2025-03-31-accounts - Elenydd Wilderness Hostels

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sy CHARITY COMMISSION | {ge} | FOR ENGLAND AND WALES

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 April 2024 To 31 Mar 2025 Charity name: Elenydd Wilderness Hostels

Charity registration number: 1115946

Objectives and Activities

||Summary ofthe purposes of|sommes[Od
| Para 1.17
1.To advance the education ofthe public,|sommes[Od
| Para 1.17
1.To advance the education ofthe public,|| |---|---|---|---|---| ||the charity as set out in its||especially ofyoung people of limited means, in|| ||governing document||conservation, protection, and improvement of|| ||||the environment, by such means as the|| ||||trustees may consider appropriate, including|| ||||the provision of hostels, and other|| ||||accommodation, to enable them to participate|| ||||in educational activities.|| |||||2.Toprovide,orassistinthe provision of,
facilities in the interests of social welfare for|| ||||recreation, or other leisure time occupation, of|| ||||individuals who have the need of such facilities,|| ||||by reason of their youth, age, infirmity,|| ||||disability, financial hardship, or social|| ||||circumstance, with the object of improving|| ||||their conditions of life.|| ||||3. To preserve and protect the health of all,|| ||||especially young people of limited means.|| ||||4. To promote, for the benefit ofthe public, the|| ||||conservation, and protection, and|| ||||improvement ofthe physical, and natural
environment.
ee||
|| ||Summary ofthe main
activities in relation to those|Ae 1.17and|The activities undertaken duringtheyear
include the following:|| ||purposes for the public||1.The provision, and management, oftwo|| ||benefit, in particular, the||hostel accommodation units in the Mid-Wales|| ||activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.||Elenydd area oftheCambrian Mountains.
2.The provision ofthisaccommodation at low
cost to all visitors, with reduced rates forthose|| ||||on low income benefit support, young persons,|| ||||including Duke of Edinburgh Award|| ||||participants and students with !D.|| ||||3.That free membership of the Trust is made|| ||||available to all those under 18 years of age.|| ||||4. The encouragement ofvolunteer|| ||||involvement in all aspects ofthe management|| |||||ofElenydd WildernessHostels.
5.The appointment of a volunteer
EnvironmentalOfficer,andthesupportof||

organisations such as the mid-Wales Red Squirrel Partnership; The West Wales Rivers Trust; bird and wildlife observation; as wellas | off-grid electricity generation at both hostels, | waste recycling management, the provision of and using eco-friendly household cleaning materials. | 6. Promoting the ‘Cambrian mountains Astro[These][activities][benefit][the][public][as] | Trail’,[footpath.] and the Cambrian Way long distant | a whole, irrespective of age, gender, disability, or social circumstance, and especially young . people of limited means. Statement confirming Para 1.18 In planning and carrying out our activities for whether the trustees have = the year we have kept in mind the Charity had regard to the guidance Commission’s Guidance on Public Benefit issued by the Charity during our trustee meetings. Commission on public benefit Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: Para 1.38 Policy on grant making . mee ee | | | Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers ~

Achievements and Performance

i	i
	During the financial year ended 31 March 31st
	2025 EWH continued to successfully operate
	the two hostels of Dolgoch and Ty'n Cornel.
Summary ofthe main ‘ ‘ achievements ofthe charity, identifying the difference the charityswork hasmade to the CIPGUMGHARGeS of its beneficiaries and any wider benefitstosocietyas a whole.	Para 1.20	Duringthis period 3 ofthe4 trustee meetings, were held viaZoom andonewas held at Dolgoch hostel.TheAGMwas held at a local hotel inTregaron butwas also ‘virtual’ allowing . morememberstoattend viaZoom. . . As in previous years, we held a successful
	Wardens’ Training Weekend in March 2025, at
	whichwe inducted 12 new wardens, 11 of
	whom had booked wardening vacancies at one
	ofthe hostels by 31 March.
	Maintenance work continued to be carried out
	largely by volunteers. With regard to more
	specialist maintenance work we continue to
	seek the services of local contractors wherever
	possible.Theworktheyhave undertaken during the year has included the regular
	maintenance ofthe fire alarm, and emergency
	lighting systems; fire appliances; the annual gas
	safety checks; and drainage work. Chlorination

