Scottish Charity No. SC019826
Linlithgow Young People’s Project (known as Youthspace)
Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 5 April 2026
Linlithgow Young People’s Project
Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 5 April 2026
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 4 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 5 |
| Statement of Balances | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 |
Linlithgow Young People’s Project
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 5 April 2026
The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 5 April 2026.
Principal office
29 The Vennel High Street Linlithgow EH49 7EX
Status of Charity and Governing Document
Linlithgow Young People’s Project (known as Youthspace) was registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 4 December 2018. It has been a registered charity since 4 February 1992, previously being incorporated as a charitable company. The charity registration number is SC019826.
Trustees and Office Bearers
Management of the charity remains with the Trustees. The constitution requires a minimum of 3 trustees and a maximum of 7 to serve at any time. The day-to-day management of the operational work of the charity is delegated to the Project Manager.
The Trustees who served during the year and to the date of this report are:
Stephen Bell Chair Innes Chalmers Secretary Ruth Duncan (appointed 1 December 2025) Elaine Kinloch (appointed 27 October 2025) Stephen Marshall Rona Molloy
The Trustees may appoint additional trustees at any time on the basis of a majority vote. At the conclusion of each AGM, any charity trustees appointed during the period since the preceding AGM retires from office. Out of the remaining charity trustees, one shall retire from office. A charity trustee who retires from office at the conclusion of an AGM shall be eligible for re-election at the next board meeting.
Objectives
The Charity’s objects as laid out in its governing document are:
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To promote activities for the social, recreational and spiritual benefit of the young people of Linlithgow and surrounding villages.
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To promote the education of those who through their social and economic circumstances and by reason of their youth are in need living in Linlithgow and surrounding villages.
LYPP adopts a holistic approach to its objects and carries them out in partnership with local churches and the local authority by serving the needs of the local community and outlying areas.
The mission is underpinned by the following values which help to focus the activities:
Empower – we aim to encourage a sense of hope and potential in young people and inspire them in all areas of their lives, helping them to gain positive perspectives about their immediate circumstances and their life in the future. We also aim to engender a sense of equality and justice.
Engage – we aim to encourage young people to foster a sense of respect for themselves and for others. We recognise the individuality and diversity of each young person and aim to work creatively to best meet their needs. We also want to create opportunities for young people to explore questions of faith and spirituality.
Enable – we aim to facilitate ways for young people to learn and build new skills and confidence through formal and informal education settings, enabling young people to reach their full potential. To facilitate this, we work in partnership with local organisations, West Lothian Council and the community of West Lothian.
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Linlithgow Young People’s Project
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 5 April 2026
Activities and achievements
We base our work around the following measurable outcomes as laid out in YouthLink Scotland’s Outcomes for Youth Work document. These are as follows:
Outcome 1: Young people build their health and wellbeing. Outcome 2: Young people develop and manage relationships effectively. Outcome 3: Young people create and apply their learning and describe their skills and achievements. Outcome 4: Young people participate safely and effectively in groups and teams. Outcome 5: Young people consider risk, make reasoned decisions, and take control. Outcome 6: Young people grow as active citizens, expressing their voice and enabling change. Outcome 7: Young people broaden their perspectives through new experiences and thinking.
The above values are realised through:
Lounge
The Lounge is a drop-in youth centre and is a free-to-access provision which is open twice a week on a Tuesday evening and Friday afternoon. These sessions include recreational activities, relational youth work, special projects and opportunities to equip young people with life skills as well as recognise their achievements by accrediting their learning with awards. On a Tuesday evening after the main club finishes, a targeted issue-based event session also runs providing young people with an opportunity to discuss issues and concerns in a more formal but relaxed environment.
Youth Volunteering Project
Our Youth Volunteering Project continues to provide young people with various opportunities each week to use and develop their skills. Through this project we have seen 139 young people volunteer 995 hours within Youthspace and the community, achieving Saltire, Hi-5 and Dynamic Youth Awards for their efforts. Those involved could take part in one-off projects, minor projects (up to 4 weeks) and major projects (up to 12 weeks). This included staffing tuck shops, delivering newsletters, planning the Christmas party, preparing a festive meal, developing a community treasure hunt, inputting to the drop-in programme, leading games and challenges, and sitting on the newly formed Youth Steering Group.
