## **LISTEN WELL SCOTLAND** ## **SCIO** ## **Scottish Charity No: SC044382** ## **Annual Report and Financial Statements** **For the period ended** **31[st] December 2024** Listen Well Scotland Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 1 ## **Scottish Charity No: SC044382** ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT** ## **Period Ended 31[st] December 2024** The Trustees are pleased to present the Annual Report and Accounts for Listen Well Scotland for the period ended 31[st] December 2024. ## **Reference and Administrative Information** Charity Name: Listen Well Scotland Charity Status: SCIO Charity Registration Number: SC044382 Final Contact Address: The Listening &Training Centre, c/o Nairn Community & Arts Centre, King Street, Nairn, IV12 4BQ ## **Trustees** ## **Trustees resignations during 2024** ## **Trustee appointments during 2024** **Treasurer** : **Independent Examiner** : Ritson & Young, Chartered Accountants, Nairn. Listen Well Scotland Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 2 Introduction Lislell Well Scotland (LWS) is a $n￿ll. bul still aclive organisation providing listening trail￿]8 and services acTOSS Scotland. OUT charitable pu4)oses are to develop aDd pioinote active listening skills as a basis of healihy persooal and Collllllunity relationslll'ps. These purposes are pursiied by offerillg traillillg prograllllnes alld other illiliatives to illdividuals, coiwllullity groups. the thwd sector and other orgauisatlOlJS, ill OTder Io PTovide alld develop listening people and trained listeners and thereby." To advance education through the provisiou of trainillg progranillies To advallce healtb throu8h the prevention or relief of sickness and suffering To provide. Ihrougb trained listeners. relief to ibose persons in lleed by reason of age, ill-healtlL disability. financial Iiardship or other disadvalltage. Our vision: to develop listenin8 people and listening con)miu)ities in Scotland and beyond. Tlie Nem, Yp.rti- of ?0 ?4 opeiied witli tlie aiiiioiiiiceiiieiit iii ilie Kiiig's New Yenr's Honoiirs Lisr rlii71 liad beeii Invni-ded rli(> Bi-ilisji Eiiipire Medol for services io liealili aii(l li i,11[Ji'iii¥. cis (I Clinrin, Pioiieer. ￿ Jind beeii based iii Higlilaiid niid lier work was well hiowpi iliere biit slie liad a Scoiii.sli-Ivide repiilatioii for tlie Irailpiiig aiid lisleiiiiig senyces slie led iii differeiil areasfroiii ilie Norili lo c￿lIral io ilie Borders. Strydtegic Plan for LWS in 2024 was: "aparlnership wiih/inlegralion inlo a larger charity, wilh similar values and inferesls- The narrative was laid oui for the r￿st sevell wolllhs of the year, as the Board visaged scliediile of disciissions and u)eelin8s between our SCIO ￿ld ibe lliajor Scottisl) Cliarity with which we were in PToposillg to becoll)e a part. off￿]llg of trailling and lislellill8 Se￿iceS (afierfirsl iiiilialiiig ￿p/OratIO115 itriili ilie CEO ofiiiajoi. Cliarirn. Ilie las"1 iiioiiilis of ?0?.4). The Board of LWS pi'oposed to ￿ake all applicalioll early ill 2024 10 OSCR (the Office of tlie Scottish Chan'ty Re￿lIat0T) lo seek petniission foT th-ssoliition of Listen Well Scotlaiid as a solvent SCIO. This firsl step was llecessary as to end the SCIO status before tbe transference of assets (illcludill8 persollnel) lo the chosen Scottish clwity later in July or so. (Ihe naiiie is no loiiger beipig gTVWi, as laler eveiilsfell oiil). LWS trustees and senior colleagues were wotkin8 on the tasks for the prepatation for the application to OSCR for dissolulioll solvent of the SCIO. wbile all LWS voll￿teerS Colltillued to offer the services of LWS IListenin8 LT4U. and Trainin8 Courses) in areas of Scotlalld. There was a schedule to follow and various stages lo be met, with specific periods set by OSCR to publish the intent for LWS lo dissolve as a SCIO and then give its assets to the chosen Charity and for the L WS Volunteers and one employee to tTansition. A wide Tallge of stakeholders was to be engaged from the beginlling, to n￿e all aware to the future for LWS, and Ibe consequence of the dissolution. Listen Well Scotland Tn￿tees, Annual Repon 2024 OSCR published the Notice for Dissolution of a solvent SCIO (LWS) on their website on 5[th] February 2024, allowing all who wished to comment for 28 days. A part of the application to dissolve was to prepare the Table of Assets, which would be transferring to the chosen Charity at a later date. Much had to be explained as to why the Trustees and Volunteers of LWS felt the organisation was unsustainable by its own. The end of March 2024, the trustees had OSCR’s permission to Dissolve the SCIO, with