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2025-03-31-accounts

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

Scottish Charity Number - SC048143

Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ending 31 March 2025

1

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

Trustees’ Annual Report

The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2025

Charity contact information

Charity’s name : Prospects Across Scotland SCIO

Scottish Charity Number : SC048143

Charity Trustees

2

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

Objectives and activities

Charitable Purposes

Prospects Across Scotland's (PAS) key charitable purposes are the advancement of religion and the relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.

PAS exists to raise awareness among Christians in Scotland about the needs of people with learning disabilities and those with learning disabilities and autism. PAS equips churches to be more effective in how they welcome these people, and share the good news about Jesus, in a way they can understand.

The organisation’s main purposes are:

The advancement of religion by enabling churches to present the Christian message in ways that are relevant and understandable for people with learning disabilities and people with autism and to equip and train people with learning disabilities to speak up about their needs in church to help them develop their faith.

The relief of those in need by reason of learning disability by promoting the inclusion of people with learning disabilities and people with autism into Christian churches, enabling them to develop and express their faith by participating in all aspects of church life and to enable churches to be more effective in welcoming and including people with learning disabilities thereby reducing the isolation and loneliness that people with learning disabilities can experience.

Activities

Raising awareness of the information, advice and support PAS can provide to church communities who want to be more welcoming to people with learning disabilities.

Facilitating training for churches to help them to become more inclusive communities.

Facilitating opportunities for people with learning disabilities to take a more meaningful role in church life.

Organising day and weekend events for people with learning disabilities and their friends and family to meet together in a Christian environment.

Fundraising

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PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

Providing initial and ongoing regular support to churches running a group aimed at people with learning disabilities.

Producing resource material.

Structure, governance and management

Constitution

The Charity is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (a SCIO), administered in accordance with the terms of its constitution.

It was registered in its current legal form on 19 February 2018 as a new charity having been formed following the separation of Prospects Scotland from the parent company Livability.

The charity structure consists of the Members and the Board (the Charity Trustees).

Trustee recruitment, appointment

The maximum number of charity trustees is 8 and the minimum is 3.

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) the members can elect any member to be a Charity Trustee unless they are disqualified from being a charity trustee under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005; or they are a member of staff.

A maximum of 2 Trustees may be appointed to the board who are non-members where they have been nominated by a body which the organisation has closely related activities with or on the basis that they bring specialist experience or skills that could assist the board.

There have been 2 additions to the board and no Trustee resignations.

Management

The trustees are responsible for the strategic direction, governance and finance of the charity. There are regular board meetings of the trustees throughout the year, with a minimum of 4 meetings per year. Activities at meetings are typically as follows:

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PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

Achievements and performance

The main activities of the charity during the financial reporting period have returned to a more normal environment post Covid-19 with most groups now meeting again in person although a number of activities continue to take advantage of the Zoom platform.

They included:-

Running coffee mornings, prayer and group leaders meetings via Zoom.

Creating new Autism awareness material to be used in a variety of informal training courses on Zoom / in person for churches.

Delivering Zoom and in person training sessions for churches and starting to develop a charging structure to bring in income.

Producing a bereavement booklet aimed at people with learning disabilities to support them when someone they have loved has died.

Holding regular music, dance & drama & bible storytelling workshops via Zoom.

Running 1 online Bible Study group and 1 online PAS Group.

Continuing with the PAS online virtual choir.

Celebrating with all the PAS Family at the May 2024 Tulliallan holiday weekend.

Running the October 2024 Annual Celebration meeting in Falkirk. This was recorded to share more widely.

Holding an in-person accessible Christmas 2024 Celebration in Inchinnan. This was recorded to share more widely.

Keeping in touch with our supporters and partner groups by ebulletin, newsletter, prayer diary and ongoing development of website.

Fundraising activities – Hosting Tartan Teas, fundraising ceilidhs, birthday fundraisers and other events plus the use of collection cans & Smartie tube collections.

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PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

Financial review

The Charity's main funding sources are now currently:

Tartan Tea and other fundraising events are now being run more frequently and it is hoped more can be run in the coming year.

PAS launched a fundraising campaign targeting £20k more in 2024 and managed to exceed that target and launched a Thrive in ’25 campaign in at the start of 2025.

During this financial year income from regular Standing Order donations has increased.