Schools work
Youthspace has established itself over many years as a key element of support for some of the most disengaged young people in Linlithgow Academy and local primary schools. We deliver health and wellbeing support for young people referred to us by pupil support staff and connect with them within a small group setting and on an adhoc basis. In addition to this, we run an Early Intervention Mentoring Programme in Linlithgow Primary, Lowport Primary, Bridgend Primary, Peel Primary, Springfield Primary and Linlithgow Academy. We also assist with young people’s transition from primary to secondary school, lunch time events and clubs, run focussed group work and deliver Skills Development Scotland’s MetaSkills classes.
Bridgend
Bridgend is a small rural village 3 miles outside of Linlithgow where we run weekly football and drop in clubs which attract 85 young people to our older sessions, and 52 to the younger sessions across the year. In addition to these drop-ins, we also run termly primary aged trips, a weekly games club involving 23 young people, produce and distribute a quarterly Community Newsletter, and are the key operating partner for the Community Food Hub. We have worked closely with local businesses, youth agencies and the primary school to encourage both young people’s and the community’s acceptance and involvement. This year our Bridgend team was complemented by secondary aged volunteers who assisted us in running drop-ins and events for those of primary age.
Events and Holiday Programmes
Youthspace has a programme of events and activities that take place over evenings, weekends and school holidays. These are co-created with young people and are of a diversionary nature. In Summer 2025, we ran a 6-week holiday programme involving 221 young people, with 78% of events offered free of charge and the remainder capped at a maximum of £10. In addition to this, we also ran February, Easter and October holiday programmes.
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Linlithgow Young People’s Project
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 5 April 2026
Activities and achievements (continued)
Health and Wellbeing Programme
Our Health and Wellbeing programme includes our early intervention mentoring programme, counselling service and small groups programme. Each of these provisions are designed to meet young people in their need by providing nurturing environments, within school and the community, for genuine support to be offered. This year we have seen the number of young people taking part in our health and wellbeing work increase as they struggle to navigate their teenage years in an age of social media and relentless connectivity. This year, we have worked with 55 young people through early intervention mentoring sessions, 22 young people have attended our counselling service, and 53 young people have been involved in small groups.
Plans
In the coming year we will continue to commit to providing spaces for young people to find hope and grow as individuals. To help us do this, we want to continue to be a consistent and reliable presence in the lives of young people and create new activities and spaces for them to receive support. We particularly want to see our mentoring programmes expand into new schools, and increase the number of awards young people are able to work towards through our activities. To ensure we are able to adequately meet the need of the young people in all our areas, we will look to build the capacity of our current team and take on new workers to explore emerging opportunities in the surrounding area.
Financial review
The Trustees are grateful for the financial support of individual donors, churches and the funders who provided us with grants during the year for our projects. The Trustees would also like to thank all volunteers for the donation of their time.
Results for the year
The financial statements for the year are set out on pages 5 to 10. The Receipts and Payments Account on page 5 reflects a deficit for the year of £15,810 (2025: surplus of £21,874). Total reserves, including restricted funds, amounted to £29,155 (2025: £44,965).
Reserves policy
It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds at a level which equates to approximately three months unrestricted expenditure. This allows sufficient funds to enable the ongoing work of the charity to be maintained. The Unrestricted Funds at 5 April 2026 amounted to £1,812 (2025: £9,227) which did not meet this target.
The trustees continue to monitor closely the position on unrestricted funds during the current financial year to ensure this target is met in the near future.
The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 30 June 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Stephen Bell
Stephen Bell
Chair
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Linlithgow Young People’s Project
Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees for the year ended 5 April 2026
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2026 which are set out on pages 5 to 10.
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 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 Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). 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 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 (as amended), and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations (as amended)
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.
Alison Franks
Alison Franks CA Director Cornerstone Accounting
11 Erngath Road Bo’ness EH51 9DP
Date: 1 July 2026
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Linlithgow Young People's Project
Receipts and Payments Account
For the year ended 5 April 2026
| Notes Receipts Donations 2 Grants 3 Fundraising income 4 Trading income 5 Bank interest Other income 6 Total receipts Payments Fundraising costs Trading costs 7 Charitable activities 8 Total payments Surplus/(deficit) before transfers Transfer between funds Surplus/(deficit) after transfers Total funds brought forward |
Unrestricted Restricted 2026 fund funds Total £ £ £ 29,556 1,625 31,181 126,925 33,161 160,086 327 - 327 1,025 661 1,686 213 - 213 - 3,352 3,352 158,046 38,799 196,845 - 10 10 1,058 - 1,058 149,965 61,622 211,587 151,023 61,632 212,655 7,023 (22,833) (15,810) (14,438) 14,438 - (7,415) (8,395) (15,810) 9,227 35,738 44,965 1,812 27,343 29,155 |
Unrestricted Restricted 2025 fund funds Total £ £ £ 43,536 307 43,843 98,231 49,268 147,499 609 - 609 2,728 202 2,930 181 - 181 - 1,455 1,455 145,285 51,232 196,517 - 32 32 1,993 - 1,993 133,185 39,433 172,618 135,178 39,465 174,643 10,107 11,767 21,874 - - - 10,107 11,767 21,874 (880) 23,971 23,091 9,227 35,738 44,965 |
|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
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Linlithgow Young People's Project
Statement of Balances
As at 5 April 2026
| Notes Cash at bank and in hand Current account Total cash at bank and in hand Represented by: Unrestricted fund 9 General fund Restricted funds 10 Restricted salary fund WLC sessional staff fund Bridgend fund Bridgend sessional staff fund Bridgend Primary School fund Bridgend Larder fund Crochet group fund Stewart Investors fund Holiday programme fund Lounge fund School fund Small groups fund Youth volunteering fund Rebrand fund Total funds Statement of assets Gift aid due Statement of liabilities HMRC payments due Pensions due Independent examination fee |
Opening Deficit Closing balance for year balance £ £ £ 44,965 (15,810) 29,155 44,965 (15,810) 29,155 1,812 1,812 14,577 - 1,427 2,297 1,361 - - 1,093 1,509 966 - 2,781 1,332 - 27,343 29,155 2026 £ 437 437 2026 £ 3,153 1,445 600 5,198 2026 |
Opening Surplus Closing balance for year balance £ £ £ 23,091 21,874 44,965 23,091 21,874 44,965 9,227 9,227 - 8,519 1,670 2,354 2,000 - 2,530 7,842 2,764 2,713 58 2,700 1,468 1,120 35,738 44,965 2025 £ 268 268 2025 £ 2,941 1,482 600 5,023 2025 |
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The financial statements on pages 5 to 10 were approved by the Trustees on 30 June 2026 and signed on their behalf by the undernoted:
Stephen Bell
Stephen Bell Trustee
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
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Linlithgow Young People's Project
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 5 April 2026
1. Accounting policies
Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, on a receipts and payments basis and in accordance with the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).
Receipts and Payments Account
For the purpose of the Receipts and Payments account, funds are defined as follows:
Unrestricted funds comprise donations, grants and other income received for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.
Restricted funds comprise income which has been received for the objects of the charity and specified for a restricted purpose within these objects by the donor.
