Fèis Phàislig Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 August 2024
Charity Number SC053367 Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO)
Fèis Phàislig Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 August 2024
Contents
Trustees' report (incorporating the strategic report) ......................................................... 2 - 6 Independent examiner's report ............................................................................................... 7 Statement of receipts and payments (incorporating the income and expenditure account) .. 8 Balance sheet ........................................................................................................................ 9 Notes to the financial statements ................................................................................. 10 - 14
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Fèis Phàislig
Trustees’ Report
The trustees present their report and the charity’s financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, Its Trustees and Advisors
The registered name of the charity is “Fèis Phàislig SCIO”.
Fèis Phàislig SCIO is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), registered in Scotland (charity number SCO53367) and as such, is exempt from Income and Corporation Tax in relation to its charitable activities.
Registered Office
The registered address of the Organisation is:
Current Trustees
The Trustees are as follows:
Along with the above, the following non-executive committee members form the operational committee of the Organisation:
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Fèis Phàislig
Structure, Governance and Management
Organisational Structure
On 17 May 2024, the organisation transitioned from an unincorporated charity (SC045342) to a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), with the new charity number SC053367. All assets and liabilities were transferred, and the former charity has now been formally wound up.
The governing document of the Organisation is the constitution, adopted on 2 November 2014. A revised constitution was approved by the charity trustees on 6 October 2024, following the Organisation’s transition to SCIO status. This new constitution will apply in full from the 2024–25 financial year onwards.
Board Meetings are held regularly, especially in the period prior to the Fèis week, and have full, strategic decision-making responsibility. All Trustees are entitled to attend these meetings.
Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting held in November. Newly appointed Trustees are subject to a formal induction process as part of their appointment. This process involves briefings from the Chair and operational overviews.
Day-to-day operational management of the Organisation is carried out by the committee, with the assistance of volunteers.
All Trustees give their time voluntarily and are not remunerated for their roles with the exception of . Grant receives a monthly fee for his contracted work as Fèis Director, and is also paid for his roles as a tutor in the Weekly Lessons programme, as part of the Stramash for Schools tour, as a musician performing at external events, and as the coordinator for the Fèis Week event in July. These rates are commensurate with those paid to other tutors, musicians, and coordinators delivering similar work for the organisation.
Additional Governance Issues
All committee members and any volunteers are required by Fèisean nan Gàidheal to undergo checks under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme), which is administered by Disclosure Scotland. is the nominated Child Protection Officer within the committee.
Fèisean nan Gàidheal is the umbrella body for all Fèisean, of which the Organisation is a member.
Objectives and Activities
Fèis Phàislig SCIO is established for charitable purposes, specifically:
a) Cultural Promotion: To promote interest, education and participation in Gaelic language, traditional music, and cultural heritage, with a particular focus on Paisley and Renfrewshire.
b) Community Engagement: To plan, programme, and deliver a year-round calendar of events and activities, working in collaboration with local musical, arts and educational bodies to enrich cultural life and community engagement.
c) Youth Empowerment: To provide accessible, high-quality opportunities for children and young people to experience Gaelic culture and traditional music, fostering confidence, inclusivity, and cultural pride.
To achieve these aims, the organisation delivers a year-round programme of events and learning opportunities for children and young people aged 5–25 in the Renfrewshire area. This includes an
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annual ‘Fèis Week’, a programme of weekly instrumental classes, a summer ‘Cèilidh Trail’ for earlycareer musicians, and a Gaelic Choir project. Further information can be found at www.feisphaislig.com.
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Fèis Phàislig
Strategic Report
Achievements, Performance and Plans for Future Periods
Fèis Phàislig was established in November 2014 to provide traditional music opportunities for young people in Renfrewshire. In 2024, we reached over 14,500 participants through our core programme of events and outreach, continuing our commitment to promoting traditional music and Gaelic culture across the region.
A key milestone during the year was our transition to SCIO status, strengthening the organisation’s legal structure and governance, and allowing us to operate with increased resilience and sustainability.
We are grateful for the continued support of our funders, including Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Renfrewshire Council, and other local partners. Their contributions were vital in allowing us to deliver meaningful opportunities for children and young people throughout the year.
We are especially thankful to our dedicated tutors, staff, and volunteers whose work underpins the success of our projects. Their commitment ensures that every participant enjoys a high-quality and inspiring experience.
