2021-04-05-accounts

Grith Pioneers Trustees’ Annual Report

Year ending: 31[st] March 2021

Charity registration number: 1188105

Objectives and Activities

Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	(a) To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection, and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the land owned and/or managed by Grith Pioneers, by conducting a variety of environmental improvement and woodland management activities. (b) To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the land owned and/or managed by Grith Pioneers, by providing access to the natural environment for camps and outdoor education activities.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	1. To manage to woodland in accordance with the Shining Cliff Woods Management Plan and any other activities which will enhance the biodiversity and/or ecosystem services provided by the woods, in line with the Natural England SSSI citation. 2. To provide and manage areas of the woodland suitable for use as educational and/or recreational activities which enhance members of the public’s understanding of the natural environment. 3. To ensure that the assets of Grith Pioneers including of the hostel and other buildings are used for the benefit of the general public, not least in extending their understanding of the natural environment.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	We as trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-benefit-rules-for- charities

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policy on grant making	Grith Pioneers may support organisations and individuals whose aim is to further the objectives of the CIO.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	N/A
Contribution made by volunteers	N/A
Other	N/A

Achievements and Performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.

Environment/conservation/heritage Woodland Management Removal of non-native species has continued, in line with our Natural England-approved Woodland Management plan. Due to Covid restrictions, achievements were reduced this year, but still amounted to the removal of around 20-30 sycamore trees and a significant area of rhododendron. Ash die-back in the woods means that all ash trees are expected to die over the coming few years. Unsafe trees near rights of way will be made safe and where possible will be left as standing dead wood, to provide new habitats for wildlife such as insects, birds and bats. Ash die-back will also provide further opportunities for a more varied woodland structure in that area of the woods, which is in line with the Grith woodland management plan. Environmental Improvement Over the course of three additional workdays, trees have been felled in two selected areas on margins with neighbouring farmland to create two large open scallops, which improve bird access and create variation in light levels. Along with the piles of felled timber, this improves biodiversity in the woodland. Removing non-hardwood trees from an area on the reservoir margins is improving biodiversity here, particularly for water birds and wetland flora. The timber was used for soft damns in streams feeding the reservoir, improving water quality and moderating water flow during periods of high rainfall.

Areas of the woodland for recreation Up to several hundred people per day have continued to use the footpaths through the woods for recreation, exercise, and to benefit from being within nature. Efforts to maintain the safety of these public visitors over several dedicated work-days included repairs to the reservoir bank to shore up erosion damage, repairs to an existing bike barrier on a public footpath (following deliberate damage), and construction of a second bike barrier further along this popular public footpath. Also, warning signs on posts have been installed along an unauthorized path along the cliff, although these have been damaged, and the dangerous path continues to be used. Education/training; Community; Development; Recreation Camps and booked activities Over 30 booked daytime activities, in addition to 35 camps over 50 nights, totaling over 230 beneficiaries, over a quarter of whom were children and young people under 18. This is, overall, lower than we would normally hope to accommodate. However, in a year dominated by Covid, these achievements will have provided a greater benefit to these people than in other times. Over one third of camps and activities were provided by organisations or practitioners explicitly focussed on education, training, therapy and/or personal development (for example Forest Schools, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, nature-based therapy, meditation, and a local refugee solidarity project). The remaining two-thirds of camps and booked activities could be broadly considered as recreational, but encompassed creative activities such as dance, drama and film making, as well as the usual sociable camping, campfire cooking and being close to nature. Some of these activities were Forest School-led (some booked with Grith, some through the Shining Cliff Centre). Many focussed on wildlife and ecological education. [public’s understanding of the natural environment] Only light maintenance of the woodland camping and activity areas have been achieved this year, mainly by the users of these sites. [areas of the woodland for education/training/development] Economic/community, Development/employment Asset maintenance (including hostel/centre) Achievements relating to maintenance activities outside include replacing a gate and signage at the entrance to the woods for authorised beneficiaries (hostel and campsite users), hopefully to discourage overuse of the track and hostel carpark by the general public. Also, a grid has been fitted to the culvert under this track to reduce risk of blockage and flood. Extensive improvements have

