The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Reference and Administrative Details
Reference and administrative details are shown on the Legal And Administrative Information page of the financial statements.
The Trustees
The trustees who served the charitable company during the period were as follows:
Mr I Moir
Mrs L I Moir
Ms J Mercer
Mr A A Mcrae
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 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 Charitable Objectives are:
1. To advance education and the arts,
2. To advance citizenship and community development,
3. To advance arts, heritage and culture.
Fire Station Creative (FSC) continues to fulfil its mission to advance the arts, education, community, engagement and cultural enrichment for Dunfermline and the wider Fife region. Throughout the reporting period, the organisation maintained a vibrant programme of exhibitions, music and cultural events, and community-focused activities that attracted visitors, supported creative practitioners, and fostered inclusive participation.
The facility maintained full tenancy of studio spaces housing practitioners in disciplines such as printmaking, painting, illustration, design, photography and ceramics. These creative professionals contribute to a dynamic hub of artistic collaboration and practice at the heart of Dunfermline.
FSC’s gallery space consistently hosted a diverse annual calendar of exhibitions, featuring both established and emerging artists. Exhibitions were widely attended and supported by local press and public interest in the arts.
The café and bar continued to operate as a much-loved social hub, bringing people together for food, drink, live music and cultural exchange. Weekend and evening live music events were a regular feature of FSC’s programme — including the much-celebrated Soul Station night, blending soul and Motown and attracting audiences from across the region.
The classroom and flexible spaces were used for community classes and workshops, further supporting education and engagement across age groups and interests.
TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND THE ARTS
Public Exhibitions (September 2024 - August 2025)
FSC delivered a full year of high-quality exhibitions, including:
Behind the Walll
Dates: 4 September – 3 November 2024
Artists: Lynn Crombie
Notes: Contemporary art exploring texture, space and narrative.
A World of Dreams
Dates: 6 November – 1 December 2024
Artists: Sadia Gul Ibrahim
Notes: Imaginative works across media.
FSC Tenant Exhibition
Dates: 1 December – 5 January 2025
Artist: Fire Station Creative studio tenants
Medium: Various
Notes: Annual showcase of resident artists' work.
Renewal: Myth and Alchemy
Dates: 24 January – 2 March 2025
Artists: Group exhibition (artists not individually listed)
Medium: Various
Notes: Thematic exhibition by an arts collective exploring storytelling and symbolism.
Wish You Were Here
Dates: 5 March – 30 March 2025
Artist: Various
Medium: Printmaking
Notes: Collaborative printmaking exhibition with South West Scotland Printmakers & Fife Printmakers.
My Dog and Other VIPs
Dates: 3 April – 27 April 2025
Artists: Francis Macdonald
Medium: Various
Notes: Engaging works celebrating canine companions in arts.
Fife College Photography Exhibition
Dates: 30 April - 1 June 2025
Notes: Student and emerging photographer showcase.
Icons of War, Faces in Exile
Dates: 5 June - 29 June 2025
Artists: Ukranian icon painters and a photographer
Notes: Powerful reflections on conflict and identity.
Wanderlust
Dates: 4 July - 27 July 2025
Artists: Carole Robinson
Notes: Travel-inspired works by regional Carole Robinson.
The Butterfly Effect
Dates: 8 August - 31 August 2025
Artists: Karen Lamond
Notes: Photography exhibition of female form.
Each exhibition was promoted through press releases, social media and local media channels, contributing to FSC's profile and community impact.
Integrated programmes that bring artists and audiences together with the ambition of appealing to as wide a range of audiences as possible
- Open Studios
Biannual weekends where the public accessed studio spaces, met artists and bought original artworks.
- Workshop and Classes
Community-orientated sessions in life drawing, yoga, creative writing and other skills continued to support lifelong learning.
- Cultural Partnerships
FSC collaborated with partner organisations, including printmaking workshops and educational partners, to broaden artistic opportunities.
- Music, Performance & Events
FSC’s cultural programme extended beyond visual art to include regular live music and social events:
• Soul Station – monthly soul and Motown music club evenings that consistently sell out and enhance nightlife in Dunfermline.
