The Board of Directors is immensely proud of yipworld’s continued growth, resilience, and impact throughout the past year. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Chief Executive, management team, and staff for their unwavering commitment to improving the lives of young people and families across East Ayrshire.
Their creativity, compassion, and determination have ensured that yipworld remains a trusted and vital part of the community — a place where opportunities are created, confidence is restored, and futures are transformed.
We also wish to acknowledge the invaluable support of our funders, partners, and volunteers whose belief in yipworld’s vision enables us to continue making a meaningful difference every single day.
Together, we look forward to building on this year’s achievements and continuing our shared mission of empowering young people and families to reach their full potential.
On behalf of yipworld Board of Directors
Simon Leitch – Chairperson - yipworld
As Chief Executive of yipworld, I am proud to reflect on another year of real impact for the children, young people, and families we support. Our work continues to make a tangible difference — from helping families facing poverty to regain stability and confidence, to guiding young people towards education, training, and employment opportunities that once felt out of reach.
This year, hundreds of individuals have benefited from our youth work, mentoring, and family support programmes. We have supported parents to rebuild their lives, young people to rediscover self-belief, and communities to thrive together. Every project — from our core service of youth work through to Our Future Now and Families First initiatives.
Our impact is only possible through the dedication of our staff and volunteers, the trust of those we support, and the ongoing investment of our funders and partners. Together, we are not only improving lives today but building stronger, more resilient communities for tomorrow”.
Janice Hendry
Chief Executive, yipworld
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The charity's objects are to provide activities that contribute to the personal, social, emotional and educational development of young people including information on digital technology, recreational activities, positive health and wellbeing including emotional health and assistance to seek employment through funding activities and grants.
Our Beginnings – The Year 2000
The year 2000 marked the beginning of something extraordinary. yipworld opened its doors with a bold vision — to provide a complete youth work service for children and young people in East Ayrshire and beyond. From the outset, sustainability was high on the agenda, and while initial funding was secured for three years, the ambition was far greater — to build a model that would stand the test of time.
Early investment from a variety of funders enabled yipworld to establish a diverse delivery model that responded directly to community need. Alongside grant-funded projects, there was an early and deliberate focus on social enterprise, recognising that long-term sustainability would depend on a healthy balance of earned income and grant support.
Innovative Childcare and Family Support
One of our earliest successes was the introduction of regulated childcare to address the shortage of affordable after-school care locally. The creation of Cookies Crèche provided working parents and those with low-level mental health challenges a vital lifeline — a safe, nurturing space for their children, and precious time for parents to work, study, or simply recharge.
2005 and Beyond – Growth Through Innovation
By 2005, yipworld had become a respected name in community-based innovation. An evaluation and sustainability study by EKOS provided a blueprint for our survival and development through to 2010. Out of this emerged two groundbreaking initiatives:
T.A.R.D.I.S. – A mobile digital learning hub, housed within a bespoke van equipped with satellite technology and comfortable seating. This pioneering concept brought the internet and learning opportunities directly to rural communities, long before mobile technology was commonplace.
Men into Childcare – A progressive initiative tackling gender imbalance in the childcare, nursing and education sectors. Young men were given paid work placements, developing confidence, employability and empathy in professions traditionally underrepresented by males.
During this period, yipworld also launched its very own recording studio, offering young people the opportunity to record, rehearse, and express their creativity within a safe and encouraging environment. These early participants went on to pursue careers in the arts and media — a legacy we remain proud of today.
A Quarter of a Century of Change – 2024 into 2025
Fast forward to 2024–2025, and yipworld proudly celebrates a quarter of a century of trailblazing service delivery. Over these 25 years, we have:
Identified and filled countless gaps in community provision.
Partnered with organisations to complement and enhance services.
Supported generations of children, many of whom are now returning with their own children.
Maintained the trust of funders through strong delivery and measurable impact.
We have truly “rocked the world of investors” — always promising to deliver and always keeping that promise.
National Lottery Awards for All – Rediscovering Scotland
Following the pandemic, we observed a visible change in young people — lower confidence, reduced social skills, and a limited awareness of their own country’s culture and beauty. Through a National Lottery Awards for All grant, yipworld created opportunities for young people to reconnect with Scotland.
In partnership with Dumfries and Galloway, we hosted shared residential experiences, celebrating our communities and highlighting our local amenities. Young people rediscovered friendships, nature, and pride in where they live — outcomes that were both moving and measurable.
