The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Articles of Association, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".
The purpose of Dunblane Youth and Sports Centre Trust (DY&SCT) is to provide a broad range of activities for communities in and around Dunblane. These activities take place at our purpose build premises, The Dunblane Centre. As a local charity, we depend largely on support from the local community. Without this support we would be unable to deliver this broad range of activities. We are grateful to everyone who supports and helps us in so many ways because without them there would be no Dunblane Centre.
Volunteers
The Dunblane Centre continues to have a pool of adult and junior volunteers. Volunteers are approved by Disclosure Scotland where necessary and supervise youth clubs as well as helping with administration, fundraising events and maintenance of the building. The Trustees would like formally to thank them for their ongoing contribution to The Dunblane Centre and their invaluable contribution to the community.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by OSCR in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The description under the headings "Achievements and performance" and "Financial review" meet the company law requirements for the Trustees to present a strategic report.
The Dunblane Centre opened to the public on 25 September 2004. In 2024 we celebrated our 20th anniversary. For 2 decades, the community of Dunblane has been able to pursue a wide variety of activities right on the doorstep. Sport and fitness and youth activities have been our core footfall generators and have been supplemented by many other pastimes of general interest such as social dancing, craft fayres, knit & natter, painting and mosaic classes, lego club, chess club, baby nurturing classes, crafting classes, quiz nights and band nights as well as the occasional Ceilidh or Abba evening.
Over the years, many new activities have been introduced such as aerial gymnastics, pre-school Music Bugs, walking football, walking netball, chair yoga and the very popular pickleball.
The Dunblane Centre has proved to be a very versatile building, which can be adapted to a wide range of activities well beyond what was initially envisaged.
We strive to provide activities for all ages and on many different levels within the local community. From “bumblebees” pre-school activities on 3 weekday mornings to weekly social events for senior citizens meeting over a cuppa and a scone (or once a month over a freshly made 2-course lunch).
In 2023 it became apparent that there was a need in Dunblane of support for children suffering from severe anxiety including emotionally based school avoidance. A “Time & Space” self-help group was set up within The Dunblane Centre for affected children and their parents who now meet weekly in a safe space. Our former “music room” was converted into a multi-purpose “sensory room” where people of any age can chill, unwind and relax.
Following a difficult few years, the Trustees are delighted with the financial performance for 2024.
There was a significant improvement in operating profit, which translated into a significant positive cash flow for the year.
Established in April 2023, the turnaround plan has been delivered in full.
Income is up, costs are strictly controlled, fundraising has been healthy and customer satisfaction indicators are very positive.
Donations and legacies
During the year a total of £19,671 (2023: £38,889) was raised from donations.
Grants
A total of £62,238 was received from grant funding (2023: £21,897).
The principal source of income derives from charges for participating in activities at the Centre.
The Dunblane Centre is entirely self-funding and does not receive any funding from national or local government.
Investment policy and performance
During 2014 The Dunblane Community Trust was wound up and reserves of £523,383 were transferred to Dunblane Youth & Sports Centre Trust. These funds were placed with Quilter Cheviot to be managed in a discretionary portfolio. Quilter Cheviot were selected for their experience in the charities sector and track record of sound discretionary management.
Quilter Cheviot manage our portfolio following guidelines set by the Trustees. DY&SCT will not invest in certain sectors for ethical reasons; for example, arms manufacturers or distributors or sectors where there are concerns regarding human rights or child exploitation.
The investment objective is to produce a balanced combination of growth over the medium to long term together with some immediate income.
In previous years (prior to 2023), when regular significant operational losses were incurred, those losses were funded by regular withdrawals from the investment portfolio, thereby significantly diminishing the fund's value. This obviously restricted the opportunity for the fund to grow over the medium to long term.
An added benefit of the current Board of Trustees’ success in significantly improving operating results is that no further withdrawals were made during 2024. The value of the fund at year-end was £228,983 – an increase of £21,857 over the previous year-end.
The value of the portfolio on 4 September 2025 was £245,051 – a further increase in value of £16,068 since year-end (although investment values can go down as well as up).
A main focus of the current Board of Trustees is to ensure that
The Dunblane Centre does not incur any operational losses, and
Cash flow is positive, and
Any Quilter Cheviot Investment Fund withdrawals are solely for capital expenditure, which maintains the physical property of The Dunblane Centre.
Going concern
After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees anticipate that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
During the year the charity generated incoming resources of £270,743 (2023 - £200,749) as shown on the Statement of Financial Activities. Included in this is an amount of £53,700 in respect of the first instalment of a grant from The National Lottery.
Capital expenditure of £1,462 (2023 - £5,217) was spent on fixtures and fittings and sports equipment.
Reserves policy
Most of The Dunblane Centre’s income derives from Centre activities, donations and fundraising events. A structural deficit normally exists between centre income and the costs of running the business. In each of the last few years a significant deficit has been reported as operating costs have exceeded income from all sources. This deficit has been funded by withdrawals from the investment fund (as previously noted) - clearly a situation that is not sustainable.
It is now the policy of the charity that
cash reserves should be at a level equivalent to at least 2 months’ operating costs.
the Investment portfolio part of unrestricted funds should be used for expenditure on maintenance of The Dunblane Centre property.
These policy goals can only be achieved by consistent operational profit. Cash reserves have continued to increase during 2024 as operations have continued to return positive cash flow.
At 31 December 2024 unrestricted funds totalled £294,739 (2023 - £246,405). This covers current annual operating costs and is monitored on a monthly basis. At 31 December 2024 restricted funds totalled £1,257,562 (2023 - £1,246,467). This represents the capital cost of The Dunblane Centre plus the unspent portion of the grant received from The National Lottery.
