2025-09-30-accounts

Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre Charity Number 1101150 Trustees Annual Report 01/10/2024 – 30/09/2025

Charity Details

Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre

Little London Road, North Walsham, Norfolk NR280RE

Charity Number – 1101150

Trustees 2025:

Mark Harman - Chairman

Edward Molloy - Treasurer

Mike Brooks

Martin Wall

Steve Cook

David Belcher

Tony Dennis

Dot Langton

Garry Kemp

Susan Etheridge

Structure and management

The Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre is a Charitable Trust.

The charities constitution was last updated 13th March 2019.

Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the AGM.

In 1982 the water activities centre was created in the memory of a young Scout leader Mike Thurston. The Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre consists of a lake along with its surrounding grasslands and buildings. It provides a safe learning environment for groups of young people and their families, including scouts, guides, cadets and DofE award. The site is restricted to organised groups and clubs, not a camping site for

Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre Charity Number 1101150 Trustees Annual Report 01/10/2024 – 30/09/2025

individual bookings. The centre has developed into an attractive location for day users and campers alike, with a large range of water equipment including kayaks, canoes, rafting equipment and paddleboards. There are excellent facilities including a classroom, large boat house, changing/toilet facilities, and hot showers. The centre and watercraft are owned by the Trust which maintained for use by youth groups and associations for camping and water activities. The trustees who are all volunteers, oversee the day to day running of the site, there are no paid sta� members. The Trust also operates a weekly Canoe Club where local young people can enjoy watersport including Canoes, Kayaks, SUPs and rafting. The club is a�iliated to Paddle UK and has adopted its appropriate policies and procedures. The Mike Thurston Water Activity Centre is a registered charity. The management committee are volunteers from the local community who are either involved in the delivery of the water and outdoor activities, or have been in the past.

Those members involved with coaching of the water activities speak routinely with their groups of young people, during and at the conclusion of their sessions, gaining valuable feedback on what works well or may benefit from revision or improvement. In this way we ensure the young people are able to influence the activity delivered and where resources are directed to improve the site, training and equipment.

This year we have introduced an ‘Open Day’ format, where we invite young people and their families to try out all our activities, such as Wild Swimming, canoeing, Paddle Boarding and Archery. There the coaches took feedback from the young people on the most popular activities.

Where we have hired the site and equipment to other groups of young people, not using our coaches, the bookings o�icer system includes a feedback request which captures comments from groups after their visit. This ensures we do not miss the views of those we do not actually get to meet face to face.

The major projects delivered in the past few years have all been born from ideas delivered to the committee from our young users.

Activities and objectives in the year

The charitable trust objects set out in the constitution are:

• To operate an outdoor activities and camping centre, in particular the provision of water based activities for the benefit of the general public.

• To provide training to national standards for water sports, in particular Canoeing, Sailing and Paddle Boarding, for the benefit of the general public.

Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre Charity Number 1101150 Trustees Annual Report 01/10/2024 – 30/09/2025

In achieving these we will:

• Increase physical activity of young people - Our experience shows young people are becoming less active. Activities at the centre are far removed from normal life, no wifi, mobile coverage is limited, so while they are with us entertainment comes from the activities and environment. There are no powered craft, all the activities require a level of physical e�ort, but being enjoyable they exercise without noticing.

• Maintain and if possible increase visitor numbers, particularly attracting more with mobility and special needs.

Achievements and performance (including public beneft)

During the warmer months (usually from May to September) the Centre runs a Tuesday evening water activities club night and training courses. All abilities are catered for from the beginner to the not quite so beginner. There is also an open water swimming group each Wednesday evening, catering for local wild swimmers and athletes. The site welcomes around 1800 visitors each year, young people and their families including scouts, guides, cadets, Duke of Edinburgh scheme, schools and youth groups. It is a local resource, we estimate 60% are from the immediate North Walsham area, with the vast majority of the remainder from the wider North Norfolk and Broadland areas.

During 2025 the centre conducted two major improvements to the site. The lake was dredged and banks realigned to its original dimensions to help control invasive weed growth and increase area for use by craft. We also purchased and installed a purpose built DDA compliant toilet, shower and changing unit to improve our facilities for less able visitors. The cost, around £28,000 was met through our reserves and grants from local and national bodies.

