Dunoon & Cowal Heritage Trust - Charities report

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: SC137003 (Scotland)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: SC008881

Unaudited Financial Statements

for the Year Ended

31 March 2025

for

DUNOON & COWAL HERITAGE TRUST

TRADING AS

CASTLE HOUSE MUSEUM

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

4

Independent Examiner's Report

5

Statement of Financial Activities

6

Balance Sheet

7

to

8

Notes to the Financial Statements

9

to

15

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

Dunoon and Cowal Heritage Trust was incorporated on 6 March 1992 and it established Castle House Museum in 1998. Its founding aim was to stimulate interest in the history and tradition of Cowal. The main objectives and aims, as set out in its Memorandum and Articles, were to advance education in Scotland by setting up a museum which would:

Provide opportunities for young people and others to improve and extend their knowledge of the past.

Communicate instruction in history, especially the history, lore and traditions of Dunoon and Cowal by lectures, exhibitions and other suitable means.

Preserve the relics and records of the past.

Promote education in the study, investigation and interpretation of records and relics of the past.

Provide education and training to young people with a view to teaching various skills which will confer knowledge and assist them in finding work.

Adopt a written Collecting Policy to be reviewed at least every 5 years.

Maintain an accurate Register of all specimens.

Significant activities

New Displays, June 2024

Three new displays were created during June 2024. The first was due to the donation of Scottish Military Badges by David Lamb of Iowa USA. In his own words: 'What began with picking up the odd badge off of sales at places like Covent Garden, Petticoat Lane, took me all across the world collecting these. Several years of research and most of the pandemic went into framing and matching them, where possible, to the tartans worn by the regiments in their heydays, provide years of enjoyment.'

The second was co-produced by Doug Henderson a descendant of Pipe Major John McLellan DCM. This included music written by the famous pipe major and a photo display with QR Codes linked to further information.

The third was the creation of a textile map through a series of craft workshops with textile artist Katie Anderson. This is displayed in the Museum.

Funding, June 2024/25

Heritage Map

We were awarded funding from Argyll and Bute's Supporting Communities to create a Mental Health Heritage Map and to create and run a series of community outreach sessions, titled 'Hands On Heritage' aimed at adult participants aged eighteen and over at risk of social isolation and loneliness. Through regular meetings participants were to be encouraged to make new social connections within the local community, as well as to connect with the rich history of the town of Dunoon. The participants then had the opportunity to hold a celebration event showcasing their hard work within the local community enabling the 'Community Map' to be displayed in the Museum.

Sporting/Football Display

Our small town has a rich but hidden history of sporting heritage, particularly of our local football teams. This heritage is remembered fondly by those who played, but is in danger of being lost to history. The focus of our proposed project is to preserve and newly share the history of our local football teams, which span from the 1800s to the 1980s. We will create a small exhibition, as well as a family-friendly activity day for the 2025 NSHD. Our exhibition involves newly displaying related images and items from the Museum collection, as well as engaging with the local community to showcase items from their personal collections- including trophies, strips, photos, and oral histories. An important element of this display is Dunoon's role as a pioneer of women's football in the 1970s, newly bringing together memories and images. alongside messages from participants.

Backpacks

We received some funding from a local business to create 2 sensory backpacks.

Doors Open Day- September 2024

Doors Open Day took place on the 16th of this month, where entry was free to the Museum on this date. This was our 7th year of taking part in the event organised by the Scottish Civic Trust, and was our busiest yet. There were over 80 attendees on the day. The event was publicised on social media, Dunoon Community Radio, and the Doors Open Day website.

Educational Visit- Various

We welcomed a variety of educational groups to the Museum from April 2024 to March 2025. This included P4 and P7 from Dunoon Primary School, and P1-P7 from Toward Primary School.

Storywriting Competition- February and March 2025

As part of the activities suggested by the National Literacy Trust, we ran our second storywriting competition. The theme for this was 'Time Travel Adventure,' and asked school pupils to get creative and write their own story, following on from a prompt about Castle House Museum. Information about entering wassent to local primary schools, aimed at children aged 5-8 and 9-12 years. There were entries from Dunoon Primary, Strachur, Kilmoda and St Mun's Primary Schools, demonstrating the wide geographical reach of the project within Cowal

International Women's Day- March 2025

Our Museum Assistant gave a walking tour based around the history of our local suffragists movement to celebrate IWD.

YAC

We are following the procedures to start a 'Young Archaeologists' Club for Castle House, which will be managed by the British Council for Archaeology. This will meet once a month over our closed season, and will offer fun, themed heritage activities for children.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, being the Articles of Association,

Constituting a company limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006 (but with special permission to dispense with the word 'Limited' in its title.).

Recruitment and appointment of new directors

All of the Directors (for the purposes of OSCR referred to as Charity Trustees) are appointed or re-appointed by the members at our annual general meeting. Whilst new Trustees are often appointed following the due to the retirement or resignation of another Trustee, recruitment of additional Trustees is kept constantly in mind.

Organisational structure

The charity is managed by its directors, and the museum is run day to day by the voluntary manager Andreya Kelly and assistant manager Fiona Cooper.

Induction and training of new directors

On the recruitment of new directors, they are given documentation on their responsibility as a director and offered any other assistance they may require by the current directors.

Related parties

The directors all give freely their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind (202: £nil). There were no expenses waived by the directors in the year (2024: £nil).

