REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 050180
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
for
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Stevenson & Kyles Chartered Accountants 25 Sandyford Place Glasgow G3 7NG
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Balance Sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 to 13 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 14 |
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 May 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The organisation's purposes are the advancement of heritage, culture and science by:
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establishing and maintaining a museum within the Glasgow Royal Infirmary for the benefit of the
-
- public;
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celebrating the heritage and history of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary through staging events and
-
- exhibitions for the benefit of the public; and
such other charitable purposes as so not follow under the preceding objects, but may be - reasonably regarded as fulfilling similar goals.
Significant activities
Since setting up in March 2021 the Trustees have undertaken the process of fundraising towards its primary objective of creating a museum to celebrate the history of the Glasgow Royal infirmary and its contributions to the people of Glasgow since 1794. The Trustees are pleased to say that the museum opened its first exhibition on 31st May 2022, covering the groundbreaking work of Joseph Lister, Rebecca Strong and John MacIntyre, as well as a fascinating insight into the history of the buildings of the GRI from 1794 to the present day.
The exhibition celebrating the life and work of Sir William Macewan completed in October 2024. This was supported by a grant from the Friends of Glasgow museum and was a huge success. The Macewan exhibition has now been replaced with the smallpox exhibition which launched in October 2024, looking at the impact of smallpox worldwide.
The charity also hosted a book-signing by Lindsey Fitzharris of her 3 books - the Butchering Art, the Facemaker and Plague Busters, which was a huge success.
The medicinal garden and Royal Infernery officially opened in the spring of 2024, significantly enhancing the museum experience. The garden design includes the nature drawing created by schoolchildren at the local school. Grants from Edringtons, Friends of Glasgow museums, Incorporation of gardeners along with generous plant donations from the West end Garden Centre helped to create the wild flower meadow and medicinal garden.
The bees are continuing to thrive this year despite the poor summer. We continue to run a sponsor a bee programme and celebrated World Bee Day on the 20th May this year. The medicinal garden will be a welcome source of food for the bees in the coming year.
Donated facilities and services
The work of the Charity would not be possible without the support of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary itself, on who's grounds the museum and bee garden are hosted at no cost to the Charity.
FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position
The charity reported a surplus of £13,390 in the year (2023: £8,539).
Page 1
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
The Trustees have agreed a reserves policy of the organisation to ensure the smooth running of future events, expansion of the gardens and maintaining the life of the bees. The organisation aims to always hold reserves of at least 3 to 4 months operating costs and this requirement has been achieved at year end.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is governed by the provisions of its constitution and constitutes a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), as defined by the Charities and Trustee Investment Act (Scotland) 2005. It has a single tier structure and as such the trustees are the members of the charity.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The constitution of the organisation requires that there must be between 3 and 12 trustees at any time, to manage the activities of the charity. The Trustees, having considered the needs of the organisation and with regard to this requirement, may appoint trustees to the board.
Organisational structure
The Trustees hold regular meetings to discuss the business of the charity and decide upon actions required to further the objects of the charity, including but not limited to monitoring and controlling the financial position of the organisation.
The Trustees of the charity are also required by its constitution to be members of the SCIO as the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires that certain decisions can only be made by the members of the organisation.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number
050180
Principal address
111 Dowanhill Street Glasgow G12 9EWQ
Trustees
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Independent Examiner
Stevenson & Kyles Chartered Accountants 25 Sandyford Place Glasgow G3 7NG
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Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 24 February 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
- Trustee
Page 3
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO ('the charity')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
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. I am a chartered accountant who holds and a practising certificate with ICAS (institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland). 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 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the following requirements have not been met:
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the requirement to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
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the requirement to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations.
I further confirm that there are no matters to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Stevenson & Kyles Chartered Accountants 25 Sandyford Place Glasgow G3 7NG
24 February 2025
Page 4
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
| Unrestricted Restricted fund fund Notes £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 9,838 22,111 Other trading activities 3 1,430 - Total 11,268 22,111 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 4 3,899 - Charitable activities General 14,627 1,463 Total 18,526 1,463 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (7,258) 20,648 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 12,446 9,090 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 5,188 29,738 |
2024 Total funds £ 31,949 1,430 33,379 3,899 16,090 19,989 13,390 21,536 34,926 |
2023 Total funds £ 19,756 2,931 |
|---|---|---|
| 22,687 | ||
| 12,379 1,769 |
||
| 14,148 | ||
| 8,539 12,997 |
||
| 21,536 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Balance Sheet 31 May 2024
| Unrestricted Restricted fund fund Notes £ £ FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 7 - 13,164 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank 5,188 16,574 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 8 - - NET CURRENT ASSETS 5,188 16,574 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 5,188 29,738 NET ASSETS 5,188 29,738 FUNDS 10 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
2024 Total funds £ 13,164 21,762 - 21,762 34,926 34,926 5,188 29,738 34,926 |
2023 Total funds £ 11,064 12,446 (1,974) 10,472 21,536 21,536 12,446 9,090 21,536 |
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 24 February 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
- Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fixtures and fittings - 10% on reducing balance
Fixed assets are initially recognised at cost and subsequently measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
continued...