Below are highlights of our key activities and accomplishments during the 2023–24 financial year:
Fèis Week (Seachdain na Fèise):
Our eighth annual Fèis Week ran from 16–18 July 2024 at Johnstone High School. The event welcomed 173 participants across three tailored streams: Fèis Bheag (ages 5–7), Main Fèis (ages 8–18), and Advanced Fèis (S1–S6). A wide range of music and arts workshops were delivered by professional tutors, including a new Music Production strand. The week concluded with separate performances for Fèis Bheag and the Main/Advanced groups, showcasing participants’ progress to an audience of over 250 family members and friends.
Weekly Lessons (Clasaichean gach Seachdain):
Our weekly instrumental classes ran from September 2023 to June 2024, welcoming 97 young people aged 5–18 – a significant increase from the previous year. The programme included accordion, fiddle, guitar, and music theory tuition, as well as our early years stream (Fèis Bheag) and Advanced Band for older learners. Highlights included end-of-term concerts and care home performances as part of our Local Partnership outreach work.
Schools Engagement & Outreach:
Our ‘Stramash for Schools’ tour reached 10,918 pupils across 42 schools in April–May 2024. In addition, our Youth Music Initiative (YMI) programme engaged 989 pupils across 23 schools, delivering traditional music and Gaelic sessions in tin whistle and song. Our ASN Traditional Music Project continued in two ASN schools, supporting around 60 pupils with additional needs through regular, accessible music sessions.
Gaelic Choir (Còisir Ghàidhlig):
Our Gaelic Choir met weekly and performed at a number of high-profile events, culminating in a 1st Prize win in the Unison section at the Royal National Mòd in Oban in October 2024. The project continues to provide a valuable cultural experience for around 10 young people.
Other Projects:
• Our Early Years Gaelic & Music Showcase reached 44 early years centres across Renfrewshire.
• Local Partnership funding supported intergenerational performances in care homes and community events, reaching over 1,400 attendees.
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• Our monthly newsletter and regular social media activity continue to support engagement and promote opportunities to new audiences.
• No Ceilidh Trail was delivered in 2024, allowing the organisation to focus on SCIO transition and strategic planning.
As we approach our 10th anniversary in 2025, we remain focused on delivering accessible, inclusive and high-quality opportunities that celebrate Scotland’s traditional arts and promote Gaelic language and culture for young people across Renfrewshire and beyond.
Grant McFarlane Fèis Director January 2025
Financial Review
Financial Summary
The net incoming resources of the Organisation for the year amounted to £9,615 (2023: £56,957). Funding of £57,828 (2023: £121,460) was received from a number of public bodies and charitable organisations with related objectives, with further income of £86,774 (2023: £40,203) being generated from the Organisation’s charitable activities and activities for generating funds.
Expenditure during the year has supported the key objectives of the Organisation by enabling the activities described under Achievements and Performance above.
Some of the funding received in the year is conditional on the Organisation incurring the expenditure outlined in the various funding applications submitted. The trustees are confident that these conditions have been met, such that none of the funds received should become repayable. Funds of £107,250 are held at the year end.
The statement of receipts and payments is set out on page 8.
The level of business and the year end position of the Organisation were both entirely satisfactory and the level of retained funds are sufficient to allow the Organisation to operate for the foreseeable future.
Equal Opportunities in Employment and Disabled Employees
The Organisation is committed to ensuring that the ethos and principles of equality of opportunity and valuing diversity are embedded in all aspects of service delivery and are a guiding principle for all its activities. The Organisation strives to embrace a positive attitude towards the promotion of equality and diversity and to create a working environment which is inclusive of everyone regardless of ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, carer responsibility, race, nationality, social or economic status, trade union membership or activity.
By Order of the Board of Trustees
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Independent examiner's report
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024 which are set out on pages 8 to 14.
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) 2005 Act and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the 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 report
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. 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 accounts.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
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have not been met, or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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Fèis Phàislig
Statement of Receipts and Payments
for the year ended 31 August 2024
| Note Incoming resources Generated Funds Grant/Voluntary Income 2 Activities for Generating Funds: 2 Fèis week income Ceilidh External events Incoming Resources from Charitable Activities: Fèis subscriptions Weekly lesson subscriptions Ceilidh trail Youth Music Initiative Stramash Renfrewshire Council – Early Years Instrument hire Sundry Total incoming resources Resources expended Charitable activities: Income Generation 3 Asset purchase Total resources expended Surplus / (deficit) for the year |
General Reserve (Year ended 31 August 2024) General Reserve (Year ended 31 August 2023) £ £ 57,828 121,460 1,697 4,224 - - 5,113 3,605 16,605 12,862 21,110 14,214 - 24,597 7,689 3,000 2,552 - - - 3,180 2,280 3,783 445 |
|---|---|
| 144,602 161,663 |
|
| 134,134 104,671 853 35 |
|
| 134,987 104,706 |
|
| 9,615 56,957 |
The notes to these financial statements form part of these financial statements.
