## **South West Coast Path Association**
Independently Examined
Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Reg. charity no. 1163422
**Report independently examined by:**
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
|Reference and administrative details of the Charity,|**1**|
|its Trustees and advisers||
|Trustees’ report|**2**|
|Independent examiner’s report|**38**|
|Statement of fnancial activities|**39**|
|Balance sheet|**40**|
|Statement of cash fows|**41**|
|Notes to the fnancial statements|**42**|
_Cover image Coast Path Forum Speakers; from Left to Right xxx_
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
**1**
## **Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers**
For the year ended 31 December 2025
|**Trustees**|Ruth Adams|
|---|---|
||Katie Ash|
||Hilary Dinsdale,_Chair_|
||Hannah Kentish-Game,_appointed 6 June 2025_|
||Zoë Kibbey|
||Robert Mark,_resigned 6 June 2025_|
||Rachel Smith|
||Phillip Spencer,_Vice Chair_|
||Giles Taylor,_Hon Secretary_|
||Kevin Thomas,_Treasurer_|
|**Charity registered**
**number**|1163422|
|**Principal offce**|Unit 11, Residence 2, Royal William Yard, Plymouth, PL1 3RP|
|**Senior management team**|Julian Gray,_Director_|
||Lorna Sherriff,_National Trail Offcer_|
||Aletha Mays,_Head of Comms_|
||Emma Parkman,_Head of Fundraising_|
|**Accountants**|Bishop Fleming LLP Chartered Accountants|
||Salt Quay House, 4 North East Quay, Sutton Harbour|
||Plymouth, PL4 0BN|
_The SWCPA Team_
**2 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Chair’s introduction**
**On behalf of the Board of Trustees I am delighted to introduce the 2025 Annual Report and Accounts. The results are yet again a testament to the hard work of the Association staff and the very valued contributions of our Volunteers, Members and Supporters.**
_Hilary Dinsdale_
Income has increased for the eighth year running, exceeding £1miilion for the first time in the Association’s history.
Highlights of the year included a refreshed branding for the Charity, as shown across the website and other channels, in the well-received new look Impact Report, and the commencement of building work for the new Coast Path Centre and Association office at the Melville Building, Royal William Yard. Spending on the Path grew in part due to investment in the England Coast Path and additional Natural England path improvement grants. The Board made the decision to embed Community Engagement in the form of the Coast Path
Connectors Project into our core objectives and the five part time staff were issued with permanent contracts. This year there were over 4,000 participants on 540 Community Engagement walks, introducing many both to the health and wellbeing benefits of walking on the Path and the local heritage and natural environment in their areas.
Hannah Kentish-Game was coopted as a Trustee in May 2025 and formally appointed in June, and Bob Mark retired, also in June, after serving as Trustee for 8 years, including as Chair for 3 years. Our volunteer Trustees
have all contributed many hours to the various Committees and Working Groups over the last year. It is a pleasure to sit alongside a group with such diverse ages and specialisms.
Membership income grew by 6% in 2025, to £140k. The publicity around the launch of the Salt Path film clearly had a beneficial effect, with increased domestic and international interest in the Path. The media interest was managed by the team very well, focussing interest on the Path itself, which continues to be one of the world’s great Trails, open to all.
I hope you will continue to support the Association as we move forward into an exciting new chapter: the launch in 2026 of the Coast Path Centre and our continuing mission to champion and fundraise to keep the Path in good shape despite the increase in storm damage and coastal erosion.
**Ms H Dinsdale**
(Chair of Trustees)
South West Coast Path Trustees, Report and Flnanelal Statements
+V.
**4 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Objectives and activities**
The **Objectives** of the Charity, as set out in the Constitution, are:
- **1** To secure the protection, improvement and conservation of the South West Coast Path and public access to it in order to improve the health and wellbeing of the general public.
- **2** To educate the general public to a greater knowledge of, respect and care for, the coast and countryside by promoting the South West Coast Path.
In furtherance of these Objects the Association aims to work for and assist in:
- Providing information about the South West Coast Path and its corridor to the public;
- The effective administration of the organisation directed at the improvement and maintenance of the South West Coast Path; and
- Providing a forum in which different interests connected with the South West Coast Path (including its corridor) and its use can discuss problems of mutual concern.
## **Our Strategies**
The strategic aims for the charity are organised across six pillars:
## **Path Guardians**
- Develop and improve the South West Coast Path (SWCP) experience as one of the world’s great trails.
- Identify and implement trail improvements to ensure it meets and exceeds National Trail Quality Standards.
- Leverage the creation of the England Coast Path to improve the experience of accessing the coast.
- Influence planning policy and contribute to development management to protect and enhance the SWCP and coastal corridor.
## **Connecting with Nature**
Protect and enhance the Coast Path corridor to improve its natural beauty, cultural heritage and biodiversity
- Build resilience to impacts of climate change on the trail.
- Use the England Coast Path designation to promote nature recovery in the Coastal Margin and champion the Coastal Wildbelt in the South West.
- Work with partners to protect and promote the culture and heritage of the SW Coast.
## **Health and Wellbeing**
Champion the health and wellbeing benefits of walking along the Coast Path and improve the equity of access and accessibility to and along the National Trail
- Welcome all audiences to increase the public benefit from our natural health service.
- Celebrate, research and promote the health and wellbeing benefits of walking and connecting to nature.
- Improve accessibility and information on access to the Coast Path and across the trail corridor.
## **Vision and Mission**
The Charity’s **Vision** is a **coast for all**
Our **mission** is **protecting, enhancing and celebrating the Coast Path - creating opportunities for everyone to experience the coast.**
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 5**
## **Promoting Adventure**
Celebrate and engage people in the Coast Path and the work of the charity
- Be the leading information provider for the South West Coast Path National Trail, England Coast Path and Coastal Wildbelt in the SW
- Deliver a comprehensive retail strategy to promote the Coast Path and charity’s brand – and create a new retail space at RWY to improve income generation opportunities
- Leverage the new Coast Path Centre to help celebrate people’s journeys and engage in the work of the Trail Partnership to protect and promote the Coast Path
## **Powering the SW economy**
Develop partnerships to promote sustainable tourism across the South West coast, celebrating the special nature of the Great South West
- Strengthen links between tourism businesses and the Trail through the Way Maker programme and Coast Path Passport
- Develop an affordable accommodation offer for the Coast Path
- Strengthen and promote use of sustainable transport networks to access the coast
## **Fundraising**
Develop diverse and resilient funding channels to support the work of the charity and Trail Partnership
- Grow and deliver an efficient membership service
- Deliver a range of individual giving opportunities and grow support from corporate sector
- Co-ordinate a programme of grant and trusts fundraising for the Trails Partnership
To deliver these strategic aims the charity:
## **Ensures it is fit for purpose and has good governance**
- Ongoing review and improvement of the governance of the charity embedded in constitution, rules, policies and procedures. Learn from Charity Commission best practice and guidance
- Ensure HR management systems are annually reviewed and are fit for purpose for the charity and help support an efficient and effective team
## **Ensures it is financially viable**
- Ensure the financial administration of the charity is fulfilling all requirements of the Charity Commission and HMRC whilst meeting the needs of donors, members, grant funders, staff and trustees
- Evidence and publicise the strategic value of the National Trail, charity, and wider Trail Partnership
## **Runs an efficient administration to support staff, trustees, wider volunteers, members and supporters**
- Develops and manages the network of Local and Area Representatives, volunteer community rangers and other volunteers into a comprehensive volunteer service for the Coast Path
- Provides a quality member and customer support service
- Runs efficient, relevant and cost-effective systems to support the team, trustees, volunteers, members and supporters whilst meeting data protection regulations
_Annual Survey on the SWCP_
**6 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Reporting criteria 2025**
The charity’s Business Plan sets out financial and non-financial performance measures to ensure the Association is meeting its objects, vision and mission. A fiveyear Business Plan was adopted by the Board of Trustees in November 2022 setting out the strategic aims and objectives for the Association. The Business Plan was reviewed and updated in 2024 including a detailed action plan and budget for 2025..
The three Sub-Committees of the Board of Trustees have responsibility for governance and oversight of delivery of one of each of the three strategic aims:
- **Path Committee** – enhancement of the Coast Path experience;
- **Membership and Fundraising Committee** – fundraising to support the Coast Path; and
- **Finance and Human Resources Committee** – running the Charity.
This 2025 Trustees Report has been structured to reflect the charity’s work across these three areas.
_SWCPA Trustees and Team_
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
**7**
_Cornish Choughs on Gwennap Head, West Cornwall by Arthur Allan_
**The Coast of the South West is an important place for nature and is home for many threatened species. We are championing a Coastal Wildbelt in the South West to protect and enhance nature and connect people with nature. This can help in the UK Government’s biodiversity target of protecting 30% of land and ocean by 2030.**
**8 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Main activities undertaken to further the charity’s purposes for public benefit**
## **Enhancement of the Coast Path Experience**
The charity continued to build on the momentum of the past few years, growing our income year-onyear to over £1million in 2025 helping increase our impact to protect and promote this world class trail. For the eighth year running we exceeded our income targets and through efficiencies, underspent our budget to ensure more funds were directed to the Coast Path.
Highlights of the year include:
- Over £200k of capital funding was secured by the charity for improvements to the Coast Path and accessibility along the National Trail over the year.
- The iconic **Stairway to Devon** at Royal William Yard (RWY) was reinstalled after a refurbishment over winter. The stairway is dedicated to Eric Wallis, a previous secretary of the charity, and has an important place in our history.
