2021-09-30-accounts - Open Trail

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UNAUDITED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2021

FOR

OPEN TRAIL

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1190929

OPEN TRAIL

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2021

	Page
Trustee’s Report	1
General Information	5
Income and Expenditure Account	7
Balance Sheet	8
Notes to the Financial Statements	9
Independent examiner’s report

Trustee’s Report for the year ended 30[th] September 2021

The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30[th] September 2021. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practise (SORP) FRS102 “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in March 2005 and amended in 2012

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s Trust Deed, the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practise “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”.

Charity Objectives

To advance the education of the UK public in topics of cycling, health and the environment.
To advance health for the public benefit by educating the public about the health benefits of cycling, Forest School, and an active lifestyle.
To help young people, especially but not exclusively through leisure time activities, so as to develop their capabilities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.
To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded through lack of affordable transport alternatives and training, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society.
To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially economically disadvantaged people in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.
The promotion of community participation in healthy recreation in particular by the provision of facilities for cycling and Forest School.

Open Trail (www.opentrail.co.uk); a registered charity (1190929) established to encourage children and young people, of Worcestershire and the West Midlands, to strive for more than they think possible, despite their own personal circumstances. We use Cycle Coaching and Forest School to provide personal development opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to develop their self-confidence, work ethic, emotional resilience and team working through the completion of small, achievable tasks. We enable them to achieve new things and find out what they are really capable of. We encourage them to apply these skills in other scenarios e.g. home, their community and school, to empower them to build a better future for themselves, and raise their aspirations.

Our aims are to enable children and young people to develop:

self-esteem, confidence and emotional resilience
social and team working skills
a positive attitude towards learning and working
fit and healthy lifestyle choices.

Our services

Forest School - exploration in a woodland environment with bushcraft activities
Cycle Coaching – from learn to ride to mountain bike coaching
World Education –activities of children from around the world.
Public Speakers - inspirational and educational presentations.

Our mission is to raise the aspirations of young people through motivation, enjoyment, stimulating their curiosity and engaging their bodies in active pursuits.

Achievements and Performance

From January 1[st] -March 15[th] due to Covid 19 pandemic lock downs all activities were cancelled. All schools and youth groups etc were closed. Schools were not able to engage with outdoor organisations.

Our work was also disrupted due to school staff and student sickness/absence. We couldn’t always complete a full program and did not see the children as often as we would in normal circumstances.

The whole country was facing uncertainty in all directions so Open Trail was not able to grow and expand as planned; instead attentions were placed on surviving the period so as to continue positive work after the pandemic.

Engagement with Schools

In the early part of the financial year, October-December 2020 schools were reluctant to invite in external organisations. Open Trail provision was limited to:

Balanceability at Burlish Park Primary to 60 pupils
Fixed bikes at several schools, approx. 200 bikes were fixed
Provided learn to ride to Westminster SEN school 3 days a week
Provided to learn to ride to a 6 other schools
All of our forest school provision remained closed

January-March 2021 the country went into lockdown, all activities were on hold.

March-September 2021

Lockdown ended and schools slowly enabled outdoor providers, including Open Trail in to work with pupils
This is traditionally our busiest time of year but progress was still slow due to limitations from the pandemic such as lack of public events, reduced funding and isolation by children and supporting adults.
We successfully delivered our Children in Need funded forest school, learn to ride and mountain bike trail building programs at over 10 locations.
We were still unable to open our Forest School site at Kinver Edge due to Covid-19 and associated limitations by landowners; National Trust.
We successfully prototyped our bike mechanics course at a school in Walsall.
In the summer holidays we held learn to ride lessons to individuals 2 days a week and summer holiday courses at Franche Primary School and Lickhill Primary School. Reaching over 200 young people.
Our Dr Bike provision (free bike repairs in schools) continued to grow and develop due to increased grants from Big Bike Revival and more people looking to cycle during the pandemic.
In September our diary began to return back to normal with bookings for learn to ride, balanceability, Dr Bike, mountain bike trail building and bike mechanics course.

