2025-03-31-accounts - The Aiteal Trust

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

THE AITEAL TRUST (Registered Charity SC060559)

The Aiteal Trust

Trustees’ Annual Report 12th January 2024 - 11th January 2025

Charity contact information

The Aiteal Trust

Scottish Charity Number: SC050669

Address Postcode

Charity Trustees

==> picture [528 x 534] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [496 x 312] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [481 x 331] intentionally omitted <==

Objectives and activities

Our charity was set up to support people, predominantly adults, with profound and multiple learning disabilities, their families and carers.

Our purposes are:

to advance health, community development, and provide relief primarily to adults in need by reason of severe, complex and profound multiple learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and/or global developmental delay who are in need of support to lead fulfilling lives, and to those ends, to provide benefit and support to their families and those who care for them.

Our four working themes are:

building community for mutual support for all the following: people with PMLD, their family members, their carers, their supporters in community
arranging appropriate activities in suitable surroundings
raising the profile in a positive way of people with PMLD, who can be overlooked as a minority group, seeking to transform perceptions of people with PMLD, within a Human Rights approach
advocating for people within this group, in the following ways: on behalf of the whole group, and groups within it, particular families and individuals

Who we are

Within the Trustee body, our Patrons and community networks, we have a great deal of experience of living with PMLD and autistic spectrum disorder. We have first hand knowledge of the harmful effects on individuals and families of negotiating the care system, from childhood into adulthood and onwards. We also know how harmful the effects of poor care can be.

We also know first-hand what is helpful. We seek to share good practice with people in the groups listed below.

We seek to share our knowledge with:

parents, families and their advocates, including the press
the statutory sector, including Scottish Government, advisory and regulatory bodies, health boards, HSCPs
academics
Human Rights groups
third sector organisations.

“As a Trustee who has lived with a sibling with PMLD almost all my life, I am very aware of the benefits an organisation like the Aiteal Trust can provide to such families. It can offer both moral & practical support & be a voice for the PMLD community.”

==> picture [173 x 41] intentionally omitted <==

These were our main activities during the year:

Research: continuing the research we published in 2023, that brings people together including PMLD, family, wider community
Hospitality, bringing people together, intentionally creating community, sharing information, with people with PMLD, families, professionals
Advocating, based on the ‘proof of concept’ of quality care from our research, based on ‘low arousal’, trauma-informed, good communication; sharing this information with families and professionals. We did this with a view to bringing about change which from first hand experience we understood to be necessary, backed by Scottish Government’s own policies on care in community rather than detention in hospital, in their ‘Coming Home’ work.
Profile-raising - seeking to show people with PMLD as people with human rights, citizens, emphasising their capacity, enjoying relationships and interests. We seek to change public perception of people with PMLD.
Housekeeping: development of trustee body, relationships, report writing for OSCR; development and upkeep of a website

==> picture [126 x 48] intentionally omitted <==

Trustee writes:

As a long standing Trustee I have first hand experience of watching and the community grow over time.

The work of the Trust in creating the framework to support both and the wider community has seen understanding, patience, and collaboration grow and develop. This has resulted in a community that is creative, empathetic and growing stronger.

nvolvement in meaningful engagement in the community fosters a sense of empowerment for him but it also sends a message of hope to other families who visit Appletree as well.

Watchin onfidence develop as he supports a community to grow is powerful and inspiring. He demonstrates just how resilient he is and highlights all the benefits of inclusivity and belonging in the community.

is a leader in his own right, through the work of the trust is seen as an active contributor and changemaker as opposed to a passive recipient of help.

Structure, governance and management

We are governed by a Constitution which we adopted in January 2021 after legal advice from a firm of solicitors specialising in Charity law.

We are a SCIO, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Trustee recruitment and appointment

Our Trustee body has remained stable throughout the year. In a year of consolidation, we have made new relationships with a widening network of community and family connections, giving us scope for future recruitment should that become necessary.

Achievements and performance

This is a Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the financial period.

Hospitality

This is by invitation oME ho offers his home as a venue. We organised outside catering and an outside professional musician to provide music and community singing. Guests at the party included our Patroee i: her mother and carer; two more ladies with PMLD who are wheelchair users, with family acting as Carers; families, community supporters, Trustees.

i planning for parties, he and other visitors were pleased to meet each other, they enjoyed the event, the singing. They have few other opportunities to meet in a peer group. Out of this event grew relationships, other opportunities to meet.

