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This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-02-28-accounts

2024-2025

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

contact@improvinglives.co.uk

0141 237 4560

Improving Lives

About Us

Our Mission

Our mission is to alleviate the stress and isolation that can come with living with a disability. We want to make things more accessible to everyone and help people to make improvements to their own lives.

We believe that everyone should be able to access the support and information that they need quickly and easily. We are also passionate about making sport accessible to everyone too.

Scottish Charity Number: SC048160

Our History

Improving Lives was founded in 2017 due to the personal experiences of local couple Kevin and Dhyani Crawford. From its humble beginnings from a laptop at their kitchen table Improving Lives has grown quickly. Despite relying solely on donations, a couple of grants and the passion of our volunteers the charity has continued to provide more and more support. In 2022 we took over a larger premises from the Independent Resource Centre in Clydebank and although it was a big move it proved to be the right one.

Improving Lives evolved from just providing accessible details about what support and organisations were available to providing in depth personal support plans, welfare and disability rights, our own support groups and space for other community groups to use. We host an annual information and support open day every year that attracts close to 300 members of the public, run our monthly Disability Action Group which identifies local issues and works to address them and have introduced disability martial arts to West Dunbartonshire through our Disability Karate Class.

Improving Lives continues to expand its services to meet the needs of the disabled community, their families and carers as well as working alongside other charities, organisations and health and social care professionals to help create a one stop shop for all things disability related in West Dunbartonshire and surrounding areas.

2024-2025

Improving Lives

WHAT WE DO

One to One
Support
Our advisors treat everyone as a unique individual,
and work to provide as much support and
information as required
Raising Through Our Open Days, Community Action
Group & events we are raising awareness of the
Awareness challenges faced by people who live with
disabilities
Welfare Voiceability advocates help people
Rights to apply for benefits.
Blue Badges
and Bus
Passes
We can help you apply for or renew bus passes
or blue badges.
Self
Directed
Support
We are an independent SDS advice and support
organisation for West Dunbartonshire
Disability We have helped introduce disability sports to
Sport West Dunbartonshire through our Kugatsu Karate
Group
Peer We have several peer led support groups for
Support PA’s, Autism Support & Discussion Group, Art for
Groups Anxiety, Men’s Group, Walking Group
Information
Open Days
We host the largest support and information
open day for people living with disabilities and
long term conditions in West Dunbartonshire
Digital
Empowerment
Our Digital Champions help with workshops and
one to one sessions to promote connectivity
and access to online services.

2024-2025

Improving Lives

OUR PROJECTS THIS YEAR

This year we have been able to run some really impactful projects. Our events promote social inclusion, tackle isolation and help grow confidence in participants

Projects Details Highlights
Our relaxed art and The highlights from this year include
Art for craft class continues a trip to Edinburgh to the Portrait
Anxiety to expand Gallery and a visit from a pony in to
the class
Autism Peer
Support
Group
Our Autism Group
now runs
fortnightly
Our group put together a collection of tools
like weighted blankets, noise cancelling
headphones & fidget toys to help alleviate the
challenges faced by people with Autism
Community Our focus groups Our Community Action Group made the front
Action are back under a page of the local newspaper sharing their
Group new name concerns about pavement parking
Men’s
Group
Men only peer
support group
A support group for men, where they
can take part in activities like fishing,
walking, day trips and discussion
Sight Loss We took over this We have hosted several outings including
Support group to stop it attending a photography exhibition and
Group closing down going out for Christmas dinner
Our weekly class is Promoting inclusion and raising confidence in
Disability open to everyone groups who would otherwise not have the
Karate regardless of ability opportunity to practice karate. Our members are
steadily progressing through the coloured belts
Christmas
Project
Supporting vulnerable
people through the
Xmas season
305 people benefitted from our Xmas Support
Scheme which included Xmas Boxes, Vouchers,
Xmas Meals, survival packs and outings
Open Day
2024
Our annual support
and information
open day
We held our biggest and highest attended
open day yet with over 50 organisations and
groups showcasing their services.

2024-2025

Improving Lives

IMPACT

Since opening our Improving Lives Hub in Dalmuir we have seen thousands of people come through our door every year.

We work continuously to improve the lives of people living with disabilities, their families and their carers.

