The Grange Association
SC025491
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
The Grange Association is a volunteer supported charity based in the Grange, an area in the south of Edinburgh, supporting and protecting community interests, the environment and local history.
Trustees' Annual Report
For the Year Ended 31 December 2025
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements and independent examiner's report for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Reference and Administrative Information
Charity Name
The Grange Association
Charity Number SC025491
Address
C/o John Elliot, 1 Lauder Loan, Edinburgh, EH9 2RB
Current Trustees
John Elliot Chair Alison Wood Vice-Chair Lynda Hay Secretary David McCraw Treasurer Maggie Collard Jenny Dawe Lynn Errey Brian Hosie Molly Ludlam Peter Pitkin
The Trustees were elected at the Annual General Meeting held on 18 March 2025.
Other Trustees who served during the year
Mark Batho Retired - 18 March 2025
Structure, Governance and Management
Constitution
The Charity is an unincorporated association. It was founded in 1974 and is governed by its Constitution which was adopted in 1996 and last amended on 18 March 2025. The Association was granted charitable status by OSCR on 13 November 1996.
Appointment of Trustees, Office-bearers and Committee
The Trustees of the Association are the elected office-bearers and the elected committee members. Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting. The minimum number of trustees is four and the maximum is twelve.
The Office-bearers of the Association are the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The Office-bearers may serve for up to four consecutive years, if re-elected
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as below, and will not be eligible for re-election to the same office for at least one year after leaving office. A retiring Office-bearer may however be elected to either another office or to the Committee upon retiring.
The Committee shall consist of the Office-bearers of the Association ex officio and not more than an additional eight elected members. The elected Committee members may serve for up to four consecutive years, if re-elected as below, and will not be eligible for re-election for at least one year after retiring from the Committee.
The Office-bearers and elected Committee members may serve for a maximum of eight years in aggregate.
The position of each Office-bearer and Committee member shall be subject to election or re-election at each Annual General Meeting for the period until the next Annual General Meeting.
The Committee shall have the power to co-opt further members who will act in an advisory and non-voting capacity.
Management
The Committee is responsible for running the affairs of the Association and taking decisions on its behalf, subject always to the over-riding authority of members expressed by a majority at a General Meeting.
Membership
Membership shall be open to all persons or bodies who are interested in the objectives of the Association and on payment of the appropriate subscription.
Amendments to the Constitution
The Committee reviewed the Constitution of the Association and certain changes were approved by the members at the 2025 AGM. These changes included a clarification of who are the charity trustees and the length of office that office-bearers and committee members might serve.
Objectives and Activities
Charitable purposes
The objectives of the Association are to encourage and promote, by charitable means but not otherwise, the following: to stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history and character of the Grange and its neighbourhood in the City of Edinburgh; to encourage the preservation, protection, development and improvement of historical, architectural or public interest in the area of benefit; to encourage high standards of planning and architecture in or affecting the area of benefit; and to educate the public in the geography, history, natural history and architecture of the area of benefit.
Activities
Our activities are about: the advancement of citizenship or community development; the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science; the advancement of environmental protection or improvement; and any other purpose that may reasonably be regarded as analogous to any of the preceding purposes.
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Achievements and Performance in 2025
Planning and trees
The Association continued to monitor all applications for planning permission. Our Planning Group reported applications in respect of building projects to the Committee and recommended objecting to those which they considered did not meet planning regulations or were otherwise harmful to the area. The Association is careful in exercising this role and does so sparingly, as it does on applications in relation to trees. Approximately ten applications per month are made for tree work and, in addition, unauthorised work is reported to the Council.
Home energy
Our Home Energy Group continued its excellent work, producing a home energy page on our website. This provides a rich source of information for homeowners wishing to reduce emissions whilst improving efficiency. In addition, the group are planning an open evening event for February 2026.
Talks
We continued our programme over the autumn and winter months of the year. These talks attract significant audiences despite, in some occasions, distinctly adverse weather. We have been fortunate to hold these evenings in St. Catherine’s Argyle Church, despite concerns about its future.
Annual Fair
The Association’s annual Fair was, once again, held on a glorious Saturday afternoon in May. Arranging and setting it up is a considerable achievement and was rewarded with record attendance. The primary purpose is to provide residents with a fun, social event but the secondary one is to raise finances to help Newington Library, whose facilities and staff help to make this a success, and to assist a wide range of local charities.
Gardens
Our Gardens Group has been active, running an extensive and profitable stall at the Fair, organising a bus trip for members to two Borders gardens and actively improving the environment of the Lovers Loan walkway.