Parents enjoyed an opportunity to meet with others to discuss what their hopes and concerns are. They are supported in a safe space where others understand the issues they face. They are supported by our Trustee who is Arts Director for PAMIS, and Chief Officer of PAMIS. Parents have few opportunities in a community in this way.

There were many community supporters, who recognise and praise the skills of the carers, benefitting them from public acknowledgement.

By engaging with our neighbours we establish positive views of PMLD.

==> picture [318 x 207] intentionally omitted <==

Visits to Appletree

Our Patron, came for tea. His presence affirms for staff the importance and value of their work. His support for the charity affirms the importance of people with PMLD, their families and us as a Trustee body. By informing him of what we do he is informed to speak about it more widely.

==> picture [193 x 181] intentionally omitted <==

There were other visitors from community and faith groups. They learned about us first hand, we share our ‘proof of concept’ of a gentle way of caring for people with PMLD who have been detained in hospital, and now are living well in community. They now can share a positive story about people with PMLD

Advocating a fferae encountersDirector withat ourPAMIS Chaifor=family members /parents / communityoneparentoo supporterss Director ofto follow PAMIS.up.haveWhen providedatheywhere thishave iappropriate,sought as aone-to- fellowsignposts people towards organisations with appropriate resources including PAMIS, Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities.

EE as been involved in Scottish Government's Coming Home work stream since 2018. This is to do with the detention of people with learning disabilities in hospital or private sector Assessment and Treatment Units, seeking to fulfil their human rights by moving them into appropriate community settings. _—- parents’ voices of lived experience in NHS Tayside’s Redesign of Learning Disability Services at the V&A Museum, Dundee in March 2024.

==> picture [453 x 223] intentionally omitted <==

peaks in her own voice, from her own and her son’s experience of detention in hospital and as Chair of the charity.

epresents more widely, the experiences of people with PMLD, their families and carers in forums where the majority of people speak as professionals. seeks to focus attention on the people with Learning Disabiliti the heart of the issue and their families.

points to the ‘proof of concept’ that is Appletree Community, as described in the Aiteal Trust’s research. She offers hospitality to professional colleagues to ‘come and see’. She offers ‘good news’ stories about people with PMLD as opposed to the ‘problem paradigm’.

Profile-raising

Throughout 2024, the Trustees sought to raise the profile of the ‘proof of concept’, the model of care, at the heart of the research report. They decided on three means of raising the profile:

To explore the commissioning of a film to take the impact of our story to a wider audience

To plan a community outing to Iona Abbey for 2025, for people with PMLD, their families, carers and supporters
To exhibit the research Story: the Story of Appletree’ in Scottish Parliament, to raise awareness with MSPs and Ministers of detention and harming of people with PMLD in hospitals. This would be done to bring the ‘Coming Home’ work stream to wider awareness amongst MSPs, along with issues about Human Rights for this minority group. The intention was to display the findings of our research in professional graphics, produced by our partners in Edinburgh Napier University.

Outcomes of our work

The Aiteal Trust has established a strong link with PAMIS, the national charity that supports people with PMLD. irector of Creative Arts at PAMIS, is one of our trus namic link between the two charities. Relationships, communities, networks are what we seek to establish.

The Aiteal Trust has established a visible profile in national circles about its concern for people with PMLD, their families and carers, Human Rights and alternatives to detention. TV and Radio broadcasts are advertising we exist and our values.

People with PMLD and their families and carers are getting to hear about us and some have experience of visiting us. We have established a network of connections that extends beyond our immediate area. We offer hospitality that benefits others and we benefit from connections we make.

Impacts

Our socialising events creates a network of connections amongst people with PMLD, who come to know each other and to make rela-

tionships. Some then meeting on other occasions. Several of them are members of advisory groups to Scottish Government. By coming together, they make connections between different work streams, that are otherwise not joined up, they share contacts and information.

, Trustee, provided a useful anecdote. He was speaking to a Mum who had not visited Appletree before. She said to him “this is exactly the set-up that could work for x “ (her daughter.) She wasn’t meaning the building, she meant the Model of Care we can demonstrate, the importance of understanding the person cared-for and their needs, reducing their stress, enabling them to live well.

