# Action to Protect Rural Scotland

## Details

- **Country:** Scotland
- **Charity number:** SC016139
- **Known as:** APRS
- **Status:** Active
- **Legal form:** SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
- **Registered:** March 1, 1929
- **Register:** https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC016139


## Contact

- **Address:** Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, EDINBURGH
- **Postcode:** EH1 1EL
- **Website:** www.aprs.scot



## Activities

**Activities:** 'It carries out activities or services itself'

**Purposes:** 'the advancement of education','the advancement of citizenship or community development','the advancement of environmental protection or improvement'

**What the charity does:** We campaign on a number of issues including protection and accessibility of landscapes and countryside, greater planning protection for Green Belts and stricter environmental standards for data centres and battery storage installations.  We are actively involved in national policy development and advocacy, and we take the insights from our community support work and use them to change policy for the better. By working both “outside track” with communities and “inside track” with policymakers, we bridge the gap between lived experience and legislation. For example, last year brought a major success when all four long-running Green Belt community campaigns APRS had supported as test cases saw planning refused. Evidence from these cases directly influenced stronger protections for Green Belts in the Planning System, securing greater safeguards nationwide after years of APRS campaigning. We partner with communities, grassroots campaigners, other charities, local authority, government

**Objectives:** The organisation’s purposes are: ● The advancement of environmental protection or improvement. ● The advancement of community development. and  ● The advancement of education. And in furtherance thereof:  ● To protect Scotland’s countryside and rural landscapes, including settlements and built heritage, for the benefit and enjoyment of the public and communities, ensuring that decisions on land use respect, safeguard and, where possible, enhance the character and qualities of countryside and rural landscapes. ● To promote the designation, conservation, and management of protected landscapes ● To provide support, advice, information, training, and a point of connection and coordination for community representatives, and individuals (in each case) on the above matters . ● To undertake, support and co-ordinate work in furtherance of the above. Including (without limitation) research, education, advocacy, and investigations.  ● To take such other lawful action as shall be calculated to promote the above purposes.





## Areas of operation

- **Main operating location:** City of Edinburgh
- **Geographical spread:** Operations cover all or most of Scotland



## Finances

| Period end | Income | Expenditure | Assets | Employees | Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 31, 2025 | £129929 | £104662 |  -  | 3 | [PDF](/sc/SC016139/files/2025-12-31-accounts.pdf) (510.2 KB) |
| Dec. 31, 2024 | £154486 | £164440 |  -  | 4 |  |
| Dec. 31, 2023 | £105900 | £233651 |  -  | 6 |  |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | £137605 | £158024 |  -  | 6 |  |
| Dec. 31, 2021 | £214053 | £140789 |  -  | 4 |  |
| Dec. 31, 2020 | £203824 | £142272 |  -  | 4 |  |