been made to the hostel and classroom by our tenant Community Interest Company ‘Shining Cliff Centre Ltd’, using local companies and tradespeople. These include the fire protection and water supply systems and decoration, and replacing toilets and the toilet system, kitchen appliances, storage heaters, immersion tanks, and outside fencing.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Unrestricted income for the period 12thAugust 2020 to 31st March 2021 is £3,543 with no Restricted or Endowment income. Income is mainly from the rental of the hostel, with some income from camping fees and memberships. Most annual memberships are paid in April – which fell in to the period before we transferred assets to the CIO. Expenditure amounted to £3,514 including £1,500 towards replacing the hostel toilets as agreed at the start of the current tenancy, legal fees incurred in becoming a CIO and the income tax liability for the year to 5thApril 2020 while Grith was subject to Trust and Estate Income Tax. There may be a small liability for the period to 11thAugust 2020 and we are expecting a refund of overpaid tax on account once the final Income Tax submission is made to HMRC. There was a small surplus of £29 at the end of March 2021. We transferred £29,278 in cash assets from the previous organisation to Grith Pioneers in August 2020. We also transferred the ownership of Shining Cliff Woods and the hostel which are currently held at nil value.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Grith Pioneers CIO is fortunate to have a reserve of Unrestricted income funds to enable the ongoing management of the woodland. The woodland management plan is prepared for several years in advance, however there is an element of unpredictability e.g., there might be occasion to remove trees more immediately than planned due to storm damage or invasive disease. The reserves of the CIO need to be sufficient to cover these planned and unplanned costs. The income of the CIO may drop due to unexpected external factors, such as Covid-19, it is necessary to have enough reserves to protect the continuity of our core work. Trustees will always seek the best price for major works; however, we do need to ensure sufficient funds are available to carry out necessary works.
Amount of reserves held	Grith Pioneers CIO has a balance of £29,307 in Unrestricted Income reserves with no Restricted or Endowment Income reserves.

Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	The trustees consider that the level of reserves held is sufficient to ensure the CIO continuing as a going concern, and are forecasting a small surplus for the year ending 31stMarch 2022.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	The trustees do not have an investment policy other than their aim to bank with ethical banks that share Grith’s values and principles. The trustees opened a current and deposit account with Triodos Bank, a leading ethical bank. The bulk of the CIO’s cash reserves are now held with Triodos Bank. A small balance is held with HSBC, this account being a legacy from Grith banking with Midland Bank. Once all member subscriptions are being received into the Triodos account, the final HSBC account will be closed.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	1. Increased use of the woods by illegal cyclist causing damage to the landscape and risk of injury to other users. – We continue to try to educate cyclists via notices and conversation. 2. Risk of fire from picnics and illegal camping. – Increased vigilance by users and notice in times of high fire risk. 3. Income is almost entirely provided by leasing Grith’s hostel to the Shining Cliff Centre CIC. The ongoing success of this relationship is key to maintenance of Grith’s income. 4. The environmental risk of ash die-back causing the death of all ash trees in the woods is real. However this will result in greater diversity and age-structure of the woodland canopy.

Structure, Governance and Management

Structure, Governance	and Management
Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Constitution of a Grith Pioneers Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than its charity trustees
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Membership vote

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Relationship with any related parties	Grith Pioneers CIO is a member organisation with trustees drawn from the membership. Trustees and members volunteer their time and pay membership subscriptions as agreed by members. There are no related party relationships.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Grith Pioneers CIO
Other name the charity uses	N/A
Registered charity number	1188105
Charity’s principal address	Sycamore Farm, Ashleyhay, Wirksworth, Matlock, DE4 4AG

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name N/A

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
N/A

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A

Other optional information

N/A

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date