Cohousing
Scotland
Cohousing Scotland
(Formerly the Vivarium Trust)
Trustees, Annual Report
Financial Statements
For the year ended
30 September 2025
Charity registration number: SC038745
Company registration number: SC330445

Cohousing Scotland
Trustees, Annual Report and Financial Statements
For the yeaT ended 30 September 2025
Contents
Page
Truslees, Annual Report
Independent Examiner's Report
Statement of Financial Actrvitie5
BaTran￿ Sheet
Notes to the Accounts
9-10

Cohousing Scotland
Trustees, Annual Report
For the year ended 30 September 2025
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law)
present Iheir report together with Ihe financial statements and the independent examiner's
report for the year ended 30 September 2025.
Reference & Administrative Infomiation
Charity and Company Name:
Cohousing Scotland - formerly the Vivarium Trust
Charity Number:
SC038745
Company Number:
SC330445
Registered Office
31a Bonnygate, Cupar, Fife, Scotland. KY15 4BU
Trustees:
Tom Morton - Convener
Georgina Mcallister - Treasurer
Catherine Kirkwood - Secretary
David soMe￿ell
Norman MacPhail
Elias Vasiloude5 Nikolaides
Margaret Whitelaw until June 2025
Deirdre Campbell until April 2025
Eleanor Rose Meikle until May 2025
Independent Examiner: Chris Smith Bsc (￿On5) FCIE
Bankers:
Bank of Scotland

Cohousing Scotland
Trustees. Annual Report
For the year ended 30 September 2025
Structure Governance & Mana
ement
Cohousing Scotland is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. It was
incorporated as the Vivarium Trust on 51h September 2007. began trading on the same date
and in May 2021 changed its name to Cohousing Scotland. The charity is governed by
Memorandum & Articles ofAssociation dated 28th August 2007. In the event of the company
being wound up, members are required lo contribute an amount not exceeding £1.
Members of the Board serve as trustees of the charity and directors of the company. The
maximum number of directors shall be 12 ofwhom a maximum of9 shall be Elected Directors
and a maximum of 3 shall be Co-opted Directors- out of the elected directors the number of
directors who are Individual Members must at all times exceed the number of directors
elected by Corporate Members. Election, appointment and retirement of elected Directors
are as set out in the Articles of Association of the company.
The Board of Cohousing Scotland acts as a Sleering Group to oversee the charity's dual
objectives ofal promoting the benefits of C¢>Housing for older people to policymakers and
the general public. and b) supporting and setting up pilot cohousing developments.
Ob'ectives & Activities
The charity's objectives and activities are expressed in section 3 of the Memorandum of
Association. as follows.
"To advance education with regard to the development and operation of co-housing projects
and the social benefits which can be achieved Ihrough a co-housing approach. and with
particular reference to its application in addressing the special housing needs of older
persons., and in furtherance of that aim. to establish and support pilot projects which
demonstrate and test the practical application of affordable co-housing schemes..
Achievements & Performance
This year the charity continued to work towards it5 aim of bringing cohousing into discussions
around mainstream housing provision, lo strengthen the organisalion's governance and lo
support our members. It does this at a time when the crisis in housing and need for new
approaches remains high. but when opportunities to empower local delivery remain very
sca￿.

Cohousing Scotland
Trustees. Annual Report
For the year ended 30 September 2025
Early in 2025. Cohousing Scotland held a highly su¢cessful event at the Scottish Parliament,
hosled by Ariane Burgess MSP, which was well attended by MSPS and concerned
stakeholders. with Housing Minister Paul McLennan addressing the group. along with
colleagues from England and representatives of Scottish Groups. Prior to the public event,
there was a long meeting with housing civil servants to discuss the challenges faced in
delivering cohousing. Ultimately. while the event offered an opportunity to bring cohousing in
front of the Scottish Government once more, it did not result in any tangible support.
Building on Ihal event we worked with MSPS. Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scolland
and parliamentary officers to submit an amendment to the Housing Bill to establish support
for cohousing through a Scottish Cohousing Model. While the amendment solicited words of
support from the new Housing Minister, Green. Labour and LibDem MSPS, it failed to be
adopted due to the lack of support from the goveming SNP.
Members carried out other network activities locally and nationally to promote and inform the
development of cohousing, and hosted online 'Co140using Conversations, which attracted
audiences both from Scotland and further afield. an in-person event as part of the
Architecture Fringe programme, and inf0m1at￿n sharing through social media.
However, it must be reported that none of the local cohousing groups has made tangible
progress in delivering a built project in the past year, due to lack of national enabling support,
no new groups have emerged, and there seems little prospect of this situation changing
before the next parliamentary election in 2026. Without the fuel of projects progressing on the
ground. Cohousing in Scotland remains an aspiration rather than a reality and the motivation
for activity in the Charity is in decline.
Financial Review
With income of £786 for the year and expenditure of £1.074 Cohousing Scotland had a deficit
for the year of £288. The deficit was funded by funds brought forward from 2024 so that at
the 30 September 2025 the Trust held total funds of £3.469. all of which were unrestricted.
The Trustees aim to hold a general reserve (wrestricted funds less the value oftangible
assets) of £2.000 to cover ongoing runnin9 Costs and meet liabililies as they fall due. At the
30 September 2025 with a general reserve ot £3.469 the Trustees had met this tafget.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions for small companies under
part 15 of the Companies Act 2006, was approved by the trustees on 14 May 2026 and
signed on their behalf by-
Catherine Kirkwood - Secretary

