FRIENDS OF THE RIVER ALMOND WALKWAY Annual report and financial statements For the year ended 28 February 2025 itsl)S O[ OSCR www.osu.or%.uk Rtystsved S(10 5(045077
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENOED 28 FEBRUARY 2025 CONTENTS Trustees. annual report................................................................... .. Independent examiner's report....... .-...-...-.. Slalemenl of receipt5 and payments.. .. Slalemenl of balances............................................................. Notes lo the financial stalemenls. 10
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025
The truslees pres&nt their report and finanoal slalemenls together the indqxndent examiner's report for
the year ended 28 Febwary 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Charlty Nam•
Fnends of the Fl'v¢r PJrnoTrJ Wdkway (aso known 85 FFIAWI
Charlty Number
SC045077
Contact Addres5
27 Cammo Grove
Eeinburgh
EH4 8EX
Website address
hllp.'IlVwM.friendsoflheriverdmdWalkW8y.org.uk
Current Trust•es
Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Othgr Truslee5 who
ser¥8d durbng the year
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025 Organisational structure The organisalion consists of members and truslees. MefnLrship 15 open lo any individual who Is interested in h8lping the organisation lo achieve its aims. The members are responsible for electing trustees al the organisalion's AGM. The InJsl8es, who meet regularly. are responsilAe for the day-ttrday Tnanagement and administration of the chanly. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objèctives The purpose of the organisalion is lo improve, PTOmOte and enhance Ihe heritage and the natural environmenl of rhe River Almond Walkway. which It seeks to do by.. promoting the well-teing of the residents of the area and wcrfking logelher as residents regardless ol age, ethnic origin. atxlily. sex, tdief or prAilical affiliation recognising the value of (Mjr many diffeTences', Involving10&i1 peop8 in improving the area; and carrying out bolh environmental Improvement and praclical conservation, lo encourage and support the local population In environment praclice by working wlh slatutory and non-slalutory agencies. Actlvltle5 We continue to operate work parties, subjecl lo Trust availability and to cary oul smaller scale proiecl5. The objective of these has been lo Improve access along, and the general condilion of, the Walkway lo conlToI overgrown areas lo Improve safety by dearing leaves from paths and steps lo remove invasive species to promole Ihe growlh of native species. Urgent work was carried out by individual committee mernbers using some heavier-duty equipment to dear fallen trees using brush culling equ1pmenl lo dear overgrown areas. Work was a150 carried out reE4ac¢ng damaged steps and safety barriers al various localions along the Walkway. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Contact was mainlained wilh our members via newsletters and email messages. Our membership numbers 208 Individuals from 129 hi)useholds. Due lo the generosity of our members, finanaal situation remained In good health. We have continued lo maintain contact wlh the Nalufal Heritage Service of C1ty of Edinburgh Council, though due lo Council rrganiSatiOns. resource and budget shortage5, resp)nses ffom them have been slow. Liaison and cooperation with other local groups has Tren mainlained and the Cramond Collaborative Group conlinues lo communicate via ernail and meet face-tO•face. Membership of. and active participation in, the Edinburyh Green Spas Forum was maintained. Maintenance and improvement to our Community Woc*Jland CA)ntinued.
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FE8RUARY 2025 Working alongside the Natural Henlage Servi, plant boxes were installed and maintained in the area around Peggy's Mill, planting a colourful selection of flowers is being maintained. Contact was regulady maintained with Councillors and Officials of the City of Edinburgh Council lo promote and progress large Schemes lo ifflprove fish passage down river from Cramond Brig and lo investigation solutions for replacing the Sslvesen Steps with a disability compliant low-level lacilily. FINANCIAL REVIEW Ovebview Our principal sources of income ntinUe lo be membership fees. donations, associated Gift Aid and grant funding lowards specific PToiects, wheyeas expendilure Is almost enlirely in respect of ImpTovement works and projects for the Walkway. 2025 2024 Receipts Payments Surplusl{Deficil) for the year 2,378 1,015 1,363 4,865 4,100 765 Reserves pollcy The Iruslees consider around £1,500 10 £2,000 is an appropriate level of reserve5 to hold lo meet the day-l day running costs of the Gharily, excluding project costs that are largely granl funded. Reserves al the end of Ihe year were £13,217 12024.. £12,151), whsch Is higher than the target range. Planned addilions lo the Walkway are expected lo cost around £S,OQO, with a further £1,000 required lor website development, which will bring resgrves closer lo the largel rang8. FUTURE PLANS We are funding the Inslallalion of a second bench al Peggy's Mill as a resting point for users of the Walkway. Work parties will continue foGussing on path maintenance where required, and on further improvements lo th8 Community Woodland and the area around Peggy's Mill. We, together with other local organisalions. will be keeping In touch with Edinburgh Council and olher parties regarding Ihe plans lor alleralions al Dowies Mill We1r lo promote the best outcome. This prqecl is progressing well with a planning application now being submilled. We conlinue lo work with Suslrans and Edinburgh CounThl lo investigate the provision of a fully acces51ble replacement for the Salv8sen Steps. We are liaising with suppliers and will funé the provision of Improv signage along the Walkway lo make access for visitors and regular users more slraighffotward. We have beeri working with third party suppliers on the development of a new website, which is due to be launch In Q2 2025. This will provide.. more accurate and curn1 information about the Walkway as infomialion about the history of the Walkway and the River details of the objectives and slruclure of the Friends Group.