Principal funding
Subsequent to the Dunblane Primary School tragedy of 13 March 1996 several funds were created to administer the donations that were received from all over the world. The main funds established for this purpose were eventually consolidated into the Dunblane Community Trust (DCT).
DCT, in furtherance of the objects of its trust deed, provided the principal funding regarding the capital spend on "The Dunblane Centre".
In 2014, 10 years after the opening of The Dunblane Centre, DCT transferred its reserves (a cash amount of £532,383) to DY&SCT. DCT was then wound up. Responsibility for management of the funds transferred became the responsibility of the Trustees of DY&SCT.
The land on which The Centre is built was transferred to Dunblane Youth and Sports Centre Trust by DCT in 2014 which has allowed greater flexibility in operation and opens more options for grant support.
The Scottish Sports Council (sportscotland) also provided capital funding for the project.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The charity is controlled by its governing document, the Articles of Association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2016.
Incorporation
The charity was incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 as a private limited company on 18 December 2002 and is recognised as a Scottish Charity (Scottish Charity Number SC027397). The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Capital Structure
The charity is limited by guarantee and does not have share capital, therefore none of the directors has a beneficial interest or hold shares in the charity.
Principal activities and objectives of the company
The charity was established for charitable objectives only.
The objects are to advance education and to provide facilities, in the interests of social welfare, for the recreation and other leisure time occupation so that the conditions of life of young people living in Dunblane and the surrounding district may be improved.
The charity has established a sports and recreational facility in furtherance of its charitable objects. The charity is also responsible for the management and maintenance of the facility, "The Dunblane Centre".
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Method of appointment or election of Trustees
The Trustees have the power to appoint any person to be a Trustee either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Trustees. A simple majority vote of Trustees is required. Any person so appointed holds office until the following Annual General Meeting at which time the appointment is either confirmed or terminated.
New Trustees are inducted and trained by a combination of a "Trustees Handbook", mentoring by an experienced Trustee or colleague and face to face discussions with the manager of The Dunblane Centre. Trustees meet formally on a quarterly basis and also meet regularly in between to monitor projects and discuss any issues relating to Centre activities.
At each Annual General Meeting, one third of the Trustees retire from office and are eligible for re-appointment.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for all policies of The Dunblane Centre and regularly reviews all operating, legal and accounting matters.
Day-to-day operational control and decision making is delegated to The Centre Managers who liaise regularly with the Chair, Treasurer and other Trustees, as well as attending Board meetings as necessary.
The Trustees consider the Board of Trustees and the job share managers are the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the Trust on a day to day basis. All Trustees give their time freely and no Trustee received remuneration in the year. Details of Trustees' expenses are disclosed in note 11 of the accounts.
The pay of senior staff is reviewed annually and normally increased in accordance with inflation. Particular consideration is given to the National Living Wage and ensuring that the Trustees meet the standards required.
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Dunblane Youth and Sports Centre Trust for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Thomson Cooper be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Dunblane Youth and Sports Centre Trust (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees' report; or
proper accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
As explained more fully in the statement of Trustees' responsibilities, the Trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
We have been appointed as auditor under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
We considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the existence and timing of recognition of income. We discussed the risk with management, designed audit procedures to test the timing and existence of income and reviewed areas of judgement for indicators of management bias to address these risks.
We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our sector experience through discussion with the officers and other management (as required by the auditing standards).
We reviewed the laws and regulations in areas that directly affect the financial statements including applicable charity and company law and considered the extent of compliance with those laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items.
With the exception of any known or possible non-compliance with relevant and significant laws and regulations, and as required by the auditing standards, our work in respect of these was limited to enquiry of the officers and management of the charity.
We communicated identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance or fraud throughout the audit. However the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with the Trustees.
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
These inherent limitations are particularly significant in the case of misstatement resulting from fraud as this may involve sophisticated schemes designed to avoid detection, including deliberate failure to record transactions, collusion or the provision of intentional misrepresentations.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's Trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s Trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Thomson Cooper is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
Investments
Raising funds
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Investments
Raising funds
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Dunblane Youth and Sports Centre Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The members of the Trust are the Trustees named on the Legal and Administrative Information page and in the event of the company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the company. The registered office is 51/53 High Street, Dunblane, Perthshire, FK15 0EG.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum & Articles of Association, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees consider that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for a period of not less than twelve months. The Trustees have reviewed cashflow requirements and are satisfied that the charity has sufficient funds available in the investment portfolio to cover any shortfall of income over the next twelve months. They therefore continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the company; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure headings.
All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the statement of financial activity on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on an appropriate basis.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving stocks.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The company only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised as a settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the company has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Grants
Centre activities
Insurance refund
Investments
Investment dividends and interest
Raising funds
Fundraising and publicity
Vending supplies
Catering supplies
Insurance
Arts and craft material
Staff uniforms
Staff training
Youth Club expenses
Bank charges
Professional fees
Office costs
Premises and general costs
IT costs
Disclosure
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity considers its key management personnel comprises of Trustees and the Centre managers. The total employment benefits of the key management personnel were £32,615 (2023: £23,545).
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The general operations fund are those funds which the Trustees are free to use in accordance with the charitable objectives.
The restricted capital fund reflects the net book value of the freehold land and buildings. The fund will be reduced over the useful economic life of the assets in line with depreciation.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).
The charity had no material debt during the year.