Through our support groups and hub activities we strive to empower our client group to form friendships and learn new hobbies and skills.

Case Study

contacted Improving Lives for support and information. He had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. We supported him to contact MND Scotland to access support and to meet others with MND.

We made him an appointment with Voiceability in our Hub to apply for Adult Disability Payments and to Citizens Advice Bureau for a benefit check to ensure that he was receiving the benefits that he was entitled to. We also completed a housing application for as his accommodation was no longer meeting his needs.

aid that he felt isolated in the community so therefore we supported him to apply for Self Directed Support. This enabled him to get a personal assistant who could take him out in the community.

was also encouraged to attend groups that took place in our Hub. He enjoyed participating in the allotment as we have raised beds, he liked being part of a group and interacting with others. He was supported to attend our fishing group.

These measures changed life for the better by empowering him to make decisions for himself, receiving the benefits he is entitled to and he is now happy, making new friends and alleviating the sense of isolation that he faced in the past.

2024-2025

Improving Lives

FEEDBACK

“More help than I’ve had in 25 years”

“I didn’t know where to turn, you are a miracle worker”

“You’ve given me the strength to carry on”

“You helped me when I did not have anywhere else to turn”

“Thank you for listening, you’ve given me the strength to carry on”

“That’s a weight off my mind, thanks”

“I don’t know where I would be if yous hadn’t helped”

“Thank you so much for the hamper, yous saved Christmas”

“I think this service is invaluable”

“Improving Lives have enabled our group to have our own meeting place at no cost . Supplying us with free tea & biscuits too .

It's lovely to have somewhere we can all share mindfulness & feed our passion for knitting/crochet. Learning new skills together and supporting other charities with our projects which all helps to build confidence & breaking down feelings of isolation & loneliness.

We also have information & support available from Improving Lives which is of a great benefit to our group. We also attend the charities fundraising social nights & they put on day trips for us.”

2024-2025

Improving Lives

WHAT OUR PARTNERS AND OTHER AGENCIES SAY

"VoiceAbility values the incredible work that Improving Lives is doing within the Clydebank community. Their dedication to supporting individuals within the community is truly inspiring. We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them, ensuring that service users have access to the advocacy and the support they need. Together, we are making a real difference in people’s lives. Our staff really enjoy working within Improving Lives and it gives us a great platform to meet new clients and offer that additional support"

“I have seen first hand the invaluable support they offer to those often most isolated in the community. They are an absolute lifeline for social work”

“Something that stands out is the good vibes in Improving Lives, it’s so inclusive and super friendly. It’s part of the reason we love working with them”

NUMBERS

905

53

32

597

519

5298

HEAR FROM OUR STAFF

What is it like to work at Improving Lives?

“Visits from celebrities, Santa, dogs and, horses. Every day is an adventure!!!” C

“What a great bunch of people to work with! Kindness, compassion and lots of humour!” oi e @ " @*-. 4

ACHIEVEMENTS

Our staff and volunteers have been busy upskilling through training - naloxone training, digital champion training, walk leader training, Creating Personal Plans and more!

Our Connecting Our Communities councillors event included the input of several local councillors

We took over the running of a West Dunbartonshire sight loss group to save it from closure

We partnered with Weekday WOW Factor and started providing monthly over 50s discos

We held our biggest open day yet at a brand new venue

We were able to secure allotment space and create an accessible gardening space with sensory garden

We received an incredible donation from which allowed us to transform Christmas for some of our most vulnerable clients

We held our first charity football match and made it a community event

WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS SAY

----- Start of picture text -----
“I started volunteering with
Improving Lives about 2 years ago
now and it’s one of the best things I
have done. It gives me a sense of
purpose and I like to help people. My
fellow volunteers and staff are like a
family now but the biggest thing was
the acceptance by everyone here”
----- End of picture text -----

2024-2025

Improving Lives

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to take this opportunity to offer our most sincere thanks to our funders, who have supported us throughout the year. This has meant the world to us, as it has been instrumental in helping us to continue with the work that we do.

A special shout out goes to the Corra Foundation for our Henry Duncan Grant which has allowed us to run several projects but importantly has funded the creation of a fully accessible community sensory garden and allotment.

Thanks to an incredibly generous donation from comedia fe we were able to make Christmas extra special for our most vulnerable clients and the people who use our services and premises. We were blown away by this donation and the magic we were able to create for local families and individuals over the Xmas period and in to the new year.

