The Reconnection Project
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
For the year ended 31st July 2025
Charity No: SC045759
Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31 July 2025
Reference and Administrative Information
Charity Name: Reconnection Project Charity Number: SC045759 Principal Registered Address: The Friary, Tullideph Road, Dundee, DD2 2PN
Trustees - During the full accounting period to 31-July-25
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Trustees who served between the year end and when the Report and Accounts were approved.
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Bankers
Virgin Money, 7/8 High Street, Dundee DD1 1SS
Independent Examiner
Governing Document and Legal Structure
Our organisation's governance and legal framework is defined by its chosen governing document and structural form. This include operating as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), which is a regulated charity structure led by a Board of Trustees, supported by a small paid staff team and volunteers, and typically covered by specialist charity insurance such as Ansvar. We are established as a Company Limited by Guarantee, combining charitable status with corporate legal personality, or as an Unincorporated Association, a simpler model without separate legal identity from members. Our Trust, which is governed by the provisions set out in a formal trust deed, setting the rules for management, control, and use of charitable assets.
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Trustee Recruitment and Appointment
Trustees are recruited through a simple, transparent, and relationship-driven process designed to attract individuals who genuinely care about the organisation's mission and values. Opportunities to serve are first shared through expressions of interest, allowing motivated and suitably skilled candidates to come forward voluntarily and demonstrate their commitment. Alongside this, word of mouth plays an important role, as existing trustees, partners, and community members recommend people known for their integrity, experience, and willingness to contribute.
This balanced approach ensures the organisation draws from both open interest and trusted networks, building a board that is diverse, credible, and deeply invested in its purpose.
Charitable Purposes
The organisation is here to help people who have been pushed to the side find their feet again. It supports physical and mental wellbeing by building confidence, improving personal health and hygiene, and reducing anxiety, especially for those who struggle to find work or training because of addiction, mental health challenges, or a past criminal record. It also helps people learn practical, job-ready skills by working with local agencies and community groups, making training and employment feel possible again.
Beyond this, it encourages people to reconnect with support services and get involved in their communities through volunteering, so they can feel valued, useful, and part of something positive
Activities During the Year
During the year, the charity focused on helping people rebuild their lives after addiction, complete community payback hours, or settle back into society after time in the criminal justice system. The project ran four days a week and provided a safe, structured place where participants could learn, work, and regain confidence through everyday practical activities.
Participants took part in hands-on workshop tasks such as carpentry, repairing and improving the project space, painting and decorating, and making items for community use. They also worked in a shared outdoor area that included a kitchen garden, which produced fruit and vegetables for the project and local people during the growing season. The charity worked with RSPB Scotland throughout the year to landscape and develop a "recovering in nature" garden, using the natural environment to support wellbeing.
To make sure everyone felt included and supported, the charity also ran a women-only creative programme every Thursday. These sessions used simple creative activities to help build confidence, encourage social connection, and support women in taking positive steps forward in their lives.
Achievements and Impact
Key achievements
The project successfully operated four days each week, providing a safe and structured workshop where people could learn practical work skills. A major milestone was the partnership with the RSPB to create a recovery garden in a shared community space, alongside running a kitchen garden during the summer. These activities expanded the range of training opportunities available. Another important achievement was the launch of a women's programme every Thursday, focused on creativity, wellbeing, and confidence. This service quickly increased engagement, with regular attendance of between three and eight women. The project also grew into a learning site for professionals, currently hosting three junior doctors working alongside the RSPB team and staff, and supporting five active volunteers to develop new skills.
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Benefits to beneficiaries
Participants gained real work experience, routine, and practical abilities that improved their chances of moving into jobs or further education. Many progressed directly into employment or training after leaving the project. Most reported higher confidence, better wellbeing, and a strong sense of belonging. The project also provided steady support to individuals dealing with complex personal challenges, helping them rebuild trust, stability, and motivation. Volunteers benefited from hands-on experience and skill development, while professional partners gained valuable community-based learning, creating positive outcomes not only for participants but for the wider community as well.
We provide a learning environment for several professional groups, who work alongside attendees, we currently have 3 junior doctors on site working with the RSPB team and ourselves.
We have 5 volunteers with us currently who benefit from skill development.
Financial Review
The charity recorded total income of £64,016.63 (2024: £44,089.78), mainly from trust and grant funding (£50,574.88) and project income (£13,441.75). This represents a strong increase compared to the previous year, driven by expanded project activity and improved external funding support.
Total expenditure for the year was £49,846.05 (2024: £40,394.87). The largest cost remained staff and subcontracted services (£35,152.17), reflecting the operational nature of the charity work. Other key costs included rent, insurance, tools and equipment, and general running expenses.
