Moray Flying Circus Accounts and Trustees’ Annual Report April 2024 to April 2025
Charity contact information
Moray Flying Circus
Scottish Charity Number: SC053314
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Charity Trustees
Name all of your charity trustees for the period, and the date they left if they were not in post for the whole year
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5. Deborah Hedley
Objectives and activities
“Moray Flying Circus aims to promote mental and physical wellbeing in children and adults, of all backgrounds and abilities, through the joy of aerial and circus. Circus connects education, physical art and social development, empowering people to engage, learn, play, connect with others, and share skills. Crossing social boundaries, circus is a
transformative tool for building confidence and resilience through play and creativity. Using a combination of both funded and paid for opportunities, we offer training, performances and sessions in a welcoming and inclusive environment. We aim to, wherever possible, specifically reach marginalised groups that may not otherwise have such opportunities”
We deliver regular circus and aerial classes, workshops, performances and events in Moray and across Scotland. We aim to create affordable opportunities to connect with creativity and circus, whilst also promoting mental and physical wellbeing.
Structure, governance and management
A formally constituted charity, registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
Our governing document is a constitution filed with OSCR.
Trustee recruitment and appointment
Our five trustees were appointed upon the formation of the charity, which was constituted on 29[th] April 2024. The recruitment process of the trustees was via invitation of the founders and employees of Moray Flying Circus.
They were appointed based on their knowledge of the work Moray Flying Circus did before it was formed as a charity, or their experience as professionals working in the third sector, or their experience as creative and circus professionals in the UK in their own business. This gives the trustees a varied experience of those who are running similar work and those who have experience of the people potentially benefitting from this work.
Achievements and performance
Over the accounting period we delivered 4 blocks of our regular Thursday and Sunday aerial classes, as well as two blocks of circus skills classes for younger children at Forres Community Centre.
We received £2000 in funding from the Newbold Trust that was spent during the accounting period in full. This funded many of our start-up costs, from creating and hosting our website, paying for our Public and Employers Liability Insurance, supporting subsidised places on our regular classes, a kit safety check and a promotional event for our newly founded charity. This event was filmed and photographed, leaving us with a high quality video and images that we can use to further fundraise for our work.
We also received £3370 funding from Moray Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund to support the delivery of a week long Summer camp with sessions running for young people during the day and adults in the evening. The funding allowed participants to attend whatever their socio-economic status, helping achieve our aims of making circus accessible to all. As part of this week-long summer camp we organise a student showcase, which is a performance opportunity for all of the young people who take part in the camp and any of our adult students who want to perform. The young people create a group performance and individual routines on the ground and in the air, and then in the second half of the performance the adults perform their aerial routines. For this showcase we hired the town hall in Forres, as well as lights, and we had the whole event filmed, creating a promotional video to highlight some of the work we do.
We were also successful in our funding application to tsiMoray’s Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Year 4, to support circus outreach programmes to young people aged 16 - 25 years across Moray. None of this was spent as it is for our project delivery in the year 2025 to 2026.
We delivered numerous circus skills sessions for Moray Council, for their youth department primarily.
We worked with Gordonstoun’s school to deliver workshops and choreograph aerial sequences for their Christmas production of Peter Pan. As part of this we taught students who had never previously done aerial, sequences that could be worked into the production, and provided aerial rigging, equipment and safety for the duration of the rehearsals and performances.
Our team of instructors, and some of our students, performed at the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Gairloch Highland Games, The Gathering Festival in Inverness, The Grant Park 100 years celebration.
After our formation, but just before our formal constitution as a charity, we took four young people to the National Circus Centre’s Youth Circus Exchange in London.
We hosted aerial workshop by international aerial rope teacher for our more experienced students, teachers and visiting students from further afield.
Financial review
In the financial year 2024/25, Moray Flying Circus was awarded a total of £14,871 in restricted funding.
-
£2000 from Newbold Legacy Trust was spent on setting up MFC as a charity, as detailed earlier
-
£3370 from the UK Shared Prosperity fund was spent in running a Summer Circus Camp, as detailed earlier
-
£9501 from TSI Moray’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing fund was received in March 2025, and none was spent during the 2024/25 financial year.
Thus, £9501 of restricted funds were unspent, with £5370 spent.
Moray Flying Circus generates its own unrestricted funds in the form of profit from regular aerial classes, and paid workshops, events and performances. The majority of income from these sources is used to cover teacher/leader fees, travel and admin time. Any additional profit is used to supplement costs for replenishing equipment like the circus toys or aerial rigging. This additional profit will form our unrestricted reserves.
During the 2024/25 financial year, MFC had an unrestricted income of £23,110. MFC made total payments of £23,115, leaving our unrestricted funds £5 in deficit. We forecast that our reserves will increase in 2025/26, following this initial year of investment in equipment and set-up costs.
Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
We aim to have reserves of £2000 to fall back on in emergency and for unforeseen contingencies. Any further unrestricted funds above this sum that we might receive will be spent on achieving our goals as stated in our ‘Mission statement’.
We are currently well below this amount as we have only been running a year. Funding applications are in process and we continue to earn funds
from some of the events we are paid to work at.
Details of any deficit
As of April 5th 2025, Moray Flying Circus had £9496. We had £9501 of unspent restricted funding, meaning that MFC technically had a £5 deficit in unrestricted funding at the end of the financial year.
Donated facilities and services
NA
Future plans
In the coming financial year 2025 to 2026, we plan to deliver our Circus Connects project and NHS Grampian project. These two funded projects will be delivering circus skills sessions to youth groups and young people in various locations around Moray, in particular areas that are considered more isolated, including Buckie, Keith and Aberlour.
We plan to continue our regular weekly classes, following the school term timetable, and offering subsidised places wherever possible. In both the Circus Connects and NHS Grampian projects we have a dedicated pot of money for subsidising places in our regular classes.
We aim to continue our work with Moray youth work team, UHI Moray, Moray Pride and other organisations, as well as continue to be part of the Moray Pathways network.
Additional information
Declaration
Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:
Print name
Designation
Trustee for Moray Flying Circus
Date
16/12/25
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Moray Flying
Circus Trust
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended April 5th 2025 which are set out on page 5 of the Trustees Report.
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. 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 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
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
Have been met
Relevant Professional qualification/professional body: Company Director
Date: 25/11/2025
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Moray . . $C05331
Flying Circus 4
Receipts and payments accounts
For the to
period from
Section A
Statement
of receipts
and
payments
Unrestricted Expendable Permanent Totel
funds Restricted endowment end ent funds Total funds lasi
funds funds fun4 current period
period
tonearest£ tonearest£ tonearest£ to nearest
£ to nearest to nearest [£]
Ai Receipts
Donations T_
| i, [——s]
| _
Grants || 14,871 14,871
Receipts from
fundraising
activities
Gross trading
receipts
Income from
investments
other than land
and buildings
Rents from land
& buildings
Gross receipts
from other
charitable
activities
esee | | [|]
A1 Sub total _23,110]] 14,871 37,981
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A2 Receipts
from asset &
investment sales
Proceeds from
assets
pansttee |
Proceeds from
sale of
investments
A2 Subtotal ——-
Total receipt] 23.110)[_14.87J[|] L__JLszs8i]/_
A3 Payments
Expenses for
fundraising
activities
Gross trading
payments | atte 23.6
Investment
management
costs
Payments
relating directly
to charitable 5,370 5,370
activities
Grants and
fonatons | | [4
Governance
costs:
Audit /
independent
Preparation of
annual
accounts
|_Legalcosts} | |
Other! dC =
eeee | |
A3 Sub total __23,115)
A4 Payments
relating to asset
and investment
movements
Purchases of | ot dt
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Purchase of
investments
A4 Subtotal__—-
Net pt:
A5 Transfers
to / (from)
funds
Surplus
(deficit) fo ( 5) 9,496
yea
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Section B Statemen t of balances
Unrestricted Restricted expendane Permanent Total Lies funds funds endowment endowment current ast funds funds period period to nearest£ tonearest£ to nearest£ to nearest £ o nearest to nearest Cash and bank balances at start of year Surplus / B1 Cash (deficit) funds shown on receipts and payments account | | | | | | Cash and bank balances
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at end of
year
(Agree
balances
with
receipts
and
payments
account(s
))
Details Fund to which asset belongs weet Last year
to nearest to nearest
£ £
B2
Investments — ee
Total
Details Fund to which asset belongs _CO8t (if ue4 Last year
available) available)
to nearest £ to nearest to nearest
B3 Other
assets
Total
Details Fund to which liability relates = A"OUNt Last year
to nearest to nearest
£ £
Total
Amount
Details Fund to which liability relates due Last year
(estimate)
to nearest to nearest
£ £
B5
Contingent
liabilities
Total
Signed by one
One eer Sk Signature Print Name approval
the trustees
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15/12/2
5
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pe Pf Ed
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Section C
Notes to the
Accounts
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Gross trading receipts’ includes fees for regular classes, one-off workshops, holiday camps, performances etc: all activities not related to funded programmes. Funding from TSI Moray, UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Newbold Legacy Trust was restricted and C1 Nature and funds were used to support specific programmes. None of the TSI purpose of funds = [Moray funding was spent during the 2024/25 financial year, as it was (may be stated on _|awarded towards the end of the financial year. The programme analysis of funds _ |funded by TSI Moray is currently underway in 2024/25. Aims of these worksheets) funded programmes include improving mental health and increasing physical activity through circus activities. Each programme has a target group: those struggling with their mental health; rural isolation; additional support needs; age groups or geographical areas identified as struggling with poverty.