Later, this mother, having seen for herself, the model of ‘low-arousal’, trauma-informed care with an emphasis on communication, that met the needs of the person cared for, was inspired to seek something similar for her daughter. She had ‘proof of concept’ to share with her social worker and other statutory sector partners to propose changes to benefit her daughter’s care.

Volunteers

We are grateful to all who support the Aiteal Trust: our Patrons, Trustees, community friends, our Funders, our neighbours. We are also grateful to the volunteers from PAMIS who bring the mobile changing toilet to our events.

Financial review

==> picture [317 x 201] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Aiteal Trust Cash Flow
0000
2500
5000
7500 i
, oan Gel Oe |
2021 2022 2023 2024
H Donations/ Money In Mi Expenditur/ Mon e y Out Mi End Balance
----- End of picture text -----

Income

The Aiteal Trust has benefited from generous donations since its inception with significant contributions from the Dinning Trusty ae... numerous other friends and supporters — both individuals and groups.

Expenditure

As described elsewhere in this report, the Aiteal Trust continues to spend money on various activities in pursuit of its aims. Expenditure has been higher this year with additional activities including initial spending for the trip to lona, which the Trust supported and the Scottish Parliament event (beyond this reporting period, February 2025) at which the Trust provided catering and covered other minor expenses.

Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

Whilst The Aiteal Trust does not have a formal policy on reserves, the trustees aim to maintain sufficient funds to enable ongoing activities in pursuit of its aims. At the same time the trustees recognize that generous donations were provided on the assumption that they would be

spent and not simply kept in a bank account, hence the willingness to increase our outgoings over the last period. The Aiteal Trust currently has a healthy balance.

Donated facilities and services

Our facilities for our community meetings are donated without charge by a man with PMLD, whose home has suitable, safe, indoor and outdoor community space alongside his own accommodation. His mother and Deputy is our Chair.

Our Chair works without payment on our advocacy services, research and profile-raising. All our Trustees give their time by donation. We we are grateful to them for this.

Future plans

Our plans for the year 12th January 2025 - 11th January 2026:

Research

Continuing our collaborative research. This is with people with PMLD, their families and carers, the charity PAMIS, the University of Portsmouth and Edinburgh Napier. It is based on the ‘proof of concept’ established in our research published in 2023 ‘Louis’s Story: the Story of Appletree’ www.theaitealtrust.com/resesarch

Hospitality

Continuing to hold parties at Appletree Community to gather people.

Profile-raising

Continuing work with film maker Land and Sky Media, to develop a film for release. This shows positive images of a man with PMLD within his network of carers, family and community, living well. This is the visual story showing the ‘proof of concept’ that emerged from our research. There are four perceived audiences: people with PMLD; their families and friends and carers; policy makers and professionals; the general public (there is potential overlap). In all cases we seek to

transform public perceptions, by showing our lead character in positive terms, as a person first, a leader within his community, a political figure, a change-maker.

Advocating

Continuing to work with BBC Scotland and Radio Scotland, speaking on behalf of people with PMLD, their families and carers. To advocate publicly on the benefits of ‘low-arousal’ care approaches, the promotion of a Human Rights approach, in order to promote well-being of people with PMLD, their families and carers.

We also speak out on behalf of individuals and families, with their permission. We do this, building a body of experience.

Declaration

Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:

