Veterans Chaplaincv Scotland VERANs CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Forthe period IstApril 2025 to 31 March 2026 Scottlsh Charity Number: SC052358
VEfERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO CONTENTS Page Trustee5 Annual Report Independent Examiner's Report Statement of Receipts and Payments Notes to Financial Statements 10-12
VETERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT For the period l April 202S to 31st March 2026 The trustees are pleased to present their annual trustees, report together with the financial Statements ofthe charity for the period l April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Reference and Administrative Infomation Charity Name Veterans Chaplaincy Scotland SCIO Charity Registration Number SC052358 Registered Office Address Iolb Dundee Road, Perth, PH2 7BB Trustees Rev David Coulter (Chair of Trustees) james Crooks (Vice-chair of Trustees) Rev Mike Goodison (Resigned March 2026) Douglas Roberts Malcolm Cannon Pam Bellis Nicola Frail Tim Carmichael William Brian Howieson Key Management Personnel Philip Patterson, Programme Co-ordinator julie Marker, Charity Manager Independent Examiner Gerald Bell Bankers Unity Trust Bank plc Nine Brindley Place Birmingham, Bl 2HB
VETERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO Structure Governance and Management Constithtlon The Charity is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (a SCIO). It was registered in its current legal form on 27 February 2023. The Charity was established from the winding up of the charity Workplace Chaplaincy Scot13nd- SC041857. Appointment of Trustees The Trustees of the charity are lo]own as the Board of Trustees. The Article5 of AsSOC13tion set out the requirements regarding the Charitys Trnstees as Follows: The number ofappointedTrustees shall be no more than 8 but no less than 3 Each Appointed Trustee is appointed for a term of 4 years and can be reappointed for a second terni Objectives and Activities Charitsble Purposes The charitable purposes of the charity are: To promote, develop and tnanage a Christian chaplaincy which provides pastoral and spiritual support, care. and guidance to the Veterans. community in Scotland To train, support and develop both lay and ordained people to engage in Veterans, Chaplaincy iu Scotland To meet these objectives, the charl5 main aims are= l. To offer a proactive service providing pastoral care to our veterans and their families promoting hope, healing, and acceptance: 2. Deliver pastoral care to anyone who has left the armed services, providing that support for those of all faiths and none; 3. Continue the in-service provision of chaplaincy for veterans and their families,. 4. Provide chaplains who can speak the'language. of veterans and relate to these specific circumstances in a way that other agencies may not; 5. Provide a valuable link between veterans, our faith, and our social communities. enabling veterans to engage with the support they need, and bring their own glfts and experiences to life,. 6. To ensure that chaplains will, always, function within the chariWs guidelines and codes of good practice,. 7. To generate income from charitable donations and securing grant ndIng from organisations who support the work of Veterans Chaplaincy Scotland, including various armed forces benevolent and veterans, funds.
VETERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO Achievernents and Perforniance The charity obtained SCIO status on 27th February 2023. This report covers the 12-rnonth period- l April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Veterans Chaplaincy Scotland (VCS) provide5 a continuation of in-service chaplaincy to those who have left the armed services, bringing pastoral support to veterans and their families, of all faiths and none. VCS is an independent charity providing spiritual and pastoral care to the veterans, community. Since April 2025. VCS chaplains have engaged with 2486 members OF the veteran community leading to 333 one to one engagements for ongoing pastoral care. VCS chaplains delivered a total of 550 hours (travel and preparation an additional 285 hrs) of one-to-one chaplaincy. 32% of the work is with groups of veterans, 68% one to one engagement. In total, VCS Chaplains report engaging with veterans on 486 occasions during the reporting period. The VCS training programme for chaplains includes core trainlng in.. . Safeguarding and Confidentiality . Active Listening . Media and Sodal Medla Introduction to Chaplaincy . Reflertive Practice and Pastoral Conversatlons In addition, our optional speclaltst training rnodules dellvered by SME are.. • Trauma and Moral Injury Awareness (TAMI) . Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Suicide Interventions (SFA) • Bereavement Support . Pastoral Narrative Disclosure (PND) • Trauma Risk Management (TRIM) VCS chaplains offer a wide spectrum of support to veterans, ranging from bereavement care to general life review and Moral Injury (MI) support. The work is focused on provlding a presence that can facilitate a safe/sacred space for engagement. Chaplains connect locally with their veteran community, attending veteran functions (legion meetings, veteran cafe's. Drop-in centres, veterans, workplaces, veteran support agencies) and leading events such as Rernembrance. funerals, memorials, carol services, VCS walk and lunch events. This chaplainry presence in the community develops relationships which veterans then may call upon for specific support in times of distress. VCS ha5 three care 'pathways' in which it provides specific support to veterans regarding: Bereavement care, LSfe review, and Moral Injury.