- In June we celebrated the opening of the Cornwall section of the **King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIII ECP)** . Over £5 million has been invested in improving the route of the Coast Path in Cornwall, including taking the route off roads and onto a more coastal route.
- Media interest in the trail continued to grow. The Coast Path and the charity received much coverage in the lead up to the launch of the Salt Path film in June. The subsequent media interest kept the Coast Path in the news.
- The **South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year** exhibition was hosted for the second year running atLondon’s Paddington Station in partnership with GWR.
- Our biennial **Coast Path Forum** was hosted in June and focussed on the Transformative Power of Trails with Sarah Mukherjee compering the Q&A session once again. Over 100 stakeholders attended the event.
- This year’s **Annual General**
**Meeting** was chaired by Hilary Dinsdale and Kevin Thomas, Treasurer, presented a report on our accounts for 2024. Following the AGM we hosted a Completers Ceremony and then David Fursdon, LordLieutenant of Devon, presided over a ceremony to celebrate the charity receiving the **King’s Award for Voluntary Service** .
- Following on from the success of the National Lottery Heritage Fund supported **Coast Path Connectors** Project, Trustees agreed to continue the programme as a core activity of the charity with the fixedterm project officers receiving permanent contracts.
- A lease was signed with Urban Splash for the G13b Unit in the Melville Building, Royal William Yard, Plymouth. The first phase of the fit-out of the new accessible **Coast Path Centre** was started. Gillespie Yunnie Architects are overseeing a minor works contract to deliver the works. This will be a great new opportunity for the charity to engage people with the Coast Path.
- In October the VP of Operations for the Bruce Trail opened the SWCP section of our Friendship Trail at Wembury.
- The SW pilot of the **Coastal Wildbelt** project continued to look at how the coast can be made more nature-rich and accessible, leveraging the new open access rights created as part of the designation of the England Coast Path.
- Working with the World Trails Network, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognised the principle of Trail corridors as protected areas helping deliver global biodiversity targets at its World Conservation Congress in October 2025.
- We published the first Impact Report for the Coast Path in December 2025, helping articulate the impact of the National Trail and the charity.
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South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 9
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## **South West Coast Path Trail Partnership**
with the National Trust fund the remaining 25% (because of the pressures noted in the climate change section below on P.10 as well as increasing costs of materials and labour, this proportion has risen from 25% to 50% with increasing costs and liabilities). The grant allocation is set out in a Delivery Framework and based on percentage of path within each jurisdiction.
The Trail Partnership oversees the management, maintenance, improvement and promotion of the South West Coast Path National Trail for the benefit of the public. It champions the protection, enhancement and access to the landscape, biodiversity and cultural heritage of the Coast Path corridor. The SWCP Trail Partnership Delivery Group comprises six Highway Authorities (Cornwall and Dorset Councils, Devon County Council, Torbay Council, Plymouth City Council and Exmoor National Park Authority), the National Trust, Natural England (NE) with the SWCP Association as lead, coordinating the Partnership. Ken Carter is the independent Chair of the Trail Partnership.
**Table 1: Percentage allocation of Natural England grant allocated towards maintenance by Highway Authority area.**
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Highway Proportion
Authority of grant
Cornwall 48%
Devon 30%
Dorset 12%
Exmoor 5%
Plymouth 1%
Torbay 4%
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As set out in A New Deal for National Trails, Natural England provides an annual grant to the SWCP Trail Partnership to help maintain the Coast Path to National Trail Quality Standards. This grant funds a maximum of 75% of the day to-day maintenance of the National Trail, paid directly to the Highways Authorities, who,
_Bossington, Exmoor Path Improvements. Credit National trust_
**10 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Investing in the Coast Path**
A proportion of the NE National Trail grant is used to fund regional co-ordination work on behalf of the Partnership by the National Trail Team, including the National Trail Officer, and is managed by the Association. The SWCP Trail Partnership delivery group met twice during 2025. The main topics considered included: establishment of the King Charles
III England Coast Path; mitigation of climate change impacts; development of a Coastal Wildbelt to promote nature recovery; and managing planning issues along the National Trail corridor.
A Trail Partnership Project funded by the Trail Partners helps build capacity of the charity to generate extra investment in the Coast Path.
## **Table 2: Annual breakdown of investment into the Trail Partnership Project by the SWCP Trails Partnership.**
_New Red River bridge at St Gothian’s Nature Reserve, Godrevy, West Cornwall_
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Trail Partnership Project investment 2024
Cornwall Council £ 10,635
Devon County Council £ 6,540
Dorset Council £ 3,550
Exmoor National Park Authority £ 1,190
National Trust £ 17,250
Plymouth City Council £ 370
South West Coast Path Association £ 17,250
Torbay Council £ 715
Total £ 57,500
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**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 11**
## **National Trail Maintenance Grant**
effects of climate change mean that many of the Trail Partners are having to put in more than the allocated 25% of maintenance. In 2025 Trail Partners exceeded the amount required to match fund the Natural England Maintenance Grant by £650k. The charity is also increasing its fundraising efforts to support the enhancement of the Trail.
National Trails receive a maintenance grant from Natural England which is allocated with a 25% match funding from the Trail partners. The National Trails’ Maintenance Grant has not received an inflationary uplift for the past nine years, which has cumulatively reduced the grant by around £150k. In addition, the above inflationary rising costs of materials and labour as well as the
_Torbay Signage Refresh. Credit Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust_
**Table 3: Match funding expected by the Trail Partners versus the actual match funding spent on maintaining the National Trail.**
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Trail Partner Natural England 25% Trail Partner Actual match funding
Trail Maintenace Grant match-funding required from Trail Partners in
to Trail Partners (75% 2025
allocation for 2025)
Cornwall £164,021 £54,673 £646,288
Devon £112,296 £37,431 £52,179
Dorset £40,345 £13,448 £56,349
Exmoor £16,294 £5,431 £5,431
Plymouth £3,489 £1,163 £2,400
Torbay £12,703 £4,234 £4,342
Total £349,148 £116,380 £766,989
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The charity will continue to champion for an increase in core maintenance budget to ensure the Coast Path remains to the highquality standard expected of a National Trail.
**12 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Path improvement projects:**
In addition to the National Trail Maintenance Grant, we secured an additional £84k for capital improvements to the Coast Path and £114k DEFRA and Natural England Access for All funding. The Path Committee had oversight of these capital access and improvement projects, many of which will be completed in the first quarter of 2026. The uplift in capital funds is welcomed. However, this new capital funding does not address the financial pressures on the revenue-funded maintenance costs of the Trail Partners, to keep the Path open all year round.
In addition to the capital funds noted above, the charity’s Path Committee directly supported six
additional improvement projects along the Coast path that were completed in 2025:
- **£2.5k** Carswell Farm path widening and scrub encroachment removal
- **£5k** Bugle Cove, near Mothecombe, surfacing and drainage works
- **£1.6k** Glebe Cliff Path Improvements
- **£5k** Ferrybridge, reinstating of path previously lost due to landslip
- **£10k** Porlock Marsh Boardwalk
- **£6k** West Penwith Step improvements
Funds were also generated through public appeals to improve infrastructure along the Trail, including:
- **£6k** for step boards through the Step-Up Appeal across the trail.
- **£5.4k** for Way markers and fingerposts across the trail area through the Find Your Way Appeal.
We continued our support for the South Devon National Landscapes Life on the Edge project as well as the Tamar National Landscapes Tamara project. The Tamara projects completion is in early 2026.
_Top and bottom image: Porlock Boardwalk. Right: Ferrybridge Improvements_
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South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 13
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_Cliff fall near Sidmouth by James Loveridge_
## **Managing Impacts of Climate Change**
Over the year there were nine significant coastal erosion incidents leading to diversions and roll-back of the path. There were also numerous smaller cliff-slips where sections of the Trail now need to be regularly monitored, and plans put in place ready to divert or roll back the path before it is deemed no longer safe. Many events were cliff falls, landslips, or collapses of key infrastructure such as steps or bridges caused by heavy rain fall, flooding, or storm surges.
With the Trail running around the edge of the SW peninsula we are impacted by storms no matter the direction they come from. One impact of climate change is that not only are we seeing more frequent and stronger storms, but also more extreme weather events. So, the threat to the Coast Path corridor is not only the acceleration of coastal erosion, but also wind damage, run-off from significant rainfall events and increased fire risk during heatwaves.
_Storm Daragh Damage. Credit Exmoor National Park_
## **Path Survey and Condition Report**
Between October 2024 and March 2025 97% of the National Trail was surveyed. Path volunteers walked the Trail recording observations on hand-held tablets against National Trail Quality Standards, following the same methodology of previous surveys.
Based on the analysis of data collected between October 2024 and March 2025, we have seen the condition for furniture and signs increase by a 0.7% up to 81% of all furniture and signage meeting National Trail standards. This slight increase is due to
the increase spending by Trail Partners and additional funds the charity has secured for the Coast Path. The results of the survey are summarised in the table below:
**Table 4: The percentage of Coast Path infrastructure meeting National Trail Quality Standards 2001 to 2025.**
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Criteria 2001 2005 2009 2012 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Furniture 73% 81% 86% 89% 86% 85% 85% 85% 84% 80% 87% 84% 84% 84%
Signs 46% 58% 69% 79% 74% 73% 72% 76% 75% 69% 74% 75% 76% 76%
All infrastructure 62% 71% 78% 84% 81% 80% 79% 81% 80% 75% 80% 80% 80% 81%
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**14 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
_Thanks to funding provided by The Mustard Tree we were able to support South Devon residents who are living with Cancer to take up walking on the South West Coast Path throughout 2025_
## **Coast Path Connectors and Community Engagement work 2025**
Our community engagement work and Coast Path Connectors walking programmes are now embedded into the core of the organisation’s objectives. Our team of five parttime Community Engagement leads are based on the Path in West Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay, North Devon and Dorset. We are continuing to open up coastal walking to new audiences and to train up new volunteers to carry on this work. Our walk leader training was formally accredited with the Institute of Outdoor Learning in the summer.