We would not be able to help as many people as we do without the partnerships we have created with some wonderful agencies such as Voiceability, WD Citizens Advice Bureau, Kugatsu Karate, Antonine Sports Centre, West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Weekday WOW Factor, Patchwork Ponies and Inclusive Images.

As always we would like to thank all of our supporters who have given donations, sponsored events or attended fundraisers throughout the year.

Declaration

Signed on behalf of the Charity Trustees

----- Start of picture text -----
1
Print Name
ST - Jie
..Ji!
Designation
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
I
Date
----- End of picture text -----

Enter SC No. below

APPENDIX 2

ter charity name below

Improving Lives

SCO48160

Improving Lives Improving Lives Improving Lives Improving Lives Improving Lives Improving Lives Improving Lives Improving Lives Improving Lives
Receipts andpayments accounts
For the period Period start date to Period end date
Day Month Year Day Month Year
01 March 2024 28 February 2025

Section A Statement of receipts and payments Restricted funds Restricted Restricted Restricted Unrestricted 2 - Grant - West Restricted funds 21 - The Restricted Restricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 7 - The funds 19 - Restricted funds Restricted funds Total funds funds - General Account Dunbartonshire Community funds 36 - KB Funding Big Lottery Fund Fund- Cost of Big Lottery Awards for All funds 17 - Robertson Trust 22 - WDCVS Foundation 20 - Asda 29 -Inspiring Scotland 31 - SCVO current period funds last period Budget Living to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ A1 Receipts Donations 20,754 Legacies Grants 7,500 10,000 77,432 6,500 400 63,176 Receipts from fundraising activities Gross trading receipts Income from investments other than land and buildings Rents from land & buildings Gross receipts from other charitable activities 3,467 A1 Sub total 31,721 0 10,000 77,432 0 0 6,500 0 400 63,176 0 20,754 10,821 - - 165,008 98,800 - - - - - - - 1,715 3,467 - - - ~~ae~~ 189,229 149,292 A2 Receipts from asset & investment sales Proceeds from sale of fixed assets Proceeds from sale of investments A2 Sub total - Total receipts 31,721 - 10,000 - 6,500 - 400 63,176 - 189,229 - - - - A3 Payments Expenses for fundraising activities - - 1,561 - Salaries 2,604 ~~77,432 66,683 -~~ 5,944 6,834 51,069 133,134 ~~149,292~~ 49,498 Investment management costs - Payments relating directly to charitable activities 27,152 5,011 4,054 2,196 824 400 134 103 39,875 28,588 Grants and donations 16,967 16,967.42 - Governance costs: - Audit / independent examination - Preparation of annual accounts - Legal costs - Other 1501,391- ~~=~~ A3 Sub total 29,756 - 5,011 - 7070,737 ,737 - 22,196 ,196 - 5,944 - 6,834 - 824 - 400 - 68,170 - 103 - 189,976 150 130,728 125,688 040

Enter SC No. below

APPENDIX 2

ter charity name below

Improving Lives

SCO48160

Improving Lives Improving Lives Improving Lives Improving Lives
Receipts andpayments accounts
For the period Period end date
Day Month Year
28 February 2025

~~a~~ Section A Statement of receipts and payments

Restricted funds Restricted Restricted Restricted Unrestricted 2 - Grant - West Restricted funds 21 - The Restricted Restricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 7 - The funds 19 - Restricted funds Restricted funds Total funds funds - General Account Dunbartonshire Community funds 36 - KB Funding Big Lottery Fund Fund- Cost of Big Lottery Awards for All funds 17 - Robertson Trust 22 - WDCVS Foundation 20 - Asda 29 -Inspiring Scotland 31 - SCVO current period funds last period Budget Living to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ Net receipts / (payments) ~~|~~ 1,815 - 4,989 6,695 (2,196) (5,944) (334) (824) - (4,994) (103) (898) 18,564 ~~| |~~ ~~| |~~ | ~~| | 6 OO~~ A5 Transfers to / (from) funds ~~||~~ - ~~|~~ Surplus / (deficit) for year ~~|~~ 1,815 - ~~|~~ 4,989 ~~A~~ 6,695 | ~~|~~ (2,196) (5,944) | ~~|~~ (334) (824) | - | ~~9~~ (4,994) (103) ~~Os~~ (898) 18,564