VERANs CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO Acknowledgement Since its establishment, Veterans Chaplaincy Scotland has been supported by donations from Scottish Armed Forces, Veterans Foundation and RAF Benevolent Fund as well as donations from other organisations and individuals with an interest in the veterans, community. This ministry is only made possible through this continued support. Financial Review Income forthe period l April 2025 to 31st March 2026 amounted to £42,380 (2025 .. £49.803). This includes operational income of £19,433 received from Veterans Foundation. Expenditure during the period amounted to £37,184 (2025 . £48,403) giving a surplus for the period of 5,196 (2025 £1,400). At 31st March 2026 reserves, all oFwhich were unrestricted, stood at £20,627 (2024.. £15,431) Reserves Policy It is the aspiration ofthe CharityTrustees to worktowards a position wherewe can ensure we have reserves to rneet 3 months operational costs. Risk Management The principal risk to the charity relates to the reliability of sources of future funding at a time when there are growing demands for charitable services. In addition, the Risk Register is being developed to monitor risks of Reputation. Fraud and Lone Working. Plans for Future Periods VCS will continue to identify funding opportunities and apply for funding throughout the year spreading the risk across a raft of funders within the sector. VCS has secured the services of a fund raiser to identify potential funding opportunitie5. It is the Trustee'5 intention to ensure resilience through the employment of two salaried roles (project manager and operations officer) and has identified a potential long term ndIng source for salaries. VCS continue5 to recruit and train volunteer chaplains looking for a core of around 30 volunteers to ensure the geographical spread of availability of pastoral care to veterans and their families. VCS will continue to engage with larger organisations, being a member of Veterans Scotland, attaining membership of the SCVO, being a stakeholder in the Scottish Government's Veteran's Mental Health Pathway. The prlncipal funding aim will be to secure longer term (3-5 year) nding.
VEfERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO Organtsathnal SIrnre Currentjy. VCS ES made up of I saiarted etnployee (Charity Man3ger) and 2 sessional workery- Progratnme Co-ordinator and Offi¢0 Administrator (both IVA) and 20 Volunteer Chaplains. Goii?g furward, the vision is te employ the PrograTne Co-ordlnator and Office Administrator on a salaried basis dependent on senfrii]g long term fulldirjg. avld Coulter CB, Ostl. QHC (Cbalrof Trustees)
VEfERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO INDENDENT EL4MINER'S REPORT For the perlod l Aprfl 2025 to 31 Marth 2026 I report on the accounts for the pertod l Aprll 2025 to 31 March 2026 as setout on pages 7 to 9. Res• rwonslblllties ofthe Trustees and the tndependent Exami The Charis Trustees are responslble for the preparation ofthe accounts in accordance with the ternis ofthe Charlties and Trustee Invesknent (Scotland) Art 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scodand) Regulations 200& The charitys Trnstees eonsider thatthe audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d)of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It Is Tlly responsibility to examlne the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Art and to state whether particular matters have come to myattentlon. Basts of independent oxamlnerfs report My examlnatlon Is orr5ed out In accordance wlth Regulation 11 ofthe Charities Accounts (Scodand) Regulations 2006 (as amended). kn examlnation Includes a rev(ew of the accounting records kept by the charlty and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also Includes consideratlon of any unusual items or dlsclosures In the atcounts and seeks explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matter& The procedure5 undertaken do not provlde all the evidence that would be required In an audiL and consequendy I do not express an audlt oplnion on the vlew given by