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 wate￿a¥,
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 p￿pIe 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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