Page: 1
Opportunities in Retirement Ayr
Trustee’s Annual Report For the Year Ending 31st December 2025
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements and the independent examiner’s report for the year ending 31st December 2025.
Reference & Administrative Information
Charity Name
Opportunities in Retirement Ayr Charity Number $C005639
Address 61 Main Street, Ayr, KA8 8BU
Current Trustees — as at 31°* December 2025
Barrie Southwood — Chair
Meg Steel - Minute Secretary John Rattenbury - Treasurer David Bowman Amy Kinnaird Douglas Sanderson Denis Rattenbury Lesley Brown
Structure Governance & Management
Constitution:
The Charity is an unincorporated association. It is governed by its constitution which was adopted on 24th September 1985 and last amended on 17th May 2022.
Appointment of Trustees:
The Executive Committee, which normally meets on a 4-weekly basis, is comprised of the Charity’s Trustees. Membership of the Executive Committee is open to all members of the charity. Trustees arc elected at the Annual General Meeting which is normally held in April. Under the Constitution there must be no more than 15 elected trustees.
Management:
Our Executive Committee is a hardworking and committed Group of individuals working collectively for the good of our Organisation. The Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and governance of the Charity, whilst day to day running is delegated to the Office Manager, who is a paid member of staff, the Office Manager attends the trustee meetings to discuss progress and development.
There are more than 45 volunteers who act as Group Leaders and organise and run the many activities of the Charity. In addition, other volunteers assist the Office Manager in running the office.
/age: 2
Objectives and activities:
Charitable purposes and activities
To promote the welfare of those over fifty years of age in Ayrshire by providing social, educational, intellectual, and physical activities.
Achievements and performance
Report from the Chair:
This is the 41st AGM of Opportunities in Retirement. We recently had a very successful 40th anniversary celebration in the Town Hall with a cake cut by Harry Richardson, our oldest member. Pictures and a report will appear in the summer version of Outlook. |’ m pleased to report that our Office finally opened in October of last year and is now open for the usual three days per week. Special thanks to John for all his efforts connected with this and for installing and sorting out all the computers and associated equipment.
The first part of my Report is very similar to last year but the sentiments are just as important today as they were one year ago so | make no excuses for repeating them. | would like to thank the Executive Committee for their support and our Treasurer, John Rattenbury for all his work in connection with the finances. Could | also thank our Office Manager, Margaret and all the office volunteers. An equally important part of OiR are all the group leaders so many thanks to all of them. Our organisation would not be able to function without them.
At the end of 2025, we had just over 800 members. This was very similar to the previous year. The newsletter, Outlook, was published in July and December. My thanks to Stephen Dodd and his team for this. Outlook was complemented by a monthly email, the OiR News.
The Executive Committee continued to meet on a monthly basis within Ayrshire Housing. We have recently welcomed four new members to the Committee. More about them later.
A very successful Welcome Day was held in October. The aim of this event was to attract new members and publicise OiR. This event is very important to the organisation and another one is planned later this year. It draws new members to the organisation and helps existing members interact with other groups. If you haven’ t been to one yet, | can really recommend it.
Our links with VASA continue with our attendance at the Ageing Well Champions Board Meetings. This supports South Ayrshire Council’ s Ageing Well Strategy. The long term aim is to ensure that older people feel valued, celebrated, connected and cared for.
The Tuesday walking group enjoyed their walking weekend in Oban in October. Everyone enjoyed the weekend and we had excursions to Fort William and Mull and lona. The Saturday walking group continues to be popular with visits to New Lanark, Threave Gardens and many others destinations.
The annual Christmas Lunch was again held in the Horizon Hotel in December, organised by Christine Harris, so many thanks to Christine for that.
There were two new Groups at the beginning of 2026 - Beginning Art Class at Prestwick Community Centre on Mondays (Tom McCrorie, Group Leader) and Gaelic in Ayr on Fridays. Also last year the Choir wound up when Lisa left. It then re-started with a new Choir Leader, Adele Corns who was found by the current Group Leader, Lynda Burgess. They have gone from strength to strength since Adele took over. The Friday Breakfast Club continues to meet every two weeks at Wetherspoons in Prestwick and is very well attended and has a great atmosphere. The History group continues to be very successful and is the
Zage: 3
biggest group in OiR with over 70 attendees for a some talks. A very enjoyable coach trip was arranged to Dunfermline in June.
Looking ahead to this year, 2026, the main focus is to increase our membership and also to increase the number of members attending groups. The main way of recruiting new members is by word of mouth and every one of us can do that. If anyone has any marketing ideas then please let me know.