SCO48160

APPENDIX 2 Improving Lives Section B Statement of balances

Categories
B1 Cash funds
Details Unrestricted funds - General
Account
to nearest £
Unrestricted funds - General
Account
to nearest £
Restricted funds 2 -
Grant - West
Dunbartonshire
Community Budget
to nearest £
Restricted funds
36 - KB Funding
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 7 - The
Big Lottery
Fund
Restricted
funds 21 - The
Big Lottery
Fund- Cost of
Living
Restricted
funds 17 -
Awards for All
Restricted
funds 19 -
Robertson
Trust
Restricted
funds 22 -
WDCVS
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 7 - The
Big Lottery
Fund
Restricted
funds 21 - The
Big Lottery
Fund- Cost of
Living
Restricted
funds 17 -
Awards for All
Restricted
funds 19 -
Robertson
Trust
Restricted
funds 22 -
WDCVS
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 7 - The
Big Lottery
Fund
Restricted
funds 21 - The
Big Lottery
Fund- Cost of
Living
Restricted
funds 17 -
Awards for All
Restricted
funds 19 -
Robertson
Trust
Restricted
funds 22 -
WDCVS
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 7 - The
Big Lottery
Fund
Restricted
funds 21 - The
Big Lottery
Fund- Cost of
Living
Restricted
funds 17 -
Awards for All
Restricted
funds 19 -
Robertson
Trust
Restricted
funds 22 -
WDCVS
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 7 - The
Big Lottery
Fund
Restricted
funds 21 - The
Big Lottery
Fund- Cost of
Living
Restricted
funds 17 -
Awards for All
Restricted
funds 19 -
Robertson
Trust
Restricted
funds 22 -
WDCVS
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 20 -
Asda
Foundation
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 20 -
Asda
Foundation
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 29 -
Inspiring
Scotland
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 29 -
Inspiring
Scotland
to nearest £
Restricted
funds 31 -
SCVO
Total
current
period
to nearest £
to nearest
£
103
(103)
Restricted
funds 31 -
SCVO
Total
current
period
to nearest £
to nearest
£
103
(103)
Total last
period
to nearest
£
Cash and bank balances at start of year 10,915 4,800 - 15,164 2,196 5,944 4,554 2,852 - 14,776 103 42,741
Surplus / (deficit) shown on receipts and
payments account
1,815 - 4,989 6,695 (2,196) (5,944) (334) (825) - (4,994) (103) 18,564
-
-
Cash and bank balances at end of year
(Agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
12,730 4,800 4,989 21,858 - - 4,220 2,028 - 9,782 - 61,305
61,305
(898)
-
-
60,407