• Live music nights featuring bands such as Lights Out By Nine blending blues, R&B and
funk.
• A range of acoustic, world and folk music performances throughout the year.
These events have become signature offerings that engage broad and diverse audiences while supporting local and touring musicians.
Promotion and Engagement
FSC expanded its online presence through active social media engagement and regular digital newsletters to audiences across Scotland. Each exhibition opening was accompanied by promotional campaigns and press coverage, helping to raise the profile of our artists and programmes.
Private view openings provided opportunities for audiences to engage directly with artists, fostering dialogue and deeper understanding of the work exhibited.
Facilities for artists and persons involved in creative industries to be trained including where possible persons disadvantaged by social, economic or physical circumstances
There are 21 studios at FSC which currently provide accommodation to 30 artists. These artists all work independently but have the advantage of sharing skills, materials and knowledge with each other and with people at the beginning of their career.
FSC is host to three registered charities specialising in music therapy (Nordoff Robbins) and recovery from mental illness through art (Falling Up). There are over 20 people each week using the facilities.
Another independent charity named Dunfermline Heritage Trust runs media access workshops teaching people how to edit video and shoot film.
TO ADVANCE CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Encouraging voluntary activity and increasing the involvement of individuals in community activity
FSC’s board continued to operate on a voluntary basis, contributing strategic oversight and professional expertise. The organisation supported volunteer engagement across events and community programmes, including collaborations with local groups and young people.
FSC provided space and advisory support for local creative enterprises and contributed to the development of community-based organisations committed to arts and wellbeing.
The charity also worked to make cultural activity accessible, offering free and low-cost events and facilitating use of spaces for educational, charitable and community purposes.
Helping voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises build up their skills by engaging with creative activities
FSC has provided space to and advised the following organisations establish themselves as registered charities:
• Falling Up: Living In Art
• Outwith Festival
• Intertwined (An arts promotion organisation which raises funds for Ukrainian soldiers suffering with PTSD)
Contributing to the diversity of influence to the community by providing a cultural facility
FSC is the first venue of it’s kind in Dunfermline and West Fife. It has been warmly welcomed by the community and the feedback has been supportive. The facility has not only served the creative community but also the wider community.
FSC is co-founder of The Outwith Festival which made a major impact upon the local economy and raised the cultural profile of the region.
TO ADVANCE THE ARTS, HERITAGE AND CULTURE
Providing arts facilities and encouraging high standards in the arts
The facility is open to studio tenants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is open for classroom use and art therapy studio use as required. The gallery is open to the public Wed/Thurs 10am – 4pm, Fri/ Sat 10am – Midnight, Sun 11am – 4pm.
Advancing heritage and the preservation of an historic building by utilising the decommissioned Fire Station, Carnegie Drive, KY12 7AN, category B listed by Historic Scotland.
The charity continues to maintain the internal and external fabric of the building for the benefit of future generations. FSC continually seeks grant funding to meet the ongoing renovation and maintenance costs.
The original fireman’s poles were kept and are maintained as part of the refurbishment of the building and constitute an important par of FSC’s identity. A ‘heritage corner’ including models, vintage signs and photographs of the building has been created. As a result, FSC maintains an ongoing friendship with the local fire service.
The large, white, East facing gable of the building is now used for light projections that promote and celebrate the arts. This has significantly raised the profile of Fire Station Creative and associated events.
The curatorial team have been making visits to more exhibitions and events to identify new talent. This has been extremely fruitful for the benefit of FSC and the community who use the venue.
The landlord, Fife Council, pledged a £1 million subsidy for the restoration of the building.
In the year to 31st August 2025, income totalled £nil (2024 - £29,402) and expenditure amounted to £18,794 (2024 - £74,299). The charity recorded a deficit of £18,794 (2024 - £44,897 deficit) for the year.
To sustain and grow FSC's impact in the coming years, key development priorities include:
• Expansion of gallery capacity and integration of digital exhibition.