The Town Hall talks continue with some very interesting speakers. A Solicitor gave an interesting talk on Wills and Power of Attorneys. The line up for the rest of this year is now complete with a quiz, musical entertainment and culminating in the party on December 8th. The Town Hall meetings are a very important part of OiR activities. Any suggestions for potential speakers are very welcome.
This is my final task before handing over to Meg Steel. | wish her the very best of luck. Thank you for listening to this Report.
Barrie Southwood
==> picture [6 x 11] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
\"
----- End of picture text -----
OiR Chair
Financial Review:
Total income for 2025 was £57,222 and expenditure was £52,750 leaving a surplus of £2,749 in our unrestricted funds. The Walking Group’s restricted funds showed a surplus of £72. This is our first actual surplus in unrestricted funds since the Covid period.
Our office manager and the office volunteer team moved back into the OiR premises in autumn and the £3,076 compensation from the building insurance has covered new flooring costs, some new furniture along with general maintenance and servicing costs. The purchase of a new laptop for the Membership Database makes all OiIR computers Windows 11, and the laptop allows the database to be available on Welcome Days, etc.
Unrestricted reserves at the end of financial year 2025 were £22,160 plus our Charifund holdings of £7,532.
==> picture [336 x 104] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Approved by the Trustees on Ly / 3 /2e2€ ontheir behalf by:
ee DE
Barrie Southwood John Rattenbury
Chair Treasurer
----- End of picture text -----
|
Page: 49
STATEMENTOF PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | Total | 2025 | Tota! | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income: | Funds | WalkGrp | Grp | |||||||
| MembershipSubscriptions | £ | 19,660 | £ | 19,660 | £ | 18,331 | ||||
| Donations | Note 8 | £ | 2,761 | £ | 2,761 | €£ | 1,756 | |||
| Group Activity income | £ | 24,191 | ¢£ | 72 | ~«€ | 24263 | £ | 32,081 | ||
| Special EventsIncome | Welcome/Xmaslunch | £ | 1,845 | £ | 1845 | £ | 2,367 | |||
| investmentincome | Charifund | £ | 412 | £ | 4122. | £ | 373 | |||
| Tax Refunds and Gift Aid | £ | 2,659 | £ | 2,659 | £ | 2,114 | ||||
| MiscIncome | Insuranceclaim/refund | £ | 3,076 | £ | 3076 | €£ | - | |||
| Payment inerror | £ | 895 | £ | 895 | £ | - | ||||
| TotalIncome= | £ | 55,499 | €£ | 72tt | 55571 | €£ | $7,021 | |||
| Payments: | ||||||||||
| Group Activity Expenditure | £ | 22,098 | £ | - | £ | 22,098 | £ | 26,376 | ||
| Misc Expenditure | Note 9 | £ | 1,375 | £ | 1375 | €£ | 75 | |||
| Special Events Expenditure | Welcome/Xmaslunch | £ | 2,264 | £ | 2,264 | £ | 2,445 | |||
| Office Costsand maintenance WebHosting |
£ £ |
4,255 43 |
£ £ |
4255 43 |
£ € |
3,112 - |
||||
| RentSACoffice | £ | 12 | £ | 12 | f£ | 12 | ||||
| Office Equipment | Office consumables | £ | 451 | £ | 451 | ¢£ | 71 | |||
| internet & Telephone | £ | 1,087 | £ | 1,087 | £ | 1,022 | ||||
| Compute r Hardware | Office database laptop | £ | 349 | £ | 549 | £ | - | |||
| PettyCash | £ | 500 | £ | 500 | £ | 130 | ||||
| Advertisingand Promotion | £ | 198 | £ | 198 | £ | 198 | ||||
| Governance | Note 6 | £ | 155 | e | iss | €£ | 150 | |||
| Sundries | SkipHire -office clearance | £ | 276 | £ | 276 | |||||
| Pension(Personal/Stakeholder) | £ | 4,680 | £ | 4680 | £ | 3,335 | ||||
| AAGSubscription | £ | - | £ | - | £ | 18 | ||||
| insurance | Note 10 | £ | 2,267 | £ | 2,267 | €£ | 2,412 | |||
| NetSalaryExpense | £ | 12,540 | £ | 12,540 | €£ | 12,535 | ||||
| PAYE/NIPenalty | £ | - | £ | ba | £ | 6 | ||||
| Total payments = | £ | 52,750 | £ | - | £ | 52,750 | £ | 51,896 | ||
| Surplus /Deficit for year | £ | 2,749 | € | 72, | € | 2,821 | ||||
| 9 |
Page: 5
Statement of Balances 2025
| Statement ofof Balances 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted + unrestricted | |||||||||
| Funds Reconcilation | Unrestricted Funds | RestrictedFunds | Total | 2025 | Total 2024 | ||||
| Cash at bank 31/12/2024 | £ | 19,411 | £ | 1651 | €£ | 21,062 | £ | 22,037 | |
| Surplus Deficit foryear | £ | 2,749 | £ | 72.) | £ | 2,821 | -£ | 975 | |
| Cash at bank31/12/2025 | £ | 22,160 | £ | L723: | £ | 23,883 | £ | 21,062 | |
| Bank and Cash balances | |||||||||
| Bank Current Account | £ | 22,160 | £ | 19,411 | |||||
| Cash in hand (petty cash) | £ | 32 | £ | 13 | |||||
| WalkingGroup Account | Note 4 | £ | 1,723.) | £ | 1,651 | ||||
| Total cash atbank and in hand | £ | 23,915 | £ | 21,075 | |||||