the accounts. Independent examlnerfs statement In the course ofmy exaMInado no matterhas come to myattention: whlch glve5 me reasonable cause to belleve that In anymaterial respect the requlrements: O to keep accounting records in accordance wlth Sertion 44 (1)(a) of the 2005 A¢ Reguladon 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations and.. to prepare acUnts which accord with the accoundng records and complywIth RegulatEon 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations (as amended) have not been met or 2. to which, In my oplnlon, atteniion should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding ofthe attounts to be reached. Gerald Bell Slgnature 3 1Olay8ide. Dalry Castle Douglas DG7 3UY Date.. 10th August 2026
VETERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO STATEMENT OF Receipts and Payments Forthe period l April 2025 to 31rt March 2026 Unrestricted Restricted 31103/2026 2025 RECEIPTS Donations Grant5 (Veterans Foundation) SVWA (Napier University) 12,347 12,347 19,433 10,600 19,803 30,000 10,600 19,433 10,600 Total Receipts 22,947 19,433 42,380 49,803 PAYMENTS Cost of Charitable activities Governance Costs 17.751 19,433 37,184 48,403 Total Payments 17,751 19,433 37,184 48,403 Surplus (Deficit) for the period 5.196 5,196 1,400 Statement of Balances - As at 31 March 2026 Unrestrirted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2026 Total 2025 Opening Cash at Bank and in hand Surplus (Deficit) for the period 15.431 5,196 15,431 5,196 1,400 C105in8 Cash in hand and in Bank 20,627 20,627 1,400 Bank and Cash Balances Bank CurrentAccount Cash in Hand 20,627 20,627 15,032 20,627 20.627 15,032
VETERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO Notes to the Financial Statements for the period IstApril 2025 to 31st March 2026 l. Basis ofAccountlng The accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the term5 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 2. Nature and Purpose of Funds The unrestricted funds are applied by the Trustees in the furtherance of the charitys charitable objectives There were no restricted funds for the period covered by these accounts 3. Trustees Trustees receive no remuneration. No expenses were reimbursed to Trustees or related parties during the year 4. Fixed Assets No fixed assets were held, or purchased, by the charity during the period covered by these accounts 5. Donations Unrestrirted Funds Restrirted Funds Total 2026 2025 Regular Monthly Donations Donations - Churches Other Donation5 Events Fundraising Training Income SVWA Income (Napier Univ.) 5,600 5,797 950 5,600 5,797 950 2,420 2,940 10.718 378 725 222 10,600 10,600 22.947 22,947 17,403 6. Grants Received Unrestricted Funds Restrirted Funds Total 2026 2025 Veterans Foundation BFBS 19,433 19,433 30,000 2,400 io
VETERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO 19,433 19,433 32,400 7. Cost of Charitable Activities UnrestrIrted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2026 2025 Payroll Costs (Charity Manager) Sessional Costs Fundraiser Costs Sessional Expenses Volunteer Chaplain Expenses Insurance Advertising / Recruitment VCS events and activities MHFA Training Membership Fee IT Support Bank Charges Accounting Charges (Xero) 2,900 16,533 2,900 27,782 200 38,563 11,249 200 1,591 2,694 579 480 367 370 iio 36 73 600 2,694 579 480 367 370 iio 36 73 551 7,018 loo 1,500 71 17,751 19,433 37,184 48,403 8. Governance Costs Independent Examiners Fee (i) Funds received from Veternns Foundation in April 2025 were originally restricted to pay salaries. Veterans Foundation granted retrospective permission to allow u5 to use those funds to meet operational costs thereby rendering them unrestricted (i) Payroll Costs in 2025 were for the 3 sessional worker5. This has now been split for 2026 (li) Charity Manager costs for Jan to Feb 2026 are 3112 of annual salary due to delays in getting payroll system set up (li) In 2025 Accounts. Volunteer Chaplain Expenses and Training Costs were included within VCS Events & Activities li
VEfERANS CHAPLAINCY SCOTLAND SCIO DavidCouttttCB, Ostl, QHC (Chalr of Trustees) 12