Financial review

The unrestricted cash held by the trust at 30[th] September 2025 was £10,494.37 in the main account, with a reserves account of £18,098.81.

projects planned to be delivered over the winter season of 2025/26.

The trust would generally aim to keep around £10,000 in reserve to cover any unexpected maintenance issues.

Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre Charity Number 1101150 Trustees Annual Report 01/10/2024 – 30/09/2025

Details of any funds held as a custodian trustee

None

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Mark Harman

Chairman

7th May 2026

MIKE THURSTON MEMORIAL TRusr INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEFfEMBER 2025 2025 2024 INCOME Camping and boat hire Sailing and kayaking fees Donations, bequests Open water swimmers Equipment sales Bank interest 9.705.17 3.169.1)0 17,110.(J) 6,957.00 4,842.00 462.00 2(KJ.IXJ 47.82 30.231.99 12,261.00 EXPENDITURE Refunds of deposits S￿e Repairs and Maintenan￿# Electricity Water Rates Business Rates Insurance5 Web 5UPPOrt Calor Gas TrainingJMiscellaneous Gratuity Equipment repair/renewal ## BBQcosts 3.536.79 1.61L65 346.28 95.81 1,556.46 58.79 1,589.96 3W.C(I 2.165.34 535.67 498.78 39.92 1.504.73 43.20 2.005.95 46.44 579.58 210.28 7,629.89 239.01 274.61 9,609.36 Excess of income over expendtture foryear Less depreciation of equipment l-lO%I 20.622.63 4,631.11 764.73 832.99 Surplu5 (DefKitl for the year I9￿57.90 3,798.12 Notes on income The followin donations were received in the ear: 2,000.00 North Walsham Communtty Shop 10,OCXJ.Tr) Alan Boswell 110.lxl TriHarman 5,000.QMJ National Lottery 17,110.CKJ Notes on ex enditure

Site re

irs and maintenan￿- No exceptional one off costs were incurred in the year ui ment re renewal £239 of bouyancy aids were replaced in the year

MIKE THURsfoN MEMORIAL TRUST srATEMENT OF ASSErs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEiyfEMBER 2025 2025 2024 RESERVES Accumulated fund - unrestrirted Balance at thrt of year Surplus/{Deficitl for the year Closing balance at 30 September 2025 125,064.83 19,857.90 144,922.73 121,283.42 3,781.41 125,064.83 REPRESENTED BY FIXED ASSETS Land . Sitework5 A Elertrical Equipment (after depreciation) AA Boat Shed Portacabin 3.800.(KJ 74.583.99 2.294.78 6,882.50 16,888.28 11,880.00 116,329.55 3,800.00 73,408.57 2.294.78 7.647.23 16,888.28 11,880.00 115,918.86 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at Lloyds Bank: Lloyds Bank Treasurers Account Lloyds bank Savings Account 10.49437 18.098.81 9.145.47 144.922.73 125,064.33 Inde endent Exominerfs Cert¥ficate I have examined these books, together wtth the supporting vouchers and in my opinion the accounts Show a true and fair record of the yeavs transacuons and the Statement of A55ets pre5erts fairly the stste of affair5 of the Mike Thurston Memotial Trust at 30 September 2025. 1910312 6

MIKE THURsfoN MEMORIAL TRUST NOTES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER 2025 Notes on sitework assets The total cost of repla￿ment of the septic tank in the year ending 30 September 2025 was £1,061.48 This was made up of thefollowing costs: 951.08 Drainage work 110.40 General materials 1,061.48 The cost of new additions to the buildings in the year ending 30 September 2025 was £113.44. This was made up of the following costs: 113.44 Toilet block shelter 113.44 Notes on e ment ossets AA There was no new equipment purchased in the year ending 30 September 2025.

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre On accounts for the year 30 September 2025 Charity no 1101150 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 to 3

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30/09/2025.

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of The Association of Accounting Technicians.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or

• the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or

• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):	Date:	19/03/2026
	Lidia Dardai
	MAAT

Oct 2018

1

IER

Address: 7a Alkmaar Way Norwich International Business Park NR6 6BF

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

Oct 2018

2

IER