| Investments (unrestricted fund) | |||||||||
| Mand G Charifund | £ | 7,532 | £ | 6,622 | |||||
| Otherassets (restricted fund) | Note 7 | ||||||||
| Computer Equipment | New laptop | 25% depreciation | £ | 729 | «€ | 317 | |||
| Equipment | 20% depreciation | £ | - | £ | 27 | ||||
| Equipmentandfurniture | 20%depreciation | £ | 220 | £ | 790 |
cage: 6
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025
1. Basis of Accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities & Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).
2. Nature and Purpose Funds
Unrestricted Funds are those that may be used at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the objectives of the Charity. The Trustees maintain a single unrestricted fund for the day to day running of the Charity.
Restricted Funds may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purposes. .
3. Related Party Transactions
The Charities Insurance Policy includes Trustee Indemnity Insurance for all its Trustees. No other remuneration was paid to the Trustees or any connected persons during the year 2024 (same as 2023).
4. Group Activities (Restricted)
Income and Expenditure of the Walking Group (who have their own bank account) is included in Annual Report Accounts. As income generated is to meet Group expenditure, these are considered to be ‘restricted funds’.
OiR Walking Group Bank Account 2025
==> picture [231 x 56] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Date Balance Income Expenditure
01/01/2025 £ Posi ie= 12-972 Ee 12900
31/12/2025 £ y23
Surplus £ 72
----- End of picture text -----
- Split Costs: Staff costs and general office costs contribute to both ‘costs of fund raising’ and ‘cost of charitable activities’. These costs are apportioned as 25% ‘cost of fund raising’ and 75% ‘cost of charitable activities’ as in 2024.
| SplitCosts: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office Costs and maintenance | £ | 4,994 |
| Internet &Telephone | £ | 1,087 |
| Salary inc Pension and NI | £ | 19,487 |
| Petty cash | £ | 500 |
| £ | 26,068 | |
| Contribution to fundraising (25%): | e | 6,517 |
| Contributiontocharitableactivities(75%): | £ | 19551 |
Page: 7
6. Governance Costs
The governance costs were hire of the ‘Local’ meeting room in the Ayrshire Housing offices.
7. Equipment and furniture
We assume an average depreciation of 20% pa on last year’s figure for general office equipment, and 25% for computer equipment. Purchases include a new laptop for the database and some new furniture to replace damaged items.
8. Donations
These include donations at town hall talks, from members and bucket donations on Welcome Day.
| 9 | Misc Expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Return offunds paid in error | £ | 895 | |
| Bank errorcorrection | £ | 480 | |
| £ | 1,375 | ||
| 10 | Insurance | ||
| Office building | £ | 92 | |
| Charity | £ | 2175 | |
| £ | 2,267 |
11. Liabilities
There are no apparent current liabilities.
12. Contingent Liabilities
The OiR office has a lease agreement in principle with the landlord (South Ayrshire Council). The Charity continues to be responsible for the insurance and maintenance of those parts of the building which it uses. In addition, the charity is liable for a contribution for repair and maintenance of communal parts of the building, it has been agreed with the landlord that this liability will not exceed £1,500 pa. We also have the important responsibilities of being an employer.
Page: 8
Opportunities in Retirement Ayr
|
|
Independent Examiner’s Report — 2025
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of ‘Opportunities in Retirement Ayr’.
| report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 Dec 2025 which are set out on pages1 to 6.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
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) (d) 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.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
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 or 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 | do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
e to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
-
e to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met, or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
==> picture [449 x 33] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Address: + 9g Z fs: iC 25H
CHRLINEKOCK Koay feetiCK,Z KAD
----- End of picture text -----
==> picture [250 x 29] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
vate: 4 aTK MRC 2026
----- End of picture text -----