==> picture [398 x 69] intentionally omitted <==

Print name

==> picture [285 x 58] intentionally omitted <==

Designation

Date

Chair 26th September 2025

Enter SC No. below

APPENDIX 2

Enter charity name below

SC050669

Aiteal Trust

				Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts	Receipts andpayments accounts
						Period start date									Period end date	Period end date
		For the period from		1 Day			April Month				2024 Year	to	Day 31		Month March				Year 2025
Section A Statement of receipts and payments
		Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds				Expendable endowment funds					Permanent endowment funds				Total funds current period			Total funds last period
		to nearest £		to nearest £	to nearest £			to nearest £					to nearest £				to nearest £		to nearest £	to nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations		4,324		1	1	1	1,000										5	5	5,324	5,822
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																	-	-	-
																	-	-	-
*A1 Sub total*	*A1 Sub total*	4,324		1,000	1,000	1,000	1,000	-	-	-	-		-	-	-		5,324	5,324	5,324	5,822
A2 Receipts from asset &
investment sales
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets Proceeds from sale of investments A2 Sub total - - - Total receipts 4,324 1,000 - ~~—~~													- -	- -	- -		- - - 5,324	- - - 5,324	- - - 5,324	- 5,822
A3 Payments
Expenses for fundraising activities		401	401														401	401	401
Gross trading payments																	-	-	-
Investment management costs																	-	-	-
Payments relating directly to charitable	Payments relating directly to charitable
activities		4,815		634	634	634	634										5	5	5,449	1,896
Grants and donations																	-	-	-	1,000
Governance costs:
																	-	-	-
Audit / independent examination																	-	-	-
Preparation of annual accounts																	-	-	-
Legal costs																	-	-	-
Other	Other	Other
																	-	-	-
																	-	-	-
**A3 Sub total **		5,216		634	634	634	634	-	-	-	-		-	-	-		5,849	5,849	5,849	2,896
A4 Payments relating to asset and
investment movements
Purchases of fixed assets Purchase of investments A4 Sub total - - - Total payments 5,216 634 - ~~————~~													- -	- -	- -		- - - 5,849	- - - 5,849	- - - 5,849	- 2,896
*Net receipts / (payments)* A5 Transfers to / (from) funds *Surplus / (deficit) for year*	892) ( 366 - - 526 2,926 - 892) ( 366 - - 526 2,926 ~~——————~~

APPENDIX 2

SC050669

Aiteal Trust

Section B Statement of balances

Details	Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 25,538 892) (	Restricted funds to nearest £ 366	Expendable endowment funds to nearest £	Permanent endowment funds to nearest £	Total current period to nearest £	Total last period to nearest £
Cash and bank balances at start of year					25,538	22,612
Surplus / (deficit) shown on receipts and payments account					526) (	2,926
					-
					-
Cash and bank balances at end of year (Agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	24,646	366	-	-	25,012	25,538
	- 0	- 0	- Fund to which	- asset belongs	- 1,052	-
					Market valuation to nearest £	Last year to nearest £





Details		Fund to which	asset belongs	Total Cost (if available) to nearest £	-	-
					Current value (if available) to nearest £	Last year to nearest £









Details			Total Fund to which l	-	-	-
				iability relates	Amount due to nearest £	Last year to nearest £





Details			Fund to which l	Total iability relates	-	-
					Amount due (estimate) to nearest £	Last year to nearest £



Signature*			Print Name	Total	-	-
						Date of approval

==> picture [341 x 57] intentionally omitted <==

R&P Accounts 24-25 / Statement of balances

December 2007

APPENDIX 2

Aiteal. Trust

SC050669

Section C Notes to the Accounts

C1 Nature and purpose of funds (may be stated on analysis of funds worksheets) The Aijteal Trust supports people with Profound and Multiple Leaming Disabilities (PMLD) and autism, their families and carers. We run regular events at Appletree Community. We have helped fund some research into Developing a Community of Care. Type of activity. or project supported Individualinstitution/ Numbermade of grants £ / —= Total C3a Trustee remuneration If no remuneration was paid during the period to any chanity trustee or person connected to a SN” trustee cross this box (otherwise complete section 3b) => Authority under which paid f C3b Trustee remuneration - details C4a Trustee expenses If no expenses were paid to any charity trustee during the period then cross this box SX (otherwise complete section 4b) > Number of £ trustees C4b Trustee expenses - details Transaction Balance amount (£) outstanding at Nature of relationshi Nature of transaction iod end (£ C5 Transactions with trustees and connected persons _ Bp R&P Accounts 24-25 / Notes 3 December 2007

APPENDIX 2

SC050669

Aiteal Trust

Additional analysis (1)

