West Lothian 50 Plus Network (SCIO)

What West Lothian 50 Plus Network (SCIO) does

West Lothian 50 Plus Network (SCIO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (OSCR charity SC051335) that operates as a volunteer-led membership community for adults aged 50 and over in the West Lothian region of Central Scotland. Founded in 1994 from a 1993 European Parliament initiative, the Network currently serves approximately 700-800 members through roughly 80 interest groups spanning walking, singing, bowling, quilting, French, theatre, film, mahjong, cycling, bridge, badminton, and pilates, supplemented by organised day trips and multi-night holidays. Operations are anchored at a purpose-designed Members' Hub at 14 George Street, Bathgate, opened in December 2021, which operates Monday-Friday 10am-2pm.

The organisation's core offering is membership access rather than a technology product. Its distribution runs through a WordPress website, Facebook page, email newsletter, and member referrals; sign-up is via a downloadable PDF form with fees paid to the Hub. There is no proprietary software, API, or platform architecture; the "technology" surface is a conventional charity website plus standard communications tooling. The Network has no app, no integrations, and no disclosed AI or data capabilities.

The business model blends three revenue streams: (1) recurring annual membership fees from the 700-800 member base, (2) transaction fees on day trips (£21-£25 per person) and multi-night holidays (e.g., £539 per person for the 2026 Weston-super-Mare package), and (3) charitable grants from a diversified base including the National Lottery Community Fund, People's Postcode Trust, West Lothian Council, the Scottish Government Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the Hugh Fraser Foundation, Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, and the Edinburgh Airport Community Fund, plus in-kind support from Co-op Whitburn and Tesco Bathgate. The paid staff team is small (5 employees) with the balance of activity delivered by member volunteers; governance is provided by a 12-person Board of Trustees chaired by Sue Bedford-Visser, with Jamie Seery serving as CEO and co-founder Jim Dixon as Vice Convener.

Name

West Lothian 50 Plus Network (SCIO)

Legal name

West Lothian 50+ Network SCIO

Website

https://westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

West Lothian 50 Plus Network (SCIO) is a volunteer-led Scottish charity (SC051335) operating a membership community of roughly 700-800 adults aged 50+ in West Lothian, delivering about 80 interest groups, day trips, holidays, and a Bathgate Members' Hub, funded by member fees and charitable grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Community Services for Older Adults

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreational Outings, Community Participation & Mobility Support (Non-Clinical) (HSABAAAI), Health & Support Communities (BPAMABAL)

Keywords

• Older adults community
• Membership organisation
• Social activities groups
• Charity services
• Day trips holidays

Headquarters

HQ city

Bathgate

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from over 700 members provide core organizational revenue, enabling the operation of the Members' Hub and support for activities.
2. Holiday and Trip Fees: Revenue from organized group holidays and day trips, with prices ranging from £21-£539 per person depending on the activity.
3. Charitable Funding: Core funding from trusts, foundations, and government bodies including National Lottery Community Fund, People's Postcode Trust, and West Lothian Council.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The West Lothian 50+ Network is a volunteer-run, membership-based charity that provides adults aged 50 and over in West Lothian, Scotland with access to approximately 80 interest groups, organised day trips and short holidays, and a physical Members' Hub. The integrated offering combines social, educational, and recreational activities designed to combat isolation, support retirement transition, and promote physical and mental wellbeing among older residents.

Product overview

West Lothian 50+ Network is a membership-based community organization (OSCR registered charity SCIO, SCO51335) offering a single integrated program for individuals aged 50+ in West Lothian, Scotland. The core offering centers on membership access to approximately 80 interest groups (covering activities from walking and cycling to theatre, quilting, and pilates), supplemented by organized holidays, day trips, and a physical Members' Hub. Members receive a handbook and have access to resources including meeting minutes and newsletters. The organization is run largely by volunteers from within the membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Membership Program Annual membership program for individuals aged 50+ living in West Lothian, providing access to interest groups, events, trips, holidays, and the Members' Hub. Members receive a handbook and can participate in approximately 80 different interest groups.
• Interest Groups Approximately 80 different interest groups including walking, singing, bowling, quilting, French, theatre, classic film, mahjong, cycling, bridge, badminton, and pilates, designed to help members stay fit and healthy in mind and body while socialising.
• Holiday Packages Two to three short holidays per year organised by the Network, with emphasis on affordability and popular appeal. Includes excursions to various destinations such as Weston-super-Mare, Chester, Seville, Liverpool, Catalonia, Lake District, and Scarborough.
• Day Trips Organised day trips to various attractions and events, including visits to Loch Katrine, Callander, Dunoon, Inveraray, Loch Lomond, and other Scottish destinations, with coach travel departing from Bathgate Railway Station.
• Members' Hub and Activity Centre Purpose-designed premises on Bathgate's main pedestrian precinct serving as a central hub for group activities and member support, open Monday through Friday 10am-2pm at 14 George St, Bathgate EH48 1PW.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ members served
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Co-op WhitburnminorOthersLocal business providing donations and support for events and activities.
• Tesco - BathgateminorOthersLocal Tesco store providing donations of items for events and activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Age Scotland: The Scottish national charity for older people, providing information, advice and local services. Comparable as a Scotland-focused organisation addressing the same 50+ demographic, but operating at national scale with professional staff rather than a single regional volunteer-led network.
• Age UK: The UK's largest charity for older people, with a broad portfolio of advice, campaigning and local services. Overlaps with the West Lothian 50+ Network on the 50+ audience and loneliness-combating mission, but operates as a national umbrella rather than a localised interest-group network.

Direct peers

• Royal Voluntary Service: A long-established UK charity mobilising volunteers to support older people in communities and hospitals. Comparable as a volunteer-powered, activity-and-companionship provider for the same demographic, though with a broader service remit.
• Independent Age: UK charity providing information, advice and connection services specifically for older people, including befriending. Shares the loneliness-reduction mission and older-adult focus, with overlap in volunteer-delivered support.
• The Silver Line: UK free helpline for older people offering information, friendship and advice. Overlaps on the loneliness-combating mission for the 50+ demographic, though delivered via a phone channel rather than in-person interest groups.
• University of the Third Age (U3A): U3A operates the closest analogue model: a UK-wide network of locally-run interest groups for people no longer in full-time work. Like West Lothian 50+ Network, U3A is volunteer-led, runs dozens of activity groups and depends on annual membership fees; it is the benchmark community-of-interest model for older adults in the UK.
• Scottish Older People's Assembly: A national Scottish membership organisation representing older people's interests across Scotland. Comparable as a Scotland-based, member-led voice for the over-50s, with policy and engagement functions similar in spirit to the West Lothian 50+ Network.
• Re-engage (formerly Contact the Elderly): UK charity running group social activities and tea parties for people aged 75+ who live alone. Closely comparable in delivering recurring small-group social gatherings to combat isolation among older adults, including group outings.

Regional players

• Glasgow's Golden Generation: A Glasgow-based Scottish charity providing social activities, day services and support for older people. A close regional peer in Scotland, also running centre-based activities and outings for the 50+ demographic, but in a different local authority area.

Others

• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO): The national umbrella body for Scotland's voluntary sector. Not a direct competitor but the principal membership body and policy advocate for Scottish charities, of which West Lothian 50+ Network is a member.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WestLothian50PlusNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-lothian-50-plus-network

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about West Lothian 50 Plus Network (SCIO)