2025-03-31-accounts - The Coalition of Carers in Scotland

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Coalition of Carers in Scotland

Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ended

31 March 2025

Scottish Charity No: SC 039434

Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Coalition of Carers in Scotland

*Contents*	*Page*
Reference & Administrative Information	2
Annual Report of the Trustees	3 - 5
Report of the Independent Examiner	6
Receipts and Payments Account	7
Statement of Balances	8
Notes to the accounts	9 - 10

Coalition of Carers in Scotland

Reference and Administrative information For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Scottish Charity Number: SC 039434

Independent examiner:

Bankers:

The Co-operative Bank 3rd Floor, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP

Coalition of Carers in Scotland Annual Report of the Trustees

For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

The trustees are pleased to present their report and the accounts of the Coalition for the year ended 31 March 2025. The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis, in compliance with accounting regulations for Scottish charities.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Coalition of Carers in Scotland was established in 1998 as a national carers network. It is an unincorporated association, governed by a constitution which was last amended in 2010, and has been registered as a Scottish charity since 19 March 2008.

The Coalition is governed by an Executive Committee, made up of carers and staff from local carer organisations. The Coalition is supported in its work by its member organisations and volunteers and has one full time and one part time member of staff to coordinate activities. Members of the Executive Committee (trustees) are elected at the AGM each year or may be co-opted during the year.

Reference and administrative information, including those who served as members of the Executive Committee during the year, is listed on page 2.

Objectives

The charitable purposes of the Coalition, as set out in its constitution, are:

to provide networking, information and mutual support to carer-led organisations in Scotland;
to bring carers and workers together to explore issues, analyse developments and identify the key issues confronting carers in Scotland;
to facilitate the development of a collective response to these key issues affecting carers - enabling members of the Coalition to bring their concerns to the attention of interested parties at local, regional and national levels.

Our shared vision is that all Scotland’s unpaid carers will feel valued, included and supported as equal partners in the provision of care and will be able to enjoy a life outside of caring.

The Coalition has members across Scotland and connects with carers and carer-led organisations from all local authority areas and from many different caring communities.

The Coalition remains the only national carer organisation supporting the smaller, isolated and rural carer organisations, ensuring that carers from the Borders to the Shetlands have the opportunity to have their views heard.

Activities & Achievements

The Coalition goes to the Scottish Parliament

We continued our 25[th] anniversary celebrations this year and were proud to host an exhibition at the Scottish Parliament in December 2024. The exhibition looked back at our work over the years, showing how the Coalition has helped shape policies that support carers.

It also gave us a valuable opportunity to speak directly with MSPs about some of the key asks from carers. We shared real stories from carers and highlighted what needs to change to make sure carers are properly recognised, supported, and given the power to shape decisions that affect their lives.

Coalition of Carers in Scotland Annual Report of the Trustees (continued)

Activities & Achievements (continued)

Embedding Human Rights in Carer Support

In 2024, we continued our partnership with Making Rights Real to deliver the “Human Rights and Unpaid Carers” course to staff at carers centres across Scotland. The training gave staff the confidence and practical tools to identify and respond to human rights issues in health and social care. By framing unmet needs as potential human rights violations, the course strengthened staff’s ability to advocate for unpaid carers, ensuring the rights of carers are recognised, respected, and upheld.

It’s part of our commitment to making human rights a core part of the conversation around carer support.

Highlighting lack of transparency for the Carers Act Funding

In 2024, we used a Freedom of Information request to reveal that £24 million of Carers Act funding allocated to councils had not been spent directly on carers. Our findings have been cited by the Minister for Social Care, sparking calls for greater transparency and accountability from councils and HSCPs when it comes to funding for carer support. Having clear evidence of how local councils have used Carers Act funding has been valuable for local carer centres.

Launching our Carers Can’t Wait Campaign

Together with the other National Carer Organisations, we developed a set of key asks from carers as part of the Carers Can’t Wait campaign. These asks were included in the Carers Manifesto for the 2024 General Election and formed the basis of our Carer Rights Day activity. As part of the campaign, local carer centres invited politicians to meet with carers and hear directly about their experiences and priorities. Politicians were asked to pledge their support for the campaign’s key asks, helping to raise awareness and build momentum for change at both local and national levels.