• Enhancement of building performance and long-term sustainability through energy efficient upgrades.
• Strengthening support for emerging artists and entrepreneurs.
• Development of international artistic collaborations and residencies.
• Appointment of additional curatorial and facilities personnel to support programme delivery.
• Installation of a large sculpture by a high profile artist, Toby Paterson, within the premises.
• Work to support Fife Council in public realm improvements using FSC’s network of expertise, artists and
designers.
• Work with Fife Council in the full restoration of the building.
Independent Examiner
Claire Lawrence CA has been appointed as independent examiner for the ensuing year.
Fire Station Creative Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland at Companies House on 16th August 2013. The company number is SC456986.
The company is a charity registered with OSCR (Office of Scottish Charity Register) on 26th August 2013. The charity number is SCO44226.
Fire Station Creative Limited is a charity formed to renovate the former fire station in Dunfermline, Fife and operate it as a creative hub. The hub consists of 21 studios for artists and creative businesses to work from, together with a classroom for hire, a gallery and a café.
The company has no employees.
Fire Station Creative Limited is the sole shareholder of Fire Station Creative Trading Limited, a company limited by shares that exists to operate the commercial aspects of the facility and gift all profits to the charity.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
Trustees are appointed and re-elected annually at the AGM.
Induction and training of trustees
Trustees, when appointed, are given an induction pack about the charity and its strategy, work and policies as well as an opportunity for a meeting with senior management prior to appointment and an opportunity to be briefed about the charity’s work and to meet key staff.
Small Company Provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Fire Station Creative Limited for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Fire Station Creative Limited and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these accounts, 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 accounts; and
- prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Fire Station Creative Limited 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 Fire Station Creative Limited and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Fire Station Creative Limited and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees' Report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report on the financial statements of the Fire Station Creative Limited for the year ended 31 August 2025, which are set out on pages 9 to 17.
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 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 accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit.
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. 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 of disclosures in the accounts, and seeks 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 accounts.
In the course of 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 (as amended) Accounts Regulations, and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 (as amended) 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.
Donations and legacies
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Fire Station Creative Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is Fire Station Creative, Carnegie Drive, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7AN.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities:
Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the
Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (Charities SORP (FRS 102),
the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies
Act 2006.
Fire Station Creative Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and
liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant
accounting policy notes.
Consolidation
The charitable company has not prepared group accounts in line with A.12 of the Charities SORP (FRS102)
on the grounds that it is the parent of a group with aggregate gross income of less than £500,000.
Cash Flow Statement
The trustees have taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard (FRS102) from
including a cash flow forecast statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the charitable
company is small.
At the time of approving the accounts, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Fire Station Creative Limited 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 accounts.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Income is recognised when the Fire Station Creative Limited is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the Fire Station Creative Limited 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.
All expenditure is included on an accruals basis and is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay expenditure. All costs have been directly attributed to one of the functional categories or resources expenses in the SOFA.
Resources expended are included in the SOFA on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered. Certain expenditure is directly attributable to specific activities and has been included in those cost categories.
Certain other costs, which are attributable to more than one activity, are apportioned across categories on the basis of an estimate of the proportion of time spent by staff on those activities.
As the charity is below the charity audit threshold, it has opted to report its costs by the nature of the expenditure rather than on an activity basis in line with FRS 102, paragraph 4.6.
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 net income/(expenditure) for the year.
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.
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered.
Creditors
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
In the application of the Fire Station Creative Limited’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.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
The investment represents 100% shareholding in Fire Station Creative Trading Limited, a company incorporated in Scotland (company number SC489859). Fire Station Creative Trading Limited operates the cafe, gallery, bar and all commercial trading operations carried on at Fire Station Creative Limited's premises.
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.
Expenditure from the Creative Hub building conversion fund is restricted towards the costs of converting the building into a Creative Hub.
The donation from Scotmid was towards the new portacabin installation.
The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital.
Resources expended
At 31 August 2025, the company was due an amount of £46,696 (2024 - £48,408) from Fire Station Creative Trading Limited.