Outdoor Horizons Scotland Trustees’ Annual Report From Feb 2025 to Feb 2026
Charity contact information
Outdoor Horizons Scotland
Scottish Charity Number: SC053985
Address: 10 Walker Terrace, Edinburgh
Postcode: EH11 2BH
Telephone number: 07931 508059
Email address: info@outdoorhorizons.org Website: https://www.outdoorhorizons.org/
Twitter / Facebook / Social Media profile name – n/a
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Charity Trustees
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Charles Holt
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Miranda Moody
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Alexander Holt
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Simon Lyell
Miranda, Charles and Alexander – Holt siblings – Roshven 2025
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Objectives and activities
Outdoor Horizons Scotland is a new, small charity based in Edinburgh. It funds disadvantaged young people to take part in outdoor learning by providing them with financial assistance for the cost of their activities, equipment and training.
We want to raise money to pay for basic expenses for outdoor learning opportunities at schools that have no budget for this. We are focusing in the first year on one school in a deprived area of Edinburgh.
Funds will enable the hire of a mini-bus to take a few pupils into the Pentlands for a two-day expedition. They will go towards buying equipment such as hiking boots, waterproofs and tents. These then benefit the next group of children going on a hike, rather than hiring these necessities each time from the local council. This means pupils can start to go on expeditions that qualify for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. We will pay for teachers to do Outdoor Leadership Training qualifications so they can accompany groups of students. It will also pay for cover teachers to allow their release from lessons.
Many large schools can find discretionary budget for these outdoor activities. But smaller schools, where local authority budgets are also tight, inevitably have to prioritise core teaching.
In the first year of this charity, we have registered with OSCR, set up the governance, confirmed the Trustees, created a website, set up Gift Aid and started to raise money. We have also made the first payments to the school for an expedition and the purchase of hats, gloves and walking boots.
We have specific objectives to fund two expeditions in May, and greater ambitions for the next financial and academic year.
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Structure, governance and management
Type of governing document
Outdoor Horizons Scotland is a SCIO – a Scottish Charity Incorporated Organisation. The governing document is the Constitution of Outdoor Horizons Scotland. This is a 16 page document setting General information about the charity, information about the Board (ie the Charity Trustees) Decision-making by the Trustees such as procedures at Board meetings; decision-making by the Trustees as members such as members meetings and minutes; Administration – including the operation of accounts.
Trustee recruitment and appointment
In the first year of the charity we have formalised the 4 Trustees.
Charles Holt is a secondary school teacher in Edinburgh with a specialism in Outdoor Education. It is his school we are currently raising money for.
Alexander Holt is his brother. He currently works for a space industry venture capital company, with experience of government relations.
Simon Lyell is a Partner at the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges in London. He and Charles set up a charity for Charles’s previous school to support outdoor education. When he moved school, they wanted to set up a similar charity to enable outdoor education at this smaller school which had little experience of this.
Miranda Moody , the sister of Charles and Alexander, left the BBC where she had worked for over 25 years, and now has time to run the charity; oversee the governance, create the website (with Alex), start fundraising and organise a sponsored bike ride in April 2026.
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Achievements and performance
As this was the first year of the charity, it took time to set up the governance, the bank account and the website.
We joined charity networks, eg SCVO and Charity Excellence and best practice fundraising platforms eg Get Grants.
Outcome of Year 1:
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We started to raise money from friends and family totalling £2000.
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We bought hats, gloves and walking boots for 15 students.
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We funded a small expedition to the Pentlands in August 2025.
Impact of Year 1:
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The school is very positive about the potential activities the charity will be able to fund.
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Several pupils enjoyed the experience of their first expedition to the Pentlands.
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The Trustees and School realise the importance of owning our own kit, not renting it, and the need to increase the number of qualified teachers to accompany expeditions.
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Financial review
Funds raised
£2000 was raised from friends and family in 11 donations up to January 2026.
Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
In the first year of this charity, we have £2000 in the Bank Account. We hold reserves of £500. If further funds are needed family donors will make these available.
Details of any deficit
There is no deficit in the charity’s funds.
Donated facilities and services
We have no donated facilities. We had the generous service of legal advice pro bono from the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges who wrote the Constitution relevant for the SCIO.
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Future plans
We have specific goals to fund two expeditions in May 2026, and greater ambitions for the next financial and academic year.
EXPEDITIONS:
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2 formal expeditions: S2 (13 year olds) and S3 (14 year olds) for 2 days, 1 night camping and walking in the Pentlands.
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2 practice expedition day trips.
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The older group will do this as part of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.
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Buy more equipment: boots, rucksacks, waterproofs and tents, to store at the school ready for the trips next academic year.
TRAINING:
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To fund two teachers to do a Lowland Leadership Training qualification so they can accompany the May expeditions.
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To fund a third and fourth teacher for future expeditions.
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To have enough money to pay for cover teaching for their classes.
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To focus on children with the most difficult backgrounds to experience outdoor trips for them to increase in confidence and develop leadership potential.
FUNDRAISING:
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Charles and Miranda to do a sponsored bike ride along the Union and Forth & Clyde Canals – Edinburgh to Glasgow in April 2026 to raise money.
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To apply for funds from Trusts and Foundations.
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Declaration
Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:
Miranda Moody
Print name: MIRANDA MOODY
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Tr da Holt
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Designation Trustee and Chief Executive Date 16/7/26
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Miranda
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