Nso, WEST LOTHIAN 50+ NETWORK (SCIO) Scottish Charity No: SC051335 ANNUAL ACCOUNTS year ended 31 March 2025 Trustees, Annual Report Independent Examiner's Report Statement of Receipts and Payments including Statement of Balances and notes to the accounts. IIPage CHAIR'S INTRODUCTION Proiiucin8 an annual report pfoviLles Ihe opporiuriiiy 10 ()ring togetkiLJr all the Tacts ariu figures f rom the past year, taking stock of where we have come from and pointing the direction for the future. But we niLJSt not lose sight of the tliiiigs tliat are much harder to measure, and the purpose of our charity; the inip3lt that the West LothiLin 50+ Networ1< h35 on our members, lives. This year we have once again witnessed the ti"ansformation of many more lives, as more people found their way to new purpose following retirement, new social activities and new friendships, helping theni to avoid the social isolation that so many older people can face. Anecdotally there are niany stories of how new members change and increase in confidence as they find their feet in the Netivork, whilst the Member Survey conducted at the end of 2024 provides personal testtmonials from members who have felt the benefits of being part of the Network. We achieve tnese outcomes tnrough a wio'e variety of dctivities and everrts, dli of wnicri serve tne common purpose of bringing people together for positive social interaction. This is co-ordinated by our excellent staff team but is largely made possible with the input of our amazing team of volunteers, a resource that is very hard to quantify. I'd like to take this opportunity to reflect on the fantastic year we had as we celebrated our 30 anniversary in 2024. We enjoyed four amazing short holidays, visited many interesting places on our monthly day trips, and enjoyed some excellent events, including the excellent anniversary concert staged by our choir at the Regal Theatre in Bathgate. A lot of planning and work from all those involved but a truly memorable year. We continued to welcome new members to the Network and are indebted to all the group leaders who helped us to meet the challenge of forming new groups to cope with continued new demand. It is th3nks to members stepping up to le3d new groiJps that last ve3r vde mBde ETre3t.stridp forward in bringing down waiting lists for activity groups, one of the key reasons that people join the Network. Other positives in 2024/25 saw the strengthening of the Board of Trustees, with the admission of new trustees who have added to the range of skills and brought new energy to the Board. th Wè iofittriijèd LV èfijoy trXi¢ I Icl-i L sUF4iOi L l i ull-l Ll"Iè IULd l LUi"i-In-i ilr li Ly a flu luv N l Ul Wcll U LV LUI l Li"1 i ui'fi to develop new and strengthened partnerships with organisations with common interests. The year was not without its challenges. As costs continue to rise, and we face increased competition for external funding, the Network is working harderto seel< bestvalue for our members in all that we do. We are grateful to ourfundraiser who continues to source funding to help marntain our activities, and to the numerous external funders who have confidence in the work of the Network, entrusting us with the financial support we need to maintain our premises, staff and other running costs and activities. We are also fortunate in having huge support amongst our membership who are helping us to rise to the challenges, redoubling our efforts to seek new fundraising opportunities so that we can continue to make a significant difference to the lives of older people in West Lothian. 21Page ANNUAL REPORT (vear ended to 31 March 2025) This is the second annual report and accounts of WesL' Lothian 50+ Network (SCIO) and the first full vear after all activities transferred from the original Wesl. Lothian 50+ Network on l October 2023 Income from mernbership fees and our own fundraising events have been supplemented by significant external funding streams. This has enabled us to rnaintain ourstaff, premises and general running costs as well as funding new groups, activities and venues. CONTEXT The West Lothian 50+ Network operates in an environment where the local elderly population is growing taster than the national Scottish average. Recent figures published by West Lothian Council, in the context of local demand for health and social care services show that the i Limvci i of Pcople in 'NesL Lothian aged 65 LO 71 4 is expecLed to increase by 190A by 2028, with those aged over 75 increasing by 39%. This is compared to the Scottish average growth of 14.4% in the 65 to 74 population and 25.4% increase in those aged over 75 during the same period. This rate of growth has implications for the Network as a provider of services for older people and is likeFy to impact on membership growth leading to increased demand for member activities, staff time, volunteers, premises and funding. In August 2024 we produced a 3-year bustness plan which focuses on these key areas. Whilst we aspire to continue to extend the benefits of the Network to all those who could benefit, and aim to continue to increase our geographic spread across West Lothian, we needed a period of consolidation following the surge in membership following Covid. Therefore, for the first year of the plan, 2024- 2025, our emphasis has been on sustaining our existing membership and coniviisJu Lll 15 ¥411 iaL VVC vri 51 vvvli i ai iu iiivli . Ma a i ¢ Iu'vr I I'iauÈ Fil VSI in supporting new members and seen great improvement in the management of waiting lists for groups. DIRECTION AND STAFF The Network is overseen by a Board of Trustees, all of which are volunteers elected from the membership. The trustees give the Network strategic direction and ensure that the funds are properly manageci. Triere are Tour urrice Dearer5: Lhair, vice iriair, I reasurer ario, ieLretary. iri addition, individual