Leaf collection
As we have done for many years, we organised local householders to clear the pavements and, in many cases, gutters so that these were kept passable, particularly during wet weather. We acknowledge the help and efficiency of City of Edinburgh Council in collecting more than 1,000 bags.
Financial support
We were pleased to support three local groups during the year. We made a substantial donation to Marchmont St. Giles’ Church to support their “Marchmont Music” series of concerts, part of the Edinburgh Fringe programme. We responded to an appeal by the Whitehouse & Grange Bowling Club to help with the restoration of their historic and important premises. We continued to purchase “The Scotsman” and “Guardian” newspapers for the Library.
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Representation
Matthew Nicholas represented the Association on the Astley Ainslie Community Trust, where a considerable amount of detailed work was done producing a Place Brief for the hospital grounds’ development, and Richard Brown on the Grange Prestonfield Community Council. We see such engagement as important as these bodies have a wide remit and would like to extend it to the Marchmont Sciennes Community Council.
Communication
Our thrice-yearly Newsletter was distributed to all households in the Grange. This is an important local record as well as reflecting current events. We are deeply indebted to Jenny Dawe for her work producing it over 10 years and 30 editions, the January 2026 publication being her last. We also started a weekly email service to members.
Grange Cemetery
Our Cemetery Group cooperated with Doors Open Day to provide information and encouragement to visitors on 27-28 September, including drawing up new material for printing and refurbishing poster stands. The Group welcomed a steady stream of visitors to the Cemetery.
Volunteers
We are most grateful to all the volunteers who engage with the Association and carry out all the tasks referred to above. Without them we could not achieve as much as we do. We continue to seek volunteers to become part of our planning team, to organise the talks programme and the leaf clearers - and, generally, to assist.
Plans for 2026
As well as continuing many of these activities we are considering extending our work in pursuance of our charitable objectives. In particular, we shall be paying attention to poor pavements, poorly surfaced roads and over-hanging bushes and trees - and perhaps even speed bumps!
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Financial Review
Membership Subscriptions
There were 504 members at the end of 2025. As in any other year, people move, cease to subscribe, and nature takes its course, but it is encouraging that we attracted 33 new members in 2025.
400 members have signed Gift Aid declarations.
Income from subscriptions was £6,719 (2023 - £6,595).
Membership subscriptions of £10 (individual) and £15 (household) are unchanged since 2012. It will be proposed at the 2026 AGM that there is no change to the level of subscriptions for 2027.
Receipts and Payments
Receipts of £21,131 (2024: £23,355) were lower than in the previous year due, in the main, to the Receipts figure for 2024 including Gift Aid claims for both 2023 and 2024 and donations from Ortho-metals for both 2023 and 2024. Payments of £17,657 (2024: £18,371) included a spend of £7,833 on Gifts and Donations.
A surplus of £3,474 was recorded in 2025 compared to a surplus of £4,984 in 2024. The surplus for 2025 includes an undistributed surplus of £2,359 from the Grange Fair.
The total bank balances as at 31 December 2025 were £40,029 (2024: £36,555).
Reserves Policy
The Trustees' policy is to set subscription levels to approximately cover the net cost of the newsletters and the costs of talks provided for members along with the administration costs of the Association, whilst using accumulated funds, including unrestricted legacies, for donations and on projects which meet the objectives of the Association.
Approved by the trustees on 10th February 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
John Elliot Chair
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Statement of Receipts and Payments - for the year ended 31 December 2025
| Note | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Receipts | |||
| Subscriptions | 6,719 | 6,595 | |
| Donations | 4 | 1,584 | 2,662 |
| Gift Aid Tax Reclaims | 5 | 1,985 | 3,034 |
| Newsletter Advertising | 2,340 | 2,460 | |
| Grange Fair Event | 10 | 7,212 | 6,327 |
| Bank Interest | 1,136 | 1,227 | |
| Other | 155 | 50 | |
| Legacy | 0 | 1,000 | |
| Total | **21,131 ** | 23,355 | |
| Payments | |||
| Spend on Charitable Activities: |
|||
| Newsletter | 6 | 3,896 | 3,530 |
| Events for members | 7 | 2,215 | 1,846 |
| Gifts and Donations | 8 | 7,833 | 3,692 |
| Grange Fair Event | 10 | 2,449 | 3,270 |
| Other | 9 | 443 | 650 |
| Grange Cemetery Project | 0 | 4,454 | |
| Administration: | |||
| Website Costs | 759 | 805 | |
| Other | 62 | 124 | |
| Total | 17,657 | 18,371 | |
| Surplus | 3,474 | 4,984 | |
The notes on pages 9 to 11 form an integral part of these accounts
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Statement of Balances – as at 31 December 2025
| Note | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Funds Reconciliation | |||
| Cash at bank–31 December 2024 | 36,555 | 31,571 | |
| Surplus for the year | 3,474 | 4,984 | |
| Cashatbank –31 December 2025 | 40,029 | 36,555 | |
| Bank Balances | |||
| Bank of Scotland Charity account | 5,612 | 3,275 | |
| Cambridge & Counties Bank - 31-day notice account |
34,417 | 33,280 | |
| 40,029 | 36,555 | ||
| Other Assets | |||
| Gift Aid to be reclaimed | 94 | 438 | |
The notes on pages 9 to 11 form an integral part of these accounts
Approved by the Trustees on 10th February 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
John Elliot Chair
David McCraw Treasurer
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Notes to the accounts – for the year ended 31 December 2025
1. Basis of Accounting
These accounts have been prepared on a Receipts & 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 of funds
Unrestricted funds are those that may be used at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the objects 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 a specific purpose. The Association had no restricted funds at 31 December 2025 (31 December 2024 – no restricted funds).