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOFI THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025 We have Identified, and are planning lo procure, a st(Kag8 unit to be located close to th8 Walkway, for Ihe safe sloraqe of lools and equipment required for our work parties. APPROVAL This report, which has been preparee in acccrfdance with the Charities and Trustee Investment ISE(rtlandl Act 2005, was approvèd by Ihe Iruslees on 11 June 2025 ancl sigr.eo on their behalf by.. Chair
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025 Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Friend5 of the RtveT Almond Walkway I report on the accounts d the charity ts the year ended 28 Fd)ruary 2025, which are set out on pages 8 10 10. Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner The Gharily s trustees are fftssxpnsible for Ihe preratIc of the acctiijnts in aG¢x)idanGe with Ihe terms of the Charities and Trustee Inves[ml IScollarKSI Act 2005 {Ihe 2005 Act") ano the Chariiies Accounis IScollaTidl Regulaiion5 2006 las amended) I'lhe 2006 Reculaiions-l. Tre trustees consider that the audrf requirement of Regulation11 OX1 Ildl of ihe 20 Regulaiions does not apY. It is my resFons1'l1tY lo examine the accounts under sect'.on144111)Ic) of the 2005 Ad and to slate whether Particular rnarters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Exarninerfs Statement My examination Is carried In accordan wth Regulalion 11 of Il* 2006 Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accountirg records <ept by the charity ar.d a cDmparison of the accounts presented wth those records. It also indudes conSideratn ol any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the Iruslees Conrning any such maiters. The procedures undertaken do nol provide all ltre evidence that w(#Jlc be required in an audit, aThJ corsequenljy I do not express an audit opinion on the given by the accounts. Independent Examiner's Statemont In connection wilh my examination, malter rame to rny attenliOn- which gives me Teasonae cause to kAieve that In any rnalenal respect, the rwJuirements lo keep aCuntI Temrds In accordance wth section 44111{al of the 2005 Ad and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Regulations. and to prepare accounts which acc(Kd wth aceA)unting reu)rds and comFAy vAth Regulation 9 tsf the 2006 Regulaliws have not been mel. or to which, in my Opinn, altention shoLld be drawn in ordeT to enable a proper under51anding of Ihe accounis to bè reached.
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025 2025 2024 Receipts Donalions Membership fees Other donations 226 212 1,519 633 1,293 Gift aid Grants 3,360 4.865 2,378 Payments Charilable aclivilies.. Equipment Insurance 17 275 231 Subscriptions Tunnel leasibilily 51udy Walkway projects Websi18 30 30 3,360 307 259 336 53 Governance Costs.. AGM and mernbers meelings Gift for independent examiner 91 80 24 22 1,015 4,1DO Surplu51lDeflcit} for y•ar 1,363 765 The Notes on page 10 fomi an integral part of these accounts.
STATEMENT OF BALANCES AS AT 28 FE8RLJARY 2025 2025 2024 Fund5 reconciliation Balance as al 01 March 2024 11,854 1,363 13,217 11,089 765 SurplusllDeficitl lor year Balance as at 28 February 2025 11,954 Bank and tash Balancos Cash at bank 13,217 11,854 Cash in hand 13,217 11,854 Other Assets Gifi aid due 297 Twjls and equiprnent 1,000 1,000 1.ODO X,297 Llabllltle5 Th8 Notes ofj y8ge 10 lorffi ari Integral part of Ihese acrL¥unls. These acc(yJnls. which have been prepared in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment Iscoilandl Act 2005 were approved by the Iruslees on 11 June 2025 and signed on their behalf by..
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025 Ba515 of preparation These accounts have been prepare(I the recapts and payments basis in occordance with.. (al The Charilies and Trustee Investment Iscoilandl Ad 2005 Ibl The Chanlies Accounts ISccAlandl Regulations 2006 las amended) There have no changes to Ihe basis of preparatil or to the previous year's accounts. Fund accounting (al Unrestr1¢ted funds are those thai r2n te expended al the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the obie¢Xs of the chanty. Ibl Restncted funds are those that may only be used for specific purposes. RestTlCtions arise when specified by the donor. or when funds are raised for specific purposes. Icl The charity s lunds are currendy all unrestricted. Taxation lal The charity 1s not liable to Gorwr3lion tax or capital gains lax on ils charItae aclivilies. Ibl The charity is not registered for VAT thus all costs are shown indusive of VAT charged. Transaction5 with trustees and related parties lal No remuneration was paid to ITUStees during the year or in the previ$ year. Ibl No expenses were rmbUrSed to the trustees during year or in the previous year. Ic) The charity S Insuran pdicy Indudes truslee indemnity IllSUTance. Idl There were no transadions with related parties during the year or in the previous year. Purpose of Funds Unrestricted fund A general fLtnd Ihal can be expended al the diScretOn of the Iruslees in furtherance of the objeds d the tharity. 10-