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← Breathe Easy Fife

2024-12-31-accounts

SHE & &

Annual Report and Financial Statements 1st January2024 - 31st December 2024

3 -4 Who Are We ? Our purpose

5 - Chair Statement

6 - 12 Trustees’ Report

13 - Groups information

14 - FINANCES

Treasures report 15 - 16 Balance Sheet & Notes to the Financial Statements

17 - Independent Examiner’s Report

18-19 - Thank You’s & Contact details

Content

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Breathe Easy Fife

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

Breathe Easy Fife is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). Through Breathe Easy Fife we support people to live with their cond just suffer from it by providin information, support groups, and social activities.

Support empowers people and inspires.

When people see support making a difference, it often encourages them to contribute and become part of something bigger.

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We act as a voice for patients to help improve respiratory care.

Peer support which involves people sharing knowledge, experience, or practical help with each other. This helps people feel more confident, happy, and less isolated and alone.

When people have control over their lives and decisions, they experience a deeper sense of freedom and fulfilment. It empowers individuals to shape their own futures, make choices that align with their values, and respond to challenges on their own terms. Having the knowledge and support to cope with their condition has a huge impact on confidence and generates better well-being.

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“ Our Breathe Easy Fife family is like a refreshing breeze filling weary lungs with new hope. The support and friendship provide lung patients with the vital oxygen they need to regain the energy to live fully.”

As I reflect on our journey in 2024, I am deeply humbled by the unwavering support, generosity, and kindness that you have all shown. Every contribution — be it time, resources, or encouragement — has been a vital part of our mission. You have helped us bring hope to those whose lives are affected by lung disease, have uplifted our Breathe Easy Fife community, and helped create lasting change.

As I look back on this remarkable 20[th] birthday year, I am filled with gratitude, pride, and hope. It has been a year of growth, resilience, and meaningful impact — a journey shaped by each and every one of you.

This year, as we celebrated with different events and activities, I witnessed an incredible feeling of unity, groups have come together, and many friendships forged. I have seen lives touched, our community strengthened, and dreams rekindled.

There are moments in life that remind us of the power of kindness — the quiet, unseen acts of generosity that change lives and this has been in abundance especially this year. Every time you have given, shared, or stood with us, you have created a ripple of hope that extends far beyond what can be measured. I have seen the faces of those whose lives have been transformed — eyes filled with gratitude, uncontrolled laughter, voices trembling with the overwhelming joy of being heard, seen, and supported. You are the reason these moments exist.

Yet, reflection is not just about looking back; it is about embracing the lessons learned and carrying them forward. It reminds me why we started this journey in the first place—to bring support, information and a renewed sense of hope to those who are fighting for breath.

As we step into another year, I am filled with determination and reminded that together, we can make a difference, one breath, one moment, one act of kindness at a time.

So thank you for being part of this journey. The future is bright because of you.

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Structure, governance and management

Breathe Easy Fife is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) - number SC049497 and is governed by The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)

The Board of Trustees is the body responsible for the management of Breathe Easy Fife (BEF) and is permitted a maximum number of 14 Trustees. No more than twelve shall be charity Trustees who were elected/appointed, and no more than two shall be charity Trustees who were co-opted.

On 31st December 2024 the charity had 10 Trustees

The Board meets at least 5 times a year.

No Trustee receives remuneration from Breathe Easy Fife.

Trustees are appointed to hold office for a term of three years.

The Board of Trustees is aware of its duty under Section 66 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act, to act in the way it considers, in good faith, to be most likely to promote the successful achievement of Breathe Easy Fife’s charitable purposes.

Breathe Easy Fife has a constitution which is the written statement setting out the Charity’s purpose, structure, and description of how it will operate.

The Board of Trustees believe that Breathe Easy Fife is best placed to achieve its mission and objectives if it has high standards of governance, with practices and thinking which reflect ‘best practice’ and therefore provide effective, strategic leadership which supports fulfilment of the charity’s vision.

Breathe Easy Fife is affiliated to Asthma+Lung UK

We were thrilled to have elected 2 new Trustees to our board at this years AGM.

Ann Starkie brings a wealth of experience having worked in NHS for nearly 30 years and Pam Channer has for many years worked with other charities.

They are a welcome addition to

Newly appointed Trustees undertake a series of meetings with BEF office bearers, and training which ensures that they gain a full understanding of BEF and their responsibilities.

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The core part of our charity will always be the meetings for our members to come together, however we are also involved in projects and committees so that we are helping to raise awareness of lung disease, as well as help improve healthcare for respiratory patients

We are part of The Respiratory Cross Party Group in The Scottish Government. Clinicians and all those working with respiratory patients meet with MSPs to highlight the improvements needed in respiratory medicine and raise awareness in parliament.