	The Safeguarding policy, Health & Safety
	policy, and the Accident and Incident policy
	were reviewed and amended by the trustees.


	besomedebateamongstthe Trusteesabout whether such a level ofwhole hostel bookings

		opportunitiesforsmaller groups,familiesand individuals to stay. There were also concerns raised over the additional workload on
	wardens. The Trustees have therefore
		implementeda policyofnot allowing multiple
	whole hostel bookings without at least one
	clear day between them. Thepurchaseofanadjacentpiece of landfrom
	Natural Resources Wales was completed. In
	December2024thewindowswerereplacedby

||
|||||moderndouble-glazedwindowswhich,whilst
still maintaining the character ofthe hostel,
have considerably improved energy efficiency||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||and the elimination of condensation. We||| |||||benefit from permission froma local||| |||||landowner to scavenge forfirewood, which||| |||||helps toreduce ourheatingcosts.|||| |||||We held two work parties at Dolgoch during||| |||||the year. As well as undertaking a series of||| |||||essential maintenance tasks the work parties||| ||°|||enable a wide range ofvolunteers and EWH||,| |||||members to meet and enjoy a social weekend.||| |||||Ty’n Cornel hostel achieved 830 overnights||| |||||during the period. This figure represents a||| |||||slight decrease compared with the 844||| |||||reported the previous year. Bookings for the
shepherd’s hut have been strong, butthis|||| |||||meansthatthe main hostel has been quieter.|||| |||||This was, in part, due to the closure ofthe|||| |||||hostel for around 3 weeks in Autumn 2024 for||| ||
|
||||||theconstructionofthenewporch.The
CambrianWaylong-distancepath continuedto
provide a steady stream ofnew visitors.
Thereplacement porch,whichwascompleted
in early 2025, whilst outwardly similar to the||| |||||old one, is much better constructed and||| |||||provides better heat insulation. We have also||| ||||||consideredthe optionofconvertinga small,
free-standing outbuilding, which iscurrently
disused, toenablethe chargingofe-bikes.||
||| |||||We were notified of plans by Tilhill Forestry to||| |||||plant trees on a considerable area of land in||| ||||
||||thevicinityofthehostel.Weobjectedtothe
original proposal and have achieved some
success inamelioratingtheeffectoftheseon
the hostel.|||| |||||We have been made aware of, and made||| |||||objections to, plans to build
a wind farm a||| |||||couple of miles from the hostel, which would||| ||||||haveaserious impact.
Thetracktothehostelremainsacausefor
concern duetothe lackofmaintenance by the
council and the damage frequently caused by||
|
||| |||||
|||winter storms and snow and ice. Maintenance
hasbeenreduced bytheclosureoftheroadto
Soar-y-Mynydd beyond the hostel, although||| |||||the track is still used by a wide variety of users.||| |||||However, we are still able to keep the track||| |||||passablethroughouttheyear.|||

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EWH now uses Ceredigion County Council’s
own waste disposal paid-for scheme, under
which we buy waste disposal sacks of different
types for different forms of waste. The price of
the sacks includes the cost of collection and
| disposal of the waste by the Council’s
vehicles. For Ty’n Cornel, a roadside collection
box was built at the agreed collection point.
Due to difficulties with road-side collection at
Dolgoch, collections are now made from the
hostel.
The cost of the new waste collection
| regulations is around £700 for each hostel. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against Para 1.41
| objectives set
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives | Para 14
set | |
Investment performance Para 1.41 | i|
against objectives |
Other |
1 | {
a
----- End of picture text -----

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,
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Financial Review

Review ofthe charity's			Para 1.21	The financial position at 31 March 2025 was
	financial position at the end ofthe period
				out of our own funds. _
Statement explaining the			Para 1.22	Elenydd Wilderness Hostels holds reserves of
	policy for holding reserves				around £450,000 and liquid funds of nearly
stating why they are held				£200,000 to meet unforeseen future
				circumstances and take advantage of
		.		opportunities which may arise. Its free reserves are£194,385. Thatreserve isonlyable tobe amended with the approval ofthe trustees.
Amount of reserves held			Para 1.22	F449 431
reserves
deficit
Explanation ofany			Para 1.23	None
uncertainties about the charitycontinuingasagoing concern				°

