REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: SC111557 (Scotland)
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: SC013660
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 31DECEMBER2013
FOR
GATLIFF HEBRIDEAN HOSTELS TRUST
Nicolson Accountancy
49/50 Bayhead
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
Western Isles
HS1 2DZ
GATLIFF HEBRIDEAN HOSTELS TRUST
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the Year Ended 31December2013
Page
Chairman's Report / 1Report of the Trustees / 2 to 13
Independent Examiner's Report / 14
Statement of Financial Activities / 15
Balance Sheet / 16 to 17
Notes to the Financial Statements / 18 to 21
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities / 22 to 23
GATLIFF HEBRIDEAN HOSTELS TRUST
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
for the Year Ended 31December2013
It has been another busy but fulfilling year. We launched the Howmore appeal and got an instant and overwhelming response. The first envelope I opened contained a cheque for £10 which was very welcome. The second a cheque for £1,000! You can imagine my feelings. Thank you very much to all who have contributed. We are very grateful for your support for Howmore hostel.
Later, in the report and accounts, we report that the Howmore appeal has raised £18,601. This was the figure at the end of the year. It is much higher now. In fact we are more than half way to our total. This is a tremendous effort in one year. The end of year figure does not include the Gift Aid we hope to receive from the Inland Revenue, nor does it include the amounts received so far during 2014.
Thanks to your generosity, John Joyce and his team have been able to continue the work programme without interruption. The thatched hostel is finished and the common room block is now (May 2014) approaching completion.
Hostel overnights in 2013 were down again. We are not in a numbers game, and never will be; quality of stay has always been more important. But it is disappointing to see numbers dropping two years in a row after all our hard work. This is something about which all members may be able to help.
Tell your friends about the hostels, especially those with grown-up children. Encourage them to visit, to stay a while and get to know the islands. Help us spread the word with schools, especially those which still have regular field work trips. Tell local Ramblers or Walking groups. We can supply publicity material.
We run the hostels in partnership with islanders but behind the scenes there is plenty of organising and administration to be done. All the Trustees are volunteers who work from their own homes. If you could help us on a regular basis, even with a small task, this would be a great help.
Why not think about paying a return visit this year or next? Don't worry about the weather. It is never as bad as you might think. In fact nothing can beat a warm, still summer's day in the islands enjoying the gentle fragrance of machair flower. In 2012 the weather was stunningly bright and sunny for ten weeks! If you want information about the weather in the islands, the Shipping Forecast, sea area Hebrides, (broadcast on Radio 4) is very accurate, much more so than the general weather forecast. You can also get local forecasts for the islands on the BBC web site.
I thank my fellow trustees for all their hard work during the past year. I thank Julian Paren and Dave Matthews for coming on board as Trustees. I thank Betty MacDonald (Howmore), Jackie Macleod (formerly West) (Berneray) and Kate Langley (Rhenigidale) for their hard work as Wardens. Last but not least I thank you, our loyal members, for your tremendous support. Look forward to seeing you at the AGM and/or in the islands this summer!
Page 1
GATLIFF HEBRIDEAN HOSTELS TRUST
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
for the Year Ended 31December2013
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 31December2013. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued in March 2005.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
SC111557 (Scotland)
Registered Charity number
SC013660
Registered office
30 Francis Street
Stornoway
Western Isles
HS1 2ND
Trustees
Matthew Bruce / Retired Housing Strategy ManagerPeter Clarke / Analyst, researcher and writer
John Aston Humphries / Editor and Publisher
John Philip Lawson MBE / Retired Head Teacher
John Joyce / Consultant
Julian Gerald Paren / Lecturer / - co-opted 23.2.13
Steven Herbert Glover / Retired engineer / - co-opted 23.2.13
- resigned 1.6.13
David Edward Matthews / Retired YHA official / - co-opted 20.7.13The Trustees are members of the Trust and guarantee to contribute a sum not exceeding £1 to the assets of the Trust in the event of it being wound up, or within one year of ceasing to be a member of the Trust. The Directors have no beneficial interest in the Trust. All Directors are members of the Executive Committee of the Trust.
Peter Clarke served as Chairman and Secretary throughout the year.
Philip Lawson served as Treasurer throughout the year.
Company Secretary
Peter Clarke
Independent Examiner
Angus Nicolson
Nicolson Accountancy
49/50 Bayhead
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
Western Isles
HS1 2DZ
Page 2
GATLIFF HEBRIDEAN HOSTELS TRUST
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
for the Year Ended 31December2013
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Bankers
Bank of Scotland
Balivanich
Benbecula
Bank of Scotland
38 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh
EH2 2YR
Charities Aid Foundation
25 Kings Hill Avenue
West Malling
Kent
Urras Osdailean Nan Innse Gall Gatliff and the Crofters Hostels are business names of the Trust.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Aims and Objectives
The principal object of the Trust is to help all, especially young persons of limited means, to a greater knowledge and respect for the islands within the western coastal waters and sea of Scotland. The Trust is dedicated to running Berneray, Howmore and Rhenigidale hostels in partnership with islanders, to a sound basic standard. Our goal is to provide hostellers with the opportunity to stay a while in the islands and to get to know, and maybe come to love, the unique culture and natural environment of Scotland’s Outer Hebridean islands.