B2 Investments

B3 Other assets

-
Details
-
Details
- -
**Fund to which **
asset belongs -
1
Market valuation
to nearest £
-
-
- -
1 -
1
Last year
to nearest £
Last year
to nearest £
-
27
14
17
10
165
170
456
626
319
157
149
104
842
356
479
254
683
53
Details
Printer
2 Printers
Shredder
2 Mobile Phones
Badge Maker
2 Flipchart Stands
1 Cordless Phone
2 Cordless Phones
4 Lenovo Tablets - 17.06.220
2 Monitors for office - 03.09.21
2 Lenovo Laptops - 15.11.21
2 Laptopsplus bundle - 30.01.23
1 Laptop& bag
2 Chromebook - 30.01.23
1 Monitor - 11.12.23
1 Monitor - 11.12.23
3 Lenovo Laptops- 11.12.23
1 Apple IPAD 10.2 256gb- 11.12.23
2 Apple IPAD 10.2 64gb- 11.12.23
2 SamsungTablets- 11.12.23
2 Acer Laptops- 11.12.23
3 IPAD Covers
2 moneytins
3 microwaves
1 fridge
1 fridge freezer
Fund to which as set belongs Total
Cost (if available)
to nearest £
- -
Current value (if
available)
to nearest £
Printer Restd funds 2 West D un Com Budget 150 20 27
2 Printers Donated
Shredder Restd funds 2 West D un Com Budget 80 11 14
2 Mobile Phones Restd funds 2 West D un Com Budget 98 13 17
Badge Maker Restd funds 2 West D un Com Budget 55 7 10
2 Flipchart Stands Donated
1 Cordless Phone Donated
2 Cordless Phones Donated
4 Lenovo Tablets - 17.06.220 Restd funds 8 Founda tion Scotland 520 124 165
2 Monitors for office - 03.09.21 Unrestricted funds - G eneral Account 403 128 170
2 Lenovo Laptops - 15.11.21 Unrestricted funds - G eneral Account 1,080 342 456
2 Laptopsplus bundle - 30.01.23 Unrestricted funds - G eneral Account 1,112 469 626
1 Laptop& bag Unrestricted funds - G eneral Account 425 239 319
2 Chromebook - 30.01.23 Unrestricted funds - G eneral Account 279 118 157
1 Monitor - 11.12.23 SCVO Funding 199 112 149
1 Monitor - 11.12.23 SCVO Funding 139 78 104
3 Lenovo Laptops- 11.12.23 SCVO Funding 1,122 631 842
1 Apple IPAD 10.2 256gb- 11.12.23 SCVO Funding 474 267 356
2 Apple IPAD 10.2 64gb- 11.12.23 SCVO Funding 638 359 479
2 SamsungTablets- 11.12.23 SCVO Funding 338 190 254
2 Acer Laptops- 11.12.23 SCVO Funding 910 512 683
3 IPAD Covers SCVO Funding 71 40 53
2 moneytins Donated
3 microwaves Donated
1 fridge Donated
1 fridge freezer Donated

----- Start of picture text -----
APPENDIX 2 7 Office Desks & 18 Chairs Donated
Large Conferencing Table Donated
Total 8,108 3,667 4,890
Details Fund to which liability relates Amount due Last year
to nearest £ to nearest £
B4 Liabilities
Total - -
Details Fund to which liability relates Amount(estimate) due Last year
to nearest £ to nearest £
B5 Contingent liabilities
Total - -
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Date of
approval
04/11/2025
04/11/2025
----- End of picture text -----

APPENDIX 2

SCO48160

Improving Lives

Additional analysis (1)

Analysis of receipts and payments

1 Donations

1Donations 1Donations
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
Restricted funds
to nearest £
Total current
period
to nearest £
Total last period
to nearest £
Donations 20,754 - 20,754 4,501
- -
- -
- -
Total
2Grants
West Dunbartonshire Council
Glasgow Airport
The Big Lottery Fund
Awards for All
Robertson Trust
WDCVS
Inspiring Scotland
SCVO
KB Funding
Asda Foundation
20,754 - 4,501 4,501
reference
Total last period
to nearest £
West Dunbartonshire Council - - 4,800
Glasgow Airport - - 1,000
The Big Lottery Fund 77,432 77,432 61,328
Awards for All - - 8,500
Robertson Trust 6,500 6,500 6,500
WDCVS - - 8,400
Inspiring Scotland 63,176 63,176 30,583
SCVO - - 5,143
KB Funding 10,000 10,000 -
Asda Foundation 400 400 -
Corra Foundation 7,500 7,500 7,500
Total 17,900 147,108 165,008 133,755

APPENDIX 3

Scottish Charity Regulator

' -- _ ~~————~~ lndep dent_examiner ——————— s_ ~~———~~ report on_ ~~e~~ the c1ccounts ~~e~~ __ 2

Report to the Charity m.e trustees/members of :Improving Lives

Report to the
trustees/members of
Report to theCharity
m.e.ee
trustees/members of:Improving LivesImproving Lives
Registered charity SC048160 Registered charity SC048160
number number
On the accounts of the Period start date
Period end date
charity for the period .
Day
Month
Year
Day
Month
Year
101
:03
2024
to
8
02
25
Set out on pages Kremember toinclude the page
iiumbersof additional sheets)
Respective
responsibilities of
trustees and examiner
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) 2005 Act and the
Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). 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 My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts

examiner's statement Regulations. 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 In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention [other than that statement disclosed on the attached page*]

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and

to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations

have not been met, or

  1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: r'l ltt / 2-JName: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):**

Address:

*Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. If the words do apply, set out those matters which have come to your attention on the following page.

•• OSCR will accept digital or typed signatures

APPENDIX 3

Disclosure section

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose