Trustees’ Annual Report
Kidney Kids Scotland Charitable Trust
Year Ended 30 June 2025
Kidney Kids Scotland is a registered Scottish Charitable Trust (SC030284), governed by a Deed of Trust. The Charity operates across Scotland, with its main office based in Falkirk. Trustees meet quarterly to oversee strategic direction, financial stewardship, and compliance with OSCR and safeguarding standards.
In 2024–25, we refined our mission, vision, and values statements to better reflect our commitment to inclusion, transparency, and child-centred care.
Mission Statement
Kidney Kids Scotland exists to support children and young people living with kidney conditions across Scotland, and to provide practical, emotional, and financial assistance to their families. We work in partnership with healthcare professionals and communities to alleviate hardship, promote wellbeing, and ensure that every child affected by renal illness receives the care, dignity, and opportunities they deserve.
Vision Statement
We envision a Scotland where no child with a kidney condition feels isolated or unsupported. Our goal is to create a future in which all families affected by childhood renal illness have equitable access to resources, community, and compassionate care—regardless of geography or circumstance.
Core Values
Compassion
We place the needs and experiences of children and families at the heart of everything we do, responding with empathy, respect, and understanding.
Integrity
We act with transparency, accountability, and professionalism, upholding the trust placed in us by families, donors, and partners.
Equity
We are committed to promoting fairness, inclusion, and accessibility, ensuring that our support reaches all who need it.
Collaboration
We work constructively with families, healthcare providers, volunteers, and stakeholders to deliver meaningful and sustainable impact.
Support and Opportunity
We create spaces where children and families can connect with others who share similar experiences—so they feel understood, uplifted, and never alone. Through practical support and meaningful opportunities, we help build confidence, community, and hope.
Generosity
Once again, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the exceptionally generous Scottish public, as well as the many Trusts and Companies whose support has enabled Kidney Kids Scotland to continue its vital work. Your contributions have made a tangible difference in the lives of children across Scotland living with renal and urology conditions. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has stood beside us this year.
In-Centre Haemodialysis: A Lifeline for Many
Children requiring in-centre Haemodialysis—an essential treatment for those with end-stage renal failure—must travel to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow three times a week, for sessions lasting three to four hours. This is the only facility in Scotland offering paediatric Haemodialysis, meaning families must make this journey regardless of their postcode.
Recognising the critical nature of this treatment, Kidney Kids Scotland continues to prioritise support for the Haemodialysis Unit. The Charity has funded every Haemodialysis machine currently in use and remains committed to updating and replacing equipment as needed. Maintaining these machines in optimal condition ensures that the most chronically ill children receive the highest standard of care.
Sadly, we have seen a rise in the number of children travelling long distances for treatment, placing significant financial and emotional strain on families. As a result, we have increased the level of financial support distributed to help ease this burden.
Home Haemodialysis: Bringing Care Closer to Families
We are delighted that the Home Haemodialysis Service is now funded by the NHS. This service was originally established by a Permanent Home Haemodialysis Nurse Specialist, whose post was funded by Kidney Kids Scotland. She continues to enhance the service daily, helping to bring care closer to home for families across Scotland.
Since our founding in 2000, one of our core aims has been to ensure that children receive treatment as near to home as possible. The development of the Home Haemodialysis Service was a major undertaking, with Kidney Kids Scotland committing £123,000 over three years. The impact of this initiative has been profound—potentially life-changing for children awaiting transplants and for their families.
The service was officially launched in October 2016, marking a milestone as the first Scottish child began receiving Haemodialysis at home. This model of care reflects a broader shift in healthcare: hospital-based treatment when necessary, complemented by innovative approaches that allow more care to be delivered at home.
While the service is now fully operational, it is not suitable for every child. Some families may not be in a position to take on the significant responsibility of managing intensive treatment at home. For those who can, however, the benefits are transformative. In one notable case, a Home Haemodialysis machine was installed in another Scottish hospital, supported by a trained nurse, to assist a child unable to receive treatment at home—saving them from the exhausting weekly travel to Glasgow.
Transplant Support and Education
For children with end-stage renal failure, transplantation remains the most effective treatment option. In partnership with Dr. Deepa Athavale, Kidney Kids Scotland funded and produced a series of informative booklets for families, covering many aspects of renal illness and transplantation. These resources have been warmly received by medical professionals, parents, and children alike, offering clarity, reassurance, and vital knowledge during a challenging time.
Dundee Scottish Continence
One of the primary goals of the Dunee Children’s Continence Project was to establish strong clinical leadership and supervision, addressing the fragmented nature of the previous service, which lacked a dedicated Paediatric Nurse management role. Since the Charity began funding the service, the introduction of a properly trained and staffed Children’s Bladder and Bowel Service has led to significantly improved outcomes for children and families living withing the Dundee area, enhanced efficiency, and reduced healthcare costs. All new GP referrals are now directed to the community service, preventing unnecessary acute paediatric appointments. Children are also being referred by paediatricians for ongoing care within the service, and many have been successfully discharged from containment product use, reflecting improved continence outcomes. A high number of new children have been assessed, but only a small proportion required containment products, highlighting the effectiveness of early interventions. Referral numbers have increased substantially compared to the previous service model, now including referrals from GPs, community paediatricians, and general paediatricians. Enuresis referrals have also grown, and children are now being offered review appointments more quickly, supporting faster discharges and better outcomes for families. The addition of a Band 3 staff member to support step-down care and provide close follow-up after discharge is expected to enhance continuity of care and significantly reduce the risk of relapse.
The service has been functioning well under the leadership and supervision of an experienced Project Nurse, whose clinical expertise and vision for service development have been key.
The Charity not only funded but also fully proved the value and impact of this post, demonstrating that a dedicated Paediatric Continence Nurse role brings substantial and measurable benefits to both patients and the wider health system. Although the Charity is no longer funding this post, it is very satisfied that its support has helped to fill a much-needed gap in service provision. Kidney Kids Scotland has fulfilled its obligation and is delighted with what has been achieved with an investment of £132,976 over the past two years. This also explains why charitable spend is down compared to previous years, as Kidney Kids Scotland no longer has the financial commitment of funding the Paediatric Continence Nurse within Tayside. It is now the responsibility of the NHS to take the lead in sustaining and further developing this essential service to ensure continued improvement in children's bladder and bowel health across Tayside.
Supporting Scottish Families
Providing financial support to families remains the most frequent and urgent request received by Kidney Kids Scotland. These referrals—made by medical professionals and social workers—are treated as a top priority by the Charity.
This year, as in previous years, approximately 25% of all funds disbursed went directly to families in need. These grants take many forms, but all share a common purpose: to ease the burden faced by families caring for a child with renal or urology conditions. The emotional, practical, and financial toll of managing a child’s illness can be profound, and our support helps to alleviate some of that pressure.
Ensuring families continue to receive this vital assistance is one of the Charity’s core objectives. The challenges of the past year have only reinforced how essential this support is—and how deeply it is appreciated by those who receive it.
Kidney Kids Scotland Family Weekend
The Family Weekend supports families from all over Scotland who have a child living with chronic renal failure. It brings them together in relaxed surroundings to connect with others who truly understand their journey, and to learn more about their child’s condition through informal conversations and professional guidance. These weekends offer a rare and meaningful chance to share experiences, build friendships, and gain reassurance and knowledge in a supportive environment.
Unfortunately, due to tragic and unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to hold the Family Weekend this year as planned. The event has been rescheduled for September 2025 and will be reflected in next year’s financial statements. This postponement has contributed to a reduction in charitable spending for the current financial year, but our commitment to delivering this vital support remains unwavering.
Preparations are already underway to ensure the next Family Weekend is as impactful and uplifting as ever, and we look forward to welcoming families once again.
Drinking Water Together Campaign
Following discussions with consultants across Scotland, it became clear that encouraging children to drink more water has wide-reaching benefits—not only for kidney health, but also in reducing the risk of conditions such as diabetes and obesity, and improving concentration and learning. In response, Kidney Kids Scotland launched the Drinking Water Together campaign, a pupil-led initiative aimed at promoting healthy hydration habits in primary schools.
The pilot programme began in Falkirk and North Lanarkshire in 2024, with twelve schools initially taking part. Each school appointed Water Wardens—pupils who encouraged their classmates to drink at least one bottle of water during the school day. Kidney Kids Scotland also delivered an engaging educational assembly, helping children understand the importance of healthy kidneys and the role water plays in overall wellbeing.
To date, 42 schools have participated in the campaign, involving a total of 1,447 children—many of whom are now drinking more water regularly as a result. Feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive, with teachers also joining in and several schools choosing to keep their Water Wardens in place permanently.
To further engage pupils, a superhero competition was held, with the winning design featured on new Water Warden badges to be distributed this year.
Kidney Kids Scotland remains committed to growing this initiative, helping children across Scotland develop lifelong habits that support both kidney health and overall wellbeing.
Summary of Charitable Spending
This year, Kidney Kids Scotland’s overall charitable spend is lower than in previous years. This reduction is primarily due to two factors: the conclusion of our funding commitment for the Dundee Continence Nurse post, and the postponement of our annual Family Weekend due to unforeseen and tragic circumstances.
While these changes have impacted this year’s financial figures, they do not reflect a decrease in the Charity’s dedication to supporting children and families affected by renal illness. In fact, we are pleased to confirm that two Family Weekends are planned for the next financial period—one in September 2025 and another in May 2026. Both events will be fully funded and carefully designed to provide families with the connection, education, and emotional support they value so deeply.
Kidney Kids Scotland remains fully committed to delivering meaningful, life-enhancing support across Scotland, and we continue to adapt our services to meet the evolving needs of the children and families we serve.
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. They confirm that the accounts give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial position and that proper records have been maintained.
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