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

			The principal source of regular funds is derived
			from income generated from the hostel
	The charity's principal sources offunds (including any fundraising)		Para 1.47
			continued operation.
			The charity seeks to place its surplus funds to
			produce the best financial return within an
	Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	acceptable level of risk, via institutions covered bythe Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
			Several potential threats have been identified
			at Ty’n Cornel.
;	A description ofthe principal risks facing the charity
			might make the area less appealing and
			accessible, and might have a
			detrimentalimpactonourwater

| | supply, although the Trustees have | | m itigateade, andthese. are making, efforts to build a large wind farm on the hills | 3. Plans have recently been announced to opposite the Ty’n Cornel hostel. The | Trustees are currently liaising with other groups to consider our response. N/A Other {

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document		Constitution
How is the charity	Para 1.25
constituted?
Trustee selection methods	Para 1.25	Appointed by the members at itsAnnual
including details of any		General Meeting, to serve a three-year term,
constitutional provisions e.g. election to post orname of any person orbody entitled to appoint one ormore trustees		or, ifappointed during theyear bythe existing trustees atothertimes, to hold that position until confirmed atthe nextfollowingAnnual General Meeting. .

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction	Pama 1.2)
andtraining oftrustees
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider	Pasi
network with which the
charityworks

Relationship with any related		Para 1.51
parties

Other

Reference and Administrative detaiis

CharityOther namenamethe charity uses | EWHELENYDD WILDERNESS HOSTELS ee Registered charity number 1115946 Charity’s principal address 7, Azalea Close Cyncoed, Cardiff, CF23 7HR

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Corporate trustees — names of the directors at the date the report was approved SS

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name |actedifnotforwholeyearDates ae — | es a mG Pe

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description ofthe assets	N/A
held in this capacity
Name and objects ofthe	N/A
charity on whose behalfthe
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity's objects
Details ofarrangements for
safe custody and
segregation ofsuch assets
from the charity’s own
assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of	Name	Address
adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

		by	f	y
	Full name(s)		Marilyn Joan Barrack	SSBIOaitS sandSETS
Position	(eg Secretary,		Chairperson	Treasurer
	Chair, etc)
	Date	Llane 13/i]2024

*“ELENYDDD WILDERNESS HOSTELS INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

	2025	2025	2024	2024
	£	£	a	£	,
			Restated	Restated
Income from Charitable
Activities
Hostel income (note 1)	29,705		35,923
Membership	2,203		1,801
Legacies	0		5,000
Donations	728		2,758
Gift aid	1,025		408
Interest	7,655		5,971
		41,316		51,416
Charitable Expenditure
Hostel repairs and renewals	37,346		5,945
Lighting and heating	2,945		3,541
Cleaning	5,827		4,780
Insurance - hostels	2,019		1,944
Insurance - other	728		700
Telephone	637		579
Postage, stationery and
advertising	2,222		2,261
Commission	1,072		1,374
Meetings	130		259
Depreciation	8,585		8,585
Miscellaneous - hostels	419		989
Miscellaneous - other	617		654
		(62,547)		(31,611)
(Deficit)/surplus		£(21,231)		£19,805

All income and expenditure relate to unrestricted funds.

ELENYDD WILDERNESS HOSTELS BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 3157 MARCH 2025

	2025	2025	2024	2024
	£	£	£	£
			Restated	Restated
Non-current assets (note 3)		255,046		258,496
Current assets
Debtors (note 4)	3,765		2,806
Cash at bank (note 5)	195,933		219,957
	199,698		222,763
Current liabilities (note 6)	(5,313)		(10,597)
Netcurrent assets		194.385		212,166
		£449 431		£470,662
Represented by
Unrestricted members fund b/f	470,662		526,050
Prior yearadjustment	0		(75,193)
		470,662		450,857
(Deficit)/surplus for the year	(21,231)		28,390
Prior yearadjustment	0		(8,585)
		(21,231)		19.805
Unrestrictedmembersfundc/f		£449,431		£470,662

ELENYDDD WILDERNESS HOSTELS YEAR ENDED 315’ MARCH 2025

Note 1: Hostel income

	Dolgoch	Dolgoch	Ty’nCornel	Ty’n Cornel
	E	£	£	£
Income
Overnights	17,190		10,992
Sales	198		224
Electricity	0		481
Telephone	77		18
Compensation — National
Grid	an?)		525
		17,465		12,240
Expenditure
Hostel repairs and renewals	16,155		21,191
Lighting and heating	468		2,477
Cleaning	S017		2,510
Insurance	1,112		907
Advertising and marketing	289		288
Telephone	274		363
Depreciation	2,530		6,055
Miscellaneous	273		145
		(24,418)		(33,936)
Deficit		£(6,953)		£(21,696)