The project aims to boost health and wellbeing of participants, as well as introducing them to the heritage and natural environment of the Coast Path with the hope that people will continue to walk as groups and independently in the future. The charity’s Health and Wellbeing Working group, made up of staff and Trustees has provided vital support and direction to this work.
Key funders for the year included Natural England, National Lottery Community Fund, Clare Milne Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre.
In 2025, we led over 540 walks on the Coast Path, with over 4,000 participants. Over 700 participants were referred into our walks via a health professional or social prescriber. Volunteers are an important part of the programme and we engaged with over 50 volunteers who gave over 3,000 hours of their time whilst training, supporting and leading walks. More volunteer led walks took place in 2025 which has increased our capacity to deliver more walks with 135 walks being led solely by volunteers.
In each area, we deliver:
- Wellbeing walks where participants can be referred into by support organisations, health professional and social prescribers, or by self-referral
- Bespoke walking programmes with community organisation such as: **Plymouth** : Hamoaze House, **Cornwall** : St. Petrocs, **North Devon** : Devon Carers, **Torbay** : The Lodge Cancer Support Centre, **Dorset** : Lantern Trust (Weymouth)
Highlights for 2025 across the five hubs included:
- Partnering with Dorset National Landscape’s Nature Buddies programme.
- Delivering disability awareness training to six staff and seven volunteers in Torbay.
- Delivering training sessions to local GP surgery staff on walks in their local areas across North Devon.
- Supporting NHS staff by delivering wellbeing walks for staff teams in Cornwall.
- Delivering walk leader training Devon Mind and Improving Lives Plymouth.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 15**
## **Planning**
The Association continues to make representations to the relevant Local Planning Authorities and other appropriate bodies whenever proposals or plans might have an adverse impact on the Coast Path and the experience of its users. In this role it is helped by its five volunteer planning advisors, who between them, cover the whole 630 miles of the Coast Path.
We continue to link in with the local Ramblers groups who notify us of any planning applications as well as the National Trust, and are working to increase our connection with the National Landscapes planning teams. We continue to work with partners to get complete coverage of the National Trail.
During 2025 the Association had sufficient concern to make representations on 20
planning applications. Of these, 11 were formal objections to the development applications. Five applications were commented upon but we made no objection. For the remaining four applications we kept the right to object subject to provision of further information. There were several applications where an applicant appealed a refused development where the Association continued to uphold our objection.
We made representations to the Torridge District Housing Strategy and Exmoor National Park Management Plan.
The Planning Working Group met to discuss planning notifications to the charity and recognition of the National Trail in national planning guidance and local development plans.
_Refurbished ‘Stairway to Devon’ at Royal William Yard, Plymouth_
_Kimmeridge Bay by Quinton Vidal-Taylor_
**16 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **King Charles III England Coast Path**
However, there is still uncertainty in Dorset where the Secretary of State has not approved a route through the Lulworth Ranges - leaving a five-mile gap in the 2,700 mile long trail. In addition, the Lyme Regis to Rufus Castle proposals are still to be finalised. We have written to the Secretary of State to ensure funding for establishment of these remaining sections continues beyond the 2025/6 financial year.
Natural England continues to co-ordinate the designation of the England Coast Path (ECP) as a National Trail. When complete it will cover over 2,700 miles around the coast of England. By the end of 2025 the route from Minehead across Somerset and North Devon, Cornwall, Kingswear to Lyme Regis, and Rufus Castle to Lulworth sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path were fully open. The remaining sections of the ECP in the SW are already in the planning or delivery phase and due to open in 2026.
An event was held at Porthoustock in June to celebrate the ECP establishment and completion of works around Cornwall. Over £5 million has been invested in improving the route around the Cornwall coast which includes realignment of the route to take it off road and ensure it is more coastal.
_Marsland Mouth to Newquay, ECP Improvements_
**King Charles III England Coast Path National Trail - Stretch Progress** 27th August 2025
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1 Aust to Brean Down 55 Newport Bridge to North Gare
234 Brean Down to MineheadMinehead to Combe MartinCombe Martin to Marsland Mouth 565758 North Gare to South BentsAmble to BamburghSouth Bents to Amble King Charles IIIEngland Coast Path and associated access rights now open
5 Marsland Mouth to Newquay 59 Bamburgh to the Scottish Border (including Holy Island)
678 Newquay to PenzancePenzance to St MawesSt Mawes to Cremyll 606162 Gretna to AllonbyAllonby to WhitehavenWhitehaven to Silecroft planned or in progressApproved in whole but not yetopen, establishment works
1011129 Cremyll to KingswearKingswear to Lyme RegisRufus Castle to Lulworth CoveLyme Regis to Rufus Castle 66646563 Silecroft to Silverdale Walney IslandSilverdale to CleveleysCleveleys to Pier Head, Liverpool upon-TweedBerwick- 59 approved lengthsplanned or in progress for Approved in part but not yet open, establishment works
13 Lulworth Cove to Kimmeridge Bay 67 Birkenhead to Welsh Border 58 Proposals published but
14 Kimmeridge Bay to Highcliffe not yet approved
15 Highcliffe to Calshot
1617 Calshot to GosportIsle of Wight - East Cowes Ferry to Wootton Bridge Northumbria 57 Natural England Areas
1819 Isle of Wight - Wootton Bridge to the MedinaGosport to Portsmouth 60 Carlisle Newcastle 56 0 50 Kilometres
2021 Portsmouth to South Hayling IslandSouth Hayling Island to East Head 61 55 0 50 Miles
22 East Head to Shoreham-by-Sea Cumbria
23 Shoreham-by-Sea to Eastbourne 54
2425 Eastbourne to CamberCamber to Folkestone 62 63 Scarborough
262827 Folkestone to RamsgateRamsgate to WhitstableIsle of Sheppey 64 65 Northern LincolnshireYorkshire & 53
29 Whitstable to Iwade Blackpool Leeds Hull 52
30 Iwade to Grain 66
34323331 Southend-on-Sea to Wallasea IslandTilbury to Southend-on-SeaWallasea Island to Burnham-on-CrouchGrain to Woolwich 67 Liverpool Cheshire to Lancashire 51 50
35 Burnham-on-Crouch to Maldon Skegness
36 Maldon to Salcott 47
37 Mersea Island East Midlands 49 46
38 Salcott to Jaywick
39 Jaywick to Harwich 48 45
40 Harwich to Shotley Gate Great Yarmouth
424341 Shotley Gate to Felixstowe FerryFelixstowe Ferry to BawdseyBawdsey to Aldeburgh Birmingham Norfolk & Suffolk 44
44 Aldeburgh to Hopton On Sea West Midlands 41 42
48454647 Hunstanton to Sutton BridgeHopton On Sea to Sea PallingSea Palling to WeybourneWeybourne to Hunstanton West Anglia 36 37 3840 39 Felixstowe 43
49 Sutton Bridge to Skegness 34 35
5051 Mablethorpe to Humber BridgeSkegness to Mablethorpe 1 Bristol London 32 3328 27
525354 Humber Bridge to EasingtonEasington to Filey BriggFiley Brigg to Newport Bridge 3 2 Bridgwater Wessex Thames Solent 31 30 Folkestone 29 26
4 Southampton 16 19 20 21 Brighton Sussex & Kent 25
Newquay 5 Devon, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Exeter 10 11 1213 14 15 17 18 22 23 24
Plymouth
6 8
9 © Natural England . Published under the Open Government Licence (OGL v3 . 0)
7 © Crown copyright and database rights 2025httpsfor public sector information. : //www . nat i onalarch i ves.gov.uk/doc/open . Ordnance Survey AC0000851168 - government - l i cence/vers i on/3/
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Once completed the South West Coast Path section of the ECP will account for around a quarter of the route and two thirds of the ascent.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 17**
## **Coastal Wildbelt**
The Coastal Wildbelt continued to develop over the year with the Government’s 25-Year Environment Improvement Plan acknowledging the scheme as a mechanism to deliver our 30x30 biodiversity target. To help move the Wildbelt forward from pilot projects into a national programme a new Steering Committee was formed, including the charity’s Director, Julian Gray. This Protected Landscapes Partnership funded project is hosted by National Trails UK with the SWCPA co-ordinating delivery of the SW pilot. Two test and trial projects were funded in 2025: Professor Kathryn Moore ran a workshop with SWCPA and South Devon National Landscape on managing changing landscapes; and JBA Consulting completed a phase 1 data collection. The Coastal Wildbelt was also written into the Cornwall Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which will act as a template for other strategies around the coast.
_Coastal Wildbelt Illustration_
## **World Trails Network**
## **Protected Landscapes**
## The **Protected Landscapes**
We continue to play an active role in **World Trail Network** sharing knowledge and understanding with other trail managers. The SWCP Impact Report generated significant interest internationally and has led to discussions with international trail networks about measuring and articulating the impact of trails.
**Partnership** continued to develop nature recovery and equity of access programmes across the **National Landscapes** , N **ational Parks** and **National Trails** . The charity is working in a more coordinated fashion with the SW protected landscapes and is actively involved in the stakeholder partnerships of Cornwall, South Devon and Dorset National Landscapes. Exmoor National Park involved the Association in the development of its 5-year Management Plan. Discussions were also held with East Devon and North Devon National Landscapes to identify synergies and ways of working in partnership.