Multiple grant applications were made during the year and we were successful in several small, medium and larger grants totalling £32,550.

We are grateful to the support from the following :-

Large grants from the Anchor Trust and Fyrish Foundation, medium grants from Benefact and Sir Halley Stewart Trust and small grants from the Paristamen Fund, the John James Trust, Claremont Trust, Jennifer's Fund and Bishop Radford Trust.

The Charity's main lines of expenditure are as follows:

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PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

The level of expenditure this year was at a lower level than last year (90%) primarily due to the concern at the start of the year over funding so a decision was taken to reduce staff working hours short-term. The ongoing costs for salary, pension, payroll management, running expenses and also support costs such as telephone & broadband generally remained at a similar level to the previous year.

The level of income received was 150% compared to the previous year and therefore we recorded a surplus of £17.8k this year before accounting liabilities, this compares to last year’s deficit of £10k. The income was boosted significantly by the 2024 fundraising campaign increasing donation levels but also the charity was successful in several grant applications this year totalling £32.5k. Two of these grant applications were for £10k each covering core staff costs which are significant to supporting stability.

The current bank reserves are at a good level with 12-15 month’s reserves, however the charity continually needs to look at fundraising options for sustainability.

The staffing model is under review with an increase back to the level of hours at the start of the financial year.

Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The charity currently has reserves of £62k with estimated annual running costs of £50k.

£22k of these reserves are restricted with the remaining £40k unrestricted. About £17k of the restricted reserves are to support core costs with the remainder for specific projects / purposes.

Designated funds have been re-visited at the end of year. There were 2 specific items - £2k for the Tulliallan holiday weekend and £3.7k for creating new training material designated at the start of the financial year, only £1k of this was spent in the year due to the receipt of specific grant funding so the remaining designated funds have been returned to unrestricted.

In addition £12k of the 2023/24 fundraising campaign was designated to staff costs during the financial year and that was fully spent.

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PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

Future plans

The priority for PAS is to seek additional grant funding or run fundraising campaigns / events to ensure PAS is sustainable beyond this financial year.

The top 3 Goals for the charity are to

  1. Continue the Core work of PAS i.e.

  2. a. Responding to requests from churches for advice, information and training b. Providing training to churches who want to develop their ministry by running a group accessible to people with learning disabilities

  3. c. Supporting volunteers and groups

  4. d. Maintaining website, Facebook presence and developing new ways of communicating

  5. e. Ensuring the organisation is effectively managed and meets its strategic vision

  6. To increase awareness of the needs of people with learning disabilities and autism by actively seeking more opportunities to speak in churches and groups and developing more training resources

  7. To develop a team of volunteers including people with learning disabilities to deliver talks and training.

Other areas that are in the PAS vision subject to funding and resourcing constraints are:

Extended use of the website by the different groups to allow sharing of best practice, pooling of resources and enhanced inter group communication with additional development to make it more accessible to those with disabilities.

Piloting and developing work in special schools & children’s work in churches.

Researching the feasibility of church-based groups for people with learning disabilities to encourage development of life skills and building friendships.

Developing a model for friendship groups within church communities.

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PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO For the year ending 31 March 2025 Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees, Report above. Signed on behalf of the charity trustees: Designation Chair of Trustees Date 2511012025

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

Statements of Receipts and Payments

RECEIPTS
Notes
Donations
4
Grants
5
Gross trading receipts -
charity Shop Income
Receipts from other
charitable activities -
fundraising &
miscellaneous
Receipts from other
charitable activities -
Tulliallan fees
Receipts from other
charitable activities - Gift
Aid reclaim
Total receipts
PAYMENTS
Notes
Gross Trading payments -
charity shop running costs
Payments relating directly
to charitable activities
6
Governance costs -
Independent examiner fee
Total payments
Net (expenditure)/receipts and
(deficit) / surplus for the period		 RECEIPTS
Notes
Donations
4
Grants
5
Gross trading receipts -
charity Shop Income
Receipts from other
charitable activities -
fundraising &
miscellaneous
Receipts from other
charitable activities -
Tulliallan fees
Receipts from other
charitable activities - Gift
Aid reclaim
Total receipts
PAYMENTS
Notes
Gross Trading payments -
charity shop running costs
Payments relating directly
to charitable activities
6
Governance costs -
Independent examiner fee
Total payments
Net (expenditure)/receipts and
(deficit) / surplus for the period		 Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total Funds year
ending
31/3/25 £
Total Funds
year ending
31/3/24 £
18,895
-
18,895
15,692
3,000
29,550
32,550
4,734
-
-
-
-
7,325
-
7,325
9,668
5,526
-
5,526
12,049
2,618
-
2,618
2,545
37,364
29,550
66,914
44,688
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total Funds year
ending
31/3/25 £
Total Funds
year ending
31/3/24 £
-
-
-
-
37,526
10,485
48,011
53,590
1,110
-
1,110
1,020
38,636
10,485
49,121
54,610
(1,272)
19,065
17,793
(9,922)

