Ada Scotland Festival
Trustees, Annual Report
1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
ada.scot

Charity contact information
ada.scot
Ada Scotland Festival
Scottish Charity Number: SC050808
Sir Alwyn Williams Building
School of Computing Science
University of Glasgow
Glasgow
G128RZ
0141330 3016
hello@ada.scot
https:Ilada.scot
@adascot

Charity Trustees

Objectives and activities
Together, we can offer a more joined up approach to tackling gender
imbalance in Computing Science, playing to individual partners, strengths
while improving the visibility of all concemed.
The Ada Scotland Festival brings together partners involved in addressing
the issue of gender balance in Computing Science and tech in Scotland.
The University of Glasgow's
CYF) lead on the initiative, with support from Festival co-founders
(Edinburgh Napier University) and
and a voluntary advisory board, drawn from across the
ress
sector.
The Ada Scotland Festival has grown out of a SICSA-supported
workshop. The workshop brought together employers, lecturers and
teachers to identify ways in which the continuing gender imbalance in
Computing Science might be addressed. The need for a more joined-up
approach was one of the outcomes of the workshop, and that's where the
Festival comes in.
The Ada Scotland Festival launched in October 2020, featuring a mix of
online events, activities. and competitions. While the Festival takes the
form of a series of scheduled events (around Ada Lovelace Day in

October), the Festival website provides a persistent platform for
organisations to engage with the public.
has since taken on the role of Festival Manager, and the
Festival has moved from online4)nly to mix of online and in-person events.
With Wlon board, we have begun taking a more curated, hands-on
approach to the events delivered under the Ada Scotland banner, and
hosted in-person 'hub' events in Glasgow. Edinburgh. and Aberdeen in
2023.
Structure, governance and management
Type of governing document
The Ada Scotland Festival is a single tier Scottish Charitable
Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), governed by a constitution,. This
constitution may be altered by resolution of the charity trustees - in their
capacity as members of the organisation - passed at a members,
meeting (subject to achieving the two thirds) or by way of a written
resolution of the charity trustees in their capacity as members.
Trustee recruitment and appointment
Our trustees have been with us from the Festival's ince
comprising co-founders
tion in 2020,
I https=Ilada.seoVal)ouVconstitutionl

Our constitution requires a minimum of four
charity trustees, and allows for up to 12. To date, having four trustees
has proven sufficient. However, should the scope of the Festival
increase in the future, we will seek to recruit additional trustees from our
network of partners and advisory board. The existing trustees may
appoint a new charity trustee by way of a resolution passed by majority
vote at a board meeting.

The 2023 Festival in numbers
3 cities
17 in-person events
5 online events
3600 participants

Partners and events
Festival partners in 2023 included:
Apps for Good
Autorek
Barclays
BBC Scotland
CSSMeet
Developing the Young Workforce
Edinburgh Napier University
Equate Scotland
Hearts of Midlothian Innovation Centre
Morgan Stanley
Skills Development Scotland
Tech We Can
Robert Gordon University
Scotlandls

Here's a flavour of our 2023 events...
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Ada Scotland Festival Launch Event 2023 hosted by Barclays
Once again we were delighted that Barclays hosted the Ada Scotland Festival
Launch event at their fantastic campus on the Clyde. Over 100 students and
teachers from across the West of Scotland convened at the campus for an aftemoon
of presentations, interactive and educational games and tours of the campus,
including the X Labs and Eagle Labs.

SCOTLANDIS
ada.scot & Scotlandls: Employer Roundtsble Breakfast Gender Balance in
Tech
In this roundtable breakfast event we heard from organisations providing insights into
how to maximise your reach when recruiting. from young tech stars on their joumey
and employers exploring Workpla￿ issues specific to gender and how to address
them.
10

ou +hought+ech was no+forgirls?
ar from two technical
rentices who will change your
So you thought toch was not for girls? QA Apprentices change your mindl
Led by two female apprentices, in this session, participants heard about the
incredible opportunities QA have in the tech and business world.
11

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Edinburgh Napier Unlversity presents: S2 Girls Into STEM
An event to inspire, empower and raise aspirations of S2 Girls to choose a career
pathway in STEM. Hosted at Edinburgh Napier University.
12

* BARCLAYS
Barclays prnsents: Think Llke a Fintech & Early Careors Panel
Making the leap from education to tech Caree￿ Young tech pros shared their
insights followed by Think Like a FinTech- an instructor-led. user-centred design
workshop.
13

ROBERT GORDON
UNIVERSITY ABERDEEN
RGU Ada Scotland Networking Event for High Schools
The ada.scot Ne￿OrkIng Event on October 1 Oth, 2023. hosted by the School of
Computing at Robert Gordon University. made for an empowering day dedicated to
building gender balance in computingl
14

Na
Napier STEM presents: Women and gondor mlnorities In STEM care•rs event
This was a great opportunity to gain insight into industry, along with a chance meet
other women and gender minorities in STEM. There was also free ice cream!
15

Journeys into
Data Science
5 October
12.30-13.30
EQUATE Scotland
Equate Scotland presents: Journeys Into Data Sclenco
At Equate Scotland's webinar we heard about op
career in data science later in life with talks from
ortunities for women comin
toa
16

ENUSEC>_
ENUSEC presants: Capture tho Flag Competition
Participants got to develop and challenge their cyber skills in ENUSEC'S (Edinburgh
Napier Security Society} Capture the Flag cybersecurity competition, with challenges
based on cryptography. open-source Intelligen￿ and more!
17

COTLAN
BBC Scotland Presents: Exploring Tech Car8ers In Media
Are you keen to leam more about the STEM career opportunities available at BBC
Scotland? Do you want to widen and strengthen your professional networks? If so
then this is the event for you.
18

',p•
•1
Morgan Slanley presents: Llvo Podcast Recordlng wlth
s the award-winning founder of Womennetic, a grassroots community
organisation committed to creating channels for marginalized women. particularly
asylum seekers and refugees, to get into tech.
19

f)
Morgan Slanley presents: Cyber Holst- Unleash Your Inner Hacker
Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a curious mind, the Cyber Heist Event provided
a unique opportunity to leam from industry experts and gain insights into the worfd of
cybersecurity.
20

* BARCLAYS
Barclays prnsents: Evening Industry Panel Event
Led by females in a variety of tech roles, this event explored how tech is embedded
across multiple industries and the opportunities this affords women.
21

AutoRek presents- Trlhackathon for Job Changers and Higher Ed Students
Held in the super cool Garment Factory offices, AutoRek hosted a Trihackathon for
job changers, those in further or higher education, and anyone looking for a route
into tech roles.
22

#.10 My
og o Worldof
Work
LIVEI
My World of Work Llve Games Design for the classroom
Interactive, online lesson delivered by My World of Work Live where students
leamed how to create their own computer game and character, and bring it to life
with code and music!
23

Apps
for
Good
How Teaching Tèch Innovation Can Help Shape the Futurn for Young Scots
with Apps for Good
This online event delivered by Apps for Good was aimed at teachers and explored
two of the free class resources they provide aimed at S1-3 students.
24

Tech We Can LIVE Assembly- T•ch for Cyber S•curity
This live online event delivered by Tech She Can was a brilliant way to launch the
school day as an assembly or dassroom session. It explored the importance of
cyber security with content designed to interest pupils in P4-7.
25

Financial review
Statement of the charity's policy on resenies
The trustees aim to hold in reserve sufficient funds to be able to run the
Festival again the following year.
Donated facilities and ServI￿S
The University of Glasgow and Edinburgh Napier University provide
limited in-kind support for trustees based at these institutions
t University of Glasgow, and
Edinburgh Napier University). The School of Computing Science at
Glasgow serves as the charity's legal address.
at
26

ADA Scotland Festival
Receipts and Payments
For the
ear ended 31 March 2024
2024
2023
Tolal funds
Total fijnds
Income
Bank interest rec8ived
Sponsorship
Donations
£69
£6,000
£0
£0
£5,400
£1.040
Tota r￿1p1S
£6,069
£6,440
ments
Accountancy
Administration f88
Event hire ￿StS
Facebook athertising
Merchandise
mis￿lIan00uS expensès
Postage
Printing and Stationery
Travel costs
£480
£5,500
£1,007
£561
£1,161
£303
£102
£231
£818
£10,163
£432
£2.700
£0
£475
£1.011
£143
£15
£114
£903
£5.794
{LossySurplus
-£4,094
£646
27

ADA Scotland Festlval
Statement of balances
As at 31 March 2024
2024
2023
Total furKIs
Totl funds
Fund re(x)ncilikn'on
Cash at b￿k
£3,849
£7,943
k balances
C04)p Bank
£3,849
£7,943
All funds ¥8 unrestrided
28

R•Aort to th• trust••slm•rnb*rs of ADA S¢otland F•stival
Voar •Dd•d 31￿ M•rch 2024
CharlAYNo scosoooe
I re￿rt to Ihe trustees on rrty examinatloft Lrf the aceounts of the atK)ve th¥lly1lhe
Trust-l as set out on pages 18 10 19 lor Ihe year eThJed 3110312024.
RpsponsIbl￿ll¢s •Dd basls gf report
As the Charity IflJ$tees ol the Tnjst. you are resporsitle for r*eparalDn of tr
accounts in aeeordance with the requiremernts of Ihe Charities Act 2011 1.yhe Act"}.
I reFKJrt kn res￿et of my examknation of the Twst's accounts carried out under sectlc
145 of Ihe 2011 Ac1 ￿ in carryin9 (*Jl my exatnirnolN)n. I *￿e fvlknved Ihe applicab
Direction$ gwen by the Charity Comrnl$$lon under $ectK)n 145lSllbl of the Act
Independerrt exarniner's statement
I have completed my examlnatlorL I confirm that no matertal matters have ciyre to my
attenllon In connect￿￿ ￿th the examlnatlon whlch glves me cause to bel*ve Ihal in.
any materlal respect
accouniirvj records ￿*re keo in accordance wlh Sec1h￿ 130 of If* Aci c
the accounts do not accord wllh t￿ account5ng records
I have r¥J concems and have come acr055 no other matters n connection with the
examIn￿10n to wh￿h atteniK)n slw)ukJ be f1rawn in order to enable a proper
undersilnding uf Ilie dccuunib lu l)e reached
24" October 2024
29

Future plans
The Ada Scotland Festival will return in October 2024, with a greater
emphasis on in-person events, and hub events planned for the
Highlands and the Borders.
30

Declaration
Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:
31