REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: SC109126 (Scotland)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: SC050422

Animal Concern Ltd.

(A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Report of the Trustees and

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

4

Independent Examiner's Report

5

Statement of Financial Activities

6

Balance Sheet

7

to

8

Notes to the Financial Statements

9

to

12

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The company was set up with entirely charitable purposes.

Its objectives are:

1. to campaign for the abolition of animal exploitation

2. to end vivisection and replace with non animal alternatives more relevant to humans and

3. to promote the humane treatment of animals through education and campaigning.

Our motto, 'Legislate to Liberate' effectively describes our motivation which is to influence legislation in Scotland in a way that improves the welfare conditions of wild, farmed and domestic animals.

Animal Concern undertakes:

1. research and development, particularly in 'underdog' issues which helps distinguish our organisation from other, larger animal welfare charities

2. lobbying of politicians and other decision-makers

3. writing and sharing of relevant government petitions

4. participation in relevant government consultations

5. collaborative working with other campaign groups, governing bodies and executive non departmental public bodies

6. communicating our message to the public.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

In 2023 and 2024, Animal Concern found itself facing several existential challenges from which it is now beginning to emerge.

These matters involved certain staff and a member of the Board acting in bad faith which breached the charity's code of conduct. This necessarily caused the focus of Directors and core staff to be directed to human resources and legal and charitable compliance which took considerable time and effort. With the guidance available through our SCVO membership, we were able to remove the offending individuals and review and strengthen our policies and procedures to ensure overall good governance. A particular focus on robust recruitment policies has been addressed to prevent any repetition of issues with staff or Trustees.

During this time of upheaval our small, dedicated team diverted their attention to the immediate task of human resources, which meant campaigning, fund raising and lobbying was reduced to a basic level. Focus was put on recruiting new experienced Trustees to ensure a quorate board and to help bring forward momentum to achieving our charitable objectives. With the recruitment of an additional Trustee following the last AGM of 2025, the Board began the restoration of normal operations by recruiting a Campaigner and a Research and Policy Officer with specialist skills in Scots Law and Freedom of Information requests.

Notwithstanding its challenges, Animal Concern has continued to pursue its campaign objectives in 2025.

1. Our independent campaign to end the practice of shaving the tail hair off heavy horses achieved partial success when Minister Fairlie replied to our submission which evidenced why it's important for this practice to end. He wrote that the new equine guidance when published, will state that "best practice is not to shave the tail unless there is a veterinary/welfare reason to do so". Animal Concern continues to pursue legislation over guidance, noting the pushback against such guidance in the heavy horse community.

2. As part of the campaign 'Unbound the Greyhound', Animal Concern and eight other charities contributed to ending the practice of Greyhound racing in Scotland. Together the coalition worked in support of MSP Mark Ruskell's Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill. On 26 November Parliament agreed the motion, which required that Stage 1 of the Bill be completed by 30 January 2026.

3. Animal Concern continues to work independently and with other animal welfare organisations to demand the Scottish Government offer legal protection for farmed fish at the time of slaughter and continues to push for a moratorium on salmon farms in Scotland, insisting that significant improvements be made in existing salmon farming practices while they still operate.

4. Animal Concern has impacted positively on the banning of sky lanterns and helium balloons on council owned land. Of the 32 local authority areas, only seven have implemented no ban and three have partial bans. Focus has centred on those authorities who have failed to take any action whilst concurrently, presenting our case to the Scottish Government to legislate a ban on both public and private land. Venues that host events where these dangerous airborne objects tend to be released will be contacted to propose more animal friendly alternatives.

5. We continue to campaign for stricter regulations around the use of fireworks, participating in consultations, raising awareness and gaining support to pressure for legislation that adequately protects domestic, farmed and wild animals from the impacts of firework use, as well as their impact on vulnerable people. Animal Concern continues to closely follow the Firework Control Zone (FCZ) regulations, encouraging all councils to adopt and enforce FCZ's.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

Animal Concern is no different to the rest of Scotland's charity sector in that the current economic climate is creating challenges in terms of volunteer shortages and the ability to source new income streams for financial stability. Whilst operating costs and expenses have increased with inflation, our staffing complement is still functioning with a core team and our income streams though reduced, have allowed us to continue pursuing the charity's objectives, cutting costs where possible.

To compensate for the impact of high inflation and diminishing revenue sources, the Board's focus going forward will be to conduct a cost efficiency review and identify savings by reducing waste and ensuring operational value for money along with sustainable funding options.

Principal funding sources

Animal Concern continues to benefit from income derived from memberships, donations and bequests. This year our largest single source of income for the charity was legacy donation and contributions offered by individual givers.

Reserves policy

Our reserves policy is designed in a way that we build and/or retain a constant surplus equating to a minimum of six months operational costs. A summary of management accounts and a review of current cash flow are standard agenda items at each Board meeting.

FUTURE PLANS

Having emerged from a period of change which resulted in the loss of staff and Trustees, the charity has focused its energy on replacing these essential roles and ensuring a solid foundation.

Going forward, our recruitment ambitions involve expanding the number of Board members while considering diversity and specialist skills such as Finance, Human Resources, Law and Marketing. Skills gaps in staffing will be also be addressed.

Bearing in mind the current economic climate, the Board are committed to good governance, risk analysis and planning strategically for the next three years to ensure the charity's sustainability. This will give our members a long term overview of our mission and vision, our objectives and resulting action plans.