Cohousing Scotland
Independent Examinerfs Report
I report on the financial statements of Cohousing Scotland for the year ended 30 September
2025 which are set out on pages 7 to 10.
Responsibilities and basis of report
The charity's trustees (who are also the director5 of the company for the purposes of
company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the
requiremenls ofthe Charitie5 and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 20051"the 2005 Acl")
and the Charities Accounts (Scotlandl Regulations 2006 ('the 2006 Regulations") and the
Companies Act 2006.
I have satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under Regulation {10)(1)(a)-{cl of
the 2006 Regulations or company law and is eligible for independent examination. I have
therefore examined your charity's accounts as required under section {44)111(cl of the 2005
Act and Regulation 11 of the 2006 Regulations. In carying out my examination I have
followed the guidance issued to independent examiners by the offi￿ of the Scottish Charity
Regulator (OSCR).
My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause
to believe=
that accounting records were not kept as required by section 44(11{a) of the 2005 Act
and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Regulations- or
that the accounts do not accord with those records: or
that the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Regulation 8 of
the 2006 Regulations., or
that there is further infomiation needed for a proper understanding of the accounts.
Independent examiner's ststement
I have completed my examination and I have no concems in respect of any of the areas 1 to
4 listed above and I have found no other matters that require drawing to your attention.
Chris Smith Bsc (Hons) FCIE
Glascairn Cottage
Aytounhill
Cupar
KY146JH
Date..

Cohousing Scotland
Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating Ino)me & Expenditure A¢¢ount)
2025
Total
2024
Total
Income from:
Donation for CHOISS
Memberships
Gift Aid
Tolal income
810
425
305
481
Expenditure on:
Roadshows
Website
Publicity & admin
Travel
Other
Independent
examination
Total expenditure
17
87
112
164
24
114
140
210
203
Net
incomel(expenditure)
& movement in funds
288
754
Reconciliation of
Funds
Funds brought fO￿ard
Nel movement in funds
Funds carried forward
3,757
288
3,003
754
All funds are unrestricted.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the period. All
incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities. The statement
of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure
account under the Companies Act 2006. The notes on pages 9 to 10 fonn an integral part of
these accounts.

Cohousing Scotland
Balance Sheet
AI 30 September 2025
2025
Total
2024
Total
Current Assets
Cash al bank & in hand
Total current assets
Current Liabilities
Accrual of examination
fee
Total currenl liabilities
200
200
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds of the Charity
Unrestricted funds
Total Funds
3469
All funds are unrestricted.
The directors confirm that for the financial year ended 30 September 2025: _
the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 ofthe Companies Act 2006, and
no members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in
question in accordance with section 476 of the Act. However. the accounts have been
examined by an independent examiner whose report appears on page 6.
The directors acknowledge their responsibiltties for complying with the requirements of the
2006 Companies Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordaThce wilh the provisions applicable to companies,
subject to the small companies regime ofJh¢ 2006 Companies Act. The notes on pages 9 to
10 form an integral part of these accounts.
Approved by the trustees on the 14th May 2026 and signed on their behalf by-
Catherine Kirkwood - Secretary

Cohousing Scotland
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 30 September 2025
18asis of Preparation
1.1 Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost in accordance with:
(a) The Charities & Trustee Investment Act {Scotland) Act 2005, and
(b) The Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 as amended
(cl The Company's Act 2C
(dl Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS102) (Effective January 2015),
(e} Charities SORP {FRS 102) (2fKI edition effective January 2019)
1.2 No changes have been made to the basis of preparation or to the previous year's
accounts.
1.3. In preparing the accounts. the twstees were not required to make any judgements that
would have a material effect on the numbers reported.
1.4 The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102.
1.5 The charty is dependent on the continuing support of donors. However, the trustees
have no reason to consider that this will not continue or that there are any material
uncertainties about the charity's ability lo continue as a going concern.
2 Accounting Polices
2.1 Form of Financial Statements
The charity maintains Iwo types of funds for accounting purposes.. -
(a) A general unrestricted fund that can be expended at the dis¢retion of the trustees on
furthering the objects of the charity. and
(b) Restricted funds that may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when
specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purposes. No restricted funds
were held during the year.
2.2 Income
(a) Income is recognised and included in the Statement of Financial Activities ISOFAI when
the charity becomes entitled to the income,. its receipt is probable" and the monetary value
can be measured with sufficient reliability.
{b} Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure are reported
gross in the SOFA.
(cl Funds received in advance and which specifically relate to a future accounting period are
treated as deferred income.

Cohousing Scotland
Notes to the Financial Statsments
For the year ended 30 September 2025
2.3 Expenditure & Liabilities
la) Expendrture is accounted for on an accruals basrs.
{bl Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay out
resources., it is probab￿ they will be paid and the monetary value can be measured with
sufficient reliability.
2.4 Assets
(al Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year. They are
valued al cost or, if gifted. al their value on receipt.
Ib) Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis at 25°A per annum.
2.5 Debtors
(al Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due
(b) Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid
2.6 Cash
Cash al bank and in hand includes cash and bank deposits repayable on demand
2.7 Creditors
la) Creditor5 are recognised where the charity has an oblrgation resulting from a past event
that will probably resull in the transfer of funds to a third paty and the amount due can be
measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amounl.
usually the invoice amount.
(b) Accrued charges are normally valued at their settlement amount.
2.8 Taxation
The charity is not liable to income or capital gains tax on its charitable activities. Irrecoverable
VAT is included in the asset cost or expense to which it relates.
3 Trustee Remuneration & Expenses
(a) No remuneration for services provided to the charity were paid to Tmstees or connected
persons12024. Nil).
(bl No out-of-pocket expenses were paid to trustees during the year (2024.. Nil).