10

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

For the year ending 31 March 2025 For the year ending 31 March 2025 For the year ending 31 March 2025 For the year ending 31 March 2025
Statement of Balances - As at 31 March 2025 SC048143
Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
funds funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Opening cash at bank 8 41,962 2,985 44,947 54,869
and in hand
Surplus (Deficit) for
period		 (1,272) 19,065 17,793 (9,922)
As at 31st March 2025 40,690 22,050 62,740 44,947
Bank and Cash Balances
Bank Current Accounts
40,690 22,050 62,740 44,947
40,690 22,050 62,740 44,947
Other Assets (Unrestricted funds)
New Laptop x 3 7 1,625 554 2,179 2,179
1 x Old Laptop Limited - - -
3 x Printer Limited 139 139 139
2 x Projector Limited - - -
Speakers Training 1,000 - 1,000 1,000
package
Total 2,625 693 3,318 3,318
Other liabilities - accruals
Independent examiners fee 1,200 - 1,200 1,110
Total 1,200 - 1,200 1,110

Approved by the trustees on 25/10/25 and signed on their behalf by :-

11

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

The notes on pages 12 to 17 form an integral part of these accounts

Notes to the accounts - for the year ended 31 Mar 2025

1. Basis of accounting

These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended)

2. Nature and Purpose of funds

Unrestricted funds are those that may be used at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. The trustees maintain a single unrestricted fund for the day to day running of the charity.

Restricted funds may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purposes.

3. Related Party Transactions

The PAS Insurance policy includes Trustee Indemnity Insurance for all its trustees and staff.

No remuneration nor expenses were paid to the trustees, for their role as a trustee, or any connected persons during the year.

4. Donations

Donations - general Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total Funds
2025
Total Funds
2024
18,895
-
18,895
15,692
18,895
-
18,895
15,692

12

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

5. Grants

John James Trust
Paristamen Grant funding
RTR Foundation 2
Claremont Trust
Sir Halley Stewart Trust
Benefact Trust
Jennifers Fund
Anchor Trust
Bishop Radford Trust
Fyrish Foundation Grant		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total Funds
2025
Total Funds
2024
2,000
-
2,000
2,000
1,000
-
1,000
750
-
-
-
1,984
-
750
750
-
-
2,500
2,500
-
-
4,300
4,300
-
-
1,000
1,000
-
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
1,000
1,000
-
-
10,000
10,000
-
3,000
29,550
32,550
4,734

6. Payments relating to directly to Charitable Activities

Salaries
IT, website & support costs
Insurance
Legal and HR support costs
Payroll & pension support costs
Annual Celebration Food
Exhibition Stands
General Postage
Miscellaneous Expenditure
PAS Merchandise (including
Bereavement booklet)
Music/Drama Workshops & Bibles
Newsletter Costs
Prayer Diary
Printer Costs
Refreshments
Stationery
Telephone & Broadband
Training
Travel & Accommodation
Tulliallan Costs
TOTAL		 Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total Funds
2025
£
Total Funds
2024
£
18,353
7,189
25,542
29,960
1,740
-
1,740
1,556
453
-
453
463
600
-
600
600
2,000
334
2,334
2,819
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
100
-
100
179
271
148
419
125
-
1,434
1,434
789
121
35
156
535
57
-
57
60
79
-
79
58
224
-
224
192
17
-
17
37
43
-
43
136
1,086
-
1,086
1,037
56
-
56
415
1,077
373
1,450
2,364
11,249
972
12,221
12,265
37,526
10,485
48,011
53,590

13

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

  1. Assets

The charity has very little by way of assets with equipment of an age that it is not estimated to have any significant value. No value has been allocated in above figures for the old equipment.