The Fife Respiratory Managed Clinical Network are NHS staff involved in respiratory medicine who work together to ensure the best possible care for lung patients in Fife. We are the patient voice on this group.

We were thrilled this year to now have a page on NHS Fife website. - https://www.nhsfife.org/services/all ~~re~~ Fife - - services/respiratory/breathe easy fife/

A day trip, out for dinner, cooking lessons and even a holiday are projects we have managed to deliver this year. When funds are available, we organise these activities which most people can do but are often a struggle for those coping with breathlessness.

oe

With a donation from The Rotary of Glenrothes we were able to open our 5[th] Fife group in Glenrothes in February 2024.

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Happy 20[th] Birthday

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Annual Report & Accounts 2024 10 Breathe Easy Fife

Several of our members are involved with projects which help advance respiratory care as well as understanding.

work, what triggers a problem and what helps, I had a film crew interview me at home for I had a film crew interview me at home for how you deal with your condition, what a video they were making about ‘living treatments you find work and which don’t. with COPD’. It was a really interesting day, We are all individuals, our health is unique and I was excited to be part of it.

work, what triggers a problem and what helps, I had a film crew interview me at home for I had a film crew interview me at home for how you deal with your condition, what a video they were making about ‘living

to us, and every one of us is a valued Ian. expert in our own lived experience.

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We have many members involved in Patient Partners and other programmes which involve chatting with students

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Each group is different in size, they have a variety of speakers and information, as well as peer support but whichever meeting you choose to attend will always be informative and welcoming – some members choose to attend more than one meeting every month. f ~~F]~~ When we started in 2004, we The new Glenrothes never imagined that we group has would grow to have 5 groups flourished since the across Fife. launch in February Having the groups across the and now has over length and breadth of the 30 members. county means that when someone living with a lung condition wants to join a meeting, there is usually one local to them so that they don’t have far to travel. Ply North East Fife 2004 2009 2010 2019 2024 ahi Levenmouth group = Fife Renewable Innovation Centre,Methil - 2[nd] Thursday of month North East Fife = Scooniehill Community Centre, St Andrews. – 3[rd] Monday of month Kirkcaldy group = Salvation Army hall, Hayfield Road, Kirkcaldy. – 3[rd] Thursday of month Glenrothes group = CISWO, South St, Glenrothes - 4[th] Monday of month Dunfermline group = Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth. – 4[th] Thursday of month

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TREASURERS REPORT 2024
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Hello everyone

Well we started off 2024 with healthy bank balances in all of our groups as you’ll see from the annual report. Our overall balance between groups and the main account was £34,662, some of course which was restricted money to be used for specific purposes.

Income

During the year we received £3,285 donations from local groups and £885 from individual donations from members (from craft sales and donations). Our fundraising efforts included online shopping and raffles at meetings; we raised £5,489, so a huge thank you to all who contributed.

Member contributions totalled £12,054; this is restricted money towards our parties/day trips and holiday.

Once again, we were extremely successful with grant funding bringing in over £40,000, the bulk of which is restricted for specific projects (huge thanks to our very clever Chairperson); we also received just over £20,000 from legacies/funeral collections.

Restricted grants

We also received an unrestricted grant of £1,000 from Arnold Clark Community Fund for our Kirkcaldy group.

Expenditure

Our main expenditure in 2024 was for postage, printing, hall hire and exercise sessions at meetings and we paid out £34,084 for our group events.

At the end of the year between our four groups and main account, we had an overall healthy total bank balance of £76,611, just over £40,000 of which is restricted for ongoing projects and some running costs.

My personal thanks to Margaret Stevenson for once again taking on the role of examining our accounts; this is very much appreciated.

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Independent Examiner’s Report

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Breathe Easy Fif

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 which ar

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 trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the 2006 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 examiner’s statement

My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts 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 statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention

have not been met, ~~or~~

Relevant qualification/professional body: Bookkeeper / MSc (Dist), BSc (Hons), Dip HE, RN. NHS Nurse Consultant (retired)

Address: 10 Auchmithie Place, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 4TY

Date: 19/05/2025

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We are a charity run solely by volunteers

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"We want to extend our deepest gratitude to each and every supporter of our charity.

Your kindness, dedication, and belief in our mission make an incredible difference. Thanks to your generosity, we are able to continue our vital work and create a meaningful impact in the lives of those living with a lung condition. Your support is truly invaluable, and we are so grateful to have you by our side. Together, we are making a real difference—thank you!"

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Heather & Dave
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Lundinq Lin7
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To all the lovely staff who look after us at our meeting venues.

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Keep Fit instructors
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Our Personal
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CHARITY CONTACT DETAILS

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Breathe Easy Fife
6 Balmoral Terrace
Leven, Fife
KY8 4RG
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