The Trust was incorporated on 10 June 1988 to run the hostel activities of the Gatliff Trust. The Hebridean Hostellers group was started in 1984. The Gatliff Trust was founded by Herbert Gatliff in 1961.
The Trust is a company limited by guarantee and registered at Companies House, Edinburgh. The Trust was granted exemption from corporation tax by the Inland Revenue on the grounds that its objectives are charitable on 5 July 1988. Following the creation of the Office of Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 we became registered charity number 111557 Scotland.
Membership is open to all who share these aims and who are prepared to commit to making a regular donation to the Trust (annual minimum of £10). Everyone who wishes to join must sign the guarantee that in the event of the Trust being wound up whilst they are a member or in the course of the year following the date of their cessation of membership, they agree to contribute a sum not exceeding £1, should they be requested to do so. (This is a requirement of Company Law.)
Page 3
GATLIFF HEBRIDEAN HOSTELS TRUST
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
for the Year Ended 31December2013
Volunteers
The Trustees are very grateful to the many volunteers who give their time to help with the administration and operation of the charity and/or the maintenance of the properties. All Trustees are volunteers who offer their time, talents and skills to the organisation freely.
There is a role for other members to become regular volunteers, especially those who have project management experience, have experience of running hostels or even small businesses and who can be in the islands on a regular basis, sort out issues on the ground and/or do practical work at the hostels. It is a misnomer to think of volunteering solely in terms of carrying out work at the hostels. There is plenty to do behind the scenes which can be done from member's own homes.
Whilst it is essential for volunteers to work on their own initiative, it is equally essential that they work within the agreed strategies, budget, priorities and policies of the Trust. It is therefore necessary for volunteers to work as directed by officers of the Trust. The Trust cannot ask volunteers to carry out electrical, plumbing or gas work at the hostels because these tasks have to be carried out by tradesmen with professional accreditation. However, volunteers with the drive, time and skills, are required to take ownership of specific projects and act as project managers for activities central to the running of the Trust and the improvement of the hostels. Opportunities may also be available to act as unpaid labourers supporting building and other operations such as site clearance and general construction, but in such cases volunteers would always have to work as directed by the main contractor or the nominated trustee.
If you would like to attend an Executive Committee meeting please contact the Chairman. This will give an opportunity to gain an appreciation of how the Trust is run behind the scenes. Visitors may be asked to leave the meeting if the agenda item is confidential.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its memorandum and articles of association and is a company limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 1985.
Organisational structure
The Trust adopted the recommendations of SORP 2005 to separate Governance functions, Management functions and Activities. (SORP 2005 refers to the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting by Charities adopted by the Accounting Standards Board and published by the Charities Commission and the Office of Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) in 2005.)
The Executive Committee is solely responsible for the governance of the Trust. It is responsible for setting and monitoring the budget and agreeing the Annual Accounts. It sets policy and agrees the terms of reference of any sub-committees. (There are none at the moment) Meetings are usually held on Saturdays to allow members sufficient time to travel to and from the meetings. The Committee currently meets in February for its annual planning & budget setting meeting (a whole day) and holds a meeting following the AGM. It also meets, as need be, immediately after Gatliff Trust meetings (to which all GHHT Trustees are invited).
The Executive Committee also has the ability to convene meetings by telephone conference call at short notice. During the year under review no such meetings were necessary.
We are experimenting with the use of Skype to allow Trustees who cannot travel to meetings to take part. So far we have tried it once but found that the network of the Youth Hostel hosting our meeting was not robust enough to carry the signal.
Page 4
GATLIFF HEBRIDEAN HOSTELS TRUST
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
for the Year Ended 31December2013
What is required of Trustees?
We are committed to providing training to Trustees and induction to new Trustees to allow them to play a full part in the running of the organisation and to maintain the continuity of the operation of the Trust. Full details of the operation of the hostels are provided to Trustees. New Trustees are supported by the existing Trustees to fully understand their role and responsibilities. We encourage visitors at our Trustee's meetings, though they are asked to leave the room when confidential matters are discussed.
New Trustees have to commit to supporting the operation of the Trust. We are a volunteer organisation and employ no staff. Consequently any decisions we take have to be carried out by the Trustees themselves. Trustees must act as ambassadors for the hostels. They are collectively responsible for everything that happens at the hostels.
Trustees need to have time to visit the islands and stay at the hostels. They must also attend meetings and play an active role in the work of the Trust. This can be time consuming but it is a huge privilege to be involved with the hostels and to have the opportunity to continue the work of the Trust and it is very rewarding work. It is always a pleasure to meet hostellers and read, in the hostel house books, about how they have enjoyed their stay in the islands.
Trustee roles and responsibilities
Each Trustee is encouraged to take on one or more specific responsibilities. They are expected to operate within the policy decisions laid down by the EC and to see the task or tasks through to a conclusion reporting the outcome to the EC. New ideas are welcome but can only be carried forward if the person suggesting the initiative, or another Trustee, takes responsibility for carrying it forward.
All Trustees are volunteers but can claim travel and other expenses according to a set scale. The overall amount claimed by Trustees is reported annually, in accordance with guidelines set down by the Office of Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Trustees are encouraged to stay at the hostels on a regular basis but have to pay for their hostel overnights. If they are visiting on agreed Trust business they can reclaim their overnight fees.