The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 28 February 2025.
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 Trust's governing document, 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 objects are set out in its Memorandum of Association and broadly are to seek to achieve, by charitable means, the promotion and welfare of the community and improvement and conservation of the local and cultural heritage. The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are to expand membership, raise funds and apply for grant aid for specific projects.
The directors have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) in deciding what activities the Trust should undertake.
In order to ensure the financial viability of the Trust a number of income measures have been put in place. In 2018 annual subscriptions ceased. However the majority of members who paid by Standing Order continue to do so. The Trust is ensuring that governance costs are included in applications for grant funding for projects undertaken. The Trust has an interest in a renewable energy project in the form of a wind farm, which is continuing to provide an income stream for the Trust.
Tarbert and Skipness Renewables Limited
Srondoire Wind Farm Srondoire Wind Farm became operational in October 2015. Dividends from Srondoire vary each year. In the early years the loan requires to be repaid to REIF and our dividend will be small. As this loan is reduced the dividend will increase. Other factors affect our dividend i.e. the wind and price paid for electricity generated.
The policy of Tarbert & Skipness Community Trust is that dividend from Srondoire should be rolled over and accumulated to address major projects and issues in the Tarbert & Skipness area.
In 2024-2025 a substantial dividend had rolled over from Srondoire windfarm.
The Trust plan was to grant 10-20% toward cost of projects costing typically over £100,000. However, the Trust was minded to change this criterion following the UK autumn budget 2024 which ended several government grant streams. Projects found that a 10-20% grant was not going to meet the gaps they now found in funding. The Trust now views each application for support for projects typically over £100,000 on an individual basis.
The Trust was able to award Tarbert Bowling Club £40,000 towards costs of £300,000 to develop the Multi Use Games Area at the site of the old disused tennis courts. In addition, the Trust also purchased the old Fishermen’s Co-op to develop into Quay Spaces.
The Srondoire dividend also funds 50% towards transport costs for groups and events
RES Freasdail RES Freasdail became operational in March 2017. TSCT has signed an agreement with RES Freasdail to receive community funds to be applied towards the benefit of the local community initially of £22,500 annually for 25 years. Fund Allocations increase with inflation and may change in the future if the wind farm is sold on to another operator. Residents living within 5 kilometres of the windfarm will receive an annual payment towards their electricity bills, called the Local Energy Discount. If the full Local Energy Discount is not taken up then the difference is added to the community funds.
As a response to, and in anticipation of dividend receipts, TSCT set up their Community Benefit dispersal scheme in 2017. There is an annual notice in the press and on the website advertising the fund and information is dispersed to Trust members and previous recipients of grants. Information about the Community Benefit Scheme is available on http://tsct.org.uk. 2024 was the eighth year of fund dispersal and up to this point over £210,000 has been granted to local organisations. Reports from fund beneficiaries highlight that the grants help them continually upgrade their projects and resources to maintain them as village assets. |
Quay Spaces
Quay Spaces is a community initiative which will develop the former Fishermen’s Co-op to enable the Tarbert community to improve access to vital health services, engage in a wider range of group activities and develop local micro-business employment.
This project will deliver for three of the current priorities in the Tarbert and Skipness Community Plan:
A healthier community – by providing a private and confidential space for individual and small group health treatments.
A competitive, educated and working community – by providing commercial space and hot desk facilities for micro-scale local business to grow and prosper.
welcoming, vibrant and confident community – by providing a space where group activities can take place that are not/cannot be provided at other meetings spaces in the area – i.e need space for working with materials, IT equipment, wet/messy activities.
Progress is ongoing with work by volunteers to strip the building, preparation of plans, applications for Building Warrant and funding all ongoing.
Housing
In September 2022 the Trust was delighted to see that there is a commitment in Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing Investment Plan to build 15 houses in this area by the end of 2024, and a further 15 by 2028. This year the Trust was disappointed that the dates for completion of houses has slipped by a year and there was no positive update by the end our financial year.
The Trust is in contact with ACHA and Douglas Whyte, Team Leader, Housing Strategy, Argyll and Bute Council.
Tarbert Life
Tarbert Life continues to be an attractive addition to the village facilities.
Early in 2025 work was done on Tarbert Life to prepare the display for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe. Tarbert Harbour Authority has donated a hand written ledger which is now on display listing activities by the Harbour during the 2nd World War. Another donation is gas masks, including a child’s gas mask.
Tarbert & Skipness Community Benefit Fund
Tarbert & Skipness Community Trust received a good response to the advert for applications for grant funding.
19 applications were received for assistance with projects. New projects applying included 19th Argyll Scouts and Dochas Centre to deliver opportunities for young people and carers in Tarbert. Grants totalling £43,365 were awarded.
The Trust was pleased with the number and quality of the applications this year, from groups showcasing the voluntary work taking place in the area that is helping to enhance and strengthen the community.
All information relating to the grant application process can be found on the Trusts website at http://tsct.org.uk
TACL Tarbert Action on Coastal Litter
TACL is a new project of Tarbert & Skipness Community Trust. Working with Loughborough University TACL is monitoring coastal litter in several local areas, within the harbour and the West Loch.
