2026-03-31-accounts - Cotswold Way Association

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Cotswold Way Association

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31[st] March 2026

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 Threshing Barn, Marsden Manor Farm, Rendcomb, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 7EU

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. At the AGM on the 9 July 2025 the constitution was amended to clarify the length of a term that a Trustee may serve. A Trustee is elected to serve for a term of four years, and may serve for no more than three consecutive terms. This amendment was approved by the Charities Commission.

On the 13 October 2025 Martyn Hall resigned as both Chairman and Trustee of the CWA. The trustees elected Martin Lovegrove to serve as Chairman. On 19 January 2026 Teresa Jackson was appointed to serve as a Trustee, subject to ratification at the next AGM.

The Trustees at 31[st] March 2026 are therefore :- Anthony Louis DUFFIN Malcolm HIGGINS Richard Ian HOLMES Teresa Ann JACKSON Martin Brian LOVEGROVE (Chairman) John Edward TENNANT

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 :-

Cotswold Way Association – Registered Charity No 1167094

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.
Economic or community development/ Employment: Use of 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 exercise are very well known and promoting exercise has been an active NHS policy for many years. Well-maintained and well-signed routes means that the increased health benefit of exercise is available to more people.
Promotion of volunteering : The routine maintenance of the Cotswold Way is entirely cared for by volunteer wardens, organized by Cotswold National Landscape. 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 2025-26 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 2025 to March 2026

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

Continuing the close working relationship with the 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.
Continuing the close working relationship with the Cotswold National Landscape team to identify projects from the Accessible Cotswold Way Feasibility Study, to improve access for all along the trail.
Supporting improvements to the Cotswold Way Circular Route at Snowshill.
Supporting improvements to the Monarchs Way near Longborough.
Providing some signage for the Gloucestershire Way.
Continued expansion of the CWA Online Shop, now a significant revenue stream for the charity.
Having representation on the Cotswolds Trails and Access Partnership (CTAP).
Continued expansion of CWA’s presence on social media.
Responding to messages from members and others, in relation to issues that they have identified on the Cotswold Way and adjoining routes.
Recruitment of a new CWA Trustee.
Membership stable at 144 members. At 31[st] March 2026 these are …

·	Life Members – Single & Joint	48
·	Annual Members – Single & Joint	58
·	Honorary members	12
·	Business Members	16
·	Sponsors	1
·	Affiliate Organisations	9

Financial Summary

At the end of the 2025-26 Financial Year the CWA held a cash balance of £19,712

The CWA has no outstanding debts at 31[st] March 2026

The Income and Expenditure Report and Balance Sheet for the period 1[st] April 2025 to 31[st] March 2026 are attached.

Future Plans

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.
To add accessibility information to our website so that it provides such information to all users of the Cotswold Way and other named trails.
To identify more improvement projects on the Cotswold Way and Cotswold Way Circular routes which can be supported by the charity.
To work closely with representatives of the CWA’s named trails to identify suitable improvement projects.
To work with partners to seek innovative solutions to ensure that resurfacing work on the trails is in keeping with the local environment.
To continue to work closely with the team from Cotswold National Landscape in joint fundraising campaigns.
To increase membership of the CWA and to keep members fully informed of its activities.
To continue the development of the CWA online shop as a significant source of income to CWA funds.
To encourage more businesses throughout the Cotswolds to join as Business Members of the CWA.
To encourage the public and members to give donations to the CWA to expand its programme of funding trail improvements.
To engage new Trustees who are able to take on the work of trustees and have relevant skills and experience.
To encourage volunteers to assist in the CWA’s administration and operation.

Martin Lovegrove

Chairman- Cotswold WayAssociGtio

The Cotswold Way Association

INCOME & EXPENDITURE REPORT - Year ended 31st March 2026

Year ended 31st March 2026	Year ended 31st March 2026	Year ended 31st March 2025

645 2,240 336		446 3,458 960
3,221 2,878 5,498		4,864 2,932 4,736
34 314		36 309
	348 11,945	345
		12,877

(271) (269) (95) (72) (60) (189)		(252) (174) (95) (45) (60) (63)
(956)		(689)
(450) -		(785) -
	(450) (1,406) 10,539 (7,230) 3,309 18,586 21,895 17,455 2,257 538 1,644 21,895	(785)
		(1,474)
		11,403 (10,467)
		936 17,650
		18,586
		15,912 64 - 2,610
		18,586