The **IUCN** formally approved a motion developed by the **World Trails Network** and **World**
**Commission on Protected Areas** at the October 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. This is a significant step for trail corridors to be recognised internationally as drivers for positive action for nature. For the SWCP this will give a boost to discussions with Defra about the potential of the Coastal Wildbelt to deliver 30x30 targets for protecting land for biodiversity – with the aim of directing agri-environment funding to making the coast wider and wilder.
_Seals at Polly Joke, North Cornwall by Kate Battersby_
**18 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Fundraising to support the Coast Path**
We have grown charity income past the £1million mark in 2025 taking us into a new phase for the charity’s fundraising. The largest fundraising stream continues to be grants and trusts income which grew from £520k in 2024 to £565k in 2025, a 8% increase and accounting for 51% of our annual income. This growth is
predominantly investment in the England Coast Path and Natural England path improvement grants. Grants and trusts are assigned to restricted projects as follows: England Coast Path Establishment £157k, path improvements £143k, National Trail Team £92k, Coast Path Connectors £55k and Trail Partnership Project £39k.
**Table 5: List of reportable Grants received by the charity in 2025.**
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Grants
National Lottery Heritage Fund, Coast Path Connectors £22,000
Macmillan Support Grant, Dorset CPC series £13,500
National Lottery Community Fund, Coast Path Connectors £20,000
Natural England, England Coast Path Grants £157,217
Natural England, Path Improvements £142,691
Natural England, Coast Path Connectors £78,000
Natural England, Team Grant £92,150
SWCP Trail Partnership Project £39,880
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_Exmoor Path Rep meeting – surveying storm damage_
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 19**
## **Association Membership**
We received just over £140k in membership income in 2025: this accounts for 13% of overall income. 50% of membership income is allocated to a restricted fund to protect and promote the Coast Path; amounting to over £70k in 2025. This demonstrates to members that their support goes directly towards improvements
on the ground. Membership income grew significantly from 2018 to 2022 and then plateaued through to 2024. However, in 2025 we saw an almost 6% growth in membership income which reflects the increase interest in the Coast Path generated by the launch of the Salt Path film.
**Table 6: Membership income 2018 to 2025.**
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Year 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Income £96,267 £108,167 £114,660 £129,333 £135,897 £135,236 £132,334 £140,086
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In 2025 we undertook a membership survey to help better understand membership preferences. From this, we are looking to improve delivery of current memberships and looking to develop new offers.
This year we held a guidebook amnesty amongst life members to ensure guidebooks and communications were not being sent out unnecessarily or to out of date addresses.
Friction in international trade has impacted the charity, especially in how we deliver memberships and fulfil shop sales. New systems and procedures have been introduced to manage the ever more complicated international postage, VAT and customs charges. In the most extreme case, we have had to stop sending parcels and letters to the USA due to
the number of returned /failed deliveries associated with new customs and local tax costs. Digital alternatives are being sent to these international members. _Members arrive at the 2025 AGM and Coast Path Forum_
**20 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
_Photographer Of The Year 2025 Exhibition at Paddington Station, May 2025 by Jay Stone_
## **Path Completers**
156 members requested completer certificates, as part of their membership benefits, a 41% increase on 2024. 135 nonmembers purchased certificates, in line with the number purchased in 2024.
## **Donations**
In 2025 we received just over £98k in donations and Gift Aid, accounting for 9% of overall income. This increase following a dip in overall donations in 2024 is likely due to increased stewardship following the recruitment of Head of Fundraising and increased engagement with donors. We relaunched one internal appeal “Find Your Way”. There was limited initial engagement but we have since refreshed the Salesforce donation pages to update information and imagery creating a better experience. As such, we expect to see reflected in 2026’s donation income. A review of the donations system as a whole is underway and we have established a more streamlined approach to increase usability, we expect to deliver this in 2026.
## **Commemorations and In-Memoriam**
Our continued **‘Free Wills’** partnership with **Tozers** , launched for our 50th Anniversary, continues to bring legacy pledges and donations to the charity. Legacy gifts in 2025 amounted to £134k amounting to just over 12% of overall income. The in-memory Mile Maker scheme is currently being tightly managed to avoid large and long waiting lists and ensuring the cost of liaison and implementation does not exceed the donation ask.
## **Corporate Partnerships**
The charity continues to develop strong links with the corporate sector. We have seen a shift from sponsorship to corporate support through grant giving, corporate partnerships, in-kind support and corporate donations. This reflects the difficult wider operating environment and continuing cost of living crisis impacting businesses. In response we are developing new and innovative ways to engage with businesses. Corporate partnerships in 2025 included:
**Great Western Railway** sponsoring the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year for the second year running. The highlight being a large-scale exhibition at London’s Paddington Station in May to coincide with the release of The Salt Path film. The exhibition subsequently travelled to Plymouth where it was displayed at Royal William Yard as part of the **Artober** event for the second year running. **Classic Cottages** came on board as Silver Sponsor of the SWCP Photographer of the Year 2025.
**MACS Adventures** donated £5k for the third year running to support path maintenance. **Turnstyle Design** continued to support the charity through the 1 **% for the planet** with a donation of £5k. **Luggage Transfers** continued their support with an increased £2k donation and continued provision of a 10% discount to SWCPA members alongside encouraging walking customers to become SWCPA members. The **South West Business Council** supported the Association through their Charity of the Year programme.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
**21**
_Penzance Train Station, Rail to Trail Map Board_
We engaged a number of multisite corporate **Mile Makers** including Philema Hospitality Management who signed three sites as **Way Makers** and two sites as **Corporate Mile Makers** .
Working in partnership with **Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership** and Great Western Railway, we developed five **‘Rail to Trail’** information and map boards to inspire sustainable exploration of the SWCP. These are located at five railway stations in Cornwall: Penzance, Falmouth Town, Falmouth Docks, Newquay, and Looe.
In 2025, we collaborated with the **University of Plymouth** on their BA Hons Photography Year 2 module, with the subject being the South West Coast Path, and exploring responses to the United Nations Sustainability Goals. The collaboration culminated with an exhibition of the students’ work at the Lion’s Den, an outdoor space on Plymouth Hoe.
## **Way Makers**
The Way Maker programme continues to grow with 580 businesses participating in 2025 and income up 14% on 2024 at £25k. The associated SWCP Passport scheme has also continued to grow with more stamping points being added ensuring an uninterrupted network along the 630 miles of the Path.
We undertook a review of affordable accommodation along the trail through an internship project creating an updated list of affordable accommodation to recruit as Way Maker Friends.
We reviewed and grew the higher value Way Maker packages for Walking Holiday and Multi-Site Providers and increased income in this area. We engaged new large multi-site providers such as Lovat Parks who signed their Cornwall sites up as Way Makers with a view to establish further partnerships in the future.
**22 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Marketing and Communications**
## **The Salt Path**
2025 saw the highly anticipated release of the film, The Salt Path, based on Raynor Winn’s bestselling book of the same name and starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. The charity worked extensively with the UK distributors, Black Bear Pictures, to make the most of the opportunity and the focus on the South West Coast Path, undertaking several activities that included:
- Liaising with South West businesses and tourism networks to promote the South West Coast Path and raise the charity’s profile, alongside filmrelated activations.
- Worked with Black Bear Pictures in the lead-up to the London premiere. Secured charity inclusion in a foldout glossy brochure about the film that was available to audiences in cinemas across the country.
- Hosted two special screenings in Plymouth (Everyman and Arts Plymouth Cinema) that raised funds for the charity, with the screening at Everyman also featuring a screening of the charity’s Trailblazer Walk film.
- SWCPA Director, Julian Gray, was invited to host a Q and A with Raynor Winn before a special screening of the film in Exeter.
- We created several blogs, including four ‘transformational journeys’ on the SWCP, and four ‘A Taste of the Salt Path’ itineraries. In addition, we interviewed Raynor Winn, our most-read blog in 2025, with almost 3,000 views.
- The Coast Path Forum 2025, held at Royal William Yard, focused on ‘Transformational Journeys along the South West Coast Path’.
In response to questions raised by The Observer investigation, we took immediate and impartial action.
## **Refreshed Brand**
Following development work with Cornwall-based brand and design agency **Idenna** , we unveiled our refreshed look and feel to align with the changing needs of the Association. During 2025, we gradually transitioned to the new brand that saw our logo updated and all print and digital communications adapted with the new look. Making a staged transition minimised costs for implementation, implementing the new brand when publications were being re-published.
The new brand flowed through to our retail products with updates to our Completer Certificates, Coast Path Passport, caps and beanies, and the introduction of new products such as tote bags, water bottles, and Buff headgear. All new products are sourced from sustainable B Corp companies.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 23**
_**Trailblazing**_ remained our flagship member bi-annual publication that includes news from the charity, our members, trustees, and guest articles exploring issues pertinent to the care and protection of the National Trail. The spring issue focused on The Salt Path and how trails can be transformational, and the autumn issue focused on nature.
The functionality of the **website** was upgraded, and content was updated throughout the year. We saw an increase of 47% in organic traffic and a 40% increase in referral traffic to the site that we attribute to The Salt Path.
In 2025, we posted **47 blogs** that were viewed 35,503 times by 20,360 visitors.
## **Impact Report 2024**
Developed with the support of volunteer Sally Robins, a 2024 Impact Report was developed and shared with members, supporters and stakeholders. The ambition is to create a succinct and eye-catching report each year highlighting the work and achievements of the charity and broader impact of the Coast Path.