Community Partnership and Collaboration
To strengthen local collaboration, we established a Local Partnership Meeting — a regular forum bringing together agencies and organisations to share information, improve communication, and coordinate opportunities for children, young people and families. This has fostered stronger relationships, reduced duplication, and enhanced collective impact.
Summer Playscheme – “Scunnered”
Our ever-popular Summer Playscheme, affectionately named “Scunnered,” once again brought laughter, creativity and relief to families. Over three fun-packed days, children engaged in enriching activities while parents and carers were supported to balance work and family life — all at an affordable, inclusive price.
Celebrating Coalfields Regeneration Trust
We proudly participated in the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust at the Ochiltree Community Hub, highlighting our long-standing partnership and the life-changing outcomes achieved through initiatives like Men into Childcare.
Building the Next Generation of Leadership
Our Chief Executive remains deeply committed to yipworld’s future sustainability. Recognising the importance of succession planning, staff were provided with opportunities to learn the complex and rewarding world of fundraising.
This hands-on experience resulted in a successful National Lottery Young Start Fund application — securing three years of investment to deliver a mentoring and volunteering initiative for and with young people.
Inspiring Scotland – Our Future Now
In its 15th year of investment, the Our Future Now partnership with Inspiring Scotland continues to transform lives. Since joining the programme, yipworld has supported over 4,500 young people aged 14–25, many not in education, employment or training.
We’ve helped young people refocus on education, engage in alternative learning, and raise their aspirations for the future — supporting them not just into work or training, but into confident, purposeful adulthood.
Saturday Family Fun Days were introduced over the winter period to address the cost-of-living crisis whereby yipworld provided a safe, warm environment for families to attend and enjoy an abundance of free activities and food on offer. We also continued to distribute the duvet warm packs to families struggling with day to day costs.
Strong Connections is a funded initiative through Scottish Government Investing in Communities funding. This is an outreach service in rural communities within the South of East Ayrshire providing youth groups and family support for those in need. This is the first year of a three-year funded initiative.
Special projects and initiatives – yipworld was awarded a grant from Community Fund Awards for All to develop a strong partnership with youth initiatives across Scotland and Northern Ireland following the research and development which identified the lack of confidence and low level mental health issues of young people following the pandemic. We were delighted to coordinate ‘It’s a Small World’ where we will host three youth groups with a full packed programme of activities. The concept is our young people will visit other groups as a residential to develop their knowledge of their country and build their confidence and knowledge of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Living Wage accreditation was received to help us secure contract opportunities through East Ayrshire Council Trusted Partnership framework and Public Contracts Scotland.
Staff Training and Continual Professional Development
yipworld Board of Directors is committed to the professional development of staff and volunteers and will invest time and financial resources to ensure services are delivered effectively and efficiently at all times.
yipworld was a finalist in the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award.
International Partnerships
We proudly hosted our fourteenth German student from the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative University in Stuttgart. Although recent Home Office protocols mean this will be our final placement, we reflect on over twelve years of a rich, rewarding international partnership that fostered cross-cultural learning and understanding. New opportunities will no doubt emerge, and our connection with the University will remain strong.
Scottish Government – Investing in Communities Fund
Now in its third year, this fund has enabled us to deliver a high-quality programme of youth groups in rural areas such as Muirkirk and New Cumnock, where activities and facilities are limited.
Our outreach Dropzone sessions bring youth work directly into parks and open spaces, while our Family Fun Fortnights provide intergenerational activities throughout the colder months.
Complementing this, our Duvet Appeal has provided Warm Packs to families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, bringing comfort and dignity to homes where every bit of warmth matters.
Employment and Training – Growing Our Social Enterprise
We continue to strengthen our financial sustainability through income generation, including delivery of employability contracts for East Ayrshire Council. We are proud to have met and exceeded our targets, demonstrating the professionalism and value-for-money yipworld represents.
Our Lawn Rangers Garden maintenance social enterprise has flourished this year, offered practical outdoor services while created training and employment opportunities. Two employees successfully achieved ‘Train the Trainer’ qualifications, enabling them to deliver skills development in safe use of lawnmowers, strimmers and gardening equipment — further enhancing the objectives of our Fairer Futures Fund.
Fairer Futures Fund – Families First
Through ongoing investment from the Scottish Government and East Ayrshire Council, our Families First project continues to support families living in hardship to rebuild their lives.
This person-centred programme helps parents organise their homes, manage budgets, and restore stability. Families have transformed not only their living environments but also their confidence and emotional wellbeing.