ELENYDDD WILDERNESS HOSTELS YEAR ENDED 31S’ MARCH 2025

Note 2: Prior-year adjustment

Buildings have previously not been depreciated. However, FRS 102 requires buildings to be depreciated and, for this purpose, they are assumed to have a useful life of 50 years. The prior year adjustment represents backlog deprecation at 2% p.a. on cost on Dolgoch and the main hostel at Ty’n Cornel and at 5% p.a. on the Shepherd’s Hut at Ty’n Cornel since:

Dolgoch — April 2007

Ty’n Cornel — April 2012 (main hostel)

— April 2023 (Shepherd’s Hut)

Note 3: Non-current assets

	Land	Buildings	Buildings	Buildings	Total
	Dolgoch	Dolgoch	Ty’n Cornel	Ty’n Cornel
			(main hostel)	(Shepherd’s Hut)
	e	E	£	£	£
Cost 1 April 2024	0	126,523	157,756	57,995	342,274
Additions in year	9,135	0	ie)	0	3.125
Cost 31 March 2025	£5,135	£126,523	£157,756	£57,995	£347,409
Accumulated depreciation 1	0	0	0	0	0
April 2024
Prior year adjustment (note 2)		43,017	37,861	2,900	83,778
Accumulated depreciation 1	0	43,017	37,861	2,900	83,778
April 2024 - restated
Depreciation for year	Q	2,530	3,155	2,900	8,585
Accumulated depreciation 31	£0	£45,547	£41,016	£5,800	£92,363
March 2025
Net book value 31 March	£0	£83,506	£119,895	£55,095	£258,496
2024
Net book value 31 March	£5,135	£80,976	£116,740	£52,195	£255,046
2025

No depreciation is charged on land.

No apportionment of the original cost of the hostels between land and buildings has been made, because it is not possible to obtain a reliable analysis of the original purchase price and the value of the land is not considered to be significant.

Buildings are depreciated at 2% p.a. (main hostels) and 5% p.a. (Ty’n Cornel Shepherd’s Hut)

ELENYDDD WILDERNESS HOSTELS

YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025

Note 4: Current assets

	2025	2024
	£	£
Trade receivables	625	425
Interest	505	447
VAT	2,585	0
Prepayments	50	1,934
	£0,165	£2,806

Note 5: Cash at bank

	2025	2024
	£	£
Redwood Bank	85,238	85,238
Clydesdale	0	81,736
Cambridge and Counties Bank	81,223	0
Co-operative Bank - savings	24,241	45,333
Co-operative Bank — current	5,131	7,550
Paypal	100	100
	£195,933	£219,957

Note 6: Current liabilities

	2025	2024
	£	£
Trade payables	565	716
Accruals	423	0
VAT	0	1,158
Deferred income	4,325	8,723
	£5,313	£10,597

Signed

Malcolm James (Treasurer)

ELENYDDD MLDERNESS HOSTELS YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Examin•rf8 Roport ' I report to the charity trustees on my examination Of the accounts of Elenydd Wddemess Hostels for the y.èar ended 3.18t March 2025. A the charty trustees, you are réspohsible for.the preparafjon of the accounts.in .: accordance with the Charities Act 2011.. I ,report in respect of.my examination of the:accounts carried out Under section 145 of .the Act and, in carrying out my examinatiotl, I have foHowed all the applicable . directions gNen by the Charity comrnissn. I havo oompleted my examination and Gonfimi that no material matters have cometo my attention whlah give me cause to beli6v8 that fft any material respect., 1. Accounting rRcor(18 wore nat kept as required by sertion 130 of the Act; and 2. The accounts do not accord with thoserecords. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in contEction with the examination to whith attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper und.erstsnding of. the accounts lo be reached. l am therefore.ofthe opinion that the accounts 9ive a ahd fair yiekv of the. financial perfomance of Elenydd Wildemess Hostèls for the year Ènded 31 March 2025 and of ts financial poslfion at . Hywel Wllltam8 FCA 25 Septeniber 2025