2023-03-31-accounts

Grith Pioneers Trustees’ Annual Report

Year ending: 31[st] March 2023

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 the 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 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.
Contribution made by volunteers	We have volunteer wardens who review campers’ permits while walking the woods and checking for dangers and hazards. Volunteers also help to maintain tracks, cut back invasive species and marshal when felling occurs. Volunteers also carry out surveys and counts–egfungi

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.

Education/training; Community; Development; Recreation Camps and booked activities Over the year since our last AGM, day-time activities booked with Grith have reduced by around a third, while the number of camps has increased to around 80, across the two separate camping areas. Camping trips have tended to be smaller weekend visits of one-to-three people, but with Flysheet and Forest School Camps running their larger week-long camps for young people as usual. On balance, booked activities are probably broadly similar to last year in terms of days and numbers of people. Activities organised by Shining Cliff Centre have increased dramatically. 36 wellbeing sessions have included wellbeing walks, family event days, children's themed woodland days, a social Campfire Chill Out monthly group and Women's Wellbeing days. 23 volunteer conservation sessions and 54 forest school sessions have also been run. Year after year, Grith Pioneers and Shining Cliff Woods host organisations in addition to those mentioned above, such as Men Up North, Wild Things, Wildlings, and Wildwood Adventure Camps, all of whom do important work which closely aligns with our own outdoor education and development objectives (see last page). Thank you to everyone involved in these valuable endeavours. Areas of the woodland for recreation With surrounding car parks and laybys full by mid-morning every weekend, and mid-week activity observed by local Grith members to remain significant, Shining Cliff Woods continues to be a very popular place to come to use the footpaths through the woods for recreation, exercise, and to benefit from being within nature. As last year, we continue to prioritise our efforts towards the safety of these visitors. So far around 20-25 of the 30-40 Ash trees next to the lower end of Beggarswell track and the public footpath down to the reservoir from here have been made safe. As a precaution, these trees, which are suffering Ash die-back (Chalara or scientific name Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), are being either felled, or, when we can employ a professional arborist, reduced in height and left as ‘poles’. Grith working days in the woods last year included two days with an arborist to make safe diseased Ash trees near rights of way and another two days tidying fallen Ash from rights of way. Three days were spent clearing storm damaged and snow fallen trees from rights of way. And two days have been spent replacing vandalised ‘no cycling’ and other safety signs and repairing a bike barrier deterrent. Economic/community, Development/employment Asset maintenance (including hostel/centre) Thanks to Kate and her team’s vision, commitment and hard work, Shining Cliff Centre CIC has seen another rise in hostel occupancy (to 58%, up from 50% the previous year). Over 1500 people have stayed at Shining Cliff hostel and over 800 people have accessed woodland sessions. Investment in the building continues, the most substantial work in 2022 being a major overhaul of the hostel water system. Work on the main spring-water tank included its cleaning, re-laying the covering slabs and adding an access hatch, fencing it off and covering the spring source to reduce contamination risk. The secondary tank has been covered with a stone structure and earth toreduceheatingin warmer weather. Inside the building, the UV filter has

been upgraded and the water pump replaced, and pipework improvements include valves fitted to reduce air locks and backflow. Volunteer sessions have happened inside and out. The hostel interior has been revamping with repainted doors and walls. Outside, litter picking, hazel coppicing, path drainage, a new fire-pit fence and additions to the hostel deadwood fence, and replacing and putting up woodland signage. Environment/conservation/heritage Woodland Management and Environmental Improvement We have carried out less dedicated ecological management than in previous years, as we monitor the effects of tree removal (mostly sycamore) over the period of the last management plan. We will report on this over the years ahead.

However, safety work on the Ash trees near public rights of way will have positive effects on the ecology. Firstly because of the increase in dead standing wood, which is great for invertebrates and the woodpeckers which feed on them. Also, felling some mature trees will continue to adjust the structure of the woodland from a primarily similar-aged set of trees over the last few decades, to ones which are more varied in age – creating a more natural woodland. The tree survey from 2018 has enabled us to predict with a good level of accuracy what succession will take place as a result of the ash die-back – mainly birch, oak, wild cherry and wych elm.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Unrestricted income for the period to 31stMarch 2023 is £6,739 (2022: £6,603) with no Restricted or Endowment income. Income is mainly from the rental of the hostel, with some income from camping fees and memberships. Expenditure amounted to £5,743 (2022: £1,389). Shining Cliff Woods and the hostel are Grith Pioneers CIO’s assets and are currently held at nil value.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	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 eg 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	Para 1.22	Grith Pioneers CIO has a balance of £35,517 (2022: £34,521) in Unrestricted Income reserves with no Restricted or EndowmentIncomereserves.
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	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 31st March 2024.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Grith Pioneer’s principle source of funds continues to be from letting the hostel on a tenancy agreement, to an organisation that shares Grith’s values. Members also provide valuable income through their subscription. Fees paid by campers and other woodland users support Grith to maintain the woods for all members ofthewiderpublic to access and enjoy.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	The trustees do not have an investment policy other than their aim to bank with ethical banks that share Grith’s values and principles. To this end Grith Pioneers operate 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 willbe closed.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Grith Pioneers Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than its charity trustees
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:

	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

Charityname	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

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
Kathleen Moss	Treasurer
Michelle Kershaw-Wright
Michael Cross
Martin Redman
Nicholas Glaister

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	Kathleen Moss
	Treasurer
	22/04/2023
	22/04/2023

Charity Name		No (if any)
Grith Pioneers		1188105
Receipts andpayments accounts				CC16a
For the period from	Period start date 01/04/2022	Period end date To 31/03/2023

Section A Receipts and payments	Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 260 4,992 1,258 64 145 - 20 - 6,739 6,739 4,440 500 571 125 30 77 - - - 5,743 - - - 5,743 996 34,521 35,517	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ 260 4,992 1,258 64 145 - 20 - 6,739 6,739 4,440 500 571 125 30 77 - - - 5,743 - - - 5,743 996		Last year to the nearest £
Membershipfees	260					300
Rental income hostel	4,992					4,992
Campingfees	1,258					1,190
Wayleave	64					64
Interest	145					27
Sales(sweatshirts)	-					30
Donations	20					-
	-					-
Sub total(Gross income for AR)	6,739					6,603
Total receipts A3 Payments
						6,603
Maintenance(hostel water system)	4,440					-
Tree surgery	500					620
Insurance	571					618
Subscriptions	125					125
General admin(tax software)	30					-
Bank charges	77					26
	-					-
Income tax due foryear to 05/04/2020	-					-
	-					-
Sub total	5,743					1,389
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	-
	-
Sub total	-					-
Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds Funds brought forward Cash funds this year end
						1,389
	996	-	-	996		5,214
		-	-	-		-
	34,521	-	-	34,521		29,307
	35,517	-	-	35,517		34,521

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

04/11/2023

1

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds	Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) HSBC Current Triodos Current Triodos Deposit Details Shining Cliff Woods Shining Cliff Hostel no monetary value held in accounts Details		Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 1,167 7,094 27,256 35,517 OK Fund to which asset belongs Unrestricted Unrestricted Fund to which liability relates		Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Amount due (optional) -		Endowment funds to nearest £
							-
							-
							-
							-
							OK
							Current value (optional)
							-
							-
							-
							-
							-
							-
							-
							-
							-
							When due (optional)
					-
					-
					-
							Date of approval
							22/04/2023

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

04/11/2023

2