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Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
| 2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES Donations Grants Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: CAF 3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES Honey sales & bee sponsorship 4. RAISING FUNDS Raising donations and legacies Event expenses Just giving fees Support costs |
2024 £ 9,838 22,111 31,949 2024 £ 22,111 2024 £ 1,430 2024 £ 3,683 216 - 3,899 |
2023 £ 16,756 3,000 |
2023 £ 16,756 3,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19,756 | |||
| 2023 £ 3,000 |
|||
| 2023 £ 2,931 2023 £ 1,228 216 10,935 |
2023 £ 2,931 |
||
| 12,379 |
5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 May 2024 nor for the year ended 31 May 2023.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 May 2024 nor for the year ended 31 May 2023.
continued...
Page 8
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
| 6. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricted Restricted fund fund £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 16,756 3,000 Other trading activities 2,931 - Total 19,687 3,000 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 12,379 - Charitable activities General 540 1,229 Total 12,919 1,229 NET INCOME 6,768 1,771 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 5,678 7,319 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 12,446 9,090 |
Total funds £ 19,756 2,931 |
|---|---|
| 22,687 | |
| 12,379 1,769 |
|
| 14,148 | |
| 8,539 12,997 |
|
| 21,536 |
continued...
Page 9
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
| 7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS COST At 1 June 2023 Additions At 31 May 2024 DEPRECIATION At 1 June 2023 Charge for year At 31 May 2024 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 May 2024 At 31 May 2023 8. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Bank loans and overdrafts (see note 9) 9. LOANS An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below: Amounts falling due within one year on demand: Bank overdrafts |
2024 £ - 2024 £ - |
Fixtures and fittings £ 12,474 3,563 |
Fixtures and fittings £ 12,474 3,563 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16,037 | |||
| 1,410 1,463 |
|||
| 2,873 | |||
| 13,164 | |||
| 11,064 | |||
| 2023 £ 1,974 |
|||
| 2023 £ 1,974 |
continued...
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Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Net | |||
| movement | At | ||
| At 1.6.23 | in funds | 31.5.24 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 12,446 | (7,258) | 5,188 |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Restricted fund | 9,090 | 20,648 | 29,738 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 21,536 | 13,390 | 34,926 |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: | |||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 11,268 | (18,526) | (7,258) |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Restricted fund | 22,111 | (1,463) | 20,648 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 33,379 | (19,989) | 13,390 |
| Comparatives for movement in funds | |||
| Net | |||
| movement | At | ||
| At 1.6.22 | in funds | 31.5.23 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 5,678 | 6,768 | 12,446 |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Restricted fund | 7,319 | 1,771 | 9,090 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 12,997 | 8,539 | 21,536 |
continued...
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Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 19,687 | (12,919) | 6,768 |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Restricted fund | 3,000 | (1,229) | 1,771 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 22,687 | (14,148) | 8,539 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Net movement At 1.6.22 in funds £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 5,678 (490) Restricted funds Restricted fund 7,319 22,419 TOTAL FUNDS 12,997 21,929 |
At 31.5.24 £ 5,188 29,738 |
|---|---|
| 34,926 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 30,955 | (31,445) | (490) |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Restricted fund | 25,111 | (2,692) | 22,419 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 56,066 | (34,137) | 21,929 |
continued...
Page 12
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 May 2024.
Page 13
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 May 2024 INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Donations Grants Other trading activities Honey sales & bee sponsorship Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Raising donations and legacies Event expenses Just giving fees Support costs Management Postage and stationery Sundries Fixtures and fittings Information technology Computer expenses Governance costs Accountancy and legal fees Total resources expended Net income |
2024 £ 9,838 22,111 31,949 1,430 33,379 3,683 216 3,899 9,277 3,523 1,463 14,263 1,107 720 19,989 13,390 |
2023 £ 16,756 3,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 19,756 2,931 |
||
| 22,687 1,228 216 |
||
| 1,444 8,421 2,066 1,229 |
||
| 11,716 448 540 |
||
| 14,148 | ||
| 8,539 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCTO
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 May 2025
Independent Examiner Stevenson & Kyles Chartered Accountants 25 Sandyford Place Glasgow G3 7NG
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES | a The Trustees are responsible for ensuring proper financial management, safeguarding the charity's assets, and preparing accurate annual reports in accordance with OSCR requirements. Approved by order of the board of trustees on 19 November 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
|
Page 3
NNLE RT a eeeae ee —————
Friends Of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO
Balance Sheet 31 May 2025
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----- Start of picture text -----
31,5,25 315.24
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
fund fund funds funds
FIXED Notes f £ f f
ASSETS
t Tangible assets 5 11,848 - 11,848 13,164
} CURRENT ASSETS
' Cash at bank 18.545 8.434 26,979 21,762
f NET CURRENT ASSETS 18,545 8,434 26,979 21,762
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES 30,393 8.434 38,827 34,926
NET ASSETS 30,393 8,434 38,827 34,926
FUNDS 6
Unrestricted funds 30,393 5,188
Restricted funds 8.434 29.738
TOTAL FUNDS 38,827 34,926
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on
19 November 2025 and were- on its behalf by:
.
