PORTOBELLO OLDER PEOPLE'S PROJECT SCIO (POPP) TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT April 2024 to March 2025 Summer outin9 2025 Funded bv Edinburgh Health and i•• Social Care Parlnership • • • Garfield Weston FOUNDATION
Scottish Charity Number: SC048384
The trustees serving during 2004/5 and since the period end:
In attendance at Management Committee meetings:
Contact information
, Project Organiser
Portobello Older People’s Project SCIO (POPP)
Tel:
E-mail: project.popp@outlook.com
Registered/postal address: 38 Brighton Place, Edinburgh EH15 1LT Location address: Baptist Church Hall, 185 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh, EH15 1EU.
2
Chair's Report The last year was an eventful and challenging one. The decision by the Edinburgh Integrab"on Joint Board (EIJB) to stop our funding came as a profound shock and required determined efforts by the trustees to protect POPP'S future. Support from a local anonymous benefactor helped considerably, and the trustees wish to record their gratitude for this exceptional generosity. More information is contained in the Financial Review on page 6. In January 2025 POPP'S Project Organiser, informed the trustees of her intention to retire in June, after ten years at the helm. 1 has made an exceptional contribution to POPP and will be much missed. However, the trustees were pleased to appoint in May 2025. will be a worthy successor, bringing expenence of working with older people as well as being active locally in various community organisations. There were other hellos and goodbyes in 202415. In June 2024 stood down as Chair of Trustees, though she continues as a trustee, and was replaced by. At the AGM in October 2024, we said goodbye to hvo long-serving trustees - the , who had been Chair of Trustees for some years, and Both made significant contributions to POPP, and we were very sorry to see them go. However, we were fortunate to welcome trNo new trustees-, a retired solicitor, and lll previously in corporate finance, who joined us in September 2024. They have brought valuable experience and insight to the Management Committee. The trustees were also pleased that POPP'S volunteers, agreed to join the Management Committee in September 2024 as the volunteer representative. There is no denying that 202415 was a challenging one for everyone associated with POPP. We could not have got through it without the energy and commitment Of and her team of dedicated volunteers. Hopefully we have tumed the corner, and, with further strenuous fundraising efforts, we will continue to provide the services we know our members appreciate and which are sorely needed in our community.
Objectives and activities POPP runs a lunch and social club for lonely, isolated older people in the Portobello area, offering them the chance to get out of their homes, share a meal and participate in social activities, such as games, discussions, entertainments and outings. Growing evidence intemationally shows that isolation and loneliness can negatively affect physical and mental health. By tackling these, POPP aims to contribute towards maintaining people's health and well-being and helping to reduce or delay their need for crisis intervention by statutory services. POPP'S aims remain as relevant today as they were when it was founded in 1992 - possibly more so, as families often live long distances apart. Also, older people are among the groups which have suffered most from the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic, with increasing lack of Confiden and fear of socialising. A subsidiary benefit is the support we provide to families and carers, by giving them time away from their caring responsibilities. in the knowledge their relatives are safe and enjoying themselves. The club provides my mum with stimulation. the chance to talk to people her own age and means she s got new thin9S to chat to us about. It feels safe for her, and we trust that she is being looked after when she s at POPP. structure, governance and management POPP was registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in May 2018. It is governed by its constitution, available on request, and is led by a Management Committee. In 202415 the Committee comprised five trustees, including the Chair and Treasurer, drawn from the local community. POPP'S constitution provides for volunteers and members to have non-voting representation on the Management Committee, with the volunteer representative position filled in 202415. Day-to-day management is provided by the Project Organiser, supported by up to 20 volunteers. Measuring our success We conduct a confidential annual survey of members, their familieslcarers and volunteers and use these to assess the quality of our services. Some examples from the 2025 survey are set out below. It anchors my week- helps me keep track of what day it is. Comin9 to the club keeps my brain active. They are a nice friendly bunch of people. 19Ot depressed on my own. The club gives me somethin9 to look forward to.
