2024-07-31-accounts

Balloch Castle Country Park Regeneration Group

Annual Report for the Financial Year Ending 31 July 2024

Charity Name : Balloch Castle Country Park Regeneration Group (BCCPRG) Scottish Charity Number : SC052675 Principal Office : 10 Carrochan Crescent, Balloch, G83 8PX

1. Mission and Charitable Purposes

Mission Statement :

To help make Balloch Castle Country Park (BCCP) a place to live well, enjoy the environment, and learn how to protect life on Earth. The BCCPRG works with stakeholders and park users to restore nature, heritage, and recreational assets, and explore income-generating opportunities, with a focus on health, biodiversity, and tackling global warming.

Charitable Purposes :

The purposes of the charity as set out in the constitution are to advance education, citizenship, community development, arts, heritage, sports, environmental protection, and provision of recreational facilities at BCCP. The group focuses on restoring the park’s nature and infrastructure to meet the Scottish Government’s climate and biodiversity targets.

2. Governance and Structure

Trustees and Key Management Personnel :

Structure :

The BCCPRG is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). Trustees are responsible for governance, strategic oversight, and ensuring the charity complies with its charitable purposes.

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3. Activities and Achievements

Key Activities in 2024 :

• Partnership Development : We continued our work with West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) and other stakeholders, progressing toward a formal Partnership Agreement to ensure aligned goals.

• Engagement and Outreach : The group participated in the John Muir Way Celebration, raising awareness of BCCP's biodiversity and recreational value. We also attended the WDC Biodiversity event and facilitated a visitor count, showing 1.2 million annual visits to the park. Our members have given a talk about the group and our work to the Balloch and Haldane Community Council, and to Kilmaronock Development Trust.

• Business Engagement : As part of the Riverwoods Pioneer project, we conducted a Business Engagement Survey, receiving £450 for promoting business involvement in community projects.

• Collaboration : Audrey, our vice chair contributes a quarterly column on trees for The Clydesider, providing educational insights and strengthening community engagement. Additionally, we have partnered with Grand Bequests, specialists in digital imagery and architectural project management, to create visual renderings of potential restoration and repurposing options for Balloch Castle and the North Lodge.

Achievements :

• Strategic Promotion: Successfully engaged with Visit Scotland, with agreement that the promotion of BCCP at Queen Street station should be actively encouraged to boost visitor awareness.

• Park Management Enhancement: Maintained ongoing dialogue with LLTNP (Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park) advocating for an increased Ranger presence in BCCP to enhance visitor experience and park stewardship.

• Technology Integration: Secured approval for the Microsoft for Non-Profits program, enabling the integration of Microsoft 365 to streamline collaboration and document management among trustees and stakeholders.

• Community Partnership : Established a collaborative project with CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) to strengthen ties between the hospice and BCCP, fostering community engagement and support initiatives.

4. Financial Summary

Income :

• Grants: £450

Expenditure :

• Subscriptions: £59.72

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• Printing: £49.00

• Admin Costs: £64.53

Surplus : £276.75

Closing Balance : £1,549.23

This surplus is carried forward into the next financial year, ensuring that we can continue to fund ongoing projects and initiatives. The balance includes both restricted and unrestricted funds for BCCP activities.

5. Future Plans

The BCCPRG aims to further restore and develop BCCP with several ongoing projects:

• Building Restoration : Working with Grand Bequest on the North Lodge survey and potential funding for internal restoration.

• Environmental Projects : Acquiring funding to complete a Natural Capital Account for the Park with support from EFTEC (Economics for the Environment Consultancy). Supporting WDC in implementing INNS removal and Woodland Management Plan.

• Community Engagement : Continuing outreach and collaboration with CHAS and other local partners for educational and volunteer opportunities, including a pop-up café near the castle.

• Fundraising : Finalise and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with WDC to enhance fundraising opportunities. Explore the implementation of QR donation points within the park to facilitate convenient contributions from visitors.

We remain committed to maintaining and enhancing BCCP for both the local community and the wider public, ensuring the park’s legacy for future generations.

6. Financial Review and Independent Examination

The charity's financial records are maintained in accordance with the regulations under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. Our accounts are subject to an independent examination by a qualified examiner.

7. Acknowledgements

We thank all our volunteers, partners, and donors for their continued support. Special thanks to for the banner,

for the photographs,

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and for facilitating our partnership meetings. We also extend our gratitude to West Dunbartonshire Council for supporting the insurance and legal aspects of our work.

Signed by :

Sally Page

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Notes to the Accounts

1. Funds:

No funds are held by the charity.

2. Grants:

No grants were paid out by the charity.

3. Trustee Remuneration:

No remuneration was paid out to a charity trustee.

4. Trustee Expenses:

The following expenses were paid out to trustees:

• Gillian Clark:

• £49.00 for leaflet printing costs

• £64.53 for admin costs

5. Transactions with Trustees and Connected Persons:

Not applicable.

6. Other Information:

• BCCPRG received a grant of £450 from the Riverwoods Pioneer Project for undertaking a business engagement survey.

• Subscription Costs:

• £40.00 Information Commissioner’s Office

• £19.72 Web hosting

Signed by :

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Independent Examiner’s Report

Charity Name: Balloch Castle Country Park Regeneration Group (BCCPRG) Registered Charity Number: SC052675

Financial Year: Year ending 31st July 2024

I report on the accounts of Balloch Castle Country Park Regeneration Group (BCCPRG) for the financial year ended 31st July 2024. This examination has been carried out under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.

Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). It is my responsibility to examine these accounts and report whether they have been prepared in accordance with the relevant legal requirements.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report

My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). An examination includes 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 explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters.

The procedures undertaken do not constitute a full audit and consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention that gives me reasonable cause to believe that:

• Proper accounting records have not been kept, in accordance with Section 44(1)(c) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations.

• The accounts do not agree with those records.

• The receipts and payments accounts do not comply with the relevant Regulations.

I have no concerns that should be drawn to the attention of readers to better understand the accounts. Additionally, I have found no evidence of:

• Any material expenditure or actions not in accordance with the purposes of the charity.

• Information being withheld from me as an independent examiner.

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• Any material differences between the accounts and the annual report prepared by the charity trustees.

This report is provided to the charity trustees for submission to OSCR as part of the charity’s annual reporting obligations.

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