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Type of activity or project Individual / Number of £
supported institution grants made
Total
C3a Trustee If no remuneration was paid during the period to any
remuneration charity trustee or person connected to a trustee cross X
this box (otherwise complete section 3b)
Authority under which paid £
C3b Trustee
remuneration -
details
C4a Trustee If no expenses were paid to any charity trustee during
expenses the period then cross this box (otherwise complete X
section 4b)
Number of £
trustees
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expenses-details [CEC
F Balance
Nature . . . Transaction :
of relationshir Nature of transactior amount (£) period end (2)
C5 Transactions with
trustees and
connected persons
C6 Other information |
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Additional analysis (1)
Analysis of receipts and payments 1 Donations
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Expendabl
. . Permanent Total Total
funds t funds period period
tonearest£ to nearest£ to nearest£ to nearest to t to
£ aes nearest £
| |
a ee
| |
Total a| ee|
#REF! #REF! PREF#REF! PREF #REFI PREF#REF! PREF #REFI
Unrestricted Restricte einen ers
funds d funds . .
period period
tonearest£ to nearest£ nearest£ ba nearest nearest 5
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2 Grants
Unrestricted Restricte
funds d funds
tonearest£ to nearest£ nearest£
Newbold
Legacy Trust
TSI Moray
Community
Mental Health
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Total last period to neareet
Total last period nearest
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| |
UK Shared
Prosperity 3,370 3,370
Fund
| | |
Total
#REFI #REFI PREF PREF#REFI#REFI
3 Gross receipts from other charitable activities
Unrestricted Restricte Expendab! Permanent Total
funds d funds endowment endowmen current
funds t funds period
tonearest£ to nearest
to nearest£ to nearest £ to nearest £ £
|
|
|e
|
|
|
|
|e
Total |
#REF! #REF! #REF! #REF! #REF!
4 Payments relating directly to charitable activities
Unrestricted Restricte Expondan Permanent Total
funds endowmen current
d funds ongowmnent t funds period
tonearest£ to nearest£ to nearest
£ to nearest £ bad nearest
Newbold
Legacy Trust
TSI Moray
Community
Mental Health
Fund
UK Shared
Prosperity 3,370 3,370
Fund
| | |
PS | |
| | |
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|
3,370
|
PREF#REFI#REFI PREF #REFI
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REF!
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|
|e
| |
Total 5,370 5,370
#REF! #REF! #REF! #REF! #REF!
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Additional analysis (3) 6 Breakdown of restricted funds
Total resticted restricted funds funds last period
Receipts
| Receipts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts from | ee |
ee |
||
| fundraising | ||||
| activities | ||||
| Gross trading | ||||
| receipts | ||||
| Income from | ||||
| investments other | ||||
| than land and | ||||
| buildings | ||||
| Rents from land & | ||||
| buildings | ||||
| Gross receipts | ||||
| from other | ||||
| charitable | ||||
| activities |
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||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Sub tota [2,00|9.s0|[_|3.37|IL|a7)|
|#REF!|
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Receipts from asset & investment
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||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|sales|
|Proceeds|from|
|sale|of|fixed|
|Proceeds|from|
|investments|
|Sub|tota|
|Total receipts [2,00[__9.507][__3.370[__IL|[er]]|
|#REF!|
|Payments|
|Expenses|for|
|fundraising|
|activities|
|Gross|trading|
|peynents||||ee|-|
|Investment|
|management|i|||yf||:|
|Payments|relating|
|directly|to|
|charitable|3,370|5,370|
|activities|
|Grants|and|
|fonatone,|||||
|Governance|
|ia|||ee|-|
|Audit|
|examination|
|/Ay|
|||ennuatacoani||Preparation of|ee|_|
|||||
|ee |ee|||||[tC]|
|ee |||||;|
|Sub|tota:||2,000__|
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Payments relating to asset and investment
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movements
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Purchases of fixed
assets
Purchase of
investments
Sub tota
#REF!