What have we been up to this year For the reasons already stated, it has been a year of ups and downs. One highlight was the summer outing to the Double Tree Hilton in North Queensferry, passing over the Queensferry Crossing and viewing the impressive sight of the three Forth bridges. We had a lovely meal, all the better for being subsidised by some generous donations. Merry Hatton Garden Centre is back as a firm favourite, with , the new manager, welcoming us a couple of times for lunch and some shopping. We had to set aside our 'no football colours on the bus, for a day when we picked up A Hibernian football supporter- a "Hibbie" _ since childhood and regularly attending games with her dad, she came in full supporter kit, having enjoyed a special outing to the hospitality suite to watch a game. She was so excited to tell us about it, saying 'l'm so lucky to still be doing new and exciting things when I'm 96.. Bonnie, Patricia's Pets as Therapy dog, continued to be a regular visitor, always leaving smiling members and volunteers in her wake. We had the usual mix ofgames days, reminiscences sessions, quizzes, bus runs, and outings, as well as birthday and other special celebrations like Halloween and Christmas. In September POPP took part with Age Scotland in Portobello High School's Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI). Set up by the Wood Foundation, it gives students the experience of advocating for social issues in their communities, in a bid to secure their school's £3,000 grant. Representing POPP, Rose and Patricia joined other Portobello charities in making "pitches" to students for the funds. Though we were pipped at the post, it was a valuable opportunity to bring POPP'S work to the attention of local young people. Sadly, we said farewell to our longest standing member, . who passed away in February. She was a huge part ofthe POPP family and is sadly missed by all. A few of us had the privilege of attending her funeral which can only be described as a celebration of an interesting life. well lived. RIP we miss you. There is no doubt that the news about the financial situation put a damper on the year from October onwards, and the possibility of the club closing caused considerable worry to members and their families. However, the support we received from the local community, which rallied to our cause, was inspiring, including the many generous donations amounting to £1,235 (plus gift aid) we received to our Christmas appeal. POPP was the subject of a supportive article in the Edinburgh Reporter, following a visit by the editor to the club. Read the article at POPP in the Edinbur hRe orter Although our financial situation remains vulnerable, the trustees, Project Organiser and volunteers are working hard to ensure that members can continue to enjoy the activities offered by the club.
Financial review
Accounts for year to 31 March 2025
The deficit in the year effectively reflects a 10% reduction in EIJB funding. Although this is offset to an extent by increased Donations, additional Salary and Transport costs in the year have reduced unrestricted reserves.
Charity grants, donations, and fundraising
6
The trustees were grateful to receive a Grant of £3,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation in September 2024.
Late in the year, after sustaining a 10% cut in public funding, we learned that POPP was unlikely to continue to receive funding from the EIJB, our main funder since 2019. We were not alone in having our funding threatened – 64 charitable organisations across Edinburgh were similarly affected. Joining forces, and supported by members’ families, our local political representatives and religious/community leaders, we campaigned hard for funding to continue. Unfortunately, we lost the battle but were successful in getting short-term funding from the City of Edinburgh Council’s Resilience Fund to help tide us over until the end of the 2025/6 financial year.
POPP’s financial future was greatly helped by the underwriting of a potential loss of income from public bodies – up to £15,000 annually for up to five years - from a local anonymous benefactor, an act of exceptional generosity for which the trustees are enormously grateful.
The trustees are also grateful to other organisations and individuals who have generously donated sums to support our continued activity.
Policy on reserves
POPP’s policy on reserves is to maintain sufficient funds to run the club for four months. As of 31 March 2025, reserves of £6,601 represent less than 3 months operational costs, although reserves fluctuate over the year depending upon the timing of income receipts.
In light of the uncertain funding environment, the trustees are closely monitoring POPP’s solvency. In the current year they are confident that there remain sufficient reserves to maintain day to day operations and to meet liabilities as they become due. The trustees are actively seeking alternative sources of funds and identifying fundraising activities to secure POPP’s future activities.