2. Donations
| Unrestricted funds £ Donations - individuals 11,131 Donations - churches 11,189 Donations - local organisations 5,352 Donations - youth counselling service 60 Donations - events 322 Gift aid recovered 1,502 Legacy income - 29,556 |
Restricted funds £ - - 1,625 - - - - 1,625 |
2026 Total £ 11,131 11,189 6,977 60 322 1,502 - 31,181 |
Unrestricted funds £ 7,779 23,475 1,198 210 - 2,159 8,715 43,536 |
Restricted funds £ 100 - 207 - - - - 307 |
2025 Total £ 7,879 23,475 1,405 210 - 2,159 8,715 43,843 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3. Grants
| Unrestricted funds £ West Lothian Council 38,089 Foundation Scotland 28,500 National Lottery - Young Start Fund 26,333 Robertson Trust 14,000 Cash4Kids 1,003 Souter Trust 6,000 True Light Trust 2,000 The Four Barrows 3,000 Hugh Fraser Foundation 4,000 Youth Scotland 2,000 Paristamen 1,000 Dr Guthrie's Association 1,000 Sainsbury's Foundation - Stewart Investors - Grangemouth Rotary Club - Layc - Arnold Clark - Warburton's Trust - 126,925 |
Restricted funds £ 15,981 1,500 3,620 - 6,160 - 3,000 1,800 - 600 - - 500 - - - - - 33,161 |
2026 Total £ 54,070 30,000 29,953 14,000 7,163 6,000 5,000 4,800 4,000 2,600 1,000 1,000 500 - - - - - 160,086 |
Unrestricted funds £ 42,291 - 22,708 14,000 2,016 - 3,000 1,000 - - - - 11,616 1,100 - 500 - 98,231 |
Restricted funds £ 20,579 - 3,320 - 5,440 - 2,000 3,000 2,000 - - - 11,989 - 740 - 200 49,268 |
2025 Total £ 62,870 - 26,028 14,000 7,456 - 5,000 4,000 2,000 - - - 23,605 1,100 740 500 200 147,499 |
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Linlithgow Young People's Project
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 5 April 2026
4. Fundraising income
| Unrestricted funds £ Fundraising events and appeals - Jolomo prints 327 327 Trading income Unrestricted funds £ Sessional fees - Tuck shop 981 Pool table 44 Sale/rental of equipment and premises - 1,025 Other income Unrestricted funds £ Holiday programme income - - Trading costs Unrestricted funds £ Tuck shop costs 1,058 1,058 |
Restricted funds £ - - - Restricted funds £ 660 - 1 - 661 Restricted funds £ 3,352 3,352 Restricted funds £ - - |
2026 Total £ - 327 327 2026 Total £ 660 981 45 - 1,686 2026 Total £ 3,352 3,352 2026 Total £ 1,058 1,058 |
Unrestricted funds £ 521 88 609 Unrestricted funds £ - 2,376 52 300 2,728 Unrestricted funds £ - - Unrestricted funds £ 1,993 1,993 |
Restricted funds £ - - - Restricted funds £ - 119 - 83 202 Restricted funds £ 1,455 1,455 Restricted funds £ - - |
2025 Total £ 521 88 609 2025 Total £ - 2,495 52 383 2,930 2025 Total £ 1,455 1,455 2025 Total £ 1,993 1,993 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5. Trading income
6. Other income
7. Trading costs
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Linlithgow Young People's Project
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 5 April 2026
8. Charitable activities
| Unrestricted funds £ Programme activity costs (123) Transport for activities (332) Refreshments and food 35 Outreach costs 17 Gross salaries 124,868 Employer NI 6,628 Employer pensions 9,148 Sessional workers' costs - Staff training 18 Staff supervision 1,406 Staff travel - Other staff costs - Equipment costs 43 Maintenance costs - Utility costs - Insurance 1,335 Rent - Cleaning and hygiene supplies 1,086 Resources and consumables 31 Stationery, print and postage 176 IT costs (including phone costs) 1,812 Licences and subscriptions 513 Rebranding costs - Cornerstone Accounting costs: Gift aid services 288 Payroll services 960 Independent examination 720 Bank charges 1,336 149,965 Unrestricted funds General fund Total unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds £ 23,771 5,484 160 2,287 13,628 - - 4,600 1,710 1,350 497 500 496 25 - - 3,390 885 1,481 458 665 235 - - - - - 61,622 Balance at 06.04.25 £ 9,227 9,227 |
2026 Total £ 23,648 5,152 195 2,304 138,496 6,628 9,148 4,600 1,728 2,756 497 500 539 25 - 1,335 3,390 1,971 1,512 634 2,477 748 - 288 960 720 1,336 211,587 Receipts £ 158,046 158,046 |
Unrestricted funds £ 121 - 375 141 109,916 5,129 5,425 - 514 1,003 24 879 94 183 53 1,260 516 1,592 - 176 1,366 826 - 756 1,272 600 964 133,185 Payments £ (151,023) (151,023) |
Restricted funds £ 13,035 4,500 361 894 11,493 - - - 238 996 1,212 - 1,392 363 1,326 - 1,248 84 323 101 182 - 1,630 - - - 55 39,433 Transfers £ (14,438) (14,438) |
2025 Total £ 13,156 4,500 736 1,035 121,409 5,129 5,425 - 752 1,999 1,236 879 1,486 546 1,379 1,260 1,764 1,676 323 277 1,548 826 1,630 756 1,272 600 1,019 172,618 Balance at 05.04.26 £ 1,812 1,812 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9. Unrestricted funds
Explanation of funds
The General fund represents all income and expenditure relating to the primary focus activities of the charity, other than those for which funding is restricted.
