2025-03-31-accounts

Cotswold Way Association

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31[st] March 2025

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 accordance with the above process at the AGM held on the 10[th] January 2025 the following changes took place :-

Martyn Hall was elected as new Chair. Tony Duffin became a Trustee.

The Trustees at 31[st] March 2025 are therefore :- Martyn Andrew HALL(Chair) Malcolm HIGGINS Martin Brian LOVEGROVE John Edward TENNANT Richard Ian HOLMES Tony DUFFIN

During the period under review the Trustees have held four meetings.

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 :-

• 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

Cotswold Way Association – Registered Charity No 1167094

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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.

• 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.

• Advancing health : The health benefits of walking are very well known and promoting walking has been an active NHS policy for many years. Well-maintained and well-signed routes means that the increased health benefit of longer walks is available to more people.

• Promotion of volunteering : The routine maintenance of 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 co-ordinators 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.

• 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, at the 2023-24 AGM, the following trails (or parts of the trails which pass through the Cotswolds) were endorsed as 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.

Achievements and Performance - April 2024 to March 2025

The achievements made by the CWA in the year under review are as follows :-

1. Continuing the close working relationship with Cotswold National Landscape team to ensure the efficient use of donations, and to work together on the funding of improvement projects on the Cotswold Way.

2. A contribution to the Accessible Cotswold Way Feasibility Study. This is to review the possibility of creating the first long distance accessible trail in the UK.

3. Supporting improvement projects on the Cotswold Way. These included contributing funds towards the resurfacing at Old Sodbuy and improvements at Farfield near Uley.

4. Revetment for Crickley Hill

5. The CWA arranged for a replacement stile funded by Mr Phelan

6. Continued expansion of the CWA Online Shop, now a significant revenue stream for the charity.

7. A number of end of walk surveys using QR codes were put up at the end of the Cotswold Way to gain feedback one the quality of the Cotswold Way and how it is being used

8. Continued expansion of CWA’s presence on social media.

9. Responding to messages from members and others, in relation to issues that they have identified on the Cotswold Way and adjoining routes.

10. Recruitment of a new CWA Trustee.

11. Membership stable at 144 members. At 31[st] March 2025 these are …

12. Life Members – Single & Joint 48

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• Annual Members – Single & Joint 54

• Honorary members 14  Business Members 18  Sponsors 1  Affiliate Organisations 9

Financial Summary

At the end of the 2024-25 Financial Year the CWA held a cash balance of £15,874

The CWA has no outstanding debts at 31[st] March 2025

The Income and Expenditure Report and Balance Sheet for the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025 are attached.

Future Plans

1. To continue to focus attention on improving accessibility on the Cotswold Way and other named trails including investigating the viability of establishing an accessibility route along the extent of the Cotswold Way.

2. To add accessibility information to our website so that it provides such information to all users of the Cotswold Way and other named trails.

3. To identify more improvement projects on the Cotswold Way and Cotswold Way Circular routes which can be supported by the charity.

4. To work closely with representatives of the CWA’s named trails to identify suitable improvement projects.

5. To work with partners to seek innovative solutions to ensure that resurfacing work on the trails is in keeping with the local environment.

6. To continue to work closely with the team from Cotswold National Landscape in joint fundraising campaigns.

7. To increase membership of the CWA and to keep members fully informed of its activities.

8. To continue the development of the CWA online shop as a significant source of income to CWA funds.

9. To encourage more businesses throughout the Cotswolds to join as Business Members of the CWA.

10. To encourage the public and members to give donations to the CWA to expand its programme of funding trail improvements.

11. To engage new Trustees who are able to take on the work of trustees and have relevant skills and experience.

12. To encourage volunteers to assist in the CWA’s administration and operation.

Martyn Hall

Chair – Cotswold Way Association

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The Cotswold Way Association

INCOME & EXPENDITURE REPORT - Year to 31st March 2025

The Cotswold Way Association	The Cotswold Way Association
INCOME & EXPENDITURE REPORT - Year to 31st March 2025
INCOME				31st March 2025			31st March 2024
			£	£			£
Donations	Give asyou Live donations		446				326
	Donations from organisations		3,458				1,662
	Other donations		960				444
				4,864			2,433
Membership				2,832			2,712
Shop	Surplus on shopsales			4,735			4,243
Other income	Interest		36				33
	Gift Aid on Memberships and "Give asyou Live"		309				392
				344			424
TOTAL INCOME				12,775			9,812
EXPENDITURE
Administration	PayPal fees		(252)				(253)
	MemberMojo fees		(269)				(95)
	AGM expenses		(45)				(36)
	Bank charges		(60)				(60)
	Insurance		(63)				(59)
				(689)			(503)
Advertising	CWA website maintenance		(785)				(435)
	Publicity-general		-				(119)
				(785)			(554)
TOTAL EXPENDITURE BEFORE PROJECTS				(1,474)			(1,057)
NET INCOME BEFORE PROJECTS				11,301			8,755
TOTAL PROJECT EXPENDITURE				(10,467)			(6,998)
NET INCOME AFTER PROJECTS				834			1,757
Funds brought forward				17,650			15,894
Funds at reporting date				18,484			17,650
REPRESENTED BY:
Current assets	CAF Bank Account			15,811			17,014
	Paypal			63			636
	Cost of unsold Cotswold WayCompanion books			2,610			-
TOTAL ASSETS				18,484			17,650