Copies of the full accounts are available on request by contacting Jennifer Elliot on:
project.popp@outlook.com
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A message from our Project Organiser My last message is bittersweet. As has already been said, it has been a challenging and difficult year for everyone at POPP and the financial future remains uncertain. However, as usual everyone involved has pulled together and has continued to make the club the best it can be for the members. None of what I do would be possible without the hard work of the volunteers and trustees who all give their time, energy and expertise for the benefit of the members. This is not only much appreciated by me but by all the members and their families. I know I say it every year, but I really couldn't do it without you all. So as usual: A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL It is also bittersweet because I'm retiring and will no longer have the privilege of being the Project Organiser. It's been an amazing 10 years, being able to do a job I have loved, and not only that, being loved for it too. However, I'm confident I'm leaving the members in good hands, in the fomi of the new Project Organiser, an amazing team of volunteers and a fantastic team of trustees, led by Patricia as Chair. I'll miss you all but won't be a stranger. All aboard - destination POPP
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APPENDIX 2
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Portobello Older People's Project SCIO
48384
| Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO | Portobello Older People's Project SCIO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | ||||||||||
| For the period from |
Period start date | to | Period end date | |||||||
| Day | Month | Year | Day | Month | Year | |||||
| 1 | April | 2024 | 31 | March | 2025 |
Section A Statement of receipts and payments
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Expendable endowment funds |
Permanent endowment funds |
Permanent endowment |
Total funds current period |
Total funds last period |
Total funds last period |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||||||
| Donations | 4 594 | 1 658 | 6 252 | 3 720 | |||||||||
| Legacies | - | ||||||||||||
| Grants | 17 621 | 17 621 | 19 244 | ||||||||||
| Receipts from fundraisingactivities | - | ||||||||||||
| Gross tradingreceipts -subs | 6 340 | 6 340 | 6 821 | ||||||||||
| Outing payments | 1 342 | 1 342 | 221 | 221 | |||||||||
| Income from investments other than | |||||||||||||
| land and buildings | - | ||||||||||||
| Rents from land & buildings | - | ||||||||||||
| Gross receipts from other charitable | |||||||||||||
| activities | - | ||||||||||||
| IKEA refund | - | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Bank Interest | - | ||||||||||||
| - | |||||||||||||
| - | |||||||||||||
| A1 Sub total | 10 934 | 20 621 | - | - | - | 31 555 | 30 012 |
A1 Sub total 10 934 20 621 -
A2 Receipts from asset & investment sales Proceeds from sale of fixed assets - Proceeds from sale of investments - A2 Sub total - Total receipts 10 934 20 621 - - 31 555 30 012 ~~—————~~ A3 Payments Expenses for fundraising activities - Gross trading payments - Investment management costs - Payments relating directly to charitable activities 12 269 20 274 32 543 28 357 Grants and donations - Governance costs: - Audit / independent examination -
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APPENDIX 2
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Portobello Older People's Project SCIO
48384
Receipts and payments accounts Period start date Period end date For the period Day Month Year to Day Month Year from 1 April 2024 31 March 2025 Scottish Charity Regulator ~~SS ——~~
~~eee~~ Section A Statement of receipts and payments
Expendable Permanent Unrestricted Restricted Total funds Total funds last endowment endowment funds funds current period period funds funds to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ Preparation of annual accounts - Legal costs - Other - A3 Sub total 12 269 20 274 - - 32 543 28 357 A4 Payments relating to asset and investment movements Purchases of fixed assets - Purchase of investments - A4 Sub total - ~~ES ESHES SSSES~~ Total payments 12 269 20 274 - - 32 543 28 357 ~~|~~ | ~~Sp | | |~~ Net receipts / (payments) ~~DD)~~ (1 335) 347 - - ( 988) 1 655 A5 Transfers to / (from) funds - ~~DE) Dd~~ Surplus / (deficit) for year ( 1 335) 347 - - ( 988) 1 655 ~~a~~ | ~~| ee~~ | ~~|~~
APPENDIX 2
Portobello Older People's Project SCIO
48 384
Section B Statement of balances
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Investments B3 Other assets B5 Contingent liabilities B4 Liabilities |
Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 6 435 1 335) ( |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Expendable endowment funds to nearest £ |
Permanent endowment funds to nearest £ |
To to |
tal current period nearest £ |
Total last period to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and bank balances at start of year | 1 154 | 7 589 | 5 934 | |||||
| Surplus / (deficit) shown on receipts and payments account |
347 | 988) ( |
1 655 | |||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| Cash and bank balances at end of year (Agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