## **Social Media and eCommunications**
Throughout 2025, we issued two eNews every month to members and wider supporters – reaching an audience of around 11,000 each month. Social media engagement continued to grow over the year, with Facebook followers increasing by 8%; Instagram by 16%; Threads by 5%; and LinkedIn by 24%.
Our eNews continues to include information on the charity (Path News); Fundraising (Make a Difference); Explore (Walks); Shop; and an offers section for the members eNews, including Way Maker and partner offers. Our open rates are above the national average (approximately 21%), with member eNews at 59% and supporters eNews at 40%. Taking into consideration our social media channels, blog site, and eNews, we are talking to a combined audience of over 180k.
**24 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **In the News**
Following the release of **The Salt Path** film, the SWCP was listed in walking itineraries and routes in the national press. The team were involved in multiple national local and regional radio and TV interviews both on site and in studio such as a BBC South West (TV) feature about the impacts of screen tourism. The Salt Path kept the South West Coast Path in the news throughout the year. This included the lead-up to the film release, the time during the film’s initial UK release, and the increased media interest that shortly followed the film’s release. The charity continued to support media interest focused on the Trail.
Other stories putting the Coast Path in the news included the opening of the **England Coast Path** stretch in Cornwall with positive press from The Times, BBC News, and Mirage News. The SWCP **Photographer of the Year** exhibition at Paddington Station received coverage in BBC News, Devon Live and on the front cover of Western Morning News. BBC local radio interviewed the team on the competition winners and the upcoming exhibition. Practice Plus, which selected SWCPA as its **Charity of the Year** in 2024, surpassed its Mile Maker target, making local news.
Internationally, the South West Coast Path aired on **France TV Londres** , which filmed in Cornwall with volunteers and participants of the Cornwall Coast Path Connectors. We also received coverage from **The Portugal News** , featuring the SW Coast Path amongst other ‘ancient pilgrimage’ routes in Europe and the UK.
Julian Gray spoke about Landscapes and Green Infrastructure on the ‘Beyond Brunel’ podcast, with guest Dr Catherine Broomfield, Vice Chair of Trustees, Campaign for National Parks.
## **Awards and Accolades**
A section of the SWCP - Westward Ho! to Bude - was awarded the coveted title of ‘ **Britain’s Favourite Path’** by the Ramblers Association.
In June a commemorative ceremony was held for the **King’s Award for Voluntary Service** volunteers, with Lord-Lieutenant David Fursdon in attendance.
The Trailblazer Walk film was shortlisted in the charity division of the **Big Sym International Film Awards** .
South West Coast Path Trustees. Report and Flnanclal Statements
Follin9 Fo9 byNeilBcJrnes
**26 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Running the Charity**
## **Trustees**
Following a recruitment process Hannah Kentish-Game was appointed June 2025. Former Chair Bob Mark resigned as a Trustees at the June AGM.
## **Annual General Meeting**
The Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held as a face-to-face meeting at Royal William Yard, Plymouth following the biennial Coast Path Forum. The AGM was attended by around 100 members and included presentations by the Chair on the work of the charity, and the Treasurer on the 2024 Accounts. The AGM was followed with a completers certificate ceremony and celebration of the Kings Award for Voluntary Service.
## **Human Resources**
The five project officers funded through the National Lottery Heritage funded Coast Path Connectors project were given permanent projects as part of bringing the CPC team into the core work of the charity. New HR policies and procedures were developed and training delivered to the team and volunteers.
## **Enquiries and Complaints:**
The charity continues to receive over 1,000 enquiries a month, with a third of these coming from members. The charity dealt with several issues and complaints over the year, with the Salt Path scandal being the main issue raised.
_SWCPA Trustees at the 2025 AGM_
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 27**
## **Achievements and performance**
## **Key Achievements**
We delivered a refreshed brand which reflects the journey the charity has been on since 2018, transitioning to a charity with a clear cause, protecting and promoting the South West Coast Path.
## **Path Guardians** Significant
grant funding was secured for capital improvement projects for accessibility, establishing the England Coast Path and improving the experience of the South West Coast Path, delivered by working in partnership with Natural England, the National Trust, and Highway Authorities through the SWCP Trail Partnership.
**Connecting with Nature** Coastal Wildbelt championed through SW pilot, with recognition: regionally in Local Nature Recovery Strategies; nationally in Government’s 25Year Environment Plan; and internationally through World Trails Network and IUCN.
## **Health and Wellbeing**
Mainstreamed Coast Path Connectors within the charity, building capacity of partners and volunteers to deliver the programme and seeing our training formally accredited. Successful SW Coast Path Forum on the transformative power of Trails.
## **Promoting Adventure**
Photographer of the Year exhibition at Paddington Station linked to the launch of Salt Path film. Starting a new chapter of the charity with the start of the development of the new Coast Path Centre on the Coast Path at Royal William Yard, Plymouth.
**Powering the SW economy** Growing the Way Maker programme and SW Coast Path Passport, expanding the number of stamping points. Identifying and promoting affordable accommodation along the trail. Developing partnerships to promote sustainable travel to the Coast Path.
**Fundraising** In 2025 we successfully delivered the third year of charity’s new five-year business plan, continuing to sustainably grow the charity, passing the £1 million income generated milestone. Growth in membership.
The new **Impact Report** published in 2025 clearly articulates the impact of both the coast path and the charity.
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South West Coast Path Platform 8 & 9
Photographer of the Year Paddington Station
Exhibition 22 May – 19 June, 2025
Nature Winner
Stephen Holdway
Jurassic
Hooken Cliffs, East Devon southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Travel by train.
Book your travel at GWR.com
or on our app.
**----- End of picture text -----**
**28 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Public benefit statement**
The Trustees have reviewed the activities of the Charity in the light of the guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit. The Trustees are satisfied that the Charity’s activities are for the public benefit. The areas where public benefit is being provided are:
- making improvements to the Path so that people using it gain the maximum enjoyment;
- supporting path improvements to increase accessibility to and along the Coast Path for the public;
- promoting the health and wellbeing benefits of walking along the Path;
- encouraging recognition of the benefits of the path corridor for wider nature recovery;
- improvements to increase the use of the Path out of season;
- increased publicity to promote the Path to the widest section of the population;
- working with partners to identify and address barriers to access; and
- close working with other National Trails and world trails to promote the public benefits they offer.
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Photo by Oliver Sesemann
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**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 29**
## **Financial review**
## **Key Financial Performance Indicators 2025 Annual Report**
The Charity receives income from a variety of sources and for 2025 this comprised:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Income
Grants & Trusts £565,439 51%
Memberships £140,086 13%
Donations, Gift Aid and Legacies £251,545 23%
Way Makers & Corporate Sponsorship £31,364 3%
Shop Sales & other income £104,866 10%
Coast Path Connector services £9,600 1
Total £1,102,898 100%
**----- End of picture text -----**
The Charity spent funds on a range of activities and for 2025 this comprised:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Expenditure
Charitable Activities Support £617,487 58%
Raising Funds £94,598 9%
Path Improvements £242,582 23%
Memberships £42,964 4%
Promotion & Development £26,799 3%
Guides & Maps £35,083 3%
Total £1,059,513 100%
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_Esplanade 2025 Mile Maker_
30
Soutb West Coartpath TWStees' Report and Flnanclal Statements
*KY4
hlewstone ond Milty Woy byJerJ kn9ers
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31**
## **Investment Policy and Principal Risks and Performance Uncertainties**
The Charity has a policy of lowrisk investment in financial institutions which offer ethical products. All reserves are placed in interest bearing cash deposits within a variety of accounts, in order to keep within the Financial Services Compensation Scheme limit (raised from £85k to £120k in December ’25. The Finance and HR Committee and Trustees receive regular reports relating to account balances and interest rates.
The principal risks, based on likelihood and impact, faced by the Charity in 2025 were:
- Reduction of funding by local and national government
- Impact of the cost of living crisis on operational costs and support for the charity
- Impact on grant funding due to global economic environment
- Increasing costs to mitigate against the impacts of climate change Trustees manage these risks by recording them in a Register and defining a set of activities to reduce, manage or mitigate the risk were it to be realised. Trustees regularly review these activities to ensure the Charity is appropriately prepared.
## **Going Concern**
An entity prepares financial statements on a going concern basis when, under the going concern assumption, the entity is viewed as continuing in business for the foreseeable future. After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
## **Reserves Policy**
At the year end the Charity had unrestricted reserves of £157k and total reserves of £535k which comprise:
- **Restricted reserves of £46k** – restricted for specific uses as specified in the conditions attached to their source from legacies, grants and donations.
- **Designated reserves of £333k**
– designated by the Trustees for capacity building, contribution towards the delivery of the Trail Partnership Project and to promote and protect the Coast Path. This includes capitalisation of the Coast Path Centre construction costs of £75k at year end.
- **Unrestricted reserves of £157k**
– these reserves are needed to bridge any gaps that arise between spending and income received due to unforeseen circumstances which are outside of the Association’s control. For example, this might include the impact of national economic conditions on our ability to generate income or the need to deal with emergency repairs.
The Charity’s reserves policy is intended to ensure the Charity has sufficient unrestricted reserves to meet up to 6 months of our day to day running (“operational”) costs. The level of reserves is reviewed at least twice a year by the Finance and HR Committee, and not only reflects the relevant period in the current financial year but also takes into account the pressures on our budget moving forward. The Reserves Policy target was met in 2025.
