EDINBURGH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT, STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND EXAMINER’S REPORT
FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Scottish Charity number SC017042
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Edinburgh Photographic Society Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
Year ended 31 August 2025
Name and Governance
Edinburgh Photographic Society was formed in 1861. The organisation became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in 2012 with registration number SC017042, known as EPS.
The Society’s Trustees
The management of the Society is vested in a Council elected from Honorary, Life and Ordinary Members, together with the immediate Past President. The Council consists of (1) The Office-bearers, namely the President, two Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Exhibition Secretary, all of whom shall be elected annually; (2) the immediate Past President for two years, following his/her demission of office; and up to twelve Councillors who shall hold office for three years. The property and assets of the Society are vested in the President, Vice-Presidents, immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer, as Trustees of the Society.
Trustees
Muriel Binnie Sam Fraser Co-opted 9 September 2025 Stuart Gilliland Isobel Lindsay David Lyle Appointed 30 April 2025 James Mount Resigned 30 April 2025 Fiona Spence
Contact address
68 Great King Street, Edinburgh. EH3 6QU
Recruitment and appointment of Trustees
All the Society’s Trustees are appointed or re-appointed by the Members at the Society’s Annual General Meeting usually held in April each year.
Independent Examiner
Michael G Cockburn FCBI
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Edinburgh Photographic Society Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
Year ended 31 August 2025
Charitable purposes
The Society has the following objects:
To promote the study, awareness, appreciation and practice of the art, science and application of photography by:
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a) Holding meetings of the Society for reading and discussing communications bearing upon photographic science or the applications thereof, or upon subjects relating thereto
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b) Holding courses or lectures, demonstrations, talks and conferences open to members of the Society or to members of the public, or both.
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c) Holding and promoting exhibitions of an international, national or local character of photographs and pictures produced by photography or any process akin thereto, or of photographic equipment or apparatus.
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d) Maintaining a library of books, pamphlets, journals, magazines, manuscripts and photographs relating to the art or science of photography.
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e) Assisting other bodies of an educational nature in Edinburgh and the wider community by the provision of lectures or demonstrations or by lending equipment, books, journals, magazines, manuscripts and photographs.
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f) Providing equipment and premises for the carrying out of these objects.
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g) Providing assistance by way of grants, loans, equipment or otherwise for research into any aspect of the art or science of photography.
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h) Making reasonable charges to members of the Society, members of the public, bodies of an educational nature and others in connection with the carrying out of any of the objects of the Society.
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i) Doing all other things which may be necessary incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects.
Activities and achievements
The Society had a programme of over 90 talks and other events from September to April including presentations by established, international and emerging photographers. In addition, two competitive Salons and a variety of exhibitions form a significant part of our activities.
EPS opened on 48 days for members of the public to visit 14 different exhibitions. Exhibitors include members, the London Salon, the Royal Photographic Society and other photography groups – all offering a range of content to broaden public engagement in photography. Agitate presented the film “I Am Martin Parr” using our main hall as its venue.
In addition, a 28-day exhibition at the Art & Design Library and a zine fair provided opportunities for our members’ work to be seen at other venues in Edinburgh.
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The Society held the 3rd EPS International Digital Salon in Autumn 2024. We received a total of 2,838 images from 266 photographers from 36 countries. The salon accepted 652 images and the exhibition of award winners and some accepted images took place in January 2025. They were shown alongside over 100 prints from the 110th London Salon of Photography and two other exhibitions.
We held the Society’s 161st Edinburgh International Exhibition of Photography in August 2025 as part of Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Salon attracted around 1,400 entries from around the world and the exhibition of 163 accepted prints was well received with around 1,900 visitors. With a low acceptance rate, it is often said that an acceptance at Edinburgh is like a medal at other salons. Visitors to the exhibition were also able to see three other exhibitions: two from the Royal Photographic Society and one from another charity, Haemochromatosis UK.
The Society is indebted to all the members who give up their time to help run both Salons - they handled entries, supported the judging days, dealt with questions from entrants, dealt with software issues, hung the exhibitions and manned the doors to open the exhibitions to the public. Without help from a huge number of volunteers neither exhibition would be possible.
The Society undertook two significant improvements during the year. The first was replacing its ageing and under-performing AV system with new equipment. The mix of in person, Zoom and “broadcast” delivery platforms has helped the Society engage with a wider audience, not just in terms of attendees but also the diversity of speakers we can attract.
The second project was the refurbishment of one room to form a new multi-purpose space - an additional exhibition gallery, a meeting room or a presentation suite with a large wall monitor. The room has been in regular use and in August 2025 it welcomed the Haemochromatosis UK touring photographic exhibition to promote awareness of a disease affecting a high proportion of Scots.
During the year, the Society received a gift of a significant collection of books from the late Douglas May. Douglas’s executors have also confirmed that a legacy will be paid to the Society towards the costs of improving the library to accommodate this book collection. This hugely generous gift by a former President of the Society will renew our library and extend its ability to inform and inspire. Plans for the physical improvements are expected to come to fruition in the next financial year.
Reserves and funds
The surplus for the year was £20,808 ( 2024: £13,335 ) representing a surplus on unrestricted reserves of £13,313 (2024: £13,335) and a surplus on restricted reserves of £7,495 ( 2024: £Nil ). Restricted reserves at 31 August 2025 are all in relation to member donations towards the costs of improvements to the Society’s library.
Reserves policy
It is the Society’s policy to retain reserves equivalent to at least 12 months core expenditure and a property reserve of at least £90,000 to meet unexpected maintenance to its listed building.