the notes form part of these financial statements
----- End of picture text -----
Page 6
111 Dowanhill Street
Glasgow G12 9EQ Company House registered CS004634 https://friendsofgri.org/ info@friendsofgri.co.uk
Annual Report 2025
Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary SCIO is a charity registered in Scotland with number SC050180
Message from the Chair
It has been another busy year for the Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Highlights include music recitals, new exhibitions and our annual participation in Doors Open Days. Our bees have also been busy with another bumper crop of honey produced for sale at our Christmas Carol Service.
Our popular #musicinthegri concert series has been a great success, featuring compositions performed by the Resol Quartet to celebrate the history of Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
The ‘Smallpox’ exhibition, our second major exhibition, was a great success and launched with an excellent talk by Dr Peter Davies, a registrar training in Infectious Diseases. Our current exhibition ‘Sunshine on a Dull Day’ is on display until the end of 2025. This is a project that was formed in conjunction with the Renal Unit and Art in Hospital showcasing patient artwork alongside an exhibition about the history of dialysis.
The medicinal and biodiversity gardens continue to flourish thanks to dedicated volunteers and support from Evelyn Partners this summer.
Our December Carol Service at the Cathedral, featuring children from St Mungo’s Primary School, provided a lovely festive close to 2025. As we move into 2026, many more events are planned to further engage the community and celebrate GRI’s remarkable legacy.
Chair of Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary
February 2025
Introduction
Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary (FOGRI) is a registered charity founded in 2020 with the purpose of advancing heritage, culture, and science by establishing and maintaining a museum within Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI), and by celebrating its rich history and medical legacy.
We have created a museum where visitors, including schoolchildren, can explore the hospital’s contribution to global medicine. In addition to heritage preservation, we promote sustainability through the maintenance of medicinal and biodiversity gardens and by hosting beehives within the hospital grounds.
Glasgow Royal Infirmary from The Necropolis
The following are just some of the notable people associated with GRI:
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Joseph Lister who discovered anti sepsis while working in GRI in 1860-1869
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John McIntyre formed the world’s first x-ray department in GRI in 1902
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Rebecca Strong, our first matron, trained under Florence Nightingale and revolutionised the profession of nursing
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William Macewen performed the world’s first brain operation in GRI 1879
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Ellen Brown Orr – the first woman to practise general surgery in Scotland 1911
Structure and Governance
Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary (FoGRI) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) governed by its constitution, adopted in 2020. The Board of Trustees meets regularly to oversee governance, strategy, and compliance. Trustees bring expertise from healthcare, science, business, and heritage sectors.
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For more information about Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary, please visit our website at www.friendsofgri.org. We are on YouTube, Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram @friendsofgri. We can be contacted at info@friendsofgri.org
Key Achievements and Activities 2024–2025
This year has seen continued growth in our activities, outreach, and public engagement. Major achievements include:
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Delivery of a year-long “Music in the Museum” concert series, supported by the Hugh Fraser Foundation and Creative Scotland.
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Successful exhibitions including “Smallpox” and “Sunshine on a Dull Day” featuring patient artwork created with Art in Hospital.
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Hosting of Doors Open Days 2025, welcoming hundreds of visitors to explore the museum and gardens.
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The official opening of our Medicinal and Biodiversity Gardens, with support from community volunteers and partners.
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Ongoing maintenance of three active beehives and the sale of “Royal Honey” to fund museum operations.
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Educational talks, guided tours, and outreach with community groups and the
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board.
Visitors
Museum opening times are Tuesday -Friday from 11am-3pm, and Saturday 12-4pm. Visitors from all over the world have signed our visitors book and 152 have left reviews on Trip Advisor. We have been awarded a TripAdvisor travelers award in 2024 and 2025.