conditions confirmed and agreed with all Trustees. Meetings by senior leaders were very much at Board/CEO and Director level mainly. The chosen Charity side was keen to push some publicity about the joining, and for CEO to speak with the Volunteers of LWS, and for staff of the chosen Charity to meet with LWS Chair. These internal meetings took place on 16[th] April and 17[th] April. On May 9[th] was a Press Release. May 30[th] 2024 Board Meeting was hearing of more “operational” issues and finding how to prepare for roles and responsibilities for volunteers of LWS who were willing to transfer to the chosen Charity. LWS was keen to and offered several options where staff of the chosen Charity (which had 4 Regional Hubs in Scotland) could study the online basic course as individuals, or as regional face-to-face courses in a smaller group. Dates were programmed in for LWS Trainers to deliver at the different regions for face-to-face days. There were many matters to be negotiated, between both side, as well as with advisors from legal and operational sides, and human resources personnel. Best of the efforts were made - to make to fit in, but by mid July it had become quite clear to the senior LWS people (and more experienced trainers and listeners) that the transition was not going to be right for LWS, at this time. The Chair accepted the finding, with regret, and communicated that with the LWS Trustees, and then communicated with the CEO of the chosen Charity. ## **The decision not to merge was mutually agreed.** Chair of LWS received a reply to her message on 18[th] July to OSCR that Listen Well Scotland was withdrawing the application to dissolve the SCIO and would be continuing on their own. OSCR noted the withdrawal and stated no action was needed. LWS had was planning a Day Event for Volunteers, Trustees, and Partners to meet on 31 August, and this became a time to share thoughts about the future. A Board Meeting was held on 30[th] August in person. _**All the Trustees and Volunteers of LWS wished to acknowledge the organisation’s debt to Chair for her continued skilled leadership over the eighth months from January to August of a second difficult year. remained on the Board until two new Trustees were appointed.**_ Listen Well Scotland Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 4 ## **Operational Outcomes in 2024** ## **Training Courses for Children and Young People** Schools felt unable to book training courses without funding resources. ## **Training Courses for Adults** 77 adults accessed the foundation online _Let’s Get Listening!_ Course in 2024, and 19 attended an in-person course. Some were group bookings from organisations or new partners looking for further training with a purpose in mind, principally for upskilling staff or volunteers, a few with view to providing a listening service in their community. 10 Adults attended the newly developed 3 hour course ‘Unlock Your Listening Potential’ 17 adults completed the _Listen Well_ Course (the intermediate level) 4 adults completed an _Advanced Listening_ Course in March 2024; 1 person was in employment with LWS, while 3 were funded on the recruitment programme as potential as trainers and/listeners. This was held in a residential venue. Income from course fees during 2024 had increased to £5648, compared to £4179 in 2023. This does not reflect the total training hours provided, as a number of complimentary online courses were granted, and several places on the next levels were free to volunteers, or the one new member of staff completed up to Advanced Listening. Several members of the senior staff of the chosen Charity were able to take time to attend either of one of the Regional Hubs for a day course on _Let’s Get Listening!_ in person. Internal development training opportunities were provided for LWS Volunteers, as with supervision, refresher on LW face-to-face courses and developing updates on information publicity. The one part-time employee was contracted from January to end June as LWS National Services Coordinator. Her work with LWS Volunteers was appreciated, as well as her support to the Lead Trainer for LWS and Service Co-ordinator of LWS North Team, as also to the Chair. ## **LWS Listening Services (LT4U)** Provision of the face-to-face LT4U had continued for pupils at one High School, in Lanarkshire, in a well-established partnership. The new partnership with the Moray Campus of the Glasgow School of Art had offered LT4U, with an Registered Listener available, but very few sessions taken. LT4U services in other Schools or Colleges had not been able to resume so far. Another High