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Fèis Phàislig
Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2024
| Note Funds reconciliation Cash at bank and in hand (opening) Surplus / (deficit) in the year Cash at bank and in hand (closing) Other assets Music equipment (at cost) 4 Cash at bank and in hand Bank deposit account Paypal account Total cash at bank and in hand |
31 August 2024 £ 31 August 2023 £ 97,635 40,678 9,615 56,957 |
|---|---|
| 107,250 97,635 |
|
| 6,542 5,690 |
|
| 93,464 46,310 13,786 51,325 |
|
| 107,250 97,635 |
Wednesday 28[th] May 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
Chair
The notes to these financial statements form part of these financial statements.
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Fèis Phàislig
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2024
1 Principal Accounting Policies
The financial statements are prepared on the basis of income received and expenditure outlaid during the year.
The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the Organisation’s financial statements except as noted below.
The financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis, which provides that the Organisation will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
(a) Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation
Assets bought using funds generated by the operations of the Organisation are treated as owned by the Organisation.
(b) General Reserve
This is an unrestricted reserve. Surpluses and deficits from operational activities are accounted for through the Receipts and Payments Account.
(c) Income and Expenditure Recognition Policy
Incoming Resources
Income is recognised in the period in which it is received.
Resources Expended
Expenditure on operational programmes is recognised in the period in which it is incurred.
As no system exists to directly attribute costs between charitable expenditure and income generating expenditure an estimate is made each year based on activity.
There is no apportionment of indirect costs as these are considered to be immaterial.
(d) Going Concern
The financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting policies that are consistent with the treatment of the Organisation as a going concern. The Organisation’s available unrestricted reserves (‘free’ reserves) are in surplus at the year end and the Trustees are confident that sufficient funds will be available to support the Organisation throughout the period of the coming twelve months.
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Fèis Phàislig
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2024
2 Incoming Resources
Voluntary Income
| Funding fromFèisean nan Gàidheal Funding fromRenfrewshire Council Funding fromBord Na Gaidhlig Funding fromPostcode Trust Other grant funding Activities for Generating Funds Fèis Week income External events |
Year ended 31 August 2024 Year ended 31 August 2023 £ £ 20,575 60,320 11,617 57,190 400 22,000 - - 3,236 3,950 |
|---|---|
| 57,828 121,460 |
|
| Year ended 31 August 2024 Year ended 31 August 2023 £ £ 1,697 4,224 4,602 3,605 |
|
| 6,299 7,849 |
Funding received
During the period, funding of £57,828 (2023 - £121,460) was received from a number of bodies in respect of operational costs, as detailed above. The funding is conditional on the Organisation incurring the expenditure outlined in the various funding applications submitted. The trustees are confident that these conditions have been met, such that none of the funds received should become repayable.
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Fèis Phàislig
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2024
3 Resources Expended
Charitable Activities
| itable Activities | |
|---|---|
| Tutor costs Ceilidh trail expenditure Annualised hours payment External events Materials Venue hire Sundry expenditure Supplies Website Ceilidh Refunds Gifts Memberships Fèis week entertainment Marketing and advertising Repairs and maintenance Photography Instrument Hire Professional Fees Training |
Year ended 31 August 2024 Year ended 31 August 2023 £ £ 71,201 59,796 60 15,345 25,840 11,128 19,961 6,490 2,235 3,821 3,891 3,657 1,122 2,111 355 707 298 334 - 300 - 281 428 277 325 170 - 116 2,855 76 271 62 2,000 835 2,350 107 - - - - |
| 134,134 104,671 |
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Fèis Phàislig
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2024
4 Tangible Fixed Assets
| Cost At 1 September 2021 Additions At 31 August 2022 Additions At 31 August 2023 Additions At 31 August 2024 |
Music Equipment £ 5,665 - |
|---|---|
| 5,655 35 |
|
| 5,690 852 |
|
| 6,542 |
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Fèis Phàislig
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2024
5 SCIO Incorporation
On 17 May 2024, Fèis Phàislig completed the transition from an unincorporated association (charity number SC045342) to a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), registered as SC053367. All assets and liabilities of the former charity were transferred to the SCIO on that date, and the previous charity has since been formally wound up.
These financial statements have been prepared in line with OSCR’s merger accounting guidance for SCIO transitions. As such, the accounts reflect the financial activity of both the former charity and the new SCIO across the full financial year to 31 August 2024. No separate pre- and post-incorporation accounts have been prepared.
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