**32 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **Governing Document**
The South West Coast Path Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by its Constitution approved by members on 28th March 2015 and subsequently accepted by the Charity Commission on 4th September 2015. It is registered as a Charity with the Charity Commission.
## **Method of Appointment or Election of Trustees**
The management of the charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Constitution. Trustees are elected every year by members at the AGM, serving until the following AGM. All Trustees are eligible for reelection each year. The procedure governing this process is set out in the Constitution and Rules. Officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Hon Secretary and Treasurer) are elected by the Trustees at the first meeting of the Board of Trustees following AGM. Members are informed at AGM of the names of those Trustees intending to stand for the Officer positions. A maximum of twelve Trustees are permitted under the current Constitution. Trustees may co-opt additional Trustees between AGMs, so long as the total does not exceed twelve.
## **Organisational Structure and Decision Making**
The Board of Trustees hosts four formal meetings a year at inperson or virtually with occasional conference calls, as required, between meetings. A further two meetings are held to focus upon project delivery with a site visit including relevant staff in the spring, and the second to consider the progress and review of the Business Plan in the autumn. The Board has established and monitors the overall governance of the Charity and determines membership, terms of reference and procedures of committees and other groups. It receives reports and recommendations from its committees for ratification. All Trustees have access to the minutes of committees allowing scrutiny of their discussions and activities. The Board has the power to create Working Groups to perform specific tasks over a limited timescale.
The following decisions are reserved to the Board of Trustees: to consider any proposals for changes to the status or constitution of the Charity and its committee structure, to appoint or remove the Chair and/or Vice Chair, to approve the budget, to approve changes to membership subscription rates.
The Trustees are responsible for setting general policy, adopting a Business Plan and budget, approving the statutory accounts, monitoring Charity performance with the use of budgets and other data, evaluating and mitigating risks, and making major decisions about the direction of the Charity, capital expenditure and resources.
## **Committees and Working Groups**
In 2025 there were three committees and four working groups:
## **Path Committee**
This is the primary group which looks after operational matters concerned with the Path. It meets four times a year allowing all Trustees to attend as observers. Membership is comprised of the Area Reps, a Rambler’s representative, the National Trail Officer, three Trustees, the Association Director and an independent Chair. One of its main purposes is to review requests and approve the allocation of the Charity’s own resources to projects protecting and promoting the Coast Path. Chaired by Ken Carter.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 33**
## **Finance and Human Resources Committee**
This meets at least four times a year and is responsible for all substantial matters of finance including human resources. This includes, but is not limited to, approving funding bids, approving the Charity’s quarterly management accounts, approval of the annual budget and the appointment of the Charity’s legal and financial advisers. Finance policies are developed by the Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees whereas finance procedures are owned and maintained by the Committee. Membership includes the Chair, Treasurer, Finance Manager, Director plus at least one other Trustee. Chaired by Kevin Thomas.
## **Membership and Fundraising Committee**
The Membership and Fundraising Committee’s main objectives are to oversee the fundraising and engagement work of the Charity set out in the Business Plan. This includes membership, corporate support, trusts and grants, individual giving, events, trading activity and communications. Membership of the Committee comprises at least three Trustees and two voting Association staff. Other non-voting staff are co-opted to the Committee. Chaired by Philip Spencer.
## **Planning Working Group**
The Planning Working Group has oversight of planning policy impacting on the Coast Path. In addition, it responds to planning applications, advises on neighbourhood plans and inputs to policy (e.g. Green infrastructure and National Planning Policy Framework). The Group comprises the Path Committee Chair, Volunteer Planning Advisers, Association’s Director and the National Trail Officer. This Working Group reports to the Path Committee.
## **Trustee Recruitment Working Group/Interview Panel**
The Trustee Recruitment Working Group addresses issues around skills and diversity in membership of the Board. The Working Group comprises three Trustees, one of whom is the Chair or Vice-Chair and the Association’s Director and reports to the Board of Trustees. This Working Group reports to the Board.
## **Health and Wellbeing Working Group**
The Trustee Health and Wellbeing Working Group gives strategic direction to health and wellbeing work across the charity, looking to maximise impact of our programmes across the Coast Path. The Working Group comprises at least two Trustees and the Association’s Director, National Trail Officer and Coast Path Connectors Project Manager and reports to the Board. Chaired by Zoë Kibbey.
## **Coast Path Centre Working Group**
This Working Group was set up to give oversight of the development of a new office, visitor centre and community hub at Royal William Yard, Plymouth. The Working Group comprises at least three Trustees, the Association’s Director and Head of Comms and reports to the Board. Chaired by Hilary Dinsdale.
**34 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Key Management**
The Board of Trustees have devolved responsibility for day-today management of the Charity to the Director. The Director implements the policies laid down by the Trustees and reports back to them on performance.
The Trustees have approved a Scheme of Delegation between the Trustees and Director. This forms part of the Charity’s Rules and grants the Director latitude to act within the scope of the approved annual or project budget and within the Business Plan. The Business Plan has identified Lead Trustees for specific work items and the Director is authorised to proceed subject to consultation with the Lead Trustees, rather than the full Board. Discretionary spend up to £2,000 on items not in either the annual budget or project budgets is permitted by the Scheme.
## **Related Party and Other Connected Charities and Organisations**
None of our Trustees receive remuneration or other benefit from their work with the Charity. Trustees are required to complete an annual Declaration of Interests as well as to state any conflicts of interest before the start of each Board meeting. Trustees are also required to pass the HMRC “fit and proper” test as the Charity makes claims for tax relief.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 35**
## **Plans for future periods**
## **Future Developments**
Our priority for the Association in 2026 will be to deliver year four of our Business Plan as efficiently and effectively as possible under challenging economic and physical environment conditions. At time of writing there are some specific programmes of activity we will focus on over 2026, including:
- improving our data sharing with highways authorities to ensure our conditions survey feeds into future maintenance of the trail;
- work with Natural England and local stakeholders to maximise benefits for coastal access along the Path corridor and champion improvements to the England Coast Path in the South West;
- develop the Coast Path Centre at Royal William Yard, Plymouth; Phase 1 fit out of an accessible community hub and office;
- develop Coast Path Connectors partnerships to expand impact of health and wellbeing work;
- improve our engagement with members, supporters and wider users of the Coast Path through digital and on-site comms (looking forward to the 50th anniversary of the National Trail designation);
- deliver our Every Mile Matters awareness and fundraising campaign to show how the Coast Path is delivering the sustainability agenda and articulate the case for support;
- secure long-term core funding for maintenance of National Trails in parity with the rest of
the protected landscape family, working with government and National Trails UK;
- build the charity’s volunteer management capacity, including developing new Coast Path Centre volunteers to the family of community engagement and path volunteers;
- work with planning authorities and key stakeholders to improve recognition and protection of the National Trail in the planning system;
- deliver the Coastal Wildbelt pilot project in the SW working with National Trails UK to maximise the public benefits from the England Coast Path coastal margin to connect people with nature;
- develop our partnership for an affordable accommodation offer for long-distance hikers
- develop our Geographical Information System to underpin management plans and support the Wildbelt;
- work with Natural England, VisitBritain & National Coastal Tourism Academy to promote the England Coast Path;
- increase our understanding of the Coast Path and its public benefits by working with universities to influence the research agenda;
- work with the National Trails UK to ensure the National Trails family has a strong voice;
- work with the World Trails Network to promote the impact and public benefit of trails.
**36 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **Trustees’ responsibilities statement**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are
required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP);
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report was approved by the Trustees, on and signed on their behalf by:
## **Ms H Dinsdale**
- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
(Chair of Trustees) Date: 20 May 2026
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 37**
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Close to the edge, Jurassic Coast by Chris Lucas
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**38 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION ('the Charity')**
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 4 to 23.
## **RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT**
As the Trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT**
Since the Charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
The Charity's income for the year ended 31 December 2025 exceeded £1 million, which is the threshold for audit requirement under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011. However the Charity received a dispensation from audit granted by the Charity Commission on 3 March 2026. The Trustees, therefore appointed an independent examiner to carry out an independent eamination of the financial statements.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do 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: Dated: �������� Alison Oliver FCA **BISHOP FLEMING AUDIT LIMITED** Chartered Accountants Salt Quay House 4 North East Quay Sutton Harbour Plymouth PL4 0BN
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 39**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**Note**
**INCOME FROM:**
Donations and legacies
4
Charitable activities
5
Other trading activities
Investments
7
**TOTAL INCOME**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Raising funds
8
Charitable activities
9
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**NET INCOME/ (EXPENDITURE)**
Transfers between funds
19
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
19|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**228,103**
**208,371**
**60,282**
**17,261**
**514,017**
**94,598**
**402,873**
**497,471**
**16,546**
**30,575**
**47,121**
**442,230**
**47,121**
**489,351**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**23,442**
**565,439**
**-**
**-**
**588,881**
**-**
**562,042**
**562,042**
**26,839**
**(30,575)**
**(3,736)**
**49,643**
**(3,736)**
**45,907**|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**251,545**
**773,810**
**60,282**
**17,261**
**1,102,898**
**94,598**
**964,915**
**1,059,513**
**43,385**
**-**
**43,385**
**491,873**
**43,385**
**535,258**|Total
funds
2024
£
139,157
702,538
61,422
19,432
922,549
79,655
941,407
1,021,062
(98,513)
-
(98,513)
590,386
(98,513)
491,873|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 29 to 45 form part of these financial statements.
**40 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**Note**
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
13
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Stocks
14
Debtors: amounts falling due after more than
one year
15
Debtors: amounts falling due within one year
15
Investments
16
Cash at bank and in hand
22
**CURRENT LIABILITIES**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
17
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
Creditors: amounts falling due after more
than one year
18
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**CHARITY FUNDS**
Restricted funds
19
Unrestricted funds
19
**TOTAL FUNDS**|**9,492**
**10,419**
**219,565**
**349,293**
**41,320**
**630,089**
**(161,951)**|**2025**
**£**
**74,892**
**543,030**
**(7,772)**
**535,258**
**45,907**
**489,351**
**535,258**|13,291
-
81,120
440,920
177,587
712,918
(210,681)|2024
£
-
502,237
(10,364)
491,873
49,643
442,230
491,873|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## **H Dinsdale**
(Chair of Trustees)
## Dated: ��������
The notes on pages 29 to 45 form part of these financial statements.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
**41**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**Note**
**CASH FLOWS USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES**
Net cash used in operating activities
21
**CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES**
Increases in cash investments
Investment income received
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
**NET CASH PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES**
**CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS IN THE YEAR**
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
**CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR**
22
The notes on pages 29 to 45 form part of these financial statements|**2025**
**£**
**(170,263)**
**91,627**
**17,261**
**(74,892)**
**33,996**
**(136,267)**
**177,587**
**41,320**|2024
£
(70,098)
77,082
19,432
-
**96,514**
**26,416**
151,171
177,587|
|---|---|---|
**42 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **1. GENERAL INFORMATION**
South West Coast Path Association is a charitable incorporated organisation, registered in England and Wales (charity number: 1163422). The registered office is Unit 11, Residence 2, Royal William Yard, Plymouth, PL1 3RP.
## **2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **2.1 BASIS OF PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS 102) published on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
South West Coast Path Association meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
## **2.2 INCOME**
All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
The recognition of income from legacies is dependent on establishing entitlement, the probability of receipt and the ability to estimate with sufficient accuracy the amount receivable. Evidence of entitlement to a legacy exists when the Charity has sufficient evidence that a gift has been left to them (through knowledge of the existence of a valid will and the death of the benefactor) and the executor is satisfied that the property in question will not be required to satisfy claims in the estate. Receipt of a legacy must be recognised when it is probable that it will be received and the fair value of the amount receivable, which will generally be the expected cash amount to be distributed to the Charity, can be reliably measured.
Grants are included in the statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.
Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.
Income received for Life Memberships are credited to deferred income and from there recognised as income in 15 equal annual installments.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
**43**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)**
## **2.3 EXPENDITURE**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Charity to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
## **2.4 INTEREST RECEIVABLE**
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.
## **2.5 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS AND DEPRECIATION**
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
Assets under construction - Not depreciated
## **2.6 STOCKS**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving stocks. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.
## **2.7 DEBTORS**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **2.8 CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
**44 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2. of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').examiner to carry out an independent eamination of the financial statements.section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a memattention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reachSigned:examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:The Charity's income for the year ended 31 December 2025 exceeded £1 million, which is the threshold for arequirement under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011. However the Charity received a dispensation from agranted by the Charity Commission on 3 March 2026. The Trustees, therefore appointed an independ INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOUTH WEST COAST PATHASSOCIATION ('the Charity') I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year endedDecember 2025, which are set out on pages 4 to 23. RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT As the Trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance withI report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act in carrying out my examination I have followed the INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT Since the Charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listeI have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with1.2.3.I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to wAlison Oliver FCA BISHOP FLEMING AUDIT LIMITED Chartered AccountantsSalt Quay House4 North East QuaySutton HarbourPlymouthPL4 0BNthat the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independeexamination.accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requiremeaccounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; othe accounts do not accord with those records; orthe accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission unDated: �������� ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **2.9 LIABILITIES AND PROVISIONS**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the statement of financial activities as a finance cost.
## **2.10 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS**
The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2.11 PENSIONS**
The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the Charity to the fund in respect of the year.
## **2.12 FUND ACCOUNTING**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 45**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **3. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND AREAS OF JUDGEMENT**
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Critical accounting estimates and assumptions:
The Charity makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.
Life memberships are deferred over the expected term of the membership. This has been assumed to be 15 years.
## **4. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Donations & Gift Aid
93,987
Legacies
134,116
228,103
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Donations & Gift Aid
88,947
Legacies
42,838
131,785|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
23,442
-
23,442
Restricted
funds
2024
£
7,372
-
7,372|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**117,429**
**134,116**|
|---|---|---|
|||**251,545**|
|||Total
funds
2024
£
96,319
42,838|
|||139,157|
**46 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **5. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Membership Subscriptions
140,086
Waymaker Business Memberships
11,551
Sale of Guides & Maps
56,734
Trail Partnership Project
-
National Trail Team Grants
-
Natural England Grants
-
Coast Path Connectors Grant
-
208,371
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Membership Subscriptions
132,334
Waymaker Business Memberships
9,787
Sale of Guides & Maps
40,008
Trail Partnership Project
-
National Trail Team Grants
-
Natural England Grants
-
Coast Path Connectors Grant
-
182,129|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
-
39,880
92,150
377,909
55,500
565,439
Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
-
-
39,880
92,150
250,384
137,995
520,409|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**140,086**
**11,551**
**56,734**
**39,880**
**92,150**
**377,909**
**55,500**|
|---|---|---|
|||**773,810**|
|||Total
funds
2024
£
132,334
9,787
40,008
39,880
92,150
250,384
137,995|
|||**702,538**|
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
**47**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **6. INCOME FROM OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Sale of Merchandise
30,619
Waymaker Business Sponsorships
13,545
Corporate Sponsorships
6,268
Misc Income
250
Walk Provision Services
9,600
**TOTAL 2025**
60,282
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Sale of Merchandise
27,891
Waymaker Business Sponsorships
12,451
Corporate Sponsorships
20,890
Misc Income
190
61,422|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**30,619**
**13,545**
**6,268**
**250**
**9,600**|
|---|---|
||**60,282**|
||Total
funds
2024
£
27,891
12,451
20,890
190|
||**61,422**|
## **7. INVESTMENT INCOME**
||**Unrestricted**|**Total**|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|funds|
||**2025**|**2025**|2024|
||**£**|**£**|£|
|Bank Interest|17,261|**17,261**|19,432|
All prior year funds were unrestricted funds.
**48 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **8. EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS**
## **FUNDRAISING EXPENSES**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Cost of Merchandise
25,219
Donations and Legacies Costs
8,751
Corporate and Waymaker Sponsorship Costs
15,366
Staff Costs
45,262
94,598|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**25,219**
**8,751**
**15,366**
**45,262**
**94,598**|Total
funds
2024
£
23,426
9,288
13,921
33,020|
|---|---|---|
|||79,655|
All prior year funds were unrestricted funds.
## **9. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE BY ACTIVITIES**
|Promotion, Protection & Improvement of Coast Path
Coast Path Connectors Project
Promotion, Protection & Improvement of Coast Path
Coast Path Connectors Project|**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**2025**
**£**
346,928
1,264
348,192
Activities
undertaken
directly
2024
£
344,720
2,337
347,057|**Support**
**costs**
**2025**
**£**
616,723
-
616,723
Support
costs
2024
£
594,350
-
594,350|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**963,651**
**1,264**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**964,915**|
||||Total
funds
2024
£
939,070
2,337|
||||941,407|
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
**49**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **9. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE BY ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)**
## **ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS**
|Staff Salaries & Employer Costs
Professional Fees
Volunteer Expenses
Other Staff Costs
Governance Costs
Premises Costs
Administration Costs
IT Expenses
Accountancy Fees
Irrecoverable VAT|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**400,515**
**16,331**
**22,341**
**23,917**
**5,977**
**43,770**
**3,640**
**76,962**
**5,900**
**17,370**
**616,723**|Total
funds
2024
£
391,299
13,383
25,859
33,413
4,979
29,850
4,505
66,093
4,175
20,794|
|---|---|---|
|||594,350|
## **10. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REMUNERATION**
The independent examiner's remuneration amounts to an independent examiner fee of £5,250 (2024 - £4,175).
## **11. STAFF COSTS**
|Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes|**2025**
**£**
**374,404**
**49,757**
**21,616**
**445,777**|2024
£
352,571
50,436
21,312|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||424,319|
The average number of persons employed by the Charity during the year was as follows:
|CEO
Support staff|**2025**
**No.**
**1**
**13**
**14**|2024
No.
1
14|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||15|
**50 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **11. STAFF COSTS (CONTINUED)**
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
|||**2025**|2024|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**No.**|No.|
|In the band £60,001|- £70,000|**1**|1|
The Charity's volunteers take roles as Trustees, technical experts on one of our Committees or Working Groups or as Area or Local Representatives looking after a specific section of the Path. The latter walk the Path regularly, undertake an annual condition survey and report on any Path matters, they come together as the Path Committee to make important recommendations about projects that may need funding from Association or grant funds.
The key management personnel of the Charity comprise the Trustees (who do not receive remuneration for their role as Trustees) and the Senior Management Team listed on page 1. The total amount of employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Charity were £208,093 (2024: £169,907).
## **12. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES**
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2024 - £NIL).
During the year ended 31 December 2025, expenses totalling £1,430 were reimbursed or paid directly to 4 Trustees (2024: £2,419 to 6 Trustees).
