## **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