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Linlithgow Young People's Project
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 5 April 2026
10 Restricted funds
| Restricted salary fund WLC sessional staff fund Bridgend fund Bridgend sessional staff fund Bridgend Primary School fund Bridgend Larder fund Crochet group fund Stewart Investors fund Holiday programme fund Lounge fund School fund Small groups fund Youth volunteering fund Rebrand fund Total restricted funds |
Balance at 06.04.25 £ - 8,519 1,670 2,354 2,000 - 2,530 7,842 2,764 2,713 58 2,700 1,468 1,120 35,738 |
Receipts £ - 2,000 4,040 5,242 900 800 - 1,500 14,082 1,440 - 5,175 3,620 - 38,799 |
Payments £ - (10,789) (4,283) (5,299) (1,539) (800) (2,530) (8,249) (15,337) (3,187) (37) (5,094) (3,756) (732) (61,632) |
Transfers £ 14,577 270 - - - - - - - - (21) - - (388) 14,438 |
Balance at 05.04.26 £ 14,577 - 1,427 2,297 1,361 - - 1,093 1,509 966 - 2,781 1,332 - 27,343 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Explanation of funds
The Restricted salary fund represents funds received from grant funders to cover salaries. The transfer represents the value of restricted salaries remaining in the general fund at year-end.
The WLC sessional staff fund represents funds provided by West Lothian Council towards the costs of sessional staff.
The Bridgend fund represents funds received and spent in the Bridgend community.
The Bridgend sessional staff fund represents funds provided towards the costs of sessional staff for work in Bridgend.
The Bridgend Primary School fund represents funds provided towards activities at the primary school in Bridgend.
The Bridgend Larder fund represents funds provided towards Bridgend Larder.
The Crochet Group fund represents a grant provided for a new health and wellbeing crochet group targeted at girls who have left, or are planning to leave school.
The Stewart Investors fund represents funds received for LYPP programme costs. The transfer out during the year was to split the funding received from this fund into the component projects.
The Holiday programme fund represents funds received specifically to support holiday programmes.
The Lounge fund represents funds received specifically to support our youth centre based activities.
The School fund represents funds received specifically to support our work in local schools including costs for accrediting rewards.
The Small groups fund represents funds received for our Small Groups Programme which creates shared experiences between young people and staff.
The Youth volunteering fund represents funds received specifically to support our youth volunteering projects, including trips, resources and events.
The Rebrand fund represents funds received specifically for the rebrand of LYPP to YOUTHSPACE.
11 Trustee and related party remuneration and expenses
There was no remuneration paid to the Trustees or any related parties during the year (2025: nil). There were no expenses paid to the Trustees in the year (2025: nil).
Donations of £932 (2025: £660) were received from trustees and related parties during the year.
12 Donated goods and services
Our premises in Linlithgow are provided by West Lothian Council on a pro-bono basis. The most recent draft lease values this benefit at £10,000 per annum. This figure has not been included in the receipts and payments of the Charity.
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