Buols ajid Beard Recei bor'fhe Yexr F.nded ts and Pa 'ments Account 31-Mar-25 Chari No: SC047737 redb Argylc . x¢countants Boots And Beards 'I'rustees' Annual Re R¢cei ts and Pavmcnts Accoiint ort and Tr"or'l"lie Year End¢d 31-Mar-25 Scottish Charity Numbcr SC047737 Current trustees Conta¢t address R¢cruitn)eiit and appoiiilnici)l of Truslccs All of tl)e trustees are appointed and relippoint￿ in accorda￿¢ lo the rules laid down in the Boots and BLMrds constitulion. Governing docum¢Trt ljools and IILards is a cliaritablL incorp()r)ted associalion and the PU4x)ses and administration arrangemei)ts are set out in its constilulion. Ch￿ritAl}le purpo¥es I)urpLisLs. as rLcc)rdcd in Ihc consttruiion. are to improvc their healtl), widLiiingF hout the year has been to removc barricrs to wellbeing for cthnic minority communities by creatingl culturally seiisitivc, accessible and inclusiv¢ opportunitics to connect with nature, movement and each oihLr. The work we deliver is only possible because of the dedication of our trustees, staff, volunteers, partners and funders whose support allows us to provide activities that arc 7enuinely needed and valued within our community. Our approach is rooted in a clcar undcrstanding of the challeiiges faced by South Asian and other Ininority communities who experience multiple and intLrsccting barricrs to physical, Inental and social wellbeing. These include cultural stigma around Inental health, social isolation particularly amongv women, carers and older adults, langyuagye barriers, lack of confidence and limited access to green spaces or mainstream s¢rvices. Many of the people we support have never taken part in outdoor activities or structurcd sport bcfore, often due to modesty concerns, prioritisingy family responsibilities or simply not fecling7 welcome or repr¢sented in traditional settings. These realities drive our commitment to creating safe, supportive and culturally appropriate spaces whcre people can take thcir first steps toward physical activity, wellbeingF and community connection. The past year has shown that with thL right support, cncouragement and environment, people who once felt excluded from the outdoors can thrive in it. l. Delivery Over the Last 12 Months (l April 2024- 31 March 2025) Summary of Aetivity in Relation to the Work Plan Over the last year, the Equality for the Outdoors project has delivered a wide and diverse programme of activities that have increased participation in sport and the outdoors ainong ethnic minority communities across Glasgow. The last 12 months reflect strong delivery, steady growth and clear evidence of increasing confidence, wellbeing and community connection. We exceeded s¢veral targets, particularly around women's participation, badminton engagement and progression from tasler sessions into longer-tenn involvement. Our focus has remained on breaking down cultural, social and Practical barriers so that people who have never accessed the outdoors or sport before can take part safely and confidently. Walking Programmes Walking continues to be the backbone of our outdoor delivery. Across the year we ran Bonnie Boots women-only walks, Walk and Chai gentle walks, mixed walks, family walks, local weekly walks and hillwalking sessions. Between April and September alc)ne. we delivered 10 Bonnie Boots hill walks with 91 women, ¢ight Walk and Chai walks for 70 women, Cight family walks with 55 participants, 15 local weekly walks with l 00 participants and nine Munro hikes with 28 participants. Across the October to March period, we continued regular weekly women's walks, mixed walks, evening walks and weekend hikes in local parks and green spaces. Many women begFan having never walked beyond their local shop and now walk weekly. Mindfulness, yentle stretching and reflective aLtivities were added to increase wellbeing benefits. Our Munro hikes remained a higlilight throughout the year. Several participants completed their first-ever mountain. supported by transport. kit and experienced guides. The sense of achievement was consistcntly described as lifc changing. Thcsc walking progyrammes playcd a vital role in reducing isolation, supporting mental wellbeing, improving physical activity and building confidence particularly for women, older participants and complete begTinners. Taster Sessions Across the full year we delivered taster sessions in hillwalking, beginner walking, badminton, basketball, cyclingF and creative c)utdoor workshops. These sessions focused on people with no prior experience of sport or the outdoors, offering a safe introduction with no pressure or commitment. Many participants progressed from tasters into block sessions, weekly walks or regular badminton. This clearly demonstrates that taster sessions continue to be one of our strongest engyagiement tools for breaking dc)wn fear, lack of confidence. modesty concerns and cultural barriers. Badminton Programme Badminton has grown into one of our most successful and high-demand programmes. Between April and September, w'e delivered men's badminton with 28 sessions and 532 attendances, women's badminton with 21 sessions and 588 attendances and junior badminton with 20 sessions. The women's and junior sessions have seen exceptional growth. The Junior Club received official affiliation with Scottish Badminton in July 2024, marking a major milestone. Throughout the October to March period, Ive continued delivering weekly sessions for men, women and young people. We expanded coaching opportunities for regular participants, with support from Badminton Scotland, enabling community members to gain introductory coaching qualifications. Trained participants are now helping lead warn]-ups and supporting new players. This marks real progress in building a sustainable, community-led model. Duke of Edinburgh Award We continued our work as the first BME-led organisation in Scotland to hold a Duke of Edinburgh licence. Throughout the year we delivered outdoor sessions, indoor sessions and an online session for 28 young people completing their Bron/.e level. Young people developed teamwork, resilience, navigation skills and outdoor cooking confid¢nce. Many experienced camping and expeditions for ihe first time. The DotE programme continucs to give young people a sense of purpose. structure and achievement. Minibus Provision During this financial year, Boots & Beards secured part funding for two nine-seater minibuses. We decided to invest in two smaller minibuses to ensure we had newer vehicles that could safely accommodate our participants. This approach has worked particularly well, allowing us to run more activities simultaneously and suppon smaller groups who may not require a largier vehicle. The minibuses have incrcased flexibility in our delivery, improved accessibility for participants, and contributed to the smooth running of outdoor activitics, trips and community programmes. Training and Skills Development TrainingF remained central to our work plan. Over the year wc delivered first aid, outdoor leadership, mountain leader training, safeguarding, social media training and autism awareness. This supported staff, volunteers and community niembers to gain confidencc and skRlls to take on more responsibility. It also strengthens our Ic)ng-tcrn] goal of creatiiig pc¢r leaders from within the community. Collaborations and Partnerships We strengthened relationships across the sector. A major development this year was our partnership with Glasgow Clyde College to support unaccompanied minors. These young people participated in taster sessions, badminton, local hikes and even tried cycling) at the velodrome through Glasgow Life. Partnerships with Adidas Terrex, Tiso and Badminton Scotland continued to support kit access, coaching and wider outreach. These collaborations improve the quality and sustainability of our programmes. Outdoors Against Racism Our national Outdoors Against Racism campaign continued to run throughout the year. Anti- racism conversations were integrated into walks, training sessions and taster sessions. We also contribut¢d to sector-wide discussions around inclusion and representation, reinforcing our commitment to making the outdoors a safe and welcoming place for everyone. Community Hub and Organisational Groilth Oiir community hub continued to grow as a multipurpose space for networking, volunteering, hotdesking7 and equipment bo￿01ving. We also expanded our team, welcomingy a Social Media Officcr on a 26-week plaLement and a new Development and Outreach Officer, which improved our outreach capacity. Boots and Beards have been recognised locally with multiple community award nominations, reflecting our strong reputation and impact. Mehfooz Project During this financial year. Boots & Beards also delivered the Mehfooz project, funded to support women from ethnic min()rity communities. Mchfooz has crcated a safe, culturally sensitive space for women to access wellbeing activities, build confidence and connect with peers. Througjh re&yular sessions includin& group walks, mindfulness, fitness activities, arts ,Ind Lratls and social mcetups, w(Imen who previously faced isolation due to family re.sp()n8ibilities or cultural cxpectations have bccn able to prioritisc their own health and wcllbcing. ThL arts and crafts scssions were particul