Overall, the TACL team programme of beach cleans achieved:
Participation by 48 volunteers
78 volunteer days of beach cleaning
Participation of 50 school volunteers in a TACL mascot art competition
116 bags of litter collected, weighing over 350kg
Tarbert & Skipness Community Plan has highlighted the need to investigate/assess plastic waste with a view to improving the current situation.
Tarbert & Skipness Community Plan
The Community Plan was launched at the AGM in November 2023 and is on the website http://tsct.org.uk. The plan is reviewed annually.
The Community Plan frames the work of the Trust and all projects, grants, and activities work to uphold the objects of the Trust.
Main objectives from the 2024 update:
Housing, both Tarbert and Skipness
Paths
Opportunities for teenagers
Traffic calming, both Tarbert and Skipness
Development of commercial space
Partnerships
The Trust has active partnerships with Tarbert Harbour Authority, Tarbert & Skipness Community Council, Tarbert Castle Trust, Tarbert Academy, Tarbert Academy Parents' Council, Tarbert Health Centre, Tarbert Heritage and Regeneration Project and Tarbert Enterprise Company. The Trust is a member of Development Trust Association, Scotland.
The results of the year's activities, the financial position of the company and the reserves are shown in the financial statements.
It is the policy of the Trust that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level which would enable expenses to be met in the next 18-24 months should a reduction in income be experienced. The Trustees ensure restricted grant funding includes a proportion of overhead and governance costs and, as such, the level of unrestricted funds is believed to meet, at a minimum, two years of running costs. The directors envisage a proportion of unrestricted funds that have been built up to be utilised in the future for projects that are anticipated to start when other funding has been obtained. The directors consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the Trust's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.
The Trust ensures that all project funding to further the aims of the Trust contains an element of funding to contribute towards Trust expenses.
The Trust is able to benefit from Gift Aid from donations.
The Trust purchased property, the old Fisherman’s Co-op, in October 2024.
The purchase of the property is from the Trust’s own unrestricted funds and is in line with its charitable objectives and Tarbert and Skipness Community Plan 2023-26 that was updated in 2024.
The Board considers the risk entailed is within the charity's boundaries.
The objects are set out in its Memorandum of Association and broadly are to seek to achieve, by charitable means, the promotion and welfare of the community and improvement and conservation of the local and cultural heritage.
The directors who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Any Ordinary Member of the Trust may be nominated by another Member or by himself/herself for election to the Board at an AGM, there being an appropriate place at the time.
As per the Articles of Association of the Trust a maximum of nine elected directors is permissible, the minimum number being five. In addition, up to three individuals may be co-opted so as to ensure a spread of skills and experience within the Board. The Trust's Equal Opportunities policy is implicit in this process. None of the directors has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the directors are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The directors' report was approved by the Board of Directors.
I report on the financial statements of the Trust for the year ended 28 February 2025, which are set out on pages 7 to 26.
It is my responsibility to examine the financial statements as required under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
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 financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking 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 financial statements.
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
1. 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 Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and Regulation 4 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, and
to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006
have not been met, or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Tarbert & Skipness Community Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is The Old Surgery, School Road, Tarbert, Argyll, PA29 6UL.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Trust's Memorandum 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 Trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The Trust has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Trust. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
At the time of approving the accounts, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future with regular dividend income expected from its investment in Tarbert & Skipness Renewables Ltd and from the Community Fund agreement with Freasdail Energy Limited. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the directors in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the directors for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the Trust has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Income generated from advertisements at Tarbert Life are recognised on a cash basis in the year received.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is all considered as expenditure on charitable activities and includes the cost of running the Trust as well as grants. Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is conveyed and a valid expectation created with the recipient that the grant will be paid. Any grants awarded and not claimed are recognised as refunds in the year they are not claimed. All costs are inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
Property, plant and equipment 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:
During the year the Trust purchased a shop front at the Harbour side with the intention to extensively refurbish and improve the property for future Charitable use. Owing to this planned improvement, property is being carried at historical cost with no depreciation applied.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
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.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the Trust. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
At each reporting end date, the Trust reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
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.
Basic financial assets, which include trade and other receivables and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade payables are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the Trust’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 Trust is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
In the application of the Trust’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
During the year a grant totalling £40,000 was paid to Tarbert Bowling Club.
A total of 19 grants were paid by the Trust to local organisations, 12 of which are identified above with additional grants paid as follows:
£1,134 paid to the 19th Argyll Scots.
£2,515 paid to the Dochas Carers Centre.
£817 paid to Fyne Spinners.
£2,405 paid to Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club.
£2,995 paid to Tarbert Soccer Centre.
In addition to the above Community Grants, an additional grant of £1,785 was paid under the Srondoire Pilot Transport fund to Tarbert Academy Parent Council.
Two additional amounts of £2,500 were transferred internally within the Trust to meet existing restricted fund projects. Further details can be found within the Transfer's note at Note 13.