## **13. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
||||**Assets**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**under**|
||||**construction**|
||||**£**|
||**COST**|||
||Additions||**74,892**|
||**NET BOOK VALUE**|||
||At 31 December 2025||**74,892**|
||At 31 December 2024||-|
|**14.**|**STOCKS**|||
|||**2025**|2024|
|||**£**|£|
||Finished goods and goods for resale|**9,492**|13,291|
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 51**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **15. DEBTORS**
||**2025**|2024|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|**DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR**|||
|Other debtors|**10,419**|-|
The Charity has paid a refundable lease deposit of £10,419 which is held by the landlord in a separate interest bearing account and is repayable within one month of the end of the lease term on 19 November 2035.
|**DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**16.**
**CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS**
Cash investments|**2025**
**£**
**2,562**
**2,659**
**214,344**
**219,565**
**2025**
**£**
**349,293**|2024
£
3,139
-
77,981|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||81,120|
|||2024
£
440,920|
**52 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **17. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Accruals and deferred income
Deferred income at 1 January 2025
Resources deferred during the year
Amounts released from previous periods
**DEFERRED INCOME AT 31 DECEMBER 2025**|**2025**
**£**
**41,771**
**245**
**119,935**
**161,951**
**2025**
**£**
**101,570**
**59,403**
**(101,570)**
**59,403**|2024
£
65,762
836
144,083|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||210,681|
|||2024
£
56,354
101,570
(56,354)|
||||
|||101,570|
At the Balance Sheet date the Charity was holding funds received in advance of £8,113 for sponsorships and £51,290 for memberships.
## **18. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR**
||**2025**|2024|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Deferred income|**7,772**|10,364|
Deferred income due after more than 1 year includes amounts relating to income from Lifetime Memberships, which is being released over a period of 15 years straight line.
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 53**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **19. STATEMENT OF FUNDS**
## **STATEMENT OF FUNDS - CURRENT YEAR**
|**UNRESTRICTED FUNDS**
**DESIGNATED FUNDS**
Promote and Protect Path
Capacity Building
Legacies
National Trails Alliance
Fixed asset fund
**GENERAL FUNDS**
General Funds
**TOTAL UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**
**RESTRICTED FUNDS**
Promote and Protect Path
Trail Partnership Project
National Trails Team
Donations
Outreach Projects
Natural England
Coast Path Connectors
**TOTAL OF FUNDS**|**Balance at 1**
**January**
**2025**
**£**
**163,679**
**11,804**
**49,180**
**10,871**
**-**
**235,534**
**206,696**
**442,230**
**25,149**
**-**
**-**
**13,602**
**226**
**10,666**
**-**
**49,643**
**491,873**|**Income**
**£**
**-**
**-**
**120,000**
**-**
**-**
**120,000**
**394,017**
**514,017**
**-**
**39,880**
**92,150**
**23,442**
**-**
**299,909**
**133,500**
**588,881**
**1,102,898**|**Expenditure**
**£**
**(96,633)**
**-**
**(45,663)**
**(25)**
**-**
**(142,321)**
**(355,150)**
**(497,471)**
**(18,744)**
**(74,561)**
**(112,761)**
**(16,472)**
**-**
**(209,002)**
**(130,502)**
**(562,042)**
**(1,059,513)**|**Transfers**
**in/out**
**£**
**67,213**
**(11,804)**
**-**
**(10,846)**
**74,892**
**119,455**
**(88,880)**
**30,575**
**990**
**34,681**
**20,611**
**10,371**
**(226)**
**(97,524)**
**522**
**(30,575)**
**-**|**Balance at**
**31**
**December**
**2025**
**£**
**134,259**
**-**
**123,517**
**-**
**74,892**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**332,668**|
||||||**156,683**|
||||||**489,351**|
||||||**7,395**
**-**
**-**
**30,943**
**-**
**4,049**
**3,520**|
||||||**45,907**|
||||||**535,258**|
**54 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **19. STATEMENT OF FUNDS (CONTINUED)**
## **DESIGNATED FUNDS**
Promote & Protect Path - Promotion & protection of the South West Coast Path, at the discretion of the Trustees.
Capacity Building - Match funding for Coast Path experience, to build the capacity and long term benefits of the Charity.
Legacies - Legacies designated for improving the Coast Path experience, to build the capacity and long term benefits of the Charity.
National Trails Alliance - Charity contribution to establish a new CIO (NTUK) promoting the UK National Trails.
Fixed asset fund - This is the net book value of tangible fixed assets at the year end. Transfers in relate to costs that have been capitalised in the year.
## **RESTRICTED FUNDS**
Promote & Protect Path - Improvements to the South West Coast Path, restricted by conditions from the donor or funder.
Trail Partnership Project - Delivery of the Trail Partnership Project, funded by its partners comprising 6 Highways Authorities & The National Trust.
National Trails Team - Hosting the South West Coast Path National Trails Team, funded by a grant from Natural England.
Donations - Specific improvements to the South West Coast Path, funded by donations from Appeals and Memorials.
Outreach Projects - Projects to support equity of access on the Coast Path for disadvantaged adults, funded by Active Devon and N Devon AONB.
Natural England - ECP signage, Coast Path improvements & Volunteer support, funded by grants from Natural England.
Coast Path Connectors - Our flagship project improving equity of access to the path and increasing our volunteer capacity, funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund
**South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 55**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **19. STATEMENT OF FUNDS (CONTINUED)**
## **STATEMENT OF FUNDS - PRIOR YEAR**
|**UNRESTRICTED FUNDS**
**DESIGNATED FUNDS**
Promote and Protect Path
Capacity Building
Legacies
National Trails Alliance
**GENERAL FUNDS**
General Funds
**TOTAL UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**
**RESTRICTED FUNDS**
Promote and Protect Path
Trail Partnership Project
National Trails Team
Donations
Outreach Projects
Natural England
Coast Path Connectors
**TOTAL OF FUNDS**|Balance at
1 January
2024
£
196,434
24,562
100,827
10,894
332,717
204,182
536,899
32,373
-
-
20,808
237
69
-
53,487
590,386|Income
£
-
-
-
-
-
394,768
394,768
7,079
39,880
92,149
7,372
-
243,306
137,995
527,781
922,549|Expenditure
£
(98,922)
(6,785)
(51,647)
(23)
(157,377)
(274,800)
(432,177)
(17,315)
(71,505)
(108,799)
(12,969)
(11)
(234,318)
(143,968)
(588,885)
(1,021,062)|Transfers
in/out
£
66,167
(5,973)
-
-
60,194
(117,454)
(57,260)
3,012
31,625
16,650
(1,609)
-
1,609
5,973
57,260
-|Balance at
31
December
2024
£
163,679
11,804
49,180
10,871|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||235,534|
||||||206,696|
||||||442,230|
||||||25,149
-
-
13,602
226
10,666
-|
||||||49,643|
||||||491,873|
**56 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **20. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS**
## **ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS - CURRENT YEAR**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Tangible fixed assets
74,892
Debtors due after more than one year
10,419
Current assets
523,781
Creditors due within one year
(111,969)
Creditors due in more than one year
(7,772)
**TOTAL**
489,351
**ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS - PRIOR YEAR**
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Current assets
625,049
Creditors due within one year
(172,455)
Creditors due in more than one year
(10,364)
**TOTAL**
442,230
**21.**
**RECONCILIATION OF NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TO NET CASH FLOW**
**ACTIVITIES**
Net income/expenditure for the year (as per Statement of Financial
Activities)
**ADJUSTMENTS FOR:**
Dividends, interests and rents from investments
Decrease/(increase) in stocks
Increase in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
**NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
-
**74,892**
-
**10,419**
95,889
**619,670**
(49,982)
**(161,951)**
-
**(7,772)**
45,907
**535,258**
Restricted
funds
2024
Total
funds
2024
£
£
87,869
712,918
(38,226)
(210,681)
-
(10,364)
49,643
491,873
**FROM OPERATING**
**2025**
2024
**£**
£
**43,385**
(98,513)
**(17,261)**
(19,432)
**3,799**
(4,325)
**(148,864)**
(4,627)
**(51,322)**
56,799
**(170,263)**
(70,098)|
|---|---|
**57**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **22. ANALYSIS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS**
||**2025**|2024|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Cash in hand|**41,320**|177,587|
## **23. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT**
|Cash at bank and in hand
Liquid investments|**At 1**
**January**
**2025**
**£**
**177,587**
**440,920**
**618,507**|**Cash flows**
**£**
**(136,267)**
**(91,627)**
**(227,894)**|**At 31**
**December**
**2025**
**£**
**41,320**
**349,293**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**390,613**|
## **24. PENSION COMMITMENTS**
The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the Charity to the fund and amounted to £21,616 (2024: £21,312). Contributions totalling £Nil (2024: 3,567) were payable to the fund at the Balance Sheet date and are included in creditors.
## **25. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS**
At 31 December 2025 the Charity had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases as follows:
|Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years
Later than 5 years|**2025**
**£**
**16,494**
**155,938**
**213,540**
**385,972**|2024
£
11,723
-
-|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||11,723|
## **26. MEMBERS' LIABILITY**
Each member of the Charity undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Charity in the event of it being wound up while he/she is a member, or within one year after he/she ceases to be a member, such amount as may be required, not exceeding £Nil for the debts and liabilities contracted before he/she ceases to be a member.
**58 South West Coast Path Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements**
## **SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **27. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS**
None of the Trustees receive remuneration or other benefits from their work with the Charity. Trustees are required to complete an annual 'declaration of interests' as well as stating any conflicts of interests before the start of each Board of Trustees meetings. As such, no related party transactions occurred in the year.
## **28. CONTROLLING PARTY**
The ultimate controlling party is the Trustees. No individual member has ultimate control.
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**South West Coast Path Association** Registered charity no: 1163422