Annual Report 2024
Blue Light Surf Club – Scotland
Supporting Our Heroes: A Journey of Healing Through Surfing
Chair’s Introduction
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It is with pride that I present the first annual report of the Blue Light Surf Club – Scotland, following the charity’s formation in 2024. This has been a foundational year, marked by planning, partnership building, and the establishment of strong operational frameworks. Although our active programs have not yet occurred, our journey so far has laid essential groundwork for long-term impact.
Our partnership with the Lost Shore Surf Resort, now fully operational in Ratho, just outside Edinburgh, opens a unique opportunity. This world-class inland surfing facility will allow us to deliver year-round therapeutic surf experiences for Scotland’s emergency service workers—those who serve and protect our communities every day, often at great personal cost.
The Scottish Government has rightly highlighted the urgent need for increased mental health support for frontline workers. High rates of PTSD, stress, and emotional burnout continue to affect the mental well-being of emergency responders across Scotland. Our charity is a direct response to that challenge.
We are immensely grateful to our supporters, stakeholders, and emerging partnersyou’re your enthusiasm and commitment to our mission. Your support, whether financial, practical, or moral, fuels the development of this much-needed service. We believe passionately that surfing can be a catalyst for recovery, growth, and community.
Thank you for joining us at the start of this journey. The waves of change are coming, and together, we will ride them to build a stronger, healthier future for those who have given so much in the line of duty.
With warmest thanks and best wishes,
Charity Overview
Charity Name : Blue Light Surf Club – Scotland
Charity Number : SC052954
Date of Incorporation : 2024
Legal Form : Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO)
Charitable Purpose : The organization’s purposes are to advance the health of emergency service, healthcare, and other public service workers in Scotland, through the provision of evidence-based surf therapy courses. Specific activities to support this purpose include: (a) Developing and providing evidence-based activities, training and education to help participants maintain or improve their health and experience relief from suffering while attending the program. (b) Encouraging and supporting participants to discuss mental health without stigma and be enabled to actively access support. This includes signposting to and supporting participants to access further acute and/or clinical mental health care where required. (c) To enable and support the undertaking of research into the use of community based/ physical activity approaches to support emergency service, healthcare, and other public sector workers.
Key Activities in 2024
This year has been marked by extensive groundwork to ensure the sustainable growth and impact of Blue Light Surf Club. Our focus has been on building the foundations necessary for delivering safe, effective, and meaningful surf therapy in partnership with leading institutions.
Strategic Partnerships
A major milestone this year was finalising our core partnership with the Lost Shore Surf Resort, Scotland’s first inland surf destination. This collaboration will allow us to deliver surfing-based therapy year-round, independent of seasonal weather constraints, and is a cornerstone of our expansion strategy. With the resort opening in November 2024 , our joint planning has focused on logistics, shared values, and integrating mental wellbeing objectives into the venue’s wider community engagement
Programme Design
We’ve worked closely with both mental health professionals and qualified surf instructors to develop a new, structured programme of surf therapy. The course design is built on
evidence-based practices and tailored to support individuals working in emergency services and high-stress professions. The result will be a scalable, replicable model that blends therapeutic techniques with the restorative power of the ocean (and surf technology), ensuring measurable outcomes and long-term benefit for participants.
Governance & Compliance
Ensuring our services are delivered safely and ethically has been a top priority. In 2024, we implemented a full suite of governance policies, including safeguarding protocols, health and safety measures, and volunteer guidelines. These frameworks align with national best practices and ensure our organisation is equipped to manage risk responsibly as we grow.
Fundraising & Outreach
Recognising the long-term financial needs of a year-round offering, we’ve engaged early with funders, donors, and grant-making bodies to secure resources for our 2025 rollout. These conversations have been encouraging, with strong interest from mental health charities, corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners, and outdoor wellbeing advocates.
Volunteer Leadership & Capacity
It’s important to recognise that the trustees serve in a voluntary capacity, balancing Blue Light Surf Club commitments with their own full-time roles and responsibilities. Some of the Trustees also work or volunteer within blue light services themselves. Their lived experience and professional insights are central to our mission, ensuring our work stays rooted in the real-world challenges of frontline workers. This also means that development activity in the past year has necessarily put a priority on support for the Lost Shore partnership and programme planning over broader organisational growth or any initial implementation. This focused approach has ensured that limited resources are used strategically to lay strong foundations for an impactful launch in 2025.
Financial Overview
As this was a planning year, financial activity was limited. A full statement of financial activities will be submitted with our financial accounts. Highlights include:
Total Income: £747.00
Total Expenditure: £0.00
Closing Reserves: £747.00
Plans for 2025
• Launch Pilot Programme: Delivering our first wave of therapeutic surf sessions in partnership with Lost Shore Surf Resort, beginning in Spring 2025.
