## **Grith Pioneers Trustees’ Annual Report**
**Year ending: 31[st] March 2021**
## **Charity registration number: 1188105**
## **Objectives and Activities**
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|---|---|
|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**
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|---|---|
|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|
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– 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**