2022-08-31-accounts

LOW GILLERTHWAITE FIELD CENTRE

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUG 2022

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name: Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre Charity Reg. No. 1188956 Principal address Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre, Ennerdale, Cleator, Cumbria, CA23 3AX

Board of Trustees

Tim Plaice Chair Victoria Pearce Vice Chair Patrick Muir Treasurer Rachael Muir Secretary Jennifer Lanham Ian Thompson Sian Fox-Collins Robert Lanham Louise Stewart (co-opted RLC Trustee)

Independent Examiner

John Irwin

Structure, governance and management

Type of governing document ‘CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION’ CONSTITUTION ADOPTED 7 APRIL 2020.

How the charity is constituted

CIO

Trustee selection methods

Trustees are elected or re-elected at the Annual General Meeting in November by a vote of the members. A trustee must be a member of the Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre (LGFC) CIO.

Organisational structure According to our Constitution there must be at least five charity trustees. If the number falls below this minimum, the remaining trustee or trustees may act only to call a meeting of the charity trustees, or appoint a new charity trustee. The maximum number of charity trustees is 13 appointed as follows: (i) not more than 10 individuals elected by members of the CIO (ii) and not more than three additional individuals coopted at any time by the trustees The LGFC Managing Warden also sits on the committee as a non-voting member. All trustees provide their services on a voluntary basis and receive no remuneration.

LOW GILLERTHWAITE FIELD CENTRE

The LGFC committee meets every 6-8 weeks and makes all decisions on the operational management of the charity, managing the finances and maintaining the property.

Members

There is a membership of approximately 200. Some of these members provide assistance and voluntary work, especially in maintenance, in running LGFC. The Managing Warden, and those members who have contact with children during Educational Hub events, have the appropriate DBS certificates.

The members are consulted on decisions that are deemed by the Trustees to require a vote of all members (such as changes to the Constitution etc). This is done according to the rules in the Constitution of the Charity.

Relationships with Third Parties

LGFC has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Logistics Corps Trust to make available a specified number of days for non-military adventure training. The Field Centre premises are leased from Forestry England, with whom we have contact.

Objectives

LGFC is a residential Field Centre in the Ennerdale Valley in West Cumbria. It is in the middle of ‘Wild Ennerdale’, one of the UK’s largest wildland partnerships, which is pioneering innovative ways of natural upland management.

The Field Centre is available for booking by up to 40 people, and all income from overnight stays goes towards maintaining and running the Field Centre.

The aims of the LGFC Association are set out in the constitution as:

• To promote outdoor educational activities for the training of children and young people in nature conservation and other such studies and activities.

• In addition to this the LGFC Association aims to.

• To encourage personal development and social education of individuals and groups by providing a setting that facilitates working and living together and to generate an awareness of others.

• To be open to all and with a particular commitment to young people without restricting those of modest means.

• To preserve and protect the setting, history and character of the Centre within Ennerdale valley so as to offer this unique experience to future generations.

Activities

The LGFC Association provides a public benefit in several ways:

• Provides low-cost hostel accommodation for groups including primary and secondary schools, university students, family groups, religious and youth groups.

• A large field provides a safe playing space for children.

• A large classroom with screen provides educational facilities for visitors.

• Has Dark Sky accreditation and runs free Dark Sky events with the support of a local astronomical society.

• Runs ‘Educational Hub events for local primary school groups.

LOW GILLERTHWAITE FIELD CENTRE

• Supports sustainability. It is not connected to any mains services; electricity is provided by a micro-hydro-electric scheme and a set of solar panels. Heating is provided by a biomass boiler fed by wood from the local forest, and water from a borehole and spring.

In pursuing these aims, the charity trustees have given due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit requirements.

Achievements

• Continued work on renewing our lease in negotiation with Forestry England.

• • Renegotiated and renewed our MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the RLC (Royal Logistics Corp), for another 5 years on a rolling program. RLC are a significant user of the centre and guarantee an agreed number of bednights.

• Installed a new water tank, water purification system and pressure pump to give better more reliable pressure and water quality.

• Installed a mobile phone signal booster system (Starlink) to give better internet on-site.

• Members completed maintenance work and many improvements during the annual Working Week, including extending the car park, repairing fences etc.

• LGFC is now on the Airbnb and Group Accommodation forums.

• After repairs to our water and hydro system, re-established our income from feed-in-tariff circa 5k.

• A Special Needs School booked a Residential, and we allowed exclusive use for this group even though they were not bringing the full 26.

• Survived the end of the pandemic where we were unable to allow visitors to attend the centre. A considerable amount of much needed maintenance was completed during this time: a new roof in a number of areas of the centre, improvements to the walls (internally), heating improvements in the kitchen area etc – we are pleased to see that usage of the centre is beginning to return as normal operations are being resumed – this means that bookings etc are moving in the right direction towards pre-Covid levels.

• Undertook chainsaw safety training (certified course) allowing employees to use a chainsaw safely on the premises to manage our wood stocks.

• Maintenance was also carried out on the Managing Wardens accommodation to improve living conditions (new and increased boiler (hot water).

• Drainage was improved in the yard area to prevent previous years flooding and alleviate any new flooding.

• Walls were repointed on both Wardens Accommodation and Hostel.

Reserves

The biggest financial risk is probably a prolonged period of closure. We currently maintain a reserve of £40k in unrestricted funds, which would cover the costs of running the Field Centre for one year, with no bed-night income. This sum would also cover any unforeseen expenditure that may occur – including taking care of employees in an appropriate manner and any costs incurred if the charity had to vacate the premises and return the property to the landlord.

LOW GILLERTHWAITE FIELD CENTRE

This year we have incurred legal costs related to HR requirements (requiring solicitors fees) – updating employee contracts and Service Occupancy agreements etc.

Funding

• Almost all of the income comes from bed-night fees from people staying overnight at the Field Centre. We also receive feed-in tariff payments for the electricity generated by our hydro-electric scheme, and membership fees.

• • We received support grant from the government (as many hospitality groups did) which significantly helped us to survive the pandemic. Our employee was furloughed and supported continuing to pay her wages whilst we were closed.

Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Tim Plaice Chair 26[th] June 2023

LOW GILLERTHWAITE FIELD CENTRE

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE YEAR TO 31st AUGUST 2022

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2021-22 2020-21 2019-20 2018-9 2017-8 2016-7
INCOME
BEDNIGHTS - GENERAL CUSTOMERS 22,905 9,317 12,506 21,959 20,759 23,213
BEDNIGHTS - RLC 12,617 4,778 8,540 13,962 16,170 16,870
PRE-PAID FEES - RLC 25,500 25,500 25,500 25,500 25,500 25,500
SUB-TOTAL BEDNIGHT INCOME 61,022 39,595 46,546 61,421 62,429 65,583
GOVERNMENT GRANTS FOR COVID-19 2,667 19,136 10,000
CJRS (CORONAVIRUS JOB RETENTION SCHEME) 0 11,494 5,488
DONATIONS FROM RLC TRUST PROJECT FUND 0 32,644 15,699
DONATIONS FOR COVID-19 0 2,334
OTHER GRANTS & DONATIONS 25 2,823 3,333 15,438
SUBSCRIPTIONS 840 585 1,320 1,035 855 870
TRIODOS BANK INTEREST 15 43 144 148 93 92
INCOME FROM EVENTS 0 627
OTHER INCOME 0 77 130 85
TEMPORARY TRANSFER FROM TREASURER 24,000
HYDRO FIT PAYMENTS 5,378 5,823 5,191 1,354
INSURANCE CLAIM FOR FLOOD DAMAGE 0 4,050
SUB-TOTAL OTHER INCOME 32,925 63,902 35,612 9,906 13,652 17,839
TOTAL OPERATING INCOME 93,947 103,496 82,158 71,327 76,081 83,422
EXPENDITURE - RUNNING COSTS
DIESEL FOR GENERATOR 3,920 4,848 5,838 1,476 1,845 3,176
GAS 6,852 6,186 5,849 4,113 5,031 4,339
LOGS 1,740 1,500 2,358 1,243
TELEPHONE - MANAGING WARDEN 1,124 1,164 802 894 874 818
TELEPHONE - BROADBAND & PUBLIC PHONE 814 1,289 1,233 1,250 1,358 1,330
EMPLOYMENT COSTS 25,259 26,641 22,684 20,325 18,632 15,629
RENT 200 200 200 200 200 200
RATES, WASTE, COUNCIL TAX 1,922 1,361 1,868 2,437 2,149 2,539
INSURANCE 6,967 6,641 9,542 4,821 4,349 1,913
ADMIN EXPENSES 1,829 560 1,372 3,631 1,517 750
FIELD STUDIES, EVENTS 0 620 956 1,362 8,202
REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE - GENERAL 13,374 27,618 13,213 8,871 12,502 16,820
REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE - HYDRO 4,320 2,241 8,781
GENERATOR - HIRE AND ASSOCIATED COSTS 2,445 5,822 942
PROPERTY AND CONTENTS IMPROVEMENTS 0 6,453 2,057 4,977 3,099 4,195
STATUTORY PROTECTION - FIRE / ELECTRICAL 507 491 554 1,033 2,658 1,287
CONSUMABLES 6,341 5,927 5,292 4,281 4,136 5,369
WEBSITE & SOFTWARE LICENCE 341 194
MARKETING 190 410 1,050 1,223 265 1,955
LEGAL EXPENSES - Lease 4,176 2,490 1,140 540 714 1,983
LEGAL EXPENSES - H/R 17,426
MISPLACED CHEQUES 150
TOTAL RUNNING COSTS 99,897 94,713 89,417 63,386 60,691 72,690
SURPLUS FROM OPERATIONS -5,950 8,783 -7,259 7,941 15,390 10,731
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
NEW GENERATOR (STEPHILL SSD10000S) 5,245
SCAFFOLDING TOWER 1,499
NEW GENERATOR (STEPHILL SSD10000S) 3,600
NEW GENERATOR SHELTER (MATERIALS) 2,500
NEW GENERATOR SHELTER (LABOUR) 2,500
SHOWER BLOCK INCL 2 LOCHINVAR HEATERS
SHOWER BLOCK (FINAL PAYMENT) 1,534
BOREHOLE
OIL TANK
HYDRO CONTROL SYSTEM & BATTERIES 13,350
SOLAR PV PANELS 5,907
TOTAL CAPITAL 0 0 6,744 19,257 2,500 7,634
SURPLUS (DEFICIT) FOR YEAR -5,950 8,783 -14,003 -11,316 12,890 3,097
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Signed

PADDY T MUIR Treasurer

LOW GILLERTHWAITE FIELD CENTRE

ASSETS ON 31st AUGUST 2022

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2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
ASSETS
Current accounts 54,588 42,191 23,746 38,792 52,195 39,497 18,401 14,162 10,203 9,164 11,504 39,891 2,196 6,856 2,971
Deposit account 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 214 212
Subscriptions accounts 6,225 5,385 4,800 3,480 2,445 1,590 720 2,295 1,026 1,409 456 1,683 728 93 973
Building society 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 7
Triodos account:
- Opening balance 25,564 35,521 35,377 35,229 35,136 55,044 48,825 44,604 40,377 33,169 17,329 45,073 58,991 75,755 100,152
- Interest minus bank charges 15 43 144 148 93 92 219 221 228 208 40 56 82 1,235 3,603
- Transfer from / (to) trading account -20,000 -10,000 0 0 0 -20,000 6,000 4,000 4,000 7,000 15,800 (27,800) (14,000) (18,000) (28,000)
- Closing balance 5,579 25,564 35,521 35,377 35,229 35,136 55,044 48,825 44,604 40,377 33,169 17,329 45,073 58,991 75,755
Balance on Pockit card 568 320 612 820 15 251 17 2 6 13 200 0 0 0 0
Cash / cheques in hand 767 217 215 428 329 849 44 56 694 42 25 0 0 0 567
TOTAL ASSETS AT YEAR-END 67,737 73,687 64,904 78,907 90,223 77,333 74,236 65,350 56,544 51,016 45,365 58,913 48,007 66,164 80,486
INCREASE/ (DECREASE) IN THE YEAR -5,950 8,783 -14,003 -11,316 12,890 3,097 8,886 8,806 5,529 5,651 -13,549 10,906 -18,157 -14,322 -23,270
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Restricted Funds - Cumbria Community Foundation
grant for Hub events 667 667
Repay temporary transfer from Treasurer 24,000
Designated Funds - backdated rent increase from the
new rent commencement date of 1st January 2019 0 6,210
Reserve Fund 40,000 55,000
Unrestricted Funds - for general use 3,070 11,810
TOTAL 67,737 73,687
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Signed

PADDY T MUIR Treasurer

I have examined the books and vouchers of the Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre and confirm that the annexed income and expenditure account together with the statement of assets are consistent with the transactions in the financial records.

Signed

JOHN E IRWIN Independent Examiner