Hambleton Strollers Wellbeing Walks CIO Annual Report 2022-2023
1.0 Introduction
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1.1 This has been a year of consolidation and positive progress for the Hambleton Strollers, culminating in the celebration in February 2023 of twenty years of the Hambleton Strollers walks.
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1.2 Weekly organised group walks in all six towns (plus some villages) have resumed. Attendances are increasing with significant numbers of new participants as well as the long-time loyal regulars.
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1.3 There are forty-five Strollers’ Walk Leaders which includes seven newly trained volunteers.
2.0 Objectives
2.1 The objectives of the organisation continue to be as follows.
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Provision of regular volunteer-led and risk assessed walks in all towns of Hambleton District.
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Provision of exercise for those with challenging health conditions.
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Contribution to healthy living.
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Helping to overcome loneliness and social isolation.
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Maintain free access for all to the groups walks.
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Remain within the national Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Scheme.
3.0 Major Issues for the Year
3.1 Ramblers Wellbeing Walks
Hambleton Strollers is one of seven walking groups in the county who formed an alliance with North Yorkshire Sport (NYS) when they became our lead Partner with Ramblers Wellbeing Walks (RWW) in September 2021. The first year’s £2500 fee was extended to cover up to March 2023, and NYS have now committed to the next year as well.
The full launch of the Ramblers Wellbeing Walks finally happened, very low key, in January 2022. The subsequent year has been spent talking and negotiating with Ramblers and North Yorkshire Sport, while the online offering continues to evolve. The main benefit is the online presence and publicity with search facility for our walks: a few walkers are recruited this way in addition to our developing Facebook presence. Our own address www.hambletonstrollers.co.uk takes enquirers to our page on RWW.
The Assemble portal registers our volunteers both as walk leaders and administrators on the Ramblers’ website providing support and online learning. As the scheme develops there will be the opportunity for walkers to register online and for walk leaders to take walk registers via a phone App, though it is not likely that we shall operate this system. All our walk dates are available on the Ramblers web pages.
3.2 Group Organisation
The partnership with Hambleton Community Action to provide administrative services for Hambleton Strollers has proved very effective. It was renewed in January 2023. The trustees will continue to monitor the arrangement and its implications for group finances.
Claire Barnbrook of HCA has been designated as the Hambleton Strollers Co-ordinator and manages the day-to-day administration. She maintains contacts with the leaders, with NYS, services the Trustees meetings, and organises publicity. A sub-committee of 5 members, set up by the Trustees, continues to oversee this arrangement.
3.3 Anniversary Celebration
- A 20[th] anniversary celebration event was held on 1[st] February in Stokesley Town Hall. There was a great turn out for a walk around the town and then refreshments, cake and reminiscing afterwards in the Town Hall. The event was reported in the Darlington & Stockton Times.
4.0 Finance
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4.1 Hambleton Strollers currently has a balance of £15,801 with a final £5,000 grant to come in April 2023 from Hambleton District Council. Any future support would come from the new North Yorkshire Council: our links with North Yorkshire Sport should be helpful. Our reserves are sufficient to fund a further 3 years administrative support. We will need to start attracting new funding shortly.
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4.2 The 2022-2023 accounts will be submitted to the Charities Commission, as required. Officers of the committee voluntarily do not claim expenses when attending meetings.
5.0 Training
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Training is now offered under the Ramblers Wellbeing Walk scheme. Seven new leaders were trained in January, and we expect to offer another course in September.
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The expectation is that the new partnerships will produce more volunteers. One of our existing Walking for Health trainers has transitioned to being a Ramblers Wellbeing Walks trainer to provide a local service.
6.0 Statistics
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6.1 Each Hambleton town has a data processor person who maintains a spreadsheet to record walkers’ names and attendance at walks.
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6.2 We have a total of 290 registered walkers and the total number of walkers attending our walks across the six towns during the year was 5242, volunteer walk leaders gave over 1550 hours of their time to ensure the safety of the walkers.
7.0 Summary
- 7.1 We continue to be a successful charity providing volunteer led health walks in the Hambleton area of North Yorkshire. We intend that Hambleton Strollers should continue and develop this important service to the community in conjunction with North Yorkshire Sports and as part of Ramblers Wellbeing Walks.
Ron Kirk, Hambleton Strollers Chair, April 2023
Hambleton Strollers CIO
Income and Expense by Category 2022/23
Income and Expense by Category
From 01/04/2022 to 31/03/2023 (in GB Pounds)
| Category (Income) | |
|---|---|
| Grant from Hambleton District Council | 5,000.00 |
| Other Income(Amazon) | 5.00 |
| Total Income | 5,005.00 |
| Category (Expense) | |
| Equipment | -179.44 |
| Fees Paid to Hambleton CommunityAssociation | -3,375.00 |
| Insurance for activities | -137.48 |
| Premises: Room hire | -85.00 |
| Printingand Publicity | -160.81 |
| Refreshments | -698.18 |
| Subscriptions for Zoom and domain name | -172.66 |
| Travel | -79.20 |
| Total Expenses | -4,887.77 Total: 117.23 |
Account Balances
Cash and Asset Account balances (in GB Pounds)
Opening Balance at: 01/04/2022 | Closing Balance at: 31/03/2023
| Bank | Opening | Closing | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyds TSB United Trust Bank 1 Year Bond United Trust Bank 2 Year Bond |
15,751.52 5,868.75 -9,882.77 0.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 0.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 |
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| Bank Total | 15,751.52 15,868.75 117.23 |