• Scale and Expand: Based on the success of our pilot, increase capacity and reach more emergency service personnel across Scotland.
• Research & Impact: Partner with academic institutions to formally evaluate programme outcomes and refine our approach.
• Fundraising Campaigns: Launch targeted fundraising efforts to ensure programme sustainability.
Structure, Governance & Management
Blue Light Surf Club – Scotland is governed by a board of trustees responsible for strategic direction, oversight, and legal compliance. The charity is committed to good governance and operates in line with OSCR’s regulatory framework.
Trustees meet quarterly and adhere to a conflict-of-interest policy. Safeguarding, data protection, and financial controls are reviewed annually.
Gratitude and Acknowledgements
We would like to thank everyone who believed in the vision of the Blue Light Surf Club during our formation year. Their trust, encouragement, and shared passion has helped lay a strong foundation. Special thanks go to:
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Our partners at Lost Shore Surf Resort
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Members of the emergency services who contributed insights
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Early donors and supporters
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Mental health and surf professionals shaping our programme
Contact Us
info@bluelightsurfclub.co.uk
https://bluelightsurfclub.co.uk/
Registered as a Scottish Charity with OSCR (SC052954)
All rights reserved © 2024 Blue Light Surf Club – Scotland
Charity Registration Number: SC052954
THE BLUE LIGHT SURF CLUB SCOTLAND
ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
THE BLUE LIGHT SURF CLUB SCOTLAND
CONTENTS
| Legal and Administrative Information | 1 |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 2 - 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 |
| Statement of Receipts & Payments | 5 |
| Statement of Balances | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 |
THE BLUE LIGHT SURF CLUB SCOTLAND LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
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Company number
Bankers
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SC052954 Barclays Bank PLC 1 Churchill Place London E14 5HP
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THE BLUE LIGHT SURF CLUB SCOTLAND REPORT OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
The trustees, for the purpose of charity law, have pleasure in presenting their report and financial statements for the year ended 30 November 2024.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, applicable law and requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, “Accounting and Reporting by Charities".
Organisation
The company is registered as a charity in Scotland with the charity registration number SC052954.
Objects of the charity and performance during the year
The organisation’s purposes are to advance the health of emergency service, healthcare, and other public service workers in Scotland, through the provision of evidence-based surf therapy courses. Specific activities to support this purpose include:
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i) Developing and providing evidence-based activities, training and education to help participants maintain or improve their health, and experience relied from suffering while attending the program;
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ii) Encouraging and supporting participants to discuss mental health without stigma and be enabled to actively access support. This includes signposting to and supporting participants to access further acute and/or clinical mental health care where required; and
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iii) To enable and support the undertaking of research into the use of community based/ physical activity approaches to support emergency service, healthcare, and other public sector workers.
The trustees remain committed to the future development of the charitable organisation.
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities and setting the objectives for the year.
Trustees
The charity is administered by its trustees who meet as required throughout the year.
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Charity Number: SC052954
THE BLUE LIGHT SURF CLUB SCOTLAND
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
Trustees
The trustees who held office during the year were as follows:
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Beneficial interest
The trustees have no beneficial interests in the assets of the charity.
Risk management
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those relating to the operations and finances of the charity and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
Financial Review
The charity received £737 in donations within the year. The year-end cash balance is £737. It also represents the free reserves of the charity.
Approval
The report approved by the trustees on August 31, 2025:
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Charity Number: SC052954
THE BLUE LIGHT SURF CLUB SCOTLAND
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
I report on the financial statements of the Blue Light Surf Club Scotland for the year ended 30 November 2024, which are set out on pages 5 to 6. In my opinion, the accounts comply with the requirements of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
Signed:
Date: 31 August 2025
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Charity Number: SC052954
THE BLUE LIGHT SURF CLUB SCOTLAND
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
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Total 2024
Receipts
Donations from individuals 737
Payments:
Raising funds -
Surplus/(Deficit) 737
Total funds brought forward -
Total funds carried forward 737
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Charity Number: SC052954
STATEMENT OF BALANCES
THE BLUE LIGHT SURF CLUB SCOTLAND
AS AT 30 November 2024
2024 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 737 737 - Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current liabilities Total assets less current liabilities 737 Surplus Unrestricted funds 737 737
The notes on page 7 form part of the financial statements.
The financial statements were approved by the trustees and authorised for issue on August 31, 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
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Charity Number: SC052954
YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THE BLUE LIGHT SURF CLUB SCOTLAND
1) Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
These accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).
2) Nature and purpose of funds
The charity operates a single unrestricted general fund for all activities. No restricted funds were held in the year.
3) Trustee Remuneration
No trustee received remuneration.
4) Independent Examiner
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Name
Address
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Qualification ICAS
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