T R U S T E E S ' A N N U A L R E P O R T Reporting period 1 November 2024 — 31 October 2025
Gartcosh Development Trust
REGISTERED CHARITY PRINCIPAL ADDRESS ONLINE SC053838 122 Lochend Rd, Gartcosh gartcoshdevelopmenttrust.com North Lanarkshire, G69 8AY
Gartcosh Development Trust · Trustees' Annual Report 2024–2025
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THE YEAR AT A GLANCE
A year of acceleration. Membership has grown more than twelvefold since 2024, our restored village park is now in daily use, and our Local Place Plan is registered with North Lanarkshire Council. With Stage 1 of the Scottish Land Fund secured, we are now preparing the Community Asset Transfer of the village's old school and community hall.
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250+ £51,710 20–30
Members Income Park visitors / day
Up from 20 in 2024 7.2× the prior year From a standing start
£2,500 5-yr 2
SLF Stage 1 contribution Local Place Plan Buildings in CAT scope
First major own-funds milestone Registered with NLC Old school + community hall
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Growth in Trust activity, 2023–2026
Source: GDT membership records, financial accounts and park monitoring observations.
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Gartcosh Development Trust · Trustees' Annual Report 2024–2025
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ADMINISTRATION DETAILS
Charity name Gartcosh Development Trust
Registered charity number SC053838
Principal address 122 Lochend Road Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire G69 8AY
Trustees on date of approval
| # | Trustee | Office | Acted |
| 1 | John Wales | Director / Chair | Whole year |
| 2 | Colin Nicholson | Director / Secretary | Whole year |
| 3 | Isobel Kelly | Director / Treasurer | Whole year |
| 4 | Robin Bell | Director | Whole year |
| 5 | Arlene Langford | Director | Whole year |
| 6 | Andrew Fairchild | Director | Whole year |
| 7 | Linda Walker | Director | Whole year |
| 8 | Hugh James Harra | Director | Whole year |
| 9 | Catherine McGinty | Director | Whole year |
| 10 | Councillor Greg Lennon | Associate Director (no voting rights) | Whole year |
All trustees were appointed by GDT membership and Board to the next AGM.
Trustees who resigned during the year
Craig Cremin — acted for part of the financial period 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025.
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Type of governing document
Our constitution is governed by the Articles of Association of Gartcosh Development Trust. It is a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. The model was recommended by Development Trust Association Scotland.
Charitable purposes
The company has been formed to benefit principally the community of Gartcosh and Mount Ellen, with the following objects:
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Community development
The advancement of community development principally within this Community.
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Environment
The advancement of environmental protection or improvement.
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Recreation
The provision of recreational facilities, or the organisation of recreational activities, with the object of improving the conditions for the persons for whom the facilities or activities are primarily intended.
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Relief of need
The relief of those in need by reason of age, illhealth, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
Trustee recruitment and appointment
Trustees have been recruited from members of the community and community organisations, namely: Gartcosh Tenants and Residents Association, Friends of Gartcosh, Parent & Toddlers Group, and Gartcosh Parent Council.
Recruitment is at the members' AGM and can also be made by the Board during the AGM year if there are resignations, but appointees must stand down and go up for re-election at the next AGM. One third of the board, or any trustee after three years, must resign but may be re-elected. The Board, and the AGM, can appoint an associate or co-opted director who does not have to be a resident or member but is appointed for their knowledge base; they have no voting rights, only three may be appointed at any time, and all other directors (up to nine) must be full directors. Our next AGM is in May 2026.
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ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE
Our activities have been to make residents aware of GDT and to further the purposes of the Trust. This has been achieved through social media, our website, newsletters, questionnaires and community events. From this activity we have progressed several major workstreams.
Three pillars of progress
01
Park restored
Stage 2 of the village park restoration is complete; the official opening will be in summer 2026. New seating and play equipment have driven a measurable rise in usage by children, dog walkers and adults of all ages.
02
Place Plan registered
The Local Place Plan, a five-year roadmap built from community consultation, is now formally registered with North Lanarkshire Council and sets the direction for our work to 2030.
03
CAT underway
Stage 1 of the Scottish Land Fund grant has been secured, funding the technical assessment of the village's old school and community hall — the buildings we are pursuing through Community Asset Transfer.
The park: from derelict ground to daily community asset
Monitoring of the park across its different phases has shown a clear and accelerating increase in use. Where the site previously saw effectively no daily visitors, current observations record between 20 and 30 people using the park each day in spring 2026. This usage spans all age groups: children at play, dog walkers, parents with toddlers, and older residents using the new seating.
Before
After
The park is free to use, open 365 days a year, and now provides an outdoor operational base for the Trust.
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The Local Place Plan: a community-built roadmap
The Local Place Plan (LPP) is a five-year plan developed through extensive community consultation. It provides a roadmap of activity that the community itself cares about, and is now formally registered with North Lanarkshire Council.
