## **STEPPING OUT PROJECT** ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** **FOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025** **Charity Number SC032371** STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025** |**CONTENTS**
|**PAGE**| |---|---| |Management Committee Report|3 - 6| |Independent Examiner’s Report|7| |Statement of Receipts and Payments|8| |Statement of Balance|9| |Notes to the Financial Statements|10 - 13| 2 STEPPING OUT PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT ## FOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025 The Management Committee are pleased to present their financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. Charity Name: Stepping Out Project Registered office and operational address: Stepping Out Project North Berwick Community Centre 8 Law Road North Berwick East Lothian EH39 4PN Charity Registration Number: SC032371 Management Committee: Chair (resigned 19/11/25) Vice Chair (appointed 21/03/25) Secretary (appointed 21/03/25) Treasurer Parent Rep User Rep User Rep Project Manager: Independent Examiner: Elaine Alsop ACA DChA FCIE EA Independent Ltd 5 South Charlotte Street Edinburgh EH2 4AN Bankers: Bank of Scotland plc 44 Court Street Haddington EH41 3PN 3 STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## Structure, Governance and Management ## Governing document The charity is governed by its constitution most recently updated on 21[st ] September 2023. ## Management Committee Members of the Management Committee hold office for one year but are eligible for re-election. The Committee elect from their number a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Committee meetings also involve project workers of Stepping Out, and other individuals whose cooperation will further the objectives of the Project, but these representatives have no voting rights on the Committee. ## Achievements and Performance On behalf of the Management Committee, I am pleased to be able to report that the Stepping Out project has enjoyed another successful year. Sincere thanks to our main funders this year and to all the other organisations and individuals who have donated so generously. A diverse range of activities, some new and others longstanding, have continued to be provided throughout East Lothian, and in some cases beyond, tailored to meet the individual needs of our members. A comprehensive description is provided in the Annual Report. The Committee has once again been heartened by the positive feedback from so many about the benefits to their mental health and physical wellbeing that has been derived through involvement with Stepping Out. Our core staff group remain on great form, hitting the balance between compassionate understanding and support with dynamic enthusiasm for enabling our members to develop new skills and gain confidence in their own ability to cope with adversity. The Management Committee met regularly throughout the year and has advanced many of the identified priorities, with the aims of enhancing the quality of the service provided and future proofing the organisation’s long term prospects. This has included a number of roll changes and new recruitments: - A Vice Chair and a Secretary joined the Committee in March. - A replacement for the Chair has been identified. It is intended to make a formal handover at the AGM on 19 November 2025. It is anticipated that the Chair elect will be in an advantageous position to enhance our association with statutory sector providers within our locality. - The handover of the Stepping Out project leader role has continued to progress smoothly, following a plan for gradual transition. - A suitable replacement for the Lifestyle Motivator role has recently been identified. The new incumbent will occupy the post on an interim basis until April 2026, when a decision will be made on whether the role should continue in its present form or be reconstituted as a different entity. 4 STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## Achievements and Performance continued The current fundraising focus is to secure an income source to replace two grants which are due to cease in April 2026. Although exact details are yet to be revealed, it is anticipated that EL council, in response to extreme financial pressures, will start to apply a rental charge for Stepping Out’s use of rooms at North Berwick Community Centre. It is likely that this will amount to a significant figure, the cost of which will need to be added to funding applications. A user’s group representative will monitor developments. Although progress has been limited by the availability of staff, Stepping Out remains committed to the process of becoming a SCIO and is keen to advance with the application process. The Committee is once again very grateful to our Treasurer for the careful attention paid to our financial position and for the consideration of necessary strategic planning. Details are provided in the report that follows below. ## Financial Review The charity had receipts in the year of £136,491 (2024: £141,223, excluding an exceptional pension surplus receipt). Total charity payments in the year were £134,992 (2024: £122,604), rising primarily due to discretionary employer pension contributions paid out of Designated Funds. Overall, net receipts for the year were £1,499 (2024: net receipts of £18,619, excluding an exceptional