South Asian carers

This year, the South Asian Carers Project has continued to be a lifeline for carers across Scotland’s South Asian communities. In 2024-25 we supported 40 carers from South Asian communities.

From lively community events to quiet moments of peer support, we’ve brought carers together to share stories, learn new skills, and remind one another that they’re not alone.

We’ve offered practical information and training to help carers feel more confident in understanding their rights as carers, and created safe spaces for them to speak openly about their experiences and how services and policies fail to address the additional barriers faced by carers from ethnically diverse communities.

One of our proudest achievements this year was launching the a national South Asian Male Carers Group. It’s given men from South Asian communities a chance to connect, talk, and support each other in ways that haven’t always been possible before.

Rural and Island Carers

This year marked a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting carers in rural and island communities. In November 2024, we hosted our first-ever Rural Carers Engagement Retreat, welcoming participants from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway. The retreat offered a unique blend of relaxation, learning, and connection-building, creating a space for carers to recharge and share experiences.

Coalition of Carers in Scotland Annual Report of the Trustees (continued)

We also continued to facilitate bimonthly meetings for staff from rural and island carer centres. This network has grown to include 30 members, representing all of Scotland’s island communities and many rural areas. These meetings provide a vital forum for sharing best practices, identifying common challenges, co-developing solutions, and influencing policy and legislation to better reflect the needs of rural and island carers.

Supporting Carers’ Voices

Member Meetings : These have been central to our work since 1998, offering carers and member organisations opportunities to meet decision-makers and influence policy locally and nationally.
Carers Collaborative : A national forum for carer representatives on Integrated Joint Forums. It meets regularly to share practice, scope new developments and develop best practice resources for carers on Integrated Joint Boards.
Carers Collective : We continue to host regular meetings for carers across Scotland to meet virtually and input into local and national policy issues.
Being Social : Our social media presence continues to grow, with 6.7K followers on Facebook, helping us keep carers informed and engaged. This year we also started creating and sharing content on Linkedin to connect with local and national partners.

Building Capacity

We facilitate several learning exchange groups for staff in local carer support organisations, including:

Rural Carers Working Group
Policy and Carers Engagement Network
Network for staff supporting Ethnically Diverse Carers
Mental Health Forum (with Carers Trust and the Mental Welfare Commission)
Centre Managers Network

Financial Review

The accounts, as set out on pages 7 - 10, show an overall increase of £12,711 in funds over the year. An amount of £136,687 is carried forward in unrestricted funds and £44,944 in restricted funds, as shown in note 6.

The primary source of income for the year were grants from the Scottish Government (section 10) of £152.235 for core funding and £60,075 from the National Lottery.

Payments amounted to £206,724 in total (an increase of approx 15% on the previous year). This was mostly due to increased spend against the funding from the National Lottery grants.

Reserves policy

The trustees consider it prudent to carry sufficient reserves to cover 3 months’ running costs and any legal and financial liabilities in the event of the organisation winding up. They consider that both of these are covered by the present balance of £136,687 in unrestricted funds.

Approved by the trustees on 26 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

_____

Date: 26 November 2025

Trustee

Report of the Independent Examiner

To the Trustees of Coalition of Carers in Scotland

I report on the accounts of Coalition of Carers in Scotland (the charity) for the year to 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 7 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. 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. 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

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 Accounts Regulations, and
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.

