The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 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 charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)".
The charity's objects are to relieve and support women in need by reason of their having been abused (mentally, physically, sexually or financially) by a person with whom the woman is or has been in a relationship and to support children and young people who have been affected by domestic abuse; to prevent or relieve poverty; and to advance health; all within the Moray area; To promote equality for, and the participation of, women in society to enable them to determine their own futures; To advance education and to advance human rights; To promote, establish and/or support other similar projects and programmes which further charitable purposes.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Office of Scottish Charity Regulator in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
2024/2025 the organisation continued to face an increase in referrals for support and we continue to operate a waiting/cancellation list. This is not ideal and where possible the service will signpost individuals rather than them having to wait.
We are proud to be able to continue to offer a much more holistic support service to women and children through a range of funding streams over and above housing support and this is recognised as one of the strengths of the organisation.
Last year Moray Women's Aid received 569 referrals to our Women's Support team, the continued demand on the service is impacting on our ability to respond to requests for support. Women now have to wait approximately six weeks for an initial appointment, we are currently reviewing this and plan to implement a new process to reduce the waiting time and enable us to prioritise women who are facing increased risks from domestic abuse.
The organisation was also able to deliver 232 hours of free counselling sessions to our clients through our committed volunteers. Next year we will be supporting more UHI Counselling students and this will enable us to provide more sessions to our clients.
The organisation has focused on 3 main areas of work in the last 12 months:
Strengthening partnership working across Moray including joint initiatives with Moray Rape Crises and supporting the 1st Reclaim the Night March which took place in November 2024.
Launching the new website, finalizing the 3 year strategic plan and development of an action plan.
Working with Moray Council to mitigate the effect of the 20% cut in core grant which included increasing areas which the service could claim additional housing benefit and taking on 3 additional dispersed houses in Elgin. The result of the work has meant that any detrimental effect of the 20% reduction in the grant has been significantly minimized. The service will continue to look at ways in which we can continue to seek savings without affecting the level of service we can deliver.
The Council grant will remain at the same level for the next 2 years which will give the service greater stability.
2024/2025 saw some issues with referrals to the refuge not being suitable with an increase in referrals related to family abuse and a much younger age group. This was largely due to staffing changes.. Following a number of meetings with Moray Council housing this situation has improved and we continued to meet with the Council housing on a regular basis.
Funding continues to be a challenge however the Business Development and Funding Manager has been very successful in securing a range of funding including second year funding from Bank of Scotland Foundation, 12 months funding from the Moray Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and continued funding secured till March 2026 from Delivering Equally Safe. The current National Lottery Community Fund award finishes in May 2025, the Business Development and Funding Manager applied to their new funding stream to continue the Community Outreach and Therapeutic Service, successfully securing a 5-year grant ending in June 2030. The Robertson Trust funds our family support worker until May 2026; continuation funding will be applied for in January 2026. The majority of funding streams are full cost recovery and contribute to management salaries and office costs thus reducing the organisations reliance on one funding stream to cover these expense.
Although there have been some changes to the Board membership through resignations the Board remains strong with a good range of skills. In January 2026 we will be launching a campaign for more Board members and are reviewing the Friends of Marleon. The Board development days with the staff continue to strengthen the relationships and allow the Board to make more informed decisions.
Staffing within the organisation remains stable and there is a significant high level of skills and knowledge across the staff team. Staff are all committed to working towards shared values of the organisation.
During the year ended 31 March 2025, Moray Women's Aid recorded income of £658,564 (2024 - £654,324). Net incoming resources amounted to a deficit of £3,788 (2024 surplus - £18,400). Net assets at 31 March 2025 were £358,421 (2024 - £362,209).
We endeavour to hold a minimum £145,000 within the charity's bank balance as our contingency fund should we be faced with closure for any reason. This funding also provides us with a "financial cushion" to allow us to continue operations should there be any problem with payments arriving late from funders. Contingency planning is discussed at our Board of trustees' meetings when required and is reviewed annually to ensure good practice.
The balance held as unrestricted funds at 31 March 2025 was £271,826 (2024 - £247,685) of which £262,028(2024 - £235,701) is regarded as free reserves, after allowing for funds retained in tangible fixed assets.
The Trustees consider this level of free reserves to be sufficient to comply with the Reserves Policy. The Trustees consider the reserve requirements of the restricted funds separately. Restricted funds retained at 31 March 2025 amounted to £86,595 (2024 - £114,524).
We will continue working with Moray Council under the new 3-year contract and plan ahead for any future cuts in funding in relation to the core grant.
Following the resignation of the Office Support Team manager in November and the forthcoming resignation of the Funding and Business development manager in March 2026 the management and board took the opportunity to look at a restructure and will be recruiting a new deputy manager to support the manager with more of a focus on the service delivery and a Communication and Funding coordinator who will focus on funding bids and marketing of the service.
We will continue to seek additional funding so that we can continue to run the level of service. However, we are aware of the increased competition for funding and the need to be ready to look at changes to what we deliver if required.