Analysis of receipts and payments

1 Donations

1 Donations
	Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Restricted funds to nearest £	Expendable endowment funds to nearest £	Permanent endowment funds to nearest £	Total current period to nearest £	Total last period to nearest £
Andrew Jardine	200				200
Sheila Laxman		1,000			1,000
Mike Horwood	94				94
Elinor Dowson	30
DinningTrust	4,000				4,000
Total 2 Grants	4,324	1,000	-	-	5,294	5,822
	reference Unrestricted funds to nearest £	- Restricted funds to nearest £	-	-	reference Total current period to nearest £	- Total last period to nearest £
					-
					-
					-
					-
Total 3 Gross receipts from other charitable activities	-	-			-	-
	- Unrestricted funds to nearest £	- Restricted funds to nearest £	Expendable endowment funds to nearest £	Permanent endowment funds to nearest £	- Total current period to nearest £	- Total last period to nearest £
					-
					-
					-
					-
					-
					-
					-
					-
Total	-	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-	-

4 Payments relating directly to charitable activities

	Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Restricted funds to nearest £	Expendable endowment funds to nearest £	Permanent endowment funds to nearest £	Total current period to nearest £	Total last period to nearest £
Event Catering	140				140
Event Musician	45				45
Iona Tripcontribution	634				634
Iona Trip payment for Louis & Carers		634			634
Parliament Eventparking& travel	58				58
Parliament Event catering	775				775
Flowers	20				20
Event Pamiloo	143				143
Film	3,000				3,000
					-
					-
Total	4,815	634	-	-	5,449	1,896
	reference error	reference error	-	-	reference error	-

R&P Accounts 24-25Additional notes (1)

December 2007

APPENDIX 2

SC050669

Additional analysis (2)

Receipts 5 Breakdown of unrestricted funds	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	4,324				4,324	4,822
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	4,324	-	-	-	4,324	4,822
					-
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets					-
Proceeds from sale of investments					-
*Sub total* *Total receipts* Payments	-	-	-	-	-	-
	4,324	-	-	-	4,324	4,822
					-
Expenses for fundraisingactivities	401				401
Gross trading payments					-
Investment management costs					-
Payments relatingdirectlyto charitable activities	4,815				4,815	1,896
Grants and donations					-
Governance costs:					-
Audit / independent examination					-
Preparation of annual accounts					-
Legal costs					-
					-
					-
*Sub total* Payments relating to asset and investment movements	5,216	-	-	-	5,216	1,896
					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*	-	-	-	-	-	-
					-
	5,216	-	-	-	5,216	1,896
					cross ref error
	892) (	-	-	-	892) (	2,926

					-

	892) (	-	-	-	892) (	2,926
					cross ref error
Nature and purpose of funds
Meeting the aims of the charity in providing activities an	d support and building a community fo		r people with PMLD, the families and		carers.

R&P Accounts 24-25Additional notes (2)

December 2007

APPENDIX 2

SC050669

Aiteal Trust

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					1,000	1,000
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	-	-	-	-	1,000	1,000
					-
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets					-
Proceeds from sale of investments					-
*Sub total* *Total receipts* Payments	-	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	1,000	1,000
					-
Expenses for fundraising activities					-
Gross trading payments					-
Investment management costs					-
Payments relating directly to charitable activities					634
Grants and donations					-	1,000
Governance costs:					-
Audit / independent examination					-
Preparation of annual accounts					-
Legal costs					-
					-
					-
*Sub total* Payments relating to asset and investment movements	-	-	-	-	634	1,000
					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*	-	-	-	-	-	-
					-
	-	-	-	-	634	1,000
					cross ref error
	-	-	-	-	366	-

					-

	-	-	-	-	366	-
					cross ref error
Nature andpurpose of funds
Donation fro specifically to fund	his moth	er and carers attending trip to Iona

R&P Accounts 24-25Additional notes (3)

December 2007

APPENDIX 3

==> picture [90 x 11] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Scottish Charity Regulator
----- End of picture text -----

Independent examiner’s report on the accounts w Report to the | Charity name trustees/members of Aiteal Trust Registered charity |[SC050669] number On the accounts of the Period start date Period end date charity for the period |__Day —_|~— Month | Year | | Day Month | Yerr em numbers of additional sheets) Respective | The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance responsibilities of | with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the trustees and examiner | 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, | do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner's | |r the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention. statement 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: * 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 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper i e reached. Signed: Date: 12/09/2025 Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body Institute of Chartered Accounts for England & Wales; Chartered (if any): | Institute of Taxation.

APPENDIX 3

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.

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