Our support goes beyond the practical — it is about dignity, trust and hope. Together, we help families create a home where children can feel safe, healthy and happy.
Looking Ahead
As we move on and beyond our 25th anniversary, yipworld stands strong — a community-rooted, forward-looking organisation that continues to evolve with purpose.
From a single youth service in 2000 to a thriving, multifaceted charity and social enterprise in 2025, our journey is a testament to the power of belief, resilience, and collaboration.
We remain committed to our founding values — Honesty, Passion, Unity and Caring — and to delivering life-changing opportunities for generations to come.
The Statement of Financial Activities for the year shows total income of £481,104 and total expenditure of £401,981 which results in a net income of £79,123. Unrestricted reserves now stand at £427,948 and restricted reserves stand at £39,720.
It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds, which are free reserves of the charity. Unrestricted reserves are to be kept at a level consistent with the expenditure of the charity for day-to-day operational requirements and the trustees funding strategy.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee incorporated on 10th March 2000 and charitable status was awarded on that date by The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Trustees may be drawn from the membership of the company by election at an Annual General Meeting or by appointment by the trustees either to fill a vacancy or as an additional trustee. The trustees may also appoint any non-member as a director.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
Organisational structure
Senior staff member, Janice Hendry has been delegated control of the overall management of the charity and reports directly to the Board of Trustees.
The charity is controlled by its Board of Trustees. None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of winding up.
The charity has in place directors’ and officers' liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of £250,000.
Induction and training of new trustees
New directors undergo an appropriate induction programme to brief them on their obligations under charity and company law and the financial performance of the company.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 8 to 21.
It is my responsibility to examine the financial statements as required under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1)(a) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and Regulation 4 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, and
to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006
have not been met, or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Yipworld is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is Barrhill Road, Cumnock, Ayrshire, KA18 1PG.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended), FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The charity is recognised by H M Revenue and Customs as a charity and accordingly exempt from taxation on income which is applied for charitable purposes. The company is not registered for Value Added Tax and, accordingly, any such irrecoverable tax is included in the expenditure concerned.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Voluntary help
Voluntary help is not included in the accounts, the value attached to these unpaid volunteers has not been quantified. However, Yipworld acknowledges the reduction in running costs achieved by such help.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity considered its key management personnel comprise the trustees and the Chief Executive. The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
Aggregate compensation includes the total cost to the charity including employers national insurance, pension contributions and travel expenses.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Awards for All - Hosted shared residential experiences to reconnect young people.
East Ayrshire Council – core youth work services and equipment repairs.
Council for Voluntary Organisations – This fund is for promotion of positive mental health for adults in East Ayrshire communities.
Cycling UK grant accounts for the net book value of cycle assets purchased in previous years.
Cycling Events Fund – to host cycling events from a variety of funders
Bike Development Fund is to develop a local bike initiative for the community encouraging active travel through walking and cycling. This would include loan or hire of bikes to the general public; the provision of cycle maintenance and teaching children and young people about care of their bikes and use of their bikes to include health and safety on the roads.
Scottish Government Investing in Communities Strong Connections is toward salaries of coordinator; youth worker and administrator as a team to provide youth and community services in outlying rural communities encouraging a pathway to positive destinations in further education, training, volunteering or employment.
Scottish Cyclists grant is like the bike development fund
The cost of living fund provides a free fortnightly family service in yipworld as a warm space on Saturdays to enjoy activities as a family with provision of free food and resources.
Event grant was to organise a youth work open day event.
EAC recruitment incentive provides reimbursement of salaries for long term unemployed for a six month period.
Employability Contract 25+ was to support an employability project.
UK Steel Enterprise Grant was funding to support adolescents who face barriers to education, enabling them to get back on track through its dedicated Skills Shop programme aimed at pupils from Robert Burns Academy’s Barony Campus in Cumnock
9CC Group funding was received to support The Bike Hoose Skills Shop project.
Tesco - Ground Work UK was to support staff costs for The Skills Shop project.
Pathway to Paris Community Grant was funding to support the Summer Scunnered programme.
Fairer Future Partnership The purpose of the grant is to take forward successful implementation of the Fairer FuturesPartnership Programme in East Ayrshire to reduce child poverty and reduce demand for public services.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
During the year the charity entered into the following transactions with related parties:
The charity purchased good totalling £906 (2024 - £2,127) from Donsport, a business controlled by Stewart Birrell a trustee. The transactions were at "arms length" and represented various sportswear items. At the year end £126 was outstanding (2024 - £nil)