We will continue to work on the aims of the Strategic Plan and review these aims as required.
We will continue to review ways in which the service can diversify and build on its strengths. We are aware that there is a need to continually seek new opportunities and are confident that the board and staff will be up to the challenge.
Training of board members will continue and management will ensure that staff training is kept up to date with new legislation and best practice.
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
In the event of the company being wound up, all members are required to contribute a sum not exceeding £1.
The trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and policies of the charity including the management and supervision of volunteers.
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:
The Board of Trustees recognise that the principle risk to which the charity is exposed is the uncertainty relating to its future funding and that it is dependant on financial support from the local authority. To mitigate this risk the trustees engage a Business Development and Funding Manager whose main focus is to identify and bid for relevant funding opportunities.
All new trustees undertake a structured induction programme with the other essential training provided via online courses.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Findlays Audit Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Moray Women's Aid 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).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
So far as the trustees are aware:
There is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware; and
The trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Moray Women's Aid (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 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, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, 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.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
proper accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
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 under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Acts 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.
Irregularites, including fraud are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material miss-statements in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non compliance with laws and regulations is detailed below.
The audit team has appropriate skills and expertise required and through discussions with management and trustees and knowledge of the sector to ensure any non compliance is recognised and all necessary disclosures are made. The controls in place help the charity mitigate the risk of fraud and also aids them in highlighting any instances of fraud that might have occurred.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Making enquiries of management about any known or suspected instances of non compliance with laws and regulations, including GDPR, employment law, and fraud
Enquiries of management & trustees as to where they consider the susceptibility to fraud and their knowledge of how actual, suspected and alleged fraud might occur.
Review of correspondence with regulators including, Companies House, OSCR and HMRC
Review of Board minutes
Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant accounting estimates including the application of judgement-based accounting policies and the allocation of restricted expenses
Auditing the risk of management override controls, including through testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness
Review of any areas where there is a potential of management bias, large and unusual transaction and the risk of undisclosed related parties
Performed analytical review procedures to identify any unusual transactions
Because of the field in which the charity operates in, we identified the following areas as those most likely to have a material impact on the financial statements:
Direct impact on financial statements:
Companies Act 2006
The Charities & Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005
The Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006
FRS 102 SORP 2019
T & Cs stipulated in grant funding
Indirect impact on financial statements:
Employments laws
GDPR
Charities Constitution
Disclosure Scotland
Care Inspectorate
Health & Safety At Work Act 1974
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
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 charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006, and to the charitable company’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 charitable company’s members and 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 charitable company, the charitable company’s members as a body and the charitable company’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 14 to 28 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 14 to 28 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 14 to 28 form part of these financial statements.
Moray Women's Aid is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is 57a Marleon Field, Elgin, Moray, IV30 4GB.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)". 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 have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees 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.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity 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.
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.
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:
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.
Expenditure under £500 is not capitalised.
At each reporting end date, the charity 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.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors 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 creditors 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 creditors 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 creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
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.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees 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.
Wages are allocated to projects based on actual time worked on specific projects. Where staff work across several projects the time is estimated in line with the work carried out.
Tangible fixed assets are depreciated over a period to reflect their estimated useful lives. The applicability of the assumed lives is reviewed annually, taking into account factors such as physical condition, maintenance and obsolescence.
Fixed assets are also assessed as to whether there are indicators of impairment. This assessment involves consideration of the economic viability of the purpose for which the asset is used.
All grants paid to individuals have been awarded in line with the charity's objectives to support women in need
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
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.
Purposes of restricted funds:
Moray Council SLA - contribution towards the cost of providing a refuge service.
Refurbishment fund - to cover the cost of refuge refurbishment and upgrades.
Scottish Government: DES - Inspiring Scotland - funding towards the cost of delivering domestic abuse services for women, children and young people in Moray.
Training fund - awarded to contribute towards the cost of training.
National Lottery Community Fund - to fund Community Outreach and Therapeutic Service.
The Robertson Trust - to contribute towards the cost of running The Family Support Service.
Improving Mental Wellbeing Fund - awarded to support mental health and wellbeing in adults across Moray.
Small funders - includes funds from The7stars Foundation awarded to support young people between the ages of 13 and 16.
Co-op Foundation - awarded to provide healthy and nutritious food during after school clubs and holiday activities
SafeLives NatWest Circle Fund - to support victims of economic and domestic abuse providing crisis intervention, increase safety and help support recovery and resilience.
Moray Council: Summer Targeted Holiday Provision - to cover the costs of activities for children and young people during the Summer holidays.
Bank of Scotland Foundation - to contribute towards the salary costs of a support worker.
TSI Moray - to cover the cost of an artist salary and other associated project costs.
Money For Moray - awarded to fund social inclusion activities for children during school holidays including cost of travel and food.
Scottish Government: Covid 100 - awarded to support the costs of a Domestic Abuse Support Worker.
Cash4Kids - to support children facing hardship.
Screwfix Foundation - to contribute towards the costs of new secure entry system.
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 (2024 - none).
The charity had no material debt during the year.