From that consultation, an opportunity for Community Asset Transfer (CAT) emerged: to create amenities, social gathering space, and health-and-wellbeing services from buildings the village would otherwise lose. The LPP is available digitally and in hard copy, and is attached to this report.
Membership has grown from a standing start of 20 members to almost 100 in 2025 and over 250 going into the 2026 AGM — a clear signal of community endorsement of this direction.
Summary of achievements this financial period
This year's achievements span the restoration of the park, the creation and registration of the LPP, and the start of our journey to complete a Community Asset Transfer of the old school and community hall. We have run an awareness campaign with newsletters, posters and banners, and held small community events.
We successfully obtained a Stage 1 grant from the Scottish Land Fund to carry out a technical assessment of both buildings — valuation, condition survey, feasibility study and business plan. North Lanarkshire Council has also awarded grants to renovate the park and assist with the CAT technical assessment. We have established a relationship with Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, who are helping us plan a Technologically Enriched Rehabilitation Gym (TERG) for stroke survivors as part of the health-and-wellbeing activity associated with CAT. We are taking a grass-roots approach to health and are in discussions with the local pharmacy to relocate within the CAT site and provide consultation on the 28 conditions pharmacists are able to treat — reducing pressure on local GPs. CAT will provide an operational base for the Trust, amenities for children, young people and families, and social gathering space for all residents.
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Are we meeting our objectives?
| Are we meeting our objectives? | |
|---|---|
| Documented in the LPP. Cultivation of previously derelict ground at the village park is the most visible example. |
|
| Environmental protection or improvement |
|
| We still have no operating premises, which limits our wider activity, but with the park restored and CAT progressing, recreational provision in the village has materially improved. Free community events are now regularly held in the park. |
|
| Provision of recreational facilities and activities |
|
| The park is free to all, open 365 days a year, with improved access and seating designed for disabled and older residents. Free community events have been held with this purpose in mind, and the planned TERG and pharmacy provision through CAT extend this work into health. |
|
| Relief of those in need | |
FINANCIAL POSITION
Reserves policy
Almost all monies received this year have been restricted funds — through designated crowdfunding or grants. We have made some progress on committed expenditure: maintenance of the park, liability insurance, monthly bank service charges and accountancy fees. We started a small community lottery, which has covered the expenses listed above.
Our events are free, with little room to provide or raise unrestricted funds. We have been dependent on grants which, by their nature, are restricted in their use — for example for the restoration of the park or the technical requirements of CAT.
We recognise the importance of a reserves policy. At this stage of our journey our focus is on forecast committed expenditure for 2026/27 that would not be covered by grants. The Board understands that a reserves policy provides resilience and sustainability, and demonstrates both to funders.
We continue to identify our restricted funds for the purpose for which they were awarded, and committed expenditure as listed above, which currently leaves no reserve. This is reported monthly. In gaining the Stage 1 grant from the Scottish Land Fund, our own contribution was £2,500. This is a major step forward — we are now in a position to provide a contribution. The Stage 2 application, covering two buildings, will be a substantially greater task, and securing that contribution will be our focus through 2026.
We have the framework for a reserves policy in that we have identified the elements needed to determine one. A reserve fund continues to be linked to ongoing Board discussions on fundraising and revenue-stream targets, regarded as free money for non-specific purposes. At present we hold equipment and land to maintain, which does not attract the same risk as the maintenance and repair of buildings. We have no paid staff, and so do not face the risk of legislative change around staff
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Gartcosh Development Trust · Trustees' Annual Report 2024–2025
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costs. At this point we have concentrated on getting projects off the ground to create an income stream that incorporates reserves. Through the business plan we are currently creating, we will incorporate resilience and sensitivity analysis. We have looked at revenue streams that will create a sink/reserve fund and a firm policy for the future, and that are core to our charitable purpose.
Deficit and donated services
D E F I C I T
No deficit.
D O N A T E D F A C I L I T I E S O R S E R V I C E S The Coalfield Regeneration Trust provided support and resources to create the LPP. The advice, support and resources were provided free, and we are very grateful.
Additional information
We list and encourage participation in:
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Park restoration
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The Local Place Plan
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Community Asset Transfer
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Fundraising
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Volunteering
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Membership
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Community events
Newsletters and full articles, including the LPP, are available on our website at gartcoshdevelopmenttrust.com. Recent items include:
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Newsletter Issue 3 — December 2025
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Gartcosh Local Place Plan registered with North Lanarkshire Council
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Gartcosh Development Trust · Trustees' Annual Report 2024–2025
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DECLARATION
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees' Annual Report above. Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Isobel Kelly
Colin Nicholson
Isobel Ann Kelly Director / Treasurer Date: 23/4/2026
Colin Nicholson Director / Secretary Date: 23/4/2026
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