025. The Society aim5 to engage with all sec-.ors of lh8 dlsadvantaEed In the communily inclu¢ing unpaid and young carers. the elderly, the terminally ill or those in hospice c8re. We wll re-activate our water safety progr8mme especially for young people, as Wth the closure of ever more swimming pools and leisure facilities, the dangers of going into open water is becoming acute. We will establish a perrnanent presence at Port Buchan although thig will have to wait until ihe work Dn He8therbell is fully completed. We will also look to establish 8 more prominent presence in Winchburgh We will conilnue to bulld our relatlonships and look for turther opportunitiesto work closer with other canal group and the local community more generally. Resenfes Poliry The Trustees have agreed that the reserves policy of the charity should be £IOOO to cover running costs for six months. For the period covered b}, the Report this was maintained in the accounts operated in the name of the Bridge 1940 Union Canal SociÈtVi Charity No SC023110 for the reasons stated in the Additional Information below. Risk Management The trustee5 are assessing the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those relating to its operations and finances. in orderto put systems in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Detalls of any deficft No deficit 15 operated. Additional Information The Bridge 1940 Union Canal society ISCIOI was incorporated z5 a Scottish Charitable Organisation Isaoi on 13 September 2022. However, due to mistakes and delays Dn the part of the Society's bank the new bank account W35 not opened until September 2023. The trustees declare that they have approved the trustses, report above. Signed on behalf of the charty's trustees. SwJnature(s Full name(sl
Position le.g. Chairl Chair Te(tsL4 nor Date INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRIDGE 19-40 UNION CANAL SOCIETY ISCIOI FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30" SEPTEMBER 2024 I report on the finarbcial statements of the above chority for the year ended 30, September 2024 which comprise Recelpis and Payments Account and Statement of Balances, and related notes. Respertwe Responslbilltles 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 CharitEs Accounts (Scotlandl Regulations 2006 {as amended). The charlvs trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulatlon 10 (11 lal to Icl of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does noi apply. It Is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under sectlon 44111 Icl of the Act and to state whether particu13r matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examinerfs Staternent My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts Iscotlandl Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the zccounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the 2c¢ounts presented with these records. It also include5 consideratiorTr of any unusual items or disclosures in the occounts and seeks explanations for the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undenaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit. and consequently I do not expre55 an audit option on the view given by the accounts. Independent Examlnerfs Statement In the course of my examination. no matter has come tD my attention.. iii which gives MÈ reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requtrements; to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44111 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 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanéing of the accounts to be reached. 121
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