To commemorate our origins as the Scottish Animal Vivisection Society (SAVS), Animal Concern will host a 150th Anniversary event to which members, benefactors, partner agencies, politicians and journalists will be invited. It will be an occasion to remember the history of Scottish anti vivisection campaigning and remind the public that animal suffering is pernicious and ongoing.

Animal Concern is also honouring its founding charity, SAVS, by resuming the campaign to pressure Government to end vivisection and all testing on animals throughout Scotland. This will be an ongoing campaign for Animal Concern, noting the degree of reluctance by Government to concede the importance of ending cruel and unnecessary experiments on animals.

Moving forward, Animal Concern will continue to address underdog issues that are not well advocated, such as the starving of sheep on the island of St. Kilda, imported fur being sold at Scotland's affluent retailers such as House of Bruar, and other matters of animal concern raised by our members and the public.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

Animal Concern Ltd is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The charity is managed by no less than three and no more than nine members who are proposed and seconded by a minimum of 60% of votes cast at the AGM.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

In accordance with its constitution, Board membership is open to individuals who support the objectives of the organisation and hold membership subscription to the charity.

Any person who wishes to become a Trustee must submit their CV and written personal statement to the Board. The merits of each submission will be considered and interviews undertaken. At this point, Trustees use their discretion to appoint or refuse fellow members.

Having been appointed, a new Trustee must sign a 'Trustee Declaration and Consent Form' which summarises the duties, commitment and code of conduct required of the post. A full written 'Trustee Induction' document is issued and an inaugural meeting with fellow Trustees arranged. Mentoring support is currently offered by the Company Secretary.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

SC109126 (Scotland)

Registered Charity number

SC050422

Registered office

Suite 2/3

48 West George Street

Glasgow

G2 1BP

Trustees

Ms A Baran (resigned 22.6.25)

Ms. A Black (resigned 15.11.25)

Mr. F X Edwards

Ms. S McGillivray (resigned 25.1.26)

Mrs J A Culley (appointed 28.9.25)

Mr B V E Hyde (appointed 27.3.26)

Independent Examiner

Mark Mulholland

Accountants Plus

Chartered Certified Accountants

Second Floor

Airbles House

270 Airbles Road

Motherwell

ML1 3AT

COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

The company was incorporated on 9 February 1988 and achieved charitable status on 1 September 2020.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 11 August 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

Mrs J A Culley - Trustee

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 set out on pages six to twelve.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity's trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under Section 44(1)(c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of the independent examiner's report

My examination was 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 accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as 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 accounts.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with 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 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and

-	to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations

have not been met; or

(2)	to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Mark Mulholland

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Accountants Plus

Chartered Certified Accountants

Second Floor

Airbles House

270 Airbles Road

Motherwell

ML1 3AT

11 August 2026

31.12.25

31.12.24

Unrestricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

49,770

110,681

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

22

328

Charitable activities

Animal welfare

52,636

116,916

Total

52,658

117,244

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(2,888

)

(6,563

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

3,422

9,985

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

534

3,422

31.12.25

31.12.24

Unrestricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

£

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

6

1,922

-

Cash at bank

1,969

4,622

3,891

4,622

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

7

(3,357

)

(1,200

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

534

3,422

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

534

3,422

NET ASSETS

534

3,422

FUNDS

8

Unrestricted funds

534

3,422

TOTAL FUNDS

534

3,422

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 11 August 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

Mrs J A Culley - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Plant and machinery

-

25% on reducing balance

Computer equipment

-

33% on cost

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

2.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

31.12.25

31.12.24

£

£

Other operating leases

1,061

673

3.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2025 nor for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2025 nor for the year ended 31 December 2024.

4.	STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

31.12.25

31.12.24

Employees

2

4

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

5.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Plant and

Computer

machinery

equipment

Totals

£

£

£

COST

At 1 January 2025

1,363

5,199

6,562

Disposals

(1,363

)

(3,542

)

(4,905

)

At 31 December 2025

-

1,657

1,657

DEPRECIATION

At 1 January 2025

1,363

5,199

6,562

Eliminated on disposal

(1,363

)

(3,542

)

(4,905

)

At 31 December 2025

-

1,657

1,657

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 December 2025

-

-

-

At 31 December 2024

-

-

-

6.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

31.12.25

31.12.24

£

£

Prepayments

1,922

-

7.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

31.12.25

31.12.24

£

£

Trade creditors

186

-

Social security and other taxes

1,595

-

Pension creditor

170

-

Accrued expenses

1,406

1,200

3,357

1,200

8.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1.1.25

in funds

31.12.25

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

3,422

(2,888

)

534

TOTAL FUNDS

3,422

(2,888

)

534

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

49,770

(52,658

)

(2,888

)

TOTAL FUNDS

49,770

(52,658

)

(2,888

)

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1.1.24

in funds

31.12.24

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

9,985

(6,563

)

3,422

TOTAL FUNDS

9,985

(6,563

)

3,422

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

110,681

(117,244

)

(6,563

)

TOTAL FUNDS

110,681

(117,244

)

(6,563

)

9.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

The company received donations of £42,000 (2024:£52,000) from Animal Concern Advice Line, a charity whose Trustees are also Directors of Animal Concern Ltd.