trustees oversee areas such as Activity Groups, Trips and Holidays, Marketing and Cornmunication, Premises, Speakers and Events, The trustees who have acted in 2024/25 are as follows.. Dav to day operations at our fvIL)nibL)rs' l-IiJb/dLJniinislrdtive cefiire are run by a part-time charity manager and tNvo parl tinie nienibei SLipport stdtl, In 2024/25 we be'came an accredited Living Wage eniplol'er, Unfonuriaiely fLJiiiliii8 for our part-lime Volunteers and Activities Coordinator Cdme 10 an end during this period and Ive triad to lake the diff iculi decision to close Ihis porition. MEMBERSHIP lembership of the West Lothian 50+ Network at 31 March 2025 stood at 765 and was slightly higher than ai the end of March 2024. Siaiistics show that 57.51% of the membership joined in the last three years (2022 to end March ?0251, which has resulted in a large cohort of new members, and unprecedented demand for group membership. Although based in Bathgate, traditionally the hometown of most of our members, we remain committed to our aim of broadening our membership across West Lothian. This has had some success, with the membership based in Bathgate now at 39%. Our members range in age from those in their '50s, to a few in their '90s. The age range for the majority of our members is 70-79 years (43%). Those in their'50s and '60s comprise some 36% of our membership. 780/0 of the membership is of pensionable age. Membership Levels 1994-2025 757 765 7CX) 681 565 SCKI 437 442 382 373 362 405 325 328 332 324 350 358 283 294 3QJ 2￿ i(x) 33 1994 2CX)8 2￿)9 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 41Pa8¢ VOLUNTEERS uur memoer voiurtteers are the iyncnpin of tne 'rfvest irJtrii3n iu* iyetWQTk. InciudrrTg ourvoiurrteer trustees, and those who lead and support some 70 different interest groups and activities, some IOO/u of our members are actively involved in volunteering, a truly fantastic contribution and one which begins to explain the Network's success. Some 70 volunteers lead a group, some lead more than one group, bringing people together on a regular basis, providing companionship and purpose for many, week in, week out. A smaller group of dedicated volunteers support our events, whether it be in the pfanning of those events, or delivery on the day- undertaking home baking, organising raffles, setting up tables and chairs, rolling sleeves up in the kitchen, providing refreshments, serving teas, washing up... Our team of "meeters and greeters" volunteer alongside our staff team in the hub, helping to welcome members and those enquiring about becoming a member. Others have supported ourfundraising efforts, seeking sponsorship and support from local businesses, whilst others still have helped to promote our Network in the wider communitv, manning stalls at community awareness days, distributing posters, assisting at bucket collections. Over 30 volunteers stepped up last year to undertake our first aid training sessions. PREMISES Our Members, Hub and administrative centre in the centre of Bathgate continued to be weIl used by many of ouractivity groups, with 26 groups meeting in the designated Activity space on a regular weekly or fortnightly basis. Tne Member5, area ioine vont of ine building 15 used a5 an informal meeiing 5pace/drop in area for members and visitors. Tea and coffee are available as well as information on the Network and its activities. There is aSso space for information about community actlvhties. This space remained very popular with members providing a social space to sit and meet others, enjoy a free cuppa, or take a book or puzzle from our bookshelves. Our premises are accessible, with a stairlift to deal WFth a small flight of steps. After staff, premises are our biggest cost and in 2024125, we had to bear several unexpected, premises-related costs in addition to the annual rent, including roof and drainage repairs. Groups that do not meet at our Members Hub come together in a wide range of other premises across West Lothian, including community centres, church halls, sheltered housing complexes, SP.Orts centres, cafes, pubs and restaurants. SIPage UHINGINCI Pl.()l)Ll. l()(Jl. I111..l¢ M tr rrikJcif'• M¥?iill riy.,, w¢?rti Ii¢•lcJ fjri I lili I kilr(J Ily (J ljl il 11 fi ljil | (_.f lif I l ij Ir iifiej (.tJf fc1é• I,AfJr rilriv), ljiyf.l*rrilJl*r ! Iikii• fi 11(: [Jdrly), Iirii.l MfJrcF) {wFiiJri wii: fri(•l(J (Jijr flJ'.l Jvilriv Irilrj J[)ririV rrii:i-lirsH), **rfi4 I Iiii Il-l fTii•l411 ny"i rf,I f¢1 (Jri fl{l[Jfgrl ijri It y tfj Firlriv ljl.jf rri¢4 rriFJ(:r'. ijr) t.fj ¢J•Jt.c: '.Iiitki tFi¢: trjl J. Ill Nr:Iwurk ijrid wilki driy [JliJri;. fcjr IkiL. fijlijri., l Fi(: / [Jf¢)'Il(J(: IftAi Ilj Ok() ()F.sd 18920 1.08A 6, 776 147 .38, 984 142 1.909 31,112 519 4,957 272 84,818 Doiiiilionj ItoL•IWiTrc1 T?.18 1,441 14AT H(IliO&llS 8nO Trips (note 2) rnrin Shop Fun w'ebi Lothian Counknil Lhri>tmas Granl V3iKer Shoolbraid Charitable Trust (2) J ittn ,4nderson ouier Charitable TrLJSt NTurdoch Forrest Charitable Trust Home Instead Hugh Fraser Foundation Age Scotland JTH Charitable Trust (2) Binks Trust West Lothian Couricillors. Disbiirsements A< For All (2) The National Lottery CF - Akvarkn_ Queensbury House Trust Basil Death Trust Stagecoach Community Fund Royal co.of Merchants of Edinburgh Lommiinity Fund Row Fogo Charitable Trust Stafford Trust Coin Jar Other, Older Funds 500 5,000 25,000 500 1,000 1,098 2,000 100 3,000 2,000 500 3,000 600 500 3,000 800 10.000 10,000 3,000 1,000 500 5,000 25,000 2,000 30,241 2,000 30,241 500 1,000 1,098 2,000 100 2,000 2,000 500 869 600 eiiig 1.000 1,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 2,131 34 500 3,000 800 5,990 10,000 3,000 203 949 4,900 1,602 145 11,117 84,647 2.371 6,381 797 251 1,200 4,900 1,602 a4 16.599 61,990 187 220 73,006 87 5,702 50,349 Total Funds 95,319 173,911 180,728 88,508 Approved By The Trustees Chair Date Secretary Date