2010 AGM Press Release & Financial Update 2009/10

Another Successful Year

The Annual General Meeting of the Puffin Hydrotherapy Pool Ltd. was held in Dingwall Academy on Tuesday 15 th June 2010 at 7.30 pm. Chairman, Dr Malcolm Steven, thanked all the fundraisers, Pool staff and Committee for their continued support. The Pool, which opened in 1997, provides specialist hydrotherapy to Highland adults and children, including patients of the Highland Rheumatology Unit.

Treasurer, Jim Bremner, reported a satisfactory fiscal result for the year. The deficit on running the Pool had been offset by donations and fundraising by the public and in particular, by the charity shop in Tulloch Street, Dingwall. Shop Manager, Doreen Reynolds, reported an increased surplus from 2009 and the Treasurer commended her and her team for this sterling effort.

To those present that he was again pleased to say that the Company’s financial results for the year were showing an excess of income over expenditure of £17,783 (compared to £14,470 in the previous year).

He explained that –

The Hydrotherapy Pool itself had an operating deficit of £37,440

But through donations and fundraising it had raised 11,689 Resulting in a Pool deficit of £25,751

But this was covered by a Shop surplus for the year of £43,534

Producing a total Company surplusof £17,783

It was pointed out that annual grants were received from the Highland Health Board and the Highland Council and these accounted for a substantial part of the Pool income. Without these, the Pool deficit would have been considerably greater. The meeting approved and adopted the Company’s accounts and re-appointed their Accountant and Solicitor who have supported them over recent years.

The Chairman thanked Committee members and acknowledged the particular input of the late Strathpeffer contractor, Angus MacDonald, who died last year and of former Councillor, Neil McKechnie. Both had contributed greatly to the fundraising and establishment of the Pool. Dr Steven was pleased to welcome new members, Brian Cameron and Murray MacKay and looked forward to harnessing their expertise for the Pool.

The Pool Manager May Hayden reported a continued and rising demand for hydrotherapy from individuals with short and long-term injuries and disabilities. In advance of current Health Service drive towards “self-management”, the Pool has offered open access self-referral to the Pool where individuals are assessed by a Specialist Physiotherapist and given a programme of appropriate rehabilitation. Interested individuals should contact the Pool Office at 01349 864414 for further information.

May Hayden also reported a number of items of generous donations and fundraising including the Annual Fun Run. He reported that the Committee were considering an upgrade and modernisation of the changing room facilities, which had been necessitated by the huge demand.

The Chairman (Dr. Malcolm Steven) and the Directors thanked Mrs. May Hayden (the Pool Manager) and her staff for their dedicated work and for the way they ensure that the Pool’s day-to-day operation runs smoothly. Doreen Reynolds, the Shop Supervisor, and all her ‘shop volunteers’ were thanked for their dedicated and greatly appreciated work over the year, a year in which the level of sales of new and donated goods had reached an all time high. Thanks also to those who donated such a variety of goods and an especial thanks to all those customers who bought them.

Financial Statements for the year 2007/2008

The financial statements complied, initially by Tenon Ltd. and subsequently by Callander Colgan, show that the company had an excess of income over expenditure amounting to £8,076 which compares favourably with that of 2006/07 of £3,819

The 2007/2008 surplus arose as follows-

The Hydrotherapy Pool had an operating deficit of -£37,095

But through donations and fundraising it raised 11,922

Resulting in a Pool deficit of - 25,173

But this was covered by a charity shop surplus for the year of 33,249

Producing a total Company surplus of £8,076

The financial position of the Pool itself was such that it finished the year with an operation deficit of £37,095, a decrease of £2,278 (or 5.8%) over that of the previous year.

Although Pool Income was lower by £3,997, Expenditure was also down, this by £6,275, due mainly to lower maintenance costs and a reassessment of Pool Equipment depreciation.

The Gross value of the Charity Shop sales of both and new donated goods and from donations, etc. amounted to yet another new record level of £43,370 (compared to £39,584 in 2006/2007).

Jim Bremner (Treasurer)

PRESS RELEASE ON 2008 AGM

The statutory Annual General Meeting of the Puffin Hydrotherapy Pool was held at Dingwall Academy on 25th June 2008. Dr Malcolm Steven, Chairman of the Puffin Pool Committee, presented its 17 th Annual Report. He outlined a successful year for the Company, which provides hydrotherapy for individuals with arthritis, including patients at the NHS Highland Rheumatology Unit in Dingwall as well as other clients with a disability from the Highland community.

During the meeting five committee members stood down by statutory requirement and were re-elected. The Chairman commended their support and invited other interested members of the public to consider joining the Board.

Reviewing the financial performance, Treasurer James Bremner reported stable income and expenditure levels. The annual operating deficit amounting to £37,000 (after grant support from NHS Highland and Highland Council) had fortunately been offset by fundraising, donations and a surplus of over £33,000 from the Tulloch Street charity shop. An overall surplus for the year amounting to £8,076 had resulted and although only 58% of pool income now comes from user charges the Committee was pleased to propose no increase in user charges for the coming year.

The Chairman was pleased to report a continuing successful contract with the Highland Council, who provides the staff for the day-to-day management of the pool. Manager May Hayden reported recent upgrades and some changes of personnel although recruitment has been increasingly difficult and additional staff is currently being sought. A number of vacant sessions at the pool have now become available due to the completion of the new Drummond School Pool and it is hoped that organisations and private booking will come forward to take up these sessions.

The Chairman concluded by thanking the many donors and supporters who gave so generously throughout the year. Particular thanks goes to the volunteer charity shop team led by Doreen Reynolds who generate an increasing proportion of the pool’s income. He commended forthcoming fundraising events including the annual Fun Run and thanked May Hayden and her staff for their energy and commitment to providing a quality service to the pool users. Finally, he thanked all the Committee members whose expertise has made the Puffin Pool such a success and a highly valued resource within the community.

Dr Malcolm Steven (Chairman)