Cotswold Way Association
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
Year Ended 31[st] March 2021
Structure and Governance
The Cotswold Way Association (CWA) was established on 13[th] May 2016 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by a Constitution based on the “Association Model” provided by the Charity Commission. It was registered by the Charity Commission on 16[th] May 2016.
Charity number - 1167094. Registered Office - The Barn, Woodlands Farm, Watery Lane, Doynton, Bristol. BS30 5TB
The Initial Trustees were selected on the basis of their volunteer work for the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens and the Ramblers and their dedication to the Cotswold Way National Trail.
As outlined in the CWA Constitution, it was the intention of the Initial Trustees that the management of the CWA should be continually refreshed by the appointment of new Trustees, in order to ensure a continual regeneration and openness to new ideas and inputs. In pursuit of this objective, one-third of the charity Trustees shall, by rotation, retire from office at each AGM. A retiring Trustee is eligible for reappointment but may not be reappointed for a third consecutive term if they have served for two consecutive terms. It is hoped that new Trustees will be recruited from CWA members at the AGM and other events.
In line with the practice adopted by many charities, the CWA Trustees decided not to hold an AGM in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, in July 2020, the Cotswold WayMarker newsletter was used to fulfil the charity’s statutory responsibilities in relation to the election of Trustees. As a result, Mavis Rear, Keith Sisson and John Tennant resigned by rotation but offered themselves up for re-election and, there being no objections, were reelected as Trustees.
Harvey Mattinson was appointed a Trustee on 16[th] September 2020 and Simon Mallatratt resigned as a Trustee on 6[th] February 2021.
The Trustees at 31[st] March 2021 are therefore :-
John Alfred BARTRAM (Chair) Cecil Philip COATES Malcolm HIGGINS Martin Brian LOVEGROVE Harvey Raymond MATTINSON Mavis REAR Keith Francis SISSON John Edward TENNANT
During the period under review the Trustees have held five meetings.
Cotswold Way Association – Registered Charity No 1167094
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Objectives and Public Benefit
The objectives of the CWA, as stated in the Constitution are… “To promote the conservation and protection of the Cotswold Way National Trail and the surrounding environment of the Cotswold Way National Trail and its habitats (including the Cotswold Way Circular Walks, linking and access routes and other named trails in the area) for the public benefit.”
The CWA’s objectives for the continual improvement of the Cotswold Way and other trails will bring the following benefits to the community :-
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Conservation of a particular geographical area : The Cotswold Way follows the scarp of the Cotswolds for over 100 miles. It passes through a significant amount of the remaining unimproved limestone grassland of the UK, and much ancient woodland. The CWA hopes that supporting habitat recovery, maintenance and monitoring projects close to easily accessible routes will not only be directly beneficial but increase the public awareness and understanding of such work.
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Economic or community development/ Employment: Walking the Cotswold Way and the other routes in the area is a significant tourist attraction to visitors from both the UK and abroad. These longer routes require overnight stops, increasing the economic gain for the area.
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Advancing health : The health benefits of walking are very well known and promoting walking has been an active NHS policy for many years. By providing well-maintained and well-signed routes, the increased health benefit of longer walks can be made available to people who are unsure of their navigational skills and/or unused to the public footpath system.
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Promotion of volunteering : The Cotswold Way is entirely cared for by volunteer wardens. 25 area wardens routinely patrol and do minor works 4-5 miles each, and volunteer coordinators arrange for work parties for larger tasks. It is expected that the area wardens will be the most common initiators of requests for funding. Access to CWA funding will give encouragement to volunteers in their efforts.
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Community recreation/ Leisure facilities : The long routes of the Cotswolds are in frequent use for charity walks, school outings, running events, cycling challenges (on the bridleway sections) and Duke of Edinburgh award challenges.
As required by the Constitution, in lieu of the 2020 AGM, there were no objections to the following trails (or parts of the trails which pass through the Cotswolds) being supported by the CWA:- Wychavon Way, Winchcombe Way, Wardens Way, Monarchs Way, Macmillan Way, Heart of England Way, Gloucestershire Way, Diamond Way and Wysis Way.
CWA Activities
During the year under review the CWA carried out the following activities :-
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Regular updates to the CWA website, Facebook page and newly established Twitter account, on projects and topics of interest to members.
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Production of five editions of the “Cotswold WayMarker” newsletter, and email distribution to all members.
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Recruitment of new members, including Business Members and Affiliate Organisations.
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• Identification of improvement projects on the Cotswold Way and other trails of the Cotswolds which can be supported by grants from the CWA.
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Various fundraising initiatives to increase the donations received by the charity.
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Initiatives to promote the Cotswold Way and encourage more people to walk the trail.
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Achievements and Performance - April 2020 to March 2021
The achievements made by the CWA in the year under review are as follows :-
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A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Cotswold Conservation Board in January 2021. It outlines a fundraising partnership in which both parties share common objectives, and therefore wish to develop a closer working relationship to make more efficient use of donations for the upkeep and improvement of the Cotswold Way and to encourage greater use of the Trail.
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Supporting improvement projects on the Cotswold Way including contributing to a major surfacing upgrade at Coombe near Wotton-under-Edge, a new kissing gate at Stumps Cross and surfacing of various gates.
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Expanding the CWA website to include pages with information on walking the Cotswold Way and our other trails. It is hoped that the inclusion of this promotional material will increase the number of return visits to our website.
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Responding to messages from members and others, in relation to issues that they have identified on the Cotswold Way and adjoining routes.
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Working with the Cotswold Conservation Board on plans to celebrate the 50[th] anniversary of the Cotswold Way, postponed from May 2020 due to Covid-19.
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Reviewing the way the charity operates to identify different activities and restructuring in order to spread duties between the Trustees to better meet our future objectives.
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Increase in funds of 30% to £8,204, largely due to a nearly 150% increase in donations
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Membership at 31[st] March 2021 stood at …
| • | Life Members – Single | 20 |
|---|---|---|
| • | Life Members – Joint | 16 |
| • | Annual Members - Single | 22 |
| • | Annual Members – Joint | 25 |
| • | Honorary members | 22 |
| • | Business Members | 5 |
| • | Affiliate Organisations | 8 |
| Total |
118 |
Financial Summary
At the end of the 2020-21 Financial Year the CWA held a cash balance of £8,207.71
Income of £4,763.70 was derived as follows :-
Donations (including Gift Aid) £ 3,128.45 Memberships (including Gift Aid) £ 1,635.25
Expenditure of £2,906.31 was incurred on the following :-
| Projects | £ 2,426.86 |
|---|---|
| Advertising (website & printing) | £ 277.40 |
| Administration | £ 202.05 |
The CWA has no outstanding debts at 31[st] March 2021
The Income and Expenditure Report and Balance Sheet for the period 1[st] April 2020 to 31[st] March 2021 are attached.
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Future Plans
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To focus attention on improving accessibility on the Cotswold Way and other named trails. This includes funding projects for disabled users families and improving the website so that it provides accessibility information to all users of the Cotswold Way and other named trails.
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To identify more improvement projects on the Cotswold Way which can be supported by the charity.
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To work closely with representatives of the CWA’s named trails to identify suitable improvement projects.
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To continue to work closely with the Cotswold Conservation Board in joint fundraising campaigns in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2021.
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To contribute towards the organisation of events to celebrate the 50[th] Anniversary year of the Cotswold Way in September 2021.
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To increase membership of the CWA and to keep members fully informed of its activities.
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To encourage more businesses along the Cotswold Way to join as Business Members of the CWA.
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To encourage the public and members to give donations to the CWA to expand its programme of funding trail improvements.
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To increase publicity so that more people are aware of the CWA and its objectives and work.
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To encourage volunteers to assist in the CWA’s administration and operation.
John Bartram
Chairman – Cotswold Way Association
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| Cotswold Way Association | Cotswold Way Association | Cotswold Way Association | Cotswold Way Association | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income & Expenditure Report - 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021 | |||||
| INCOME | 2020-21 | 2019-20 | |||
| Donations | General donations (incl Gift Aid) | £2,490.57 | |||
| Donations for Alan Hooper appeal | £637.88 | ||||
| £3,128.45 | £1,266.60 | ||||
| Membership | Annual memberships | £410.00 | |||
| Life Memberships | £300.00 | ||||
| Business members | £350.00 | ||||
| Affiliate organisations | £400.00 | ||||
| Gift Aid on memberships | £175.25 | £1,635.25 | £1,318.06 | ||
| Grants | £0.00 | £0.00 | |||
| TOTAL INCOME | £4,763.70 | £2,584.66 | |||
| EXPENDITURE | |||||
| Administration | PayPal fees | £27.56 | |||
| MemberMojo fees | £93.74 | ||||
| Virgin Money Giving charges | £11.75 | ||||
| Bank charges | £69.00 | £202.05 | £129.60 | ||
| Advertising | CWA website | £277.40 | |||
| Printing (posters, cards & Swift Tag) | £0.00 | £277.40 | £197.40 | ||
| Projects | Broadway surface improvement | £36.72 | |||
| Surfacing at Lower Hamswell | £46.20 | ||||
| Path re-construction at Coombe | £2,000.00 | ||||
| Stumps Cross gate | £343.94 | £2,426.86 | £331.10 | ||
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | £2,906.31 | £658.10 | |||
| NET INCOME / EXPENDITURE | £1,857.39 | £1,926.56 | |||
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||||
| Funds at start of reporting period | £6,347.32 | £4,420.76 | |||
| Funds at end of reporting period | £8,204.71 | £6,347.32 | |||
| Cotswold Way Association | |||||
| Balance Sheet - 1st April 2020 to 31st march 2021 | |||||
| 2020-21 | 2019-20 | ||||
| Current assets | CAF Bank Account | £4,824.88 | |||
| Paypal | £3,379.83 | ||||
| £8,204.71 | £6,347.32 | ||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | £8,204.71 | £6,347.32 | |||
| FUNDS OF THE CHARITY | £8,204.71 | £6,347.32 | |||