School is looking to welcome LT4U to their pupils in early 2025. There was very little uptake of LT4U offered to adults in a few community settings during 2024, but one new General Practice in Inverness provided a space for face-to-face for one Listener with 3 sessions on a week. There are some more requests for Listening on the telephone, and LWS has secured access, as a registered provider, to the NHS Highland “ **Near Me** ” platform for virtual sessions. It was great to have 2 of the newest trainee listeners complete their Registered Listener Certificates. Listen Well Scotland Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 5 ## **Financial Highlights** The Board in late 2023 had accepted that the unrestricted funds were best used to recruit one paid person for 20 hours/week for a post as National Services Coordinator to support the strategy for 2024. Interviews were successful and an Offer was confirmed by 30[th] November, with a start date for 4[th] January 2024, and 6 month contract. The last five months of 2024 saw LWS with bank balance reserve within budget to take to the year end and continued in 2025, with no employed staff until funding was found. The LWS Treasurer was willing to continue in his position. All trustees appreciated all the extra work done by the Treasurer during the early months when many communications were necessary, and after the decision to withdrawn the application to dissolve the SCIO. **Income:** Income totalled. £20533 to 31st December 2024. **Expenditure:** Expenditure totalled. £28169 to 31st December 2024. Movement of Restricted Funds. The Funds restricted for specific purposes for use by the North Regional Hub at end of 2024 were £2385. ## **Listen Well Scotland’s priorities for 2025 are continuing:** - _**to widen awareness of the benefits of listening, for health and wellbeing**_ - _**to seek the support needed for development and sustainability of our services**_ - _**to value our trained volunteers who give so much to our organisation.**_ - _**to revision our services within our capacity**_ ## **Approved and presented by the Trustees and signed on their behalf.** **Acting Chair of Listen Well Scotland SCIO Date 23 06 2025** _23 06 2025_ Listen Well Scotland Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 6 APPENDIX 3 OSCR Scottish Charity Regulator Independent examiner's report on the accounts v? Report to the Ch8iity narne trusteeslmembers of LISTEN WELL SCOTLAND Registered charity number On the accounts of the charity for the period SC044382 Peftod start dale Month Period end date Monlh Day Year Day Year 2024 to 31 12 2024 Set out on pages Iremembwto Indude the pa£* numDer8 cr atsyiiion81 Sh*lSI Respective Thè charity's trusl&es are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan responsibilities of with the terms ol the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotlandl 2005 Act and the trustees and examiner Charities Accounts (Scollandl Regulations 2006 las amendedl. Thè charity Iruslees considef that the audit requirement of Regulabon 1011) Idl of Ihe Accounts Regulations does not apply. 11 is my responsibility lo examine the accounts as required under section 44111 Icl of the Act and lo stale whether particubar mallers have Come to my attention. Basis of independent My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts gxamlner'$ Statement Regulations. An exarnination Includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a compar150n ol the accounts presented with those records 11 also includes consideration of any unusual rtems or disclosures In the accounts and seeks explanations Irom the trustees concerning any such matters. The prO￿d￿reS undertaken do not provicje all the evKJence that would be required In an audit and, consequently, I do not expre55 an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner's In the course of my examination, no matter has come lo my attention lother than that ststement disclosed on Ihe attached page"] which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. to keep accounting re￿rdS In accordance with section 44111 lal of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. and to prepare accounts which accord with the ￿cOUntIng 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 lo enable a proper hed. Date: Signed": Name: Relevant profegsional qualificationlsl or body lif any): Add￿$s. RITSON YOUNG CA 28 HIGH STREET NniRN IV12 4AU "Ple¢3e delete the words in the br£ck•ls If Ihey do nct appty. If the Ynré¥ do appty, set out those maltsrawhich h8¥e come toytsur attention on the following pagÈ OSCR Nvill accepi digital or typed signatures