5 100 | 1 501 | - | - | 6 601 | 7 589 | ||
| - | - |
- |
- |
- | - |
|||
| Fund to which | asset belongs | Mar to |
ket valuation nearest £ |
Last year to nearest £ |
||||
| Details | Fund to which | asset belongs | Total Cost (if available) to nearest £ |
- | - |
|||
| Cur to |
rent value (if available) nearest £ |
Last year to nearest £ |
||||||
| Chairs &Tables | 1 128 | 220 | 656 | |||||
| Club & OfficeEquipment | 60 | 300 | ||||||
| Samsung Galaxy tablet | 200 | 50 | 200 | |||||
| Details | Total Fund to which l |
1 328 | 330 | 1 156 | ||||
| iability relates | A to |
mount due nearest £ |
Last year to nearest £ |
|||||
| Details | Fund to which l | Total iability relates |
- | - | ||||
| A ( to |
mount due estimate) nearest £ |
Last year to nearest £ |
||||||
| Signature* | Print Name | Total | - | - |
||||
| Date of approval |
||||||||
| 05/06/2025 | ||||||||
| 05/06/2025 | ||||||||
/ Statement of balances
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December 2007
APPENDIX 2
Portobello Older People's Project SCIO
48384
Section C Notes to the Accounts
C1 Nature and purpose of funds (may be stated on analysis of funds worksheets)
| C3a Trustee remuneration C2 Grants |
Type of activity or project supported | Individual / institution |
Number of grants made £ |
Number of grants made £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | - |
|||
| If no remuneration was paid during the period to any charity trustee or person connected to a trustee cross this box (otherwise complete section 3b) |
||||
| Authority under which paid | £ |
C3b Trustee remuneration - details
C4a Trustee expenses
If no expenses were paid to any charity trustee during the period then cross this box (otherwise complete section 4b)
C4b Trustee expenses - details
C5 Transactions with trustees and connected persons
| Nature of transaction | Number of trustees £ |
Number of trustees £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature of relationship | Transaction amount (£) Balance outstanding at period end (£) |
||
C6 Other information
/ Notes
December 2007
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APPENDIX 2 Portobello Older People's Project scio 48384 Additional analysis (1) Analysls of recelpts and payments 1 Donations Unrestricted funds Expendable endowment funds to nearest £ Permanent endowment funds to nearest £ Restricted funds Total current period to nearest £ Total last period to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ Donations Gift Aid 3744 850 1 658 5402 850 3 720 Total 4594 1 658 6252 3 720 2 Grants Unrestrictea funds lo nearest £ Total current Deriod to noarest £ Total lasl Deriod to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Edinburgh Integration Joint Board The Weir Charitable Trust 14 621 14 621 16 244 3000 Garfield Weston 3000 3000 Total 17 621 17 621 19 244 Additional notes (1) December 2007
APPENDIX 2 3 Gross receipts from other charitable activities Unrestricted funds Expendable endowmenl funds to nearest £ Permanent endowment funds to nearest £ Restricted funds Total current period Total last period to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ Total 4 Payments relatlng dlrectly to charltable actlvltles Unrestricted funds Expendable endowment funds to nearest £ Permanent endowment funds to nearest £ Restricted funds Total current period to nearest £ Total last period to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ Salary HMRC NI HMRC Tax NEST Pension Transport Hall Hire Catering OutingslEvents 13 706 197 523 449 1 700 1 007 13 706 197 523 449 5508 5 170 2789 2252 12 042 170 482 359 3 547 5060 2237 1 656 3808 4 163 2789 2252 Additional notes (1) December 2007
APPENDIX 2 Telephone Insurance Petty Cash General Purchases Training LCTS driver traininglassessment Medical for Driving LCTS & SEAG Annual Fee Misc 657 275 657 275 618 234 193 144 440 633 144 1 096 171 29 656 240 240 Total 12 269 20 274 32 543 28 357 Additional notes (1) December 2007
APPENDIX 2
48384
Additional analysis (2)
| Receipts 5 Breakdown of unrestricted funds |
Unrestricted fund 1 - enter name of fund below |
Unrestricted fund 1 - enter name of fund below |
Unrestricted fund 2 - enter name of fund below |
Unrestricted fund 3 - enter name of fund below |
Unrestricted fund 4 - enter name of fund below |
Total unrestricted funds |
Total unrestricted funds last period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | - | ||||||
| Legacies | - | ||||||
| Grants | - | ||||||
| Receipts from fundraisingactivities | - | ||||||
| Gross tradingreceipts | - | ||||||
| buildings | - | ||||||
| Rents from land & buildings | - | ||||||
| Gross receipts from other charitable activities | - | ||||||
| Sub total Receipts from asset & investment sales |
- | - | - | - | - | - | |
| cross ref error | |||||||
| Proceeds from sale of fixed assets | - | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of investments | - | ||||||
| Sub total Total receipts Payments |
- | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| cross ref error | |||||||
| Expenses for fundraisingactivities | - | ||||||
| Gross trading payments | - | ||||||
| Investment management costs | - | ||||||
| Payments relatingdirectlyto charitable activities | - | ||||||
| Grants and donations | - | ||||||