Date: 26 November 2025

Coalition of Carers in Scotland

Statement of Receipts and Payments

For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Note Receipts: Grants 3 Affiliation fees Total receipts Payments: Staff costs Members' & executive meetings Carers' Collaborative Integration Network Eurocarer costs NCO costs BME Development Rural Development Community Brokerage Award Travel & subsistence costs Printing, publications and distribution Training & subscriptions Administration & management Capital expenditure Accountancy Total payments Increase / (Decrease) in funds for year	Unrestricted Funds £ 152,235 7,125 159,360 114,670 6,660 1,725 753 - - - - 7,000 3,537 3,315 5,898 - 700 144,258 15,102	Restricted Funds £ 60,075 - 60,075 40,981 - - - 2,794 7,588 3,901 6,006 52 - 594 - 550 - 62,466 (2,391)	Total Funds 2025 £ 212,310 7,125 219,435 155,651 6,660 1,725 753 2,794 7,588 3,901 6,006 7,052 3,537 3,909 5,898 550 700 206,724 12,711	Total Funds 2024 £ 207,069 5,450
				212,519
				135,366 7,946 1,602 996 720 968 4,112 - 4,600 3,799 7,483 10,364 - 700
				178,656
				33,863

The notes on pages 9-10 form part of these accounts.

Coalition of Carers in Scotland

Statement of Balances at 31 March 2025

Funds Reconciliation: Funds brought forward Increase / (Decrease) in funds for year Funds carried forward Bank and cash Bank of Scotland Treasurers Account Other assets: Fixed assets: - office equipment at net book value Liabilities: Staff costs for March (paid April) Accountancy & independent examination	Unrestricted Funds £ 121,585 15,102 136,687 Unrestricted Funds £ - - Unrestricted Funds £ - 700 700	Restricted Funds £ 47,335 (2,391) 44,944 Restricted Funds £ 367 367 Restricted Funds £ - - -	Total Funds 2025 £ 168,920 12,711 181,631 181,631 Total 2025 £ 367 367 Total 2025 £ - 700 700	Total Funds 2024 £ 135,057 33,863
				168,920
				168,920
				Total 2024 £ 1,020
				1,020
				Total 2024 £ 12,342 700
				13,042

Approved by the Trustees on 26 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Date: 26 November 2025

Trustee

The notes on pages 9-10 form part of these accounts.

Coalition of Carers in Scotland

Notes to the Accounts For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1. Basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and 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 can be used in furtherance of any of the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees. A single unrestricted fund is maintained for the day to day running of the charity.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Unrestricted 3. Grants received Funds £ Scottish Government - Section 10: -core funding 152,235 The National Lottery Community Fund -Carer Engagement and Empowerment - The National Lottery Community Fund -Support Your Way (Community Brokerage) - 152,235	Restricted Funds £ - 54,069 6,006 60,075	Total Total 2025 2024 £ £ 152,235 152,236 54,069 54,833 6,006 - 212,310 207,069

4. Trustees' remuneration and expenses

No remuneration was paid to members of the management committee (trustees) during the year.

No Travel & subsistence expenses were reimbursed to trustees during the year (previous year - £545 to 2 trustees).

5. Related party transactions

VOCAL, a member of the Coalition, provided management and administration services to the Coalition during the year and charged an agreed management fee of £5,000, which is included in administration and management costs. VOCAL also recharged salary costs of £155,651 during the year.

Coalition of Carers in Scotland

Notes to the Accounts (continued) For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

6. Movement on Funds At 1.4.24 *Restricted funds:* Note £ NCO Development fund (a) 7,916 National Lottery Community Fund (b) 39,419 National Lottery Community Fund (c) - *Total restricted* 47,335 *Unrestricted funds:* General fund 121,585 *Total unrestricted* 121,585 Total Funds 168,920	Receipts £ - 54,069 6,006 60,075 159,360 159,360 219,435	Payments £ (2,794) (53,666) (6,006) (62,466) (144,258) (144,258) (206,724)	At 31.3.25 £ 5,122 39,822 -
			44,944
			136,687
			136,687
			181,631

Notes:

(a) This is a restricted fund for development costs, including campaign costs, for the National Carer Organisations group.
(b) In August 2022 we received funding from the Lottery Community Fund for our Carer Engagement and Empowerment Project. This has enabled us to appoint two engagement workers to work with carers from South Asian communities and from rural and island areas who have been identifying and supporting carers from these harder to reach communities. This is the final year of our three year funding award.
(c) The Lottery Community Fund made an award of £6,006 to Support Your Way for the Community Brokerage project. This was fully expended in the year.
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