3. Trustee remuneration, expenses and related party transactions
The Trustees did not receive any remuneration during the year (2024: nil). No expenses were paid to the Trustees during the year (2024: nil) and there were no related party transactions during the year (2024: nil).
4. Donations
| 4. Donations | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Ortho-metals | 1,017 | 2,053 |
| Talks | 432 | 409 |
| Other | 135 | 200 |
| Total | 1,584 | 2,662 |
5. Gift Aid Tax Reclaims
| 5. Gift Aid Tax Reclaims | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Gift Aid on Subscriptions | 1,318 | 2,689 |
| Small Donations Scheme | 667 | 345 |
| Total | 1,985 | 3,034 |
6. Newsletter
| 6. Newsletter | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Printing | 3,450 | 3,375 |
| Distribution expenses | 446 | 155 |
| Total | 3,896 | 3,530 |
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7. Events for members (includes AGM)
| 7. Events for members (includes AGM) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Talks | ||
| Venue hire | 879 | 1,188 |
| Speaker thank you gifts | 300 | 360 |
| Printing, postage, stationery | 319 | 30 |
| Catering | 92 | 172 |
| Public liability insurance | 99 | 96 |
| 1,689 | 1,846 | |
| Thank you evening for members and volunteers |
||
| Venue hire | 140 | 0 |
| Catering | 386 | 0 |
| 526 | 0 | |
| Total | 2,215 | 1,846 |
8. Gifts and Donations
| 8. Gifts and Donations | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Newington Library | 2,335 | 1,403 |
| Gifts and Donations | 2,397 | 0 |
| Grange Fair donations | 3,101 | 2,289 |
| Total | 7,833 | 3,692 |
The figure of £2,335 allocated to Newington Library covers the costs to the Association of providing newspapers to the Library and restoring two wooden garden benches.
The Association made donations of £1,000 to Marchmont St Giles’ Church (Marchmont Music event) and £1,000 to Whitehouse & Grange Bowling Club and provided small gifts to volunteers assisting at events.
The Grange Fair donations of £3,101 comprise distributions of £2,404 from the 2025 Fair and £697 from the Undistributed Surplus of £768 from the 2024 Fair (Note 10).
9. Other expenses
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Cemetery Open Day | 205 | 0 |
| Garden Group Projects | 98 | 69 |
| Other | 140 | 140 |
| Climate Change Competition | 0 | 441 |
| Total | 443 | 650 |
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10. Grange Fair Event
| 10. Grange Fair Event | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Receipts from events | 7,212 | 6,327 |
| Expenses of Fair and events | (2,449) | (3,270) |
| Surplus | 4,763 | 3,057 |
| Donations | (2,404) | (2,289) |
| Undistributed Surplus | 2,359 | 768 |
The Surplus from the Fair of £4,763 has been distributed, in part, to Newington Library, The Eric Liddell Community, Bridgend Farmhouse, The Edinburgh Inter Faith Community and Sciennes School Choir. The Undistributed Surplus at 31 December 2025 has been allocated to Edinburgh Schools Pipe Band, Butterflies Toddler Group, Foursquare, Butterflies Dementia Group, Therapets and Newington Library.
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Grange Association for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
I report on the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 7 to 11.
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 (“the 2005 Act”) and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) (“the 2006 Regulations”). The Charity’s Trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(d) of the 2006 Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section (44)(1)(c) of the 2005 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 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 connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:-
- which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:-
– to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Regulations, and
– to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 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.
H F Ballard CA
Edinburgh
13th February 2026
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