#REF!
(payments,
Transfers to /
(from) funds
for yeal
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Nature and
purpose of funds
Newbold Legacy Trust: this fund was instrumental in establishing MFC as a charity. It allowed us to create a website, marketing materials, and a launch event for the charity which enabled us to network with useful organisations and potential participants. It allowed the charity to purchase equpment: this let us apply for funding for larger projects. It also allowed us to provide subsidised places on our regular classes for low-income families. UK Shared Prosperity Fund: this fund enabled MFC to run heavily subsidised circus camps for children and adults who would not otherwise afford to attend. TSI Moray Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund: this funds our 'Circus Connects’ project, which aims to target teens and young adults facing rural isolation and poverty. A programme of free circus skills and aerial workshops across three rural towns is underway.
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Additional
analysis
2)
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5 Breakdown of unrestricted funds
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.
Total Total
unrestricted unrestricted
funds funds last
period
Receipts
| FCS
| TCs
|
Receipts from
fundraising
activities
areceipts ptt
Income from
investments
other than
land and
buildings
Rents from
land &
buildings
from other
charitable
activitiesGross receipts - -
Sub tota, 23,110| D310]
#REF!
Receipts from
asset &
investment
sales
Proceeds from
sale of fixed
Proceeds from
sale of
investments
Sub tota
Total receipts S|| | A |
#REF!
Payments
Expenses for
fundraising
activities
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Gross trading
poyments > || 238 | [zaats]
Investment
management oo po -
Payments
relating
directly to
charitable z
Grants and
fonatone || -
Governance
an -
Audit/
aexamination =
Preparation of
annual oe p:
TC
ee | | [tC]
ee | |
Sub tota,|__23,115 | [23,115]
#REF!
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Payments relating to asset and investment movements
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Purchases of
Purchase of
Sub tota
#REF!
payments
#REF!
(payments,
Transfers to /
(from) funds
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Surplus;
yeal
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Nature and purpose of
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Additional analysis (3) 6 Breakdown of restricted funds
exited restrictedTotal funds funds last period
Receipts
| Receipts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Receipts fundraising activities Grosstrading |
ee** | ** el eS ** |
| investments other | ||
| than land and | ||
| buildings | ||
| Rentsfromland&ee fromomer from other |
ee LLL |
activities Sub tota:|__2,000}]Lt __9,504|}[—}—_-..] #REF!
| #REF! | ||
|---|---|---|
| Receiptsfrom | ||
| asset & investment | ||
| sales | ||
| sale of fixed | ||
| assets | ||
| sale of | ||
| investments | ||
| Sub tota | ||
| #REF! | ||
| Payments | yy - fundraising activities payments |
|
| Payments relating directly to E activities |
||
| Grants and fonatons |
ea |
|
| #REF! |
Payments relating
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to asset and
investment
movements
assets
Purchase of
#REF!
#REF!
(payments,
payments, |__ 9601 zx)
Transfers to /
(from) funds
foryeal
#REF!
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purpose of funds
Newbold Legacy Trust: this fund was instrumental in establishing MFC as a charity. It allowed us to create a website, marketing materials, and a launch event for the charity which enabled us to network with useful organisations and potential participants. It allowed the charity to purchase equpment: this let us apply for funding for larger projects. It also allowed us to provide subsidised places on our regular classes for low-income families. UK Shared Prosperity Fund: this fund enabled MFC to run heavily subsidised circus camps for children and adults who would not otherwise afford to attend. TSI Moray Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund: this funds our 'Circus Connects’ project, which aims to target teens and young adults facing rural isolation and poverty. A programme of free circus skills and aerial workshops across three rural towns is underway.