pension surplus receipt). Total charity funds at 31 March 2025 were £173,998 (2024: £172,499). The funds are held between our Bank of Scotland current account, and a Virgin Money notice account to take advantage of higher interest rates and to provide greater protection of charity assets. Total charity funds are made up of Unrestricted Funds £86,912 (2024: £74,057), Restricted Funds £73,883 (2024: £77,742) and Designated Funds £13,203 (2024: £20,700). The Designated Funds are earmarked for future employer pension contributions to NEST in lieu of an employee's future accrual of defined benefit pension. The restricted grant funding from The National Lottery and SIAL hasn’t quite been enough to deliver what was needed and that shortfall is covered by other funds. In light of the increasingly competitive and challenging charity funding environment, and as our main core funding comes from one source, the Management Committee currently consider it prudent to have sufficient charity funds (excluding Designated Funds) to cover approximately twelve months of operating costs. 5 STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## Accounts Preparation The members of the Management Committee confirm that the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 have been prepared to comply with current statutory requirements and the charity’s own governing document. Approved by the Management Committee and signed on their behalf by: 19 November 2025 6 STEPPING OUT PROJECT Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Stepping Out Project I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 8 and 9 and the related notes on pages 10 to 13. ## **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: 1. 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 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. EA Independent Ltd 5 South Charlotte Street Edinburgh EH2 4AN 21 November 2025 7 STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## **STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** |**Note**
**RECEIPTS**
Grants and Donations
**2**
Activities for Generating Funds
**3**
Incoming resources from charitable activities
**4**
Pension Fund Surplus
Bank Interest
**Total Receipts**
**PAYMENTS**
**Project costs**
Supper & Lunch Club
Lifestyle Motivator
Art Club
Sea Swimming
Pottery
Garden Project
Fundraising Costs
Client Outings
One to One Social Care
Miscellaneous Expenses
Next Steps Project
Pavilion café overheads
**Support Costs**
Wages and Salaries
**5**
Travel and Subsistence
Insurances
Postage and Print
Bookkeeping Fees/Audit Fees
Membership Fees
Training Costs
**Total Payments**
**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources**
**Transfers**
**Total Funds brought forward**
**Total Funds Carried Forward**
Telephone/Website|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**2024/25**
**2023/24**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Total**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
10,548
57,054
0
**67,602**
60,766
165
0
0
**165**
330
0
65,447
0
**65,447**
78,583
0
0
0
**0**
50,000
3,277
0
0
**3,277**
1,544| |---|---| ||**13,991**
**122,501**
**0**
**136,491**
**191,223**| ||0
5,888
0
**5,888**
6,710
0
7,795
0
**7,795**
15,199
0
4,086
0
**4,086**
2,194
0
130
0
**130**
110
0
1,496
0
**1,496**
411
0
1,948
0
**1,948**
2,251
0
0
0
**0**
428
0
556
0
**556**
1,840
0
3,023
0
**3,023**
3,798
1,136
1,683
0
**2,819**
1,534
0
61,313
0
**61,313**
51,108
0
2,520
0
**2,520**
1,929
0
28,287
7,497
**35,784**
29,046
0
1,032
0
**1,032**
0
0
2,231
0
**2,231**
1,823
0
1,188
0
**1,188**
1,491
0
2,710
0
**2,710**
2,410
0
354
0
**354**
0
0
122
0
**122**
183
0
0
0
**0**
138| ||**1,136**
**126,360**
**7,497**
**134,992**
**122,604**| ||| ||**12,855**
**(3,859)**
**(7,497)**
**1,499**
**68,619**
0
0
0
0
0
**74,057**
**77,742**
**20,700**
**172,499**
**103,880**| ||**86,912**
**73,883**
**13,203**
**173,998**
**172,499**| 8 STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## **STATEMENT OF BALANCES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** |**Unrestricted**
**Notes**
**Funds**
**£**
Opening Funds at 1 April
74,057
Net Receipts/(Payments) for the year
12,855
Transfers
0
Closing Funds at 31 March
86,912
Represented by
Bank balances at 31 March
86,912|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
77,742
(3,859)
0
73,883
73,883|**Designated**
**Funds**
**£**
20,700
(7,497)
0
13,203
13,203|**2024/25**
**Total**
**£**
**172,499**
**1,499**
0
**173,998**
**173,998**|**2023/24**
**Total**
**£**
103,880
68,619
0| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||172,499| |||||| |||||172,499| 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). Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf. (Chairman) (Treasurer) 19 November 2025 19 November 2025 9 STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025** ## **1. Accounting Policies** ## Basis of preparation 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) ## Fund accounting - Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. - Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes. - Restricted funds are subject to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal. ## Incoming resources All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Receipts and Payments as it is received into the bank. ## Resources expended Expenditure is recognised on a Payments basis. Expenditure includes VAT, which cannot be recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. ## Pension scheme Three employees are members of the NEST defined contribution pension scheme. The pension costs included in the Statement of Receipts and Payments represent the amount of employer’s contributions paid to NEST in respect of the accounting period and in accordance with the scheme rules. The pension costs include regular contributions made at an equal rate on behalf of the 3 current members, plus additional discretionary payments to one member from the Designated Fund in lieu of a previous accrual of defined benefit pension. ## Taxation The entity is a charity within the meaning of Section 506 (1) of the Taxes Act 1988. Accordingly, it is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or Section 256 of Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that such income or gains are applied to exclusively charitable purposes. 10 STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## **2. Voluntary Income: grants and donations** |||2024/25||2023/24| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| ||£|£|£|£| |The National Lottery|0|33,054|33,054|31,480| |SIAL|0|24,000|24,000|16,000
| |Donations over £1000|7,500|0
|7,500
|8,388| |Donations under £1000|3,048|0|3,048|4,898
| |TOTAL|10,548|57,054|67,602|60,766| ## **3. Activities for generating funds** |Fundraising Activities
TOTAL|2023/24
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
165

0
165
330

2024/25| |---|---| ||165
0
165
330| ## **4. Incoming resources from charitable activities** |**Grants**
East Lothian Health and Social Care
Partnership: Adult Social Care
East Lothian Council: Next Steps
East Lothian Council: One to One Social Care
TOTAL|2023/24
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
0
62,424
62,424
64,683
0
0
0
10,000
0
3,023
3,023
3,900
2024/25| |---|---| ||0
65,447
65,447
78,583| 11 STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## **5. Salaries and wages** Admin and Project Manager salaries are shown as support costs, and all other salaries are included within project costs. The significant increase in pension costs relates to discretionary employer contributions as described in Notes 1 & 6. |Project Manager & Admin Salary Costs
Employers Pension - NEST
Employers National Insurance
Total
Other salaries included in project costs
Total|2024/25
2023/24
£
£
26,835
26,357
8,442
1,792
506
897| |---|---| ||35,784
29,046| ||68,240
63,700| ||104,024
92,746| The average number of employees during the year was as follows; ||2024/25||2023/24|| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Count||Count|| |Project Manager||1||1| |Admin (part time)||1||1| |Finance (part time)||1||1| |Project Workers (part time)||4||4| No trustees received any remuneration during either the current or previous year. No expenses were reimbursed to trustees. No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year. The Trustee’s Indemnity is a part of a commercial combined policy to protect the charity from loss arising from the neglect or default of its trustees or employees and the consequences of any such neglect or default. 12 STEPPING OUT PROJECT ## **6. Funds** ## **FUNDS NOTE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** |**Unrestricted Funds**
General Funds
Designated Fund
Unrestricted Total
**Restricted Funds**
National Lottery
SIAL
East Lothian Council - Social Care
East Lothian Health and Social Care
Partnership: Adult Social Care
Restricted Total
**Total Funds**|**Balance at**
**Balance at**
**1 April**
**1 April**
**2024**
**Receipts Payments**
**Transfers**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
74,057
13,991
(1,136)
0
86,912
20,700
0
(7,497)
0
13,203|**Balance at**
**Balance at**
**1 April**
**1 April**
**2024**
**Receipts Payments**
**Transfers**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
74,057
13,991
(1,136)
0
86,912
20,700
0
(7,497)
0
13,203| |---|---|---| ||94,757|13,991
(8,633)
0
100,115| ||0
0
0
77,742|33,054
(33,284)
230
0
24,000
(24,167)
167
0
3,023
(3,023)

0
62,424
(65,886)
(397)
73,883| ||77,742
|122,501
(126,360)
0
73,883| |||| ||**172,499**|**136,491**
**(134,992)**
0
**173,998**| The Designated Fund balance relates to the exit of the charity project leader from the Lothian Pension Fund (LPF) and subsequent return of valuation surplus. The Management Committee consider the use of a Designated Fund prudent, to ensure they can contribute to an employee's NEST pension plan in lieu of their future accrual of defined benefit pension in LPF. The restricted grant funding from The National Lottery and SIAL hasn’t quite been enough to deliver what was needed and that shortfall is covered by other funds. Adult Social Care funding from East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership allows Stepping Out to provide support to people with mental health issues in East Lothian by providing a range of activities to promote a better quality of life and to increase public awareness of mental health issues. The National Lottery and SIAL funding allows Stepping Out to fund our Next Steps programme which provides tailored support to people with severe and enduring mental health issues. It focuses on reducing isolation and improving the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in East Lothian. ## **7. Related Parties** There were no related party transactions in the current or previous years. 13