The charity achieved a surplus of £14,170.58 for the year (2024: £3,694.91). Reserves at year end stood at approximately £36,252 (2024: £22,082), held as cash at bank. Trustees consider this level appropriate to meet working capital needs, manage funding timing gaps, and provide a reasonable contingency for future operations.
Future Plan
The Reconnection Project
Our focus now is simple: turn stability into real, visible impact in the community. We plan to expand our support activities carefully, reaching more people who are dealing with isolation, emotional strain, and everyday life pressures.
Over the coming year, we aim to run more regular outreach sessions, work more closely with local partners, and make our services easier to access for those who need them most. Alongside this, we will invest modestly in volunteers, safeguarding, and basic digital systems to strengthen how we operate and measure the difference we make.
We will also continue to grow our funding base by seeking a wider mix of grants and community support, reducing dependence on any single source of income and protecting the charity's long-term future.
Above all, our approach is steady and responsible growth, staying financially disciplined, protecting service quality, and keeping our mission at the centre: helping people reconnect, rebuild confidence, and feel supported again.
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Year ended 31 July 2025
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The members of the Reconnection Project are required to prepare financial statements that clearly show the organisation’s financial activities for the year. They are responsible for keeping accurate and up-to-date accounting records that reflect the organisation’s financial position at any given time. This is to ensure the financial statements meet the requirements of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
The members are also responsible for protecting the organisation’s assets and for taking reasonable steps to prevent and identify fraud or any other financial irregularities.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf.
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Trustee
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(for the Trustees) 31/01/2026
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Reconnection Project
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st July 2025 which are set out on pages 6 to 9.
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
An 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
During my examination, no issues came to my attention that would lead me to believe that: �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations have not been met.
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Accounts Regulations.
Also, there were no matters that I believe need to be highlighted to ensure a proper understanding of the accounts.
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Date: 31/01/2026
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Reconnection Project Receipts and Payments Account Year ended 31 July 2025
| Note Receipts Grants & Donations 3 Total Receipts Payments Charitable Activities 3 Total Payments Excess of receipts/(payments) over (payments/receipts in the year |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds 2025 Total Funds 2024 £ £ 64,017 - 64,017 44,090 |
|---|---|
| 64,017 - 64,017 44,090 |
|
| 49,846 - 49,846 40,395 |
|
| 49,846 - 49,846 40,395 |
|
| 14,171 14,171 3,695 |
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Reconnection Project Statement of Balances Year ended 31 March 2025
| Cash at Bank and in hand Bank and Deposit balances brought forward Movement in year Excess of receipts over payments for the year Bank and Deposit balances carried forward Represented By: |
Total Funds 2025 Total Funds 2024 £ £ 22,198 18,503 14,171 3,695 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 36,369 22,198 |
||
| Cash at Bank Petty Cash |
36,139 21,968 230 230 |
|
| 36,369 22,198 |
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 31/01/2026
Signed for and on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
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Trustee
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Reconnection Project Statement of Balances Note to the Accounts
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
These financial statements have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis in accordance with the Charities & Trustees 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 operations 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.
3 Funds
| Incomes Grants & Donations: Donations from Trusts Donations from Organisations Donations from Individuals Projects and Jobs undertaken Expendictures Charitable Activities: Salaries including Subcontractors Insurance Rent of City Church Tools & Equipment Stationery & Admin Website Set Up Garden Materials Staff & Volunteer Expenses Other Expenses Surplus (Loss) for the year |
2025 2024 50,575 33,192.60 800 750.00 1,860 3,353.92 10,782 6,793.26 |
|---|---|
| 64,017 44,090 |
|
| 36,096 29,098.85 1,160 902.61 2,500 2,500.00 5,564 5,203.28 555 787.86 638 142.00 287 307.21 2,439 1,423.26 608 29.80 |
|
| 49,846 40,395 |
|
| 14,171 3,695 |
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4 Staff and Volunteer Contributions
Where staff are employed, wages, National Insurance, and pension contributions are included within charitable or administrative costs.
Taymara benefits immensely from its volunteers, who contribute to maritime training, community support, youth programmes, and boat operations. Volunteer time is not included in the financial statements but is fundamental to the charity’s work.
5 Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on income applied solely to charitable purposes.
6 Purpose and Activities of the Charity
Taymara provides maritime training, youth development
programmes, community outreach, and heritage-related activities across Tayside.
7 Grant Income
Grant income during the year supported project delivery, community development, training programmes, and charitable service enhancements. All conditions set by funders were met, and required reports have been completed or scheduled.
8 Comparative Figures
Comparative figures for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 are shown on the same receipts-and-payments basis for consistency.
9 Income
Income is recognised when received. This includes:
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Where funders specify that money must be used for a particular project or purpose, the income is treated as restricted and allocated accordingly.
10 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised when paid. Costs are categorised into charitable activities, governance, administration, and project-related spending. Payments funded by restricted income are charged directly to the relevant fund.
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