Links
-
Lord Provost Visit – October 2025
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Trades House and Lord Provost – 15 Pear Trees planted 14[th] March 2025
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Cumbernauld History Society – talk delivered 5[th] Feb 2025 with a visit from their members on the 19th of Feb 2025
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Evelyn Partners Gardening Day 28[th] March 2025
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Talk delivered to the Fellowship Milton of Campsie 26[th] March 2025
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Mitchell Library Special Collections visit 30[th] April 2025 with reciprocal visit to the Mitchell on the 4th of June 2025
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Hospital Radio – Interview about the museum, bees and gardens September 2025
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Meetings with Health Board – Lead of green spaces Fiona Roche 17[th] June 2025 and visit from Lesley Thomson Chair of NHS GGC Health Board and Jann Gardner Chief Executive NHS GGC 2[nd] July 2025.
-
Dialysis Exhibition and Art Exhibition – project funded by Creative Scotland and Art in Hospital. Opening event 24[th] August 2025
The Museum
Since the museum opened in May 2022, we have had excellent feedback both verbal and via Trip Advisor. We have had 152 reviews in total with 149 rated excellent and 3 very good. We have had positive feedback about our Smallpox Exhibition that has now been replaced with the current exhibition about renal dialysis with an Art project supported by Art in Hospital. A variety of work has been produced by patients attending for renal dialysis to produce the exhibition called ‘Sunshine on a Dull Day’. The art exhibition is on display in the newly refurbished medical block foyer.
The museum is staffed by an ever-expanding pool of volunteers that has allowed us to extend our opening hours on Tuesday to Friday 11am to 3pm and Saturdays 12-4pm. We happily take groups on private tours and if we are available will always open for visitors at other times.
Music in the Museum
We were delighted to present a year long series of lunchtime concerts supported by the Hugh Fraser Foundation and Creative Scotland. The Resol Quartet became our resident artists played debt works by emerging composers inspired by Glasgow Royal Infirmary alongside music to illustrated it’s cultural and historic context.
Visitors enjoyed diverse music throughout the year from Indian Sitar to Scots Fiddle, Baroque to Contemporary and a unique chance to hear the Baroque musical depiction of surgery from the court of Louis XIV along with a modern reflection of anaesthesia by .
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Archives
We continue to have help from 2 graduates from the Museum Studies course who help with archiving our collection that is now available to view on www.ehive.com. We have had many wonderful donations of items including a teapot made by Cumnock pottery as a gift to Nurse Campbell ward 17 in 1898.
If you have any items that you think may be of interest, please email us at info@friendsofgri.org
The Medicinal and Biodiversity Gardens
The museum experience has been significantly improved this year when we officially opened the medicinal and biodiversity gardens including the Royal Infernery. Part of the garden design includes artwork created by the schoolchildren at the local school St Mungo’s.
We had additional help this year from Evelyn Partners when 10 volunteers joined us on 28[th] March 2025 to help plant out and weed the gardens in preparation for the summer. New signage and planters were installed, and we have had continued support and advice from from the Botanic Gardens. Members of the Greyfriars community gardens on High Street have helped us with the garden maintenance and have solved out water issue by donating a couple of water butts.
In the adjacent cemetery, we helped members of the Trades House plant pear trees to celebrate the history of the pear tree in Glasgow.
We have been awarded a grant from Glasgow City Council to renovate the sentry box and create a wonderful Bee trail highlighting the important historical stores of this are. This will form a major piece of work for 2026.
Bees
Our bees have been a great success due to the excellent summer weather. We continue to run a sponsor a bee programme that is available via our website. We have our annual honey sale in December.
The medicinal garden and newly planted biodiversity garden will be an additional source of food for our bees in the coming year.
- We have had a lovely donation of a Bee Hotel from FourPly The Apprentice & The Bee FourPly for our medicinal garden. Solitary bees are important to our environment as 1 solitary mason bees equates to the pollination capacity of 120 Honeybees
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Funding and Financial Review
The charity continues to be funded through donations, sales of honey and merchandise, and grants from supportive organisations. In 2024–25, FoGRI received funding from Creative Scotland and the Hugh Fraser Foundation to support the music programme, and contributions from Evelyn Partners and private donors for garden projects.
Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 will be presented separately.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees aim to maintain sufficient unrestricted reserves to ensure stable operations and cover at least six months of essential running costs. Any surplus is reinvested into heritage preservation, education, and public engagement.
Future Plans
Plans for 2026 include developing the Bee Trail project, launching new educational resources, and ex panding our digital archive.
We will continue to collaborate with local schools, universities, and heritage organisations, and purs ue additional grant funding for museum improvements and community programmes.
Trustees’ Responsibilities and Approval
The Trustees are responsible for ensuring proper financial management, safeguarding the charity’s assets, and preparing accurate annual reports in accordance with OSCR requirements. This report was approved by the Trustees on 19[th] January 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
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............................................................. Trustee