Accounts show that the trust’s income was £2.7m and its spending was £4.6m in 2023

A leading Scottish conservation charity looks set to proceed with job losses after registering a £1.9 million deficit in its latest accounts.

John Muir Trust (JMT) said in April that 19 posts were at risk because of its financial position.

This has clearly not improved as accounts show that the charity’s income was £2.7m and its spending was £4.6m in 2023.

The Pitlochry-based charity, which employs 67 people, said that the process around redundancies will “conclude soon”.

It said: “The combination of significantly lower income and considerably higher costs left a deficit of £1.9m last year.

“Earlier this year the trust responded by reducing costs in all areas of the business.

“Even after doing this there were insufficient reserves to support the deficit.”

On redundancies, it said: “That process will conclude very soon and will see up to 12 members of staff move on from the trust, while others have taken up alternative positions within the trust,” the charity said.

“In addition, new appointments have been made to key roles and we have a skilled leadership team in place.”