Investment policy
The objective is to maintain the real value of the portfolio with respect to inflation as well as to provide an income.
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Trustee Indemnity Insurance
The Society's insurance includes Trustee Indemnity Insurance for all its trustees.
Future plans
Since 31 August 2025, we have embarked on another busy syllabus for the current year and planning for the 2026/27 season is underway. Membership numbers remain healthy. Our new webmaster has built a new website, launched in December 2025, portraying the Society in an appropriately modern light and we hope everyone who uses it or visits EPS will find information easily accessible. Our 4[th] Digital Salon is complete with a popular exhibition of the accepted images in January 2026 and the team are already in action for the 162[nd] International Exhibition of Photography.
Contributions of Trustees, Council and Members
Members contribute hugely to the running of the Society – from governance to property maintenance; contributing to the syllabus, sharing knowledge generously and running special interest groups; organising Salons and exhibitions and running our website and social media accounts. It is a huge task for a small organisation with no staff.
This is a modest opportunity for me to thank everyone who contributes and to acknowledge my fellow Trustees and Council members, who show foresight, concern and vision for the Society.
Muriel Binnie President 15 March 2026
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Edinburgh Photographic Society
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025 which are set out on pages 7 to 9.
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 I 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
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
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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.
………………………………………………….
Michael G Cockburn FCBI Fellow and Chartered Banker Chartered Banker Institute 8/9 Powderhall Rigg. Edinburgh EH7 4GG 19 March 2026
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Edinburgh Photographic Society Statement of Receipts and Payments For the year ended 31 August 2025
| RECEIPTS Membership Fees Gift Aid International Digital Salon Darkroom and similar fees Interest and dividends Raffle tickets and teas Social Events Donations Library donations Event Space Rental Fees Miscellaneous Total receipts PAYMENTS Speaker/Judge Costs Utilities Gardening and Building Maintenance Darkroom International Print Digital Salon External Competitions and Exhibitions Professional Fees Insurance IT Hardware, Software & Services Social Events Miscellaneous Total payments Surplus for the year |
2025 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total £ £ £ 21,949 - 21,949 12,144 - 12,144 17,080 - 17,080 5,008 - 5,008 109 - 109 7,989 - 7,989 - - - 276 - 276 115 - 115 - 7,495 7,495 2,420 - 2,420 1,854 - 1,854 68,944 7,495 76,439 2,677 - 2,677 3,113 - 3,113 16,453 - 16,453 497 - 497 9,794 - 9,794 4,670 - 4,670 1,470 - 1,470 987 - 987 6,875 - 6,875 6,106 - 6,106 483 - 483 2,506 - 2,506 55,631 - 55,631 £13,313 £7,495 £20,808 |
2024 Total £ 22,777 636 15,655 7,659 267 5,435 186 - 4,255 - 1,400 759 |
|---|---|---|
| 59,029 | ||
| 3,261 4,420 11,778 341 8,681 3,147 1,087 915 8,212 1,499 561 1,792 |
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| 45,694 | ||
| £13,335 |
The Charity's unrestricted funds may only be used to further the aims of the Society
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Edinburgh Photographic Society Statement of balances At 31 August 2025
| Fixed Assets Heritable Property - at cost Furniture & Equipment - at cost Library Collection - at value on receipt Investments Charifund - Equities Investment Fund for Charities 6283.1 units held - at valuation Current assets - bank and cash balances RBS - Main Bank account RBS - Member's account RBS - Savings account EPS Paypal Account Combined investments and bank balances Charifund - Equities Investment Fund for Charities Bank accounts Current Liabilities Statement of balances at 31 August 2025 Opening cash at bank Surplus or deficit for the year Closing cash at bank |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds £ £ 121,059 0 13,313 7,495 |
2025 2024 £ £ 760,000 760,000 1,600 1,600 50,000 - |
|---|---|---|
| 811,600 761,600 |
||
| 98,832 95,300 |
||
| 32,859 97,387 21,832 23,528 87,146 - 30 144 |
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| 141,867 121,059 |
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| 98,832 95,300 141,867 121,059 |
||
| 240,699 216,359 |
||
| - - |
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| Total 2025 Total 2024 £ £ 121,059 107,724 20,808 13,335 |
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| £134,372 £7,495 |
£141,867 £121,059 |
Approved by the Trustees on 14 March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
David Lyle Treasurer 15 March 2026
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Edinburgh Photographic Society Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2025
1 Basis of Accounting
The accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 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).
The Trustees consider that its existing funds and plans for the coming year will enable the Society to continue with its present activities and meet its charitable objectives.
The Society’s investments are held with recognised funds. When settling investment policy, the Trustees consider social, environmental and ethical issues, where appropriate. The policy of the Trustees is to invest prudently those funds not required to meet current liabilities in order to meet future liabilities.
The Trustees confirm that suitable accounting policies have been used and applied consistently, and that reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates have been made in the preparation of the financial statement for the year ended 31 August 2025. The Trustees confirm that applicable accounting standards have been applied and that the financial statement has been prepared on the basis of historical cost and as a going concern.
2 Related party transactions
No remuneration was paid to the trustees or any connected persons during the year ( 2024: £Nil ).
During the year five ( 2024: six ) Trustees were reimbursed expenses incurred on behalf of the charity amounting to £10,575 ( 2024: £1,523 ) in respect of miscellaneous goods and services. The increase in reimbursed expenditure is because a Trustee met and reclaimed expenses related to the International Salons. In 2024, the International Secretary was not a trustee.
3 Restricted funds
The Society’s restricted funds are £7,495 ( 2024: £Nil ) which relate to donations by members towards the cost of improving the library.
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