Edinburgh’s Netherbow SCIO Scottish Charity No – SC046095
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
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Edinburgh’s Netherbow SCIO Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 31 March 2025
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Reference and Administrative Information
Charity name Edinburgh’s Netherbow SCIO
Charity number
SC046095
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Structure, Governance and Management
Constitution
The Charity is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (a SCIO). It was registered in its current legal form on 3 November 2015. The charity has a two-tier structure with trustees and members.
Appointment of trustees
Trustees are elected at the annual general meeting which is held in November/December in each calendar year.
Objectives and Activities
Charitable purposes
The organisations purposes are to advance Scotland’s arts and culture, in particular its literature, traditional and contemporary arts, languages, architectural and religious heritage, and to increase knowledge of Scotland’s arts and culture through education.
Scope and Objectives
The Edinburgh’s Netherbow SCIO brings together public, private and charitable organisations in the Netherbow area of Edinburgh to advise and support the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust on its work to enhance Edinburgh’s Literary Quarter: the Netherbow of the Royal Mile. Our aspiration is to develop the honeycomb of buildings, gardens, closes and streetscape in and around the Scottish Storytelling Centre and John Knox House, to create a calm and welcoming space, introducing literature and art into the streetscape, and provide space for seats and for digital engagement. A programme of consultations has provided guidance on the nature of activity, commissions and event programme to be developed in the location. The ambition is to connect deeply with Edinburgh’s residents of all ages, and create a year-round focal point, which will make connections across the literary community.
This will be one of Edinburgh’s most significant literary developments, increasing the promotion of literature, supporting collaboration between literary and cultural organisations, and improving Edinburgh’s international profile and engagement through literature.
Vision for the future
The Partnership
Edinburgh’s Netherbow SCIO brings together public, private and charitable organizations
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in the area: Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust (lead partner), TRACS, Scottish Book Trust, Saltire Society, The List and the owner of Sandeman House. The group is supported by the Church of Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council acting as independent advisors and is led by the City of Literature Trust.
The plans for the Literary Quarter are shaped through collaboration between the people who live and work here with literary organisations and national agencies. We are united by a determination to give generations to come, the best of the past, and every possible resource for the future.
Achievements and Performance
The organization is at present dormant, following suspension of the Literature House project
Financial review
The organisation is at present dormant.
Reserves policy
The organisation does not hold a reserve but it is the policy of the trustees to review the organisation’s finances and reserves status at the annual general meeting.
Plans for future period
Whilst the original plans for the Literature House have been put on hold due to a last minute change of mind on the part of the building owner, the vision for a Literature House remains alive. The partners of the Edinburgh’s Netherbow SCIO shall continue to advance its charitable purpose through collaborative programming and advising on the development of the Netherbow location, particularly through the Council’s development of the streetscape in the Netherbow area.
The above Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees, 29th December 2025.
Trustee
Dated: 29[th] December 2025
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Independent Examiner’s Report
To the Trustees of Edinburgh’s Netherbow SCIO For the year ended 31 March 2025
I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31[st] March 2025, which are set out on pages 10 and 11.
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 (as amended).
The charity’s trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (a) to (c) of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) 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 (as amended). 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:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations (as amended), and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations (as amended),
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: 29[th] December 2025
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Edinburgh’s Netherbow SCIO
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Receipts | £ | £ |
| Grants received | 0 | 0 |
| Total receipts | 0 | 0 |
| Payments | ||
| Payments for charitable activities | 0 | 669 |
| Total payments | 0 | 669 |
| Deficit for the year | 0 | (669) |
| Funds brought forward at 1 April 2024 | 0 | 669 |
| Funds carried forward at 31 March 2025 | £0 | £0 |
| tatement of Balances at 31 March 2025 | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | ||
| Balance at beginning of year | 0 | 669 |
| Deficit for year | 0 | (669) |
| Total cash and bank at end of year | 0 | 0 |
| Total net assets | £0 | £0 |
| Fund balances | ||
| Balance at beginning of year | 0 | 669 |
| Deficit for year | 0 | (669) |
| Fund balance at end of year | £0 | £0 |
Statement of Balances at 31 March 2025
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Notes to the accounts - for the year ended 31 March 2025
1. Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities & Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).
2. Grants received .
No grants were received by the organisation during the accounting period.
3. Cost of charitable activities
During the accounting period there have been no costs incurred. In April 2023, the bank account was closed. The outstanding balance of £664 was returned to Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust who made the initial payment of funds into the account to establish it.
- Governance costs.
No governance costs were incurred by the organisation during the accounting period.
5. Funds.
There are no funds.
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