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← Birch Hall Adventures

2025-03-31-accounts

Registra�on Number 8961426 | Charity Number 1160251

Birch Hall Adventures

(A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Report to the Trustees & Financial Statements For the Period to Year End 31[st] March 2025

Report of the Trustees

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Contents

Reference & Administrative Details ......................................................................................... 3 Company Details .................................................................................................................. 3 Trustees .............................................................................................................................. 3 Company Secretary .............................................................................................................. 3 Address (Registered Office) ................................................................................................... 3 Bankers ............................................................................................................................... 3 Independent Examiner .......................................................................................................... 3 Objects of the Charity ............................................................................................................... 4 Structure, Governance & Management: .................................................................................. 4 Objectives & Activities: ........................................................................................................... 4 Achievements & Performance: ............................................................................................... 5 Financial Review: ................................................................................................................... 7

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Reference & Administrative Details

The trustees, who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the consolidated financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Prac�ces (SORP) ‘Accoun�ng and Repor�ng by Chari�es’.

Company Details

Birch Hall Adventures (A Company Limited by Guarantee) Company Registration Number 8961426 Charity Registration Number 1160251 For the Period to Year End 31st March 2025

Trustees

Revd Mark Holdaway (Chairman) Mr Guy Main Mr Richard Myers Mr Nicholas Singleton Revd Andrew Winter Revd Peter Law Jo Bingham Rachael Hurst

Company Secretary

Mr Jordan Alex Phillips

Birch Hall Adventures Birch Hall Kirby-le-soken Frinton-on-sea Essex CO13 0EL UK

Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

Independent Examiner

Mr John Lower

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Structure, Governance & Management:

Birch Hall Adventures was established in 2014 as a registered charity. It is operated on a daily basis by the centre director, Alex Phillips, and o�ice manager Naomi Lower. The charity is governed by a board of trustees. The board sits formally three times a year but is available for the Centre Director throughout the year informally. Trustees have general areas of expertise, which ensures that the activities of the charity are monitored and feedback given to the full board. Some trustees have a more active role, getting involved in group activities, or work parties.

Objectives & Activities:

Objects of the Charity

  1. to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the statement of beliefs appearing in the schedule hereto in the United Kingdom or elsewhere as the trustees may from time

  2. to advance education, including in the areas of outdoor pursuits, environmental studies, sport, music, arts and crafts, by such means as the trustees may consider appropriate in the United Kingdom or elsewhere as the trustees may from time to time think fit.

  3. to provide facilities for recreation, sport or other leisure time occupation in the interest of social welfare for persons who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances with the object of improving the conditions of life for such persons in the United Kingdom or elsewhere as the trustees may from time-to-time think fit.

Activities

Ensuring our work delivers it aims

We review our aims, objectives and activities each year. The review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of our work in the previous 12 months. This on-going process reviews our key strategies for the charity, the benefits it has brought to the groups, individuals, local community and people we work with. The review also helps to ensure our aims, objectives and activities remain focused on our stated purpose.

The main business of the centre is in providing day and residential visits for local schools and groups. Many of the schools that we work with are from areas of high deprivation in Clacton on sea and the surrounding area, who would not have opportunities for this type of visit unless we were in the local area. We make it a priority to allow local schools to visit over those from out of the district, and we are able to subsidise trips for the poorest schools.

The current o�ering of Birch Hall Adventures includes camping, bushcraft, climbing, archery, high ropes and low ropes, secret bunker, sailing, kayaking, seal watching, beach trips, crafts, cooking. In summer we run summer camps, which provide all the adventure activities and also an opportunity for spiritual reflection on the bible stories and work of Jesus. Also, in line with our spiritual aims we open the centre at weekends for church groups.

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This little fella was abandoned as a pup and rescued from the backwaters by the centre’s jetty. It was released in the same spot in September and is doing well across the channel in France.

Achievements & Performance:

Context

Birch Hall Adventures occupies the site of a former dairy at Birch Hall Farm. The farm covers 400 acres comprising arable land, wooded areas and coastal saltmarshes. The centre benefits

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from the generosity of the farm partners in being able to access the farm and sea for activities in and around the centre.

come from within the Tendring peninsular. Many local groups, such as scouts, guides, church youth groups and other organisations also make use of the centre. Traditionally most groups visited for the day, but now many schools will stay overnight and make use of either our bunkhouse or tents belonging to the centre. The emphasis of the remains to encourage young people to grow through enjoyment of the outdoors as well as learning about themselves and abilities through teamwork and challenge. The Christian message underpins the work of the

visitors to consider life’s deeper questions.

Facilities

Unfortunately, our Hobart dishwasher (bought for 99p) was no longer functional, nor worth repairing, so we had to manage another year with a domestic washer, and many hours for standing at the sink, but we’ll be looking out for another one for summer 2025!

During the autumn the former equipment room was emptied and prepared for work in spring 2025 to convert to a new dining room. The new dining room then becomes adjacent to the kitchen making for easy flow and greater convenience for serving and clearing

The old dining room, which was also known as The Classroom, reverts to its former use and makes a great

area for crafts and useful as our ‘Café’ for events. We’re looking forward to autumn 2025 when

We took on a good crowd of new instructors and put them through some kayak training on a farm pond, with the aim of seeing how the activity would perform compared to previous years when we have kayaked on the backwaters. We’re hoping that this activity will become more convenient and easier to operate.

Emma Hall completed the season but decided to move on in January 2025 to a role out of catering. The trustees would like to thank her for her service to the centre and the variety of new meals and cakes which she bestowed on the schools and groups, who were equally appreciative of her role.

Our trustees continued to support and encourage us though with no new additions nor resignations during this period.

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Groups and visitors

Our visitor numbers were slightly higher than previous years, although some of our groups were smaller than anticipated. Two events also caused an increase in numbers with over 250 attending both the Tendring Cross Country and Free Church Fireworks

----- Start of picture text -----
Total Visits Number of Groups
8000 150
6000
100
4000
50
2000
0 0
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Total Visits NumGroups
----- End of picture text -----

Summer camps continue to be popular and this year we expanded our provision for assistant leaders. Our first large cohort of 16+ pupils made a huge di�erence to the running of camp. They were split into two teams for duties in the kitchen or around the building and changing rooms and came together in the afternoon for their own bible study looking this year at the book of Ephesians. Several AL’s attended multiple camps, and they were fantastic role models for the younger campers both in their service to camp and their involvement in activities.

Income

This year the centre as almost entirely supported itself from earned income with a small rise to 5% in contribution from donations, this mainly due to additional funds raise during the 10th Year Celebrations. This level is still lower that we would like, and we will be investigating ways in which we can look to raise this in the coming year.

Turnover was lower than anticipated due to contraction in numbers for some of the paying groups and this coupled with raise sta�ing cost (increase in minimum wage and statutory holiday pay for seasonal workers) meant for the first time the centre su�ered a loss. This a�ected the Centre’s cash flow in the autumn but with good bookings for 2025 we were able to secure financial support from the Slavanka Trust and we able to repay this in May 2025 from a National Insurance rebate. The trustees would like to express their gratitude for the support of the Slavanka Trust.

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Last 5 Years Income v Expenditure

----- Start of picture text -----
£200,000
£180,000
£160,000
£140,000
£120,000
£100,000
£80,000
£60,000
£40,000
£20,000
£0
2020-21 21/22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Total Expenditure Total Income
----- End of picture text -----

Financial planning

The trustees recognise the need for careful stewardship of limited funds but also the need to invest in a growing business. The financial health of the charity is reviewed on a regular basis and spending plans reflect the income available.

Looking forward to 2025-2026, we will aim to consolidate much of the recent development and focus on ensuring that the work done over the past ten years is fit for another 10. We will be focusing on raising funds for future projects with centre growth in mind.

Structure, Governance and Management Report of The

Trustees

Governing Document

The Company was formed on 26 March 2014. The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purpose of charity law and under the company’s Articles are known as members. All members of the trustee board give their time voluntarily and receive no benefit from the charity. Every e�ort is made to ensure that we have a broad range of skills on the board, with training and support where appropriate. Members of the board volunteer and support the centre throughout the year in various forms.

Risk Management

The trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the charity faces and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced so that necessary steps can be taken to mitigate those risks as necessary.

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Organisa�on

The Directors/Trustees determine the general policy of the charity. The day-to-day management of the Centre is delegated to the sta� team members led by the Centre Director. The Centre has a team of experienced instructors who deliver the various activity and residential programmes.

Financial Results

The results for the year to 31 March 2025 are set out on pages 9 to 12.

Resources

As stated, the funds are split between those held for restricted purposes and those available for the day-to-day requirements of the Centre.

Restricted Funds

future expenditure. The Centre’s assets are su�icient to meet its current obligations. Additional, fund-raising e�orts are being made to support the core costs of the centre as well as towards the funding of future projects.

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibili�es

give a true and fair view of the state of a�airs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing those accounts the trustees are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

Prepare the Accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the company will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.

This report and the accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

Approved by the board on 14/10/2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Revd Mark Holdaway

Chairman

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Independent Examiner’s report to the charity trustees of Birch Hall Adventures

I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31[st] March 2025, which are set out on pages 11 to 15.

Respec�ve responsibili�es of charity trustees and examiner

As the charity trustees (and also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the prepara�on of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Having sa�sfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law, and is eligible for independent examina�on, it is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

I have examined your charity accounts as required under sec�on 65 of the Chari�es Act and my examina�on was carried out in accordance with the general Direc�ons given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under sec�on 65(9)(b) of the Chari�es Act. The examina�on included a review of the accoun�ng records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included considera�on of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explana�ons from you as charity trustees concerning any such ma�ers.

My role is to state whether any material ma�ers have come to my a�en�on giving me cause to believe:

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.

Name: John Lower

Relevant professional qualification if any: FCA (retired) Address: 91 Chesterton Avenue, Harpenden, Herts AL5 5ST Date: 23/12/2025

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Financial Review:

Accounts April 2024 - March 2025

Income and Expenditure
Account for year ended 31
March 2025
INCOME
Group Income
Restricted donations
Unrestricted donations
Total Income
EXPENDITURE
Activity Costs
Centre Costs
Catering Costs
Equipment
Marketing
Office Costs
Staff cost including training
Insurance
Depreciation
Total Expenditure
Surplus for year
Movements in Funds
Unrestricted Funds at beginning
of year
Add: Surplus/(Deficit) for the
year
Unrestricted Funds at end of
year		 2024/25
2023/24
2022/23
2021/22
152,596
166,121
141,922
95,713
1,362
0
0
4,052
6,563
4,516
1,785
14,146
160,521
170,638
143,707
113,911
6,520
6,027
6,576
11,764
22,238
16,277
12,393
5,429
17,703
18,074
10,355
2,486
4,260
5,142
3,951
2,617
710
542
564
4,842
5,874
7,734
7,128
102,178
100,337
87,020
64,077
3,202
2,838
14,091
13,810
12,926
8,672
175,877
168,208
142,687
101,585
(15,356)
2,430
1,020
12,326
74,430
72,000
70,980
58,654
(15,356)
2,430
1,020
12,326
59,074
74,430
72,000
70,980

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Balance Sheet at 31 March 2025

Fixed Assets
Fixed Assets-Cost
Less: Depreciation
Net Fixed Assets
Current assets
Cash at Bank
Debtors
Creditors: Amounts falling due
within one year
Net Current Assets
Creditors: Amounts falling due
after more than one year
Total Net Assets
Represented by:
Funds/Reserves
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Trustee loans
Trust loan
Total reserves		 31/03/2025
31/3/2024
31/3/2023
31/3/2022
102,575
100,690
91,852
69,679
(50,505)
(36,414)
(22,604)
(9,678)
52,070
64,276
69,248
60,001
10,385
10,154
7,442
12,326
13,619
0
0
0
24,004
10,154
7,442
12,326
0
0
(818)
0
24,004
10,154
6,624
12,326
0
0
0
0
76,074
74,430
75,872
72,327
59,074
74,430
72,000
70,980
0
0
872
1,347
4,000
0
0
0
13,000
0
3,000
0
76,074
74,430
75,872
72,327

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Journal Analysis

Journals/Analysis

Fixed Assets
Bunkhouse etc
Office
Other
Depreciation
Bunkhouse-10% pa on y/e bal
Office-10% pa on y/e bal
Other-20% pa on y/e bal
Net Fixed Assets		 at 1/4/22
additions
at 31/3/23
additions
at 31/3/24
additions
at 31/3/25
in year
in year
in year
42,579.53
11,862.12
54,441.65
5,893.21
60,334.86
960.00
61,294.86
0.00
0.00
0.00
2,944.92
2,944.92
0.00
2,944.92
27,099.27
10,311.06
37,410.33
0.00
37,410.33
924.72
38,335.05
69,678.80
22,173.18
91,851.98
8,838.13
100,690.11
1,884.72
102,574.83
at 1/4/22
depn
at 31/3/23
depn
at 31/3/24
depn
at 31/3/25
for year
for year
for year
4,257.95
5,444.17
9,702.12
6,033.49
15,735.60
6,129.49
21,865.09
0.00
0.00
0.00
294.49
294.49
294.49
588.98
5,419.85
7,482.07
12,901.92
7,482.07
20,383.98
7,667.01
28,050.99
9,677.80
12,926.23
22,604.03
13,810.04
36,414.08
14,090.99
50,505.06
60,001.00
69,247.95
64,276.04
52,069.77
Restricted Funds
Tesco Groundworks
Tendring District Council
Total		 at 1/4/22
addns
utilised
at 31/3/23
addns
utilised
at 31/3/24
475.00
0.00
475.00
0.00
872.00
0.00
0.00
872.00
0.00
872.00
0.00
1,347.00
0.00
475.00
872.00
0.00
872.00
0.00

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Current assets-Cash
Current Assets-CAFBank
Current Assets-Paypal
Current Assets-CAFBank-Gold
Current Assets-Petty Cash		 At 1/4/22
At 31/3/23
At 31/3/24
At 31/3/25
12,106.58
4,469.82
8,673.66
2,953.70
219.75
2,922.74
1,464.55
3,760.21
3,512.06
49.89
15.60
158.54
12,326.33
7,442.45
10,153.81
10,384.51
Movement in Unrestricted Funds
Balance at 1/4/22
Add: Surplus for the year
Balance at 31/3/23
Add: Surplus for the year
Balance at 31/3/24
Add: Surplus/(Deficit) for the year
Balance at 31/3/25		 70,980.33
1,019.67
72,000.00
2,429.85
74,429.85
(15,356.29)
59,073.56

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Accoun�ng Policies

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Companies Act 2005 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities issued in March 2005.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Incoming resources

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the conditions for receipt are met and there is a reasonable assurance of receipt. It comprises donations, fees and charges excluding VAT. The following accounting policies are applied to income:

Fees and similar income

Fees receivable are accounted for in the period in which they are received.

Resources expended

Expenditure is accounted for on a payments and receipts basis. Expenditure is allocated to expense headings either directly or apportioned according to time spent.

Charitable Activities comprises all expenditure directly related to the objects of the centre.

The Centre is not registered for Value Added Tax.

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