During the year no director has any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity (2024: none).

Risk management

The directors assess the risks of the charity regularly and have noted the main risks found as health & safety, child protection and financial. These are being monitored and the directors are doing everything they can to minimise these risks.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

SC137003 (Scotland)

Registered Charity number

SC008881

Registered office

82 Argyll Street

Dunoon

PA23 7NJ

Trustees

M Hubbard

E Macdonald

G Murray

D Darkins

Company Secretary

Independent Examiner

WDM Associates

Oakfield House

378 Brandon Street

Motherwell

ML1 1XA

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 12 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

E Macdonald - Trustee

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 set out on pages six to fifteen.

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's trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) 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 the independent examiner's report

My examination was 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 seeking explanations from you as 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 connection with 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 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and

-	to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations

have not been met; or

(2)	to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Craig Gibson

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

WDM Associates

Oakfield House

378 Brandon Street

Motherwell

ML1 1XA

Date: .............................................

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

funds

Notes

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

20,781

2,499

23,280

19,297

Other trading activities

2

5,885

-

5,885

8,916

Investment income

3

956

-

956

2,715

Total

27,622

2,499

30,121

30,928

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

31,372

-

31,372

24,433

Other

3,386

1,900

5,286

2,125

Total

34,758

1,900

36,658

26,558

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(7,136

)

599

(6,537

)

4,370

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

55,392

2,401

57,793

53,423

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

48,256

3,000

51,256

57,793

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

funds

Notes

£

CURRENT ASSETS

Stocks

9

2,040

-

2,040

2,108

Debtors

10

2,048

-

2,048

297

Cash at bank and in hand

45,130

3,000

48,130

56,048

49,218

3,000

52,218

58,453

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

11

(962

)

-

(962

)

(660

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

48,256

3,000

51,256

57,793

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES

48,256

3,000

51,256

57,793

NET ASSETS

48,256

3,000

51,256

57,793

FUNDS

12

Unrestricted funds

48,256

55,392

Restricted funds

3,000

2,401

TOTAL FUNDS

51,256

57,793

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 12 December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

E Macdonald - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

2.	OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

2025

2024

£

Shop income

5,885

8,916

3.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2025

2024

£

Interest receivable - trading

956

2,715

4.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2025

2024

£

Auditors' remuneration

1,929

1,447

5.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

6.	STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2025

2024

Museum

2

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

7.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

funds

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

19,297

-

19,297

Other trading activities

6,416

2,500

8,916

Investment income

2,715

-

2,715

Total

28,428

2,500

30,928

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

24,433

-

24,433

Other

-

2,125

Total

24,433

2,125

26,558

NET INCOME

3,995

375

4,370

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

51,397

2,026

53,423

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

55,392

2,401

57,793

8.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Improvements

Fixtures

to

and

property

fittings

Totals

£

COST

At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

39,827

23,464

63,291

DEPRECIATION

At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025

39,827

23,464

63,291

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 March 2025

-

At 31 March 2024

-

9.

STOCKS

2025

2024

£

Stocks

2,040

2,108

10.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

Other debtors

1,606

-

Prepayments

442

297

2,048

297

11.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

Accrued expenses

962

660

12.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1.4.24

in funds

31.3.25

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

55,392

(7,136

)

48,256

Restricted funds

Heritage Horizons

73

(73

)

-

Memory Boxes

2,328

(1,828

)

500

A&B Council Exclusion

-

2,500

2,401

599

3,000

TOTAL FUNDS

57,793

(6,537

)

51,256

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

27,622

(34,758

)

(7,136

)

Restricted funds

Heritage Horizons

(1

)

(72

)

(73

)

Memory Boxes

-

(1,828

)

(1,828

)

A&B Council Exclusion

2,500

-

2,500

2,499

(1,900

)

599

TOTAL FUNDS

30,121

(36,658

)

(6,537

)

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1.4.23

in funds

31.3.24

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

51,397

3,995

55,392

Restricted funds

Heritage Horizons

96

(23

)

73

Lamont Project

1,930

(1,930

)

-

Memory Boxes

-

2,328

2,026

375

2,401

TOTAL FUNDS

53,423

4,370

57,793

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

28,428

(24,433

)

3,995

Restricted funds

Heritage Horizons

-

(23

)

(23

)

Lamont Project

-

(1,930

)

(1,930

)

Memory Boxes

2,500

(172

)

2,328

2,500

(2,125

)

375

TOTAL FUNDS

30,928

(26,558

)

4,370

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

movement

At

At 1.4.23

in funds

31.3.25

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

51,397

(3,141

)

48,256

Restricted funds

Heritage Horizons

96

(96

)

-

Lamont Project

1,930

(1,930

)

-

Memory Boxes

-

500

A&B Council Exclusion

-

2,500

2,026

974

3,000

TOTAL FUNDS

53,423

(2,167

)

51,256

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

56,050

(59,191

)

(3,141

)

Restricted funds

Heritage Horizons

(1

)

(95

)

(96

)

Lamont Project

-

(1,930

)

(1,930

)

Memory Boxes

2,500

(2,000

)

500

A&B Council Exclusion

2,500

-

2,500

4,999

(4,025

)

974

TOTAL FUNDS

61,049

(63,216

)

(2,167

)

13.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.