Governance costs includes payments to the Independent Examiner of £1,380 (2024: £1,310 and £1,407 (2024: £1,229) for accounting costs.
None of the directors (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year, but 2 of them were reimbursed a total of £1,142 expenses paid on behalf of the Trust (2024- 1 was reimbursed £119).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
Total transfers from Unrestricted Funds to Designated Funds of £121,400 represent funds set aside by Trustees for designated purposes as follows:
£65,760 and £55,640 transferred to the Community Benefit funds to meet future grant funding.
Net transfers from Unrestricted Funds to Restricted Funds of £599 represent the following individual transfers:
Transfer to Unrestricted funds representing a 10% administration fee due to the Trust of £2,937 from RES Freasdail,
Transfer to Unrestricted funds representing the release of Fixed Assets with a Net Book Value of £1,515 to Unrestricted Funds owing to the project (Strengthening Communities) now being at an end.
Transfer from Unrestricted funds of £3,853 to correct historical carrying balance in reference to community benefit funds available for future distribution by the Trust.
These are unrestricted funds which are material to the Trust's activities.
The Trustee's have created a designated fund to ring-fence the dividend received from Srondoire Wind Farm to be used for larger community projects which is to sit alongside the donation from RES Freasdail (Restricted Funds) and viewed as one "pot".
During the year the Trust entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Foundation Scotland (and other community organisations) to distribute community benefit funds from Cour Wind Farm for a trial period of one year. The trustees agreed to treating such funds (less up to 10% available to cover administrative costs of the Trust) as designated funds from which community disbursements will be made.
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 funders of the craft workshop have given their express consent for funds to be used as cashflow to assist Trust projects get underway and support temporary cashflow deficits that may arise. The funder has intimated that by giving 12 months notice the funds must be fully available for their original purpose.
The £5,000 bequest from J Tyler is to be retained and used as cashflow to assist Trust projects get underway.
Additional information on restricted funds received for specific projects/activities are listed below:
Community Asset Purchases
£1,949 received from Argyll & Bute Council.
£1,500 received from Paths for All.
£1,000 received from Tesco.
The above represents funding available for the White Shore Path and Cycle Stands toward future costs of this project.
Team Tarbert
Team Tarbert was originally established in response to the Covid-19 outbreak to provide welfare support. During the year £2,500 was transferred from the Community Benefit fund for specific project costs which has been largely used to purchase defibrillators in and around the Tarbert area.
Tarbert Life
£3,476 fund balance represents funding received towards the support and running of the Trust's community premises displaying local heritage and natural history. During the year £225 was received via public donations coupled with an amount of £2,500 that was transferred from the Community Benefit fund for specific project costs which are separate from the activities of the Trust as a whole.
Community Plan
£7,837 received from the Scottish Government represents unspent funds on the Investing in Communities project which have been agreed by the funder to be repurposed for the Community Plan.
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.
Dividends totalling £125,000 were received by the Trust during the year (2024 - £71,000). Dividends represent a distribution of funds received by Tarbert & Skipness Renewables Ltd from Srondoire Wind Farmers Ltd. which is initially treated as unrestricted income available to the Trust and subsequently transferred to a designated fund to allow dispersal of grants for larger projects.
Each year, up to 10% of the income (donation) received from Freasdail Energy Ltd (Community Benefit) is to be released to unrestricted funds to cover general administrative costs.
The operating leases represent leases to third parties. The leases are negotiated over terms of two years and rentals are fixed for 24 months.
At the reporting end date the Trust had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
During the year the Trust entered into the following transactions with related parties:
The above transactions are in relation to community benefit awards and other grants paid during the year. The Trustee's have taken steps to prevent undue influence by related parties over any award decisions by ensuring that all Trustee's declare any interest they may have in other organisations and stepping aside in the decision making process. The related parties are as follows:
Jane Cowen - treasurer of Tarbert After School Care (awarded £4,000 in total) and committee member of Tarbert Village Hall (awarded £2,500).
Sheila Campbell - chair of Tarbert After School Care (as above); member of Tarbert Village Hall (as above).
William McHugh - involved in Skipness & District Sheepdog Trial (awarded £400).
Lorna Rushton - involved in Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club (awarded £2,405).
These financial statements are separate Trust financial statements from Tarbert & Skipness Renewables Ltd (TSR).
Details of the Trust's subsidiary at 28 February 2025 is as follows:
The investment in the subsidiary is stated at its fair value which is deemed to be its Net Asset value as at 28 February 2025. The Net Asset value excludes any uplift in the underlying value of the subsidiary's interests in Srondoire Wind Farmers Ltd ("SWFL"). The subsidiary's investment in the share capital of SWFL is included at cost of £29,822 and the subsidiary's share of the net assets of SWFL at 31 August 2024 amounted to £68,307.
The wholly owned subsidiary TSR is incorporated in Scotland (company number SC470715) and pays all of its profits to the charity either by dividend or under the gift aid scheme. TSR is a shareholder in Sròndoire Wind Farmers Ltd and is an investment vehicle for distributions from that company.