The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the period 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 constitution, 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 charity's objectives are:

• to advance citizenship, community development and volunteering within and for the benefit of the community of Bigton by delivering a diverse variety of services and initiatives across the community, without distinction of sex, sexuality, political, religious or other opinion, with the object of improving their conditions of life;

• to improve the mental and physical health and well-being of all the inhabitants of Bigton by delivering and/or facilitating a variety of health related initiatives in a therapeutic environment;

• to advance education and learning by providing workshops, training sessions and courses in the community of Bigton;

• to advance the culture, art and heritage of Bigton through a variety of initiatives across the community;

• to relieve those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage by focussing services on those most in need in the community of Bigton;

• to provide recreational facilities and organise recreational activities to improve the conditions of life of all the inhabitants of Bigton.

This period represented another busy and impactful period for Bigton Collective with the continuation of a wide range of creative activities and events, alongside ongoing improvements to the Hymhus building.

Continued support for our Young Voices Programme from the Creative Scotland - Access to Music Making fund enabled us to offer another year of weekly group work: Musical Playtime, Bigton Band and Music Maker Groups for local schools. Furthermore, a second year of funding from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults allowed us to continue and develop our support groups for parents of neurodivergent and disabled children.

A second year of a three-year funding package from the Community Led Lottery Fund contributed to some of our core overheads and enabled us to employ an interim part-time project worker to develop catering and sustainability (maternity cover). The Bigton Weekend Bakery continued to thrive, bringing around 200 people into the building on Saturday mornings. The second-hand shop St Ninian's Proil was consistently popular with a steady increase in income over this period.

We continued to deliver a large range of weekly group activities which were consistently popular and well received. Bigton Writers continued to meet monthly and the Bigton Singers moved into their tenth year of community singing with some new members joining and a strong sense of connection and group support. Friday Friends continued to have a core cohort of regular attendees with new participants joining as awareness grows. Signposting and social prescribing from other agencies has also boosted numbers. New initiatives included the Songwriters Sanctuary which received glowing feedback from participants and generated a growing body of new musical material.

In addition to our weekly Straw Makers, with the support of a small grant from the Community Benefit Fund, we were able to offer a series of traditional straw kishie-making workshops in January and February.

Our events programme continued to develop, enhanced by a greatly improved stage area, PA and lighting. Some of the highlights during this period have been: an album launch for the Donald Anderson Band; film screenings of Clavel and A Meid Athin da Twalmont from our Short and Sweet series; Jenny Watt: Songs from Stage & Screen; Hymhus Headliner concerts from Kevin Henderson and Neil Pearlman and Barry Nisbet's song cycle The Springbank Voyage; Laughton Johnson's To the end of the Days of Sail book signing event; an exhibition for Shared Lives Shetland and a Christmas gathering celebrating all our piano and instrumental students.

The Claes Swap event in October 2024 was extended to a full week of activity, offering a place for families to come in the school holidays and was well attended. We collaborated again with Community Development Services to provide Winter Pop-in sessions. Bigton Samba performed at a number of community events including Shetland Pride in June 2025. 

In addition to regular activities, it has also been a busy period for capital improvements both inside and out. Thanks to funding from the CLLD fund and HIE, and helped by a dry and mild February, we were able to complete outdoor improvements at the start of 2025 with accessible paths around the building and level access to the Polycrub. This was a true team effort, all made possible by local contractors and tradespeople.

The Development Manager post continued over this period, supported by Coastal Communities and Economic Development which led to a successful bid for Islands Programme Funding. Phase Two internal renovations have progressed thanks to substantial investment and support from the Islands Programme, SIC Economic Development and HIE. Between January and March, the Hymhus floor was lifted to enable insulation and underfloor heating pipes to be installed. Also as part of Phase 2, the Hymhus windows will be replaced with bespoke double-glazed units, the manufacture of which is underway and will be celebrated through the Windows theme at the Community exhibition in July 2025. Thanks to our close partnership with the Bigton Community Hall we were able to continue to provide all our services and activities whilst renovations were carried out.

Music therapy, accessible instrumental lessons and other therapeutic services continued to be offered by our anchor tenant with a strong local demand for these services. In addition, a partnership programme with Community Energy Scotland enabled us to participate in a Community of Practice with organisations from across Shetland and Orkney focusing on community transport and mobility, and supported research and community engagement towards a transport strategy for Hymhus.

In January 2025 we received news that we had been successful in securing multi-year funding from Creative Scotland for our Arts Programme (April 2025-2028) which was a significant boost, securing the future of our activities programme in the medium term and enabling more confident forward planning.

Our main priorities for the year ahead are:

• Consolidating, embedding and further developing activities that promote arts, health and wellbeing

• Offer consistent jobs, freelance and volunteering opportunities for local people

• Complete remaining part of Phase 2 capital works - upgraded heating system, replacement windows

• Continue to develop our outreach and sustainability work

We are most grateful to our funders and our many volunteers and supporters in the Bigton community and beyond for their ongoing enthusiasm and contributions to the project and look forward to much more creativity and connection in 2025/2026. 

The charity had total incoming resources of £302,360 (2024: £165,995) and total resources expended of £97,938 (2024: £84,728), giving a net surplus for the year of £204,422 (2024: £81,267). Total funds as at the balance sheet date amounted to £459,237 (2024: £254,815), of which £209,405 (2024: £70,184) are restricted funds.

It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The Trustees 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 charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the period.

The charity is a company limited by guarantee.

The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the period and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

The charity has two methods to recruit and appoint new directors. Directors are either appointed at the AGM (ie proposed and seconded) or through co-option at Board meetings at any other point during the year as required. Directors are appointed from a list of Board approved members ie named representatives of member organisations. No other body or person is entitled to appoint directors.

None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.

The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

I report on the financial statements of the charity for the period ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 5 to 17.

The charity’s Trustees, who are also the directors of Bigton Collective Ltd for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investments (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the financial statements as required under section 44(1)(c) of the Act 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 connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

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 financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations;

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 period. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the period ended 31 March 2025.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the period in question in accordance with section 476.

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

Bigton Collective Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is Hymhus, Bigton, Shetland, ZE2 9JF.

The financial statements report on the period from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025. The comparative period covers the year to 31 August 2024. These financial statements are therefore not directly comparable.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's constitution, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended), FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) 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)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

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.

Income from fundraising activities is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business.

Expenditure is recognised on the accruals basis of a liability is incurred, and includes any VAT which cannot be recovered.

Expenditure on charitable activities comprises those costs incurred in the delivery of the charity's activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost 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.

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.

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. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors are initially recognised at transaction price. 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.

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.

Direct project costs

Other running costs

During the period, the charity paid the following trustees for services provided to the charity:

• A Ritch - £6,852 (2024: £7,502)

• D Shah - £nil (2024: £50)

The charity paid remuneration of £nil (2024: £19,833) to J Ritch, trustee (to date of resignation as a Trustee on 11 June 2024).

During the period, the charity received income from A Ritch totalling £583 (2024: £1,000) for room hire.

The average monthly number of employees during the period was:

The charity is exempt from taxation as all its activities are charitable and all income is applied for charitable purposes.

The loan received from Shetland Charitable Trust during the year is interest free and is due to be fully repaid within the year ended 31 March 2026.

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 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 period (2024 - none).