| Governance costs: | - | ||||||
| Audit / independent examination | - | ||||||
| Preparation of annual accounts | - | ||||||
| Legal costs | - | ||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| Sub total Payments relating to asset and investment movements |
- | - | - | - | - | - | |
| cross ref error | |||||||
| Purchases of fixed assets | - | ||||||
| Purchase of investments | - | ||||||
| Sub total Total payments Net receipts / (payments) Transfers to / (from) funds Surplus / (deficit) for year |
- | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| cross ref error | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| cross ref error | |||||||
| Nature andpurpose of funds | |||||||
Additional notes (2)
December 2007
APPENDIX 2
Portobello Older People's Project SCIO
48384
Additional analysis (3)
| Receipts 6 Breakdown of restricted funds |
Restricted fund 1 - enter name of fund below |
Restricted fund 2 - enter name of fund below |
Restricted fund 3 - enter name of fund below |
Restricted fund 4 - enter name of fund below |
Total restricted funds |
Total restricted funds last period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | - | |||||
| Legacies | - | |||||
| Grants | - | |||||
| Receipts from fundraisingactivities | - | |||||
| Gross tradingreceipts | - | |||||
| Income from investments other than land and buildings |
- | |||||
| Rents from land & buildings | - | |||||
| Gross receipts from other charitable activities | - | |||||
| Sub total Receipts from asset & investment sales |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| cross ref error | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of fixed assets | - | |||||
| Proceeds from sale of investments | - | |||||
| Sub total Total receipts Payments |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| cross ref error | ||||||
| Expenses for fundraising activities | - | |||||
| Gross trading payments | - | |||||
| Investment management costs | - | |||||
| Payments relating directly to charitable activities | - | |||||
| Grants and donations | - | |||||
| Governance costs: | - | |||||
| Audit / independent examination | - | |||||
| Preparation of annual accounts | - | |||||
| Legal costs | - | |||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Sub total Payments relating to asset and investment movements |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| cross ref error | ||||||
| Purchases of fixed assets | - | |||||
| Purchase of investments | - | |||||
| Sub total Total payments Net receipts / (payments) Transfers to / (from) funds Surplus / (deficit) for year |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
| - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| cross ref error | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| cross ref error | ||||||
| Nature andpurpose of funds | ||||||
Additional notes (3)
December 2007
APPENDIX 3 OSCR ScolSh CIHnty Regula Independent examiner's report on the accounts Roport to the twsteeslmembers of Portobello Older People's Project SCIO Registered charity SC048384 numbor On thè accounts of the charity for the period Penod start date Month Penod end date Month DIY Year Day Year 01 April 2024 31 March 2025 Set out on pages Ir8meAnberto include the page Dumbern ol aaoiuonai sneth) 1to7 R08PeCt5vo The charity's trustees are reSp(Sl le the preparation of the a¢untS in accordance rnsponsibilities of trustees and examiner with the terms of the Charitie8 Tnjstee Inve8trrent (Scotland} 2005 Act ané the Charities Accounts {Scotland) Regulations 2(X)6 {as amended). The charty trustees consider that the audit requiraTrnt of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the AOUnts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to 8xarrine the accounts as required under section 44<1) (c) of the Act and to state Wther particular matters have come to my attention. Ba818 of Indendent My exammation is carried out in accordan with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts oxamlner's statement Regulations. An eXaMinatn Includes a review of the accountsng records kept by the charty arKI a coryarlson of Ihe a(Ounts presented wlth those records. 11 also includes consideration of any unusual ItnS or dlsciosures In the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees corrArning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence Ihal would be requiied in an audil and. Gonsequently, l ¢Jo not express an ath1t opnion on the vW given by the aGcounts. Independont examlnofs In the course ol my examinalion. rK) matter has come to my attention lotM8F statamont which gives me reas(able cause to kElieve that in any material re5ped the requiffjments to keep accounting records in accordance with 3tiOn 44{1) (8} 01 the 2005 Act and Regulaknon 4 of the 2006 AOunts Regulations, and to prepare accounts which a¢¢ord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 A¢counts Regulations have not been met, or 2. to which. in rny opinion. attentK)n should be drawn in order to enable a proper be reathed. Date: Slgned: Namè: R•l•vant profèssional qualificatlonlsl or body Irf any): 8 Au8USt 2025 Addve88: 'Pkase de thew¢8 in the brackets rfthey do not apply. lf.the words do appty. set out those matkr3whKh ha me toyour attentlon on the follofig page.