Printers x 3

Projectors x 2

Laptops x 3

Laptops bought in last few years estimated value £2,179

14

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

8. Movement in funds

Unrestricted funds
General funds
Designated funds
Producing resources
Tulliallan W/E
Running Costs
Total Designated
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Jean Cairns Fund
RTR 2
Tulliallan Carers
Claremont Trust
Sir Halley Stewart Trust
Benefact Trust
Jennifers Fund
AnchorTrust
Bishop Radford Trust
Fyrish Foundation
Total Restricted funds
Total		 At 1
April
2024
£
36,274
3,688
2,000
__
5,688
_
41,962
35
1,978
972
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
___
2,985
44,947		 At 31
March
Income Expenditure Transfers
2025
£
£
£
£
37,364
(25,876)
(7,072)
40,690
-
(760)
(2,928)
-
-
-
(2,000)
-
-
(12,000)
12,000
-
__
_


-
(12,760)
7,072
-






37,364
(38,636)
-
40,690


-
(35)
-
-
-
(1978)
-
-
-
(972)
-
-
750
(750)
-
-
2,500
(1,485)
-
1,015
4,300
(1,935)
-
2,365
1,000
(71)
-
929
10,000
(804)
-
9,196
1,000
(216)
-
784
10,000
(2,239)
-
7,761



___
29,550
(10,485)
-
22,050


66,914
(49,121) -
62,740

15

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

Previous Year Funds

Unrestricted funds
General funds
Designated funds
Producing resources
Tulliallan W/E
Total Designated
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Jean Cairns Fund
Falkirk Mission
RTR
RTR 2
Adapt & Thrive
Tulliallan Carers
Total Restricted funds
Total		 At 1
April
2023
£
42,297
4,960
2,000
__
6,960
_
49,257
295
35
493
-
2,817
1,972
___
5,612
54,869		 At 31
March
Income Expenditure Transfers
2024
£
£
£
£
42,704
(48,727)
-
36,274
-
(1,272)
-
3,688
-
-
-
2,000
__
_


-
(1,272)
-
5,688






42,704
(49,999)
-
41,962


-
(260)
-
35
-
(35)
-
-
-
(493)
-
-
1,984
(6)
-
1,978
-
(2,817)
-
-
-
(1,000)
-
972



___
1,984
(4,611)
-
2,985


44,688
(54,610) -
44,947

Purposes of designated funds

The Producing Resources Fund is for producing training & information material. The Tulliallan Carers Fund is to allow carers a reduced rate on the Tulliallan holiday weekend which in turn allows more people with learning disabilities to attend who cannot come without a carer.

The Running Costs Fund is for staff costs.

16

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025

Purposes of Restricted funds

Jean Cairns Fund Donation towards audio/supportive equipment, bibles
for people with learning disabilities
Falkirk Mission Trust Grant towards Makaton Training & Music events in the
Falkirk area
RTR Foundation & RTR
Foundation 2		 Grant towards Speak Up & Makaton Training, Music,
Dance & Drama events
Adapt & Thrive Grant towards Covid recovery & adaptation - IT
support, web & marketing design, Charity Shop PPE &
Equipment, Staffing costs
Tulliallan Carers Fund Donation towards the carers cost of the Tulliallan
Holiday weekend
Claremont Trust Running a Day conference - Annual Celebration
Sir Halley Stewart Trust Restricted funding to write a booklet on death and
funerals in easy ready format and does include 50 staff
hours as well as printing and other costs
Benefact Trust Delivering training (5 hours per week) and associated
costs
Jennifers Fund Easter for All celebration in Highland
Anchor Trust Delivering training (10 hours per week) and associated
costs
Bishop Radford Trust Award Booklet/film testimonies
Fyrish Foundation grant Core running costs

17

PROSPECTS ACROSS SCOTLAND SCIO

For the year ending 31 March 2025 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT

I report on the financial statements for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 set out on pages 2 to 17

Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and the Independent 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) (d) 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 report

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 seeking 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:

have not been met; or

Whitelaw Wells Chartered Accountants 9 Ainslie Place Edinburgh, EH3 6AT

25 Oct 2025

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