Project Burlish Bike Park

The highlight of year and Open Trail’s biggest project to date was the proposed donation of 6.1hectares of land known as Burlish Woodland. The land donation is subject to planning permission for a community bike park facility. In September 2020 Open Trail were contacted by the landowner who wanted to donate the land which currently homes Burlish Dirtjumps. A planning advisory team was formed and proposals, community engagement and funding plans quickly took front stage whilst school and community group activity was low due to Covid-19 Pandemic.

£33,598.90 was raised from our Crowdfunder and a £110,000 grant was awarded from Sports England Places to Ride fund in March 2021.

Progress to date has including numerous ecological and arboriculture surveys of the side and continued community engagement about the sites progress and planned developments.

Financial Review

The charity aims to maintain sufficient funds so that it’s charitable activities can continue to be provided without disruption.

Reserves Policy

Open Trail will keep sufficient reserves so that it can honour its commitments to its funders and to ensure its beneficiaries welfare. To achieve this Open Trail aims to keep 3 months of running costs as designated funds.

Principle Funding Sources

Funding currently comes from a range of funders including but not limited to National Lottery, BBC Children in Need, Big Bike Revival as well as private trading with schools. The vast majority of funding is designated to specific project work and is restricted to this purpose.

Plans for the Future

Open Trail is managed by the Board of Trustees, whilst the day-to-day running is administered by a team of freelance staff.

Until end of August 2020 Open Trail was an unincorporated charity registered under 1172191 before becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation under 1190929. As Open Trail is a growing organisation the Trustees decided to change corporation status to ensure the charity is upheld by the most rigorous checks by the Charity Commission to prove our work is solely for public benefit and improve general running of the charity.

Governing Document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a Trust Deed, and is registered with the Charity Commission.

The trustees who served during the year were:

Diane Escott

Colin Harris

Mark Young

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Potential trustees can apply for the position and by interviewed by the Board of Trustees. New trustees receive training which covers their obligations as trustees, the main documents which set out the operational framework for the charity and the current financial position.

Public Benefit

Open Trail’s activities meet the public benefit by providing children and young people and the wider community with a range of services that they may otherwise not be able to access.

Through engagement with its services children and young people grow in confidence, resilience and build their aspirations. This puts them in a stronger position to face challenges in their lives, make the most of positive opportunities, and resist negative influences. This enables them to make a positive contribution to their community, develop essential life skills and grow into adulthood comfortably.

The services Open Trail offers to its community are wide ranging and adaptable to meet the needs of the client group and the ever-changing world we live in. Open Trail regularly takes on feedback from its community and adapts to the needs of the people and environment in which it operates.

The trustee’s report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Colin Harris (Chair) 10/3/22

OPEN TRAIL

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2021

TRUSTEES:

ADDRESS:

ACCOUNTANTS:

Mrs D Escott D Escott C Harris M Young

54 Holmcroft Road Kidderminster Worcestershire DY10 3AG Phipps Wakefield Accountants Ltd 17 High Haden Crescent Cradley Heath West Midlands B64 7PD

OPEN TRAIL

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT (RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2021

Income Grant income Of which is restricted Of which is unrestricted Trading income Total Fundraised Income for Burlish Bike Park Total Expenditure relating directly to charitable activities Coaching and leaders Cycle mechanics, hire, repairs and storage Equipment for forest schools Administration fees Use of residence as office Insurance Telephone Post and stationery Motor expenses Website Staff training Sundries and general expenses Accountancy Depreciation of tangible fixed assets Plant and machinery Motor vehicles Computer equipment EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE OVER INCOME	2021 £ 30,302 14,685 15,617 19,510 49,812 37,857 87,669 42,039 2,763 121 3,012 104 930 120 95 772 10 - 998 - 164 267 166	£ 51,561 (1,749)	2020 £ 18,726 5,355 15,590 3,694 354 3,012 104 390 120 196 2,475 208 40 114 300 193 356 -	£ 24,081 27,146 (3,065)

OPEN TRAIL

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 30 SEPTEMBER 2021

Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 1 CURRENT ASSETS Trade debtors Other debtors Bank account CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade creditors Accrued expenses NET ASSETS INCOME FUNDS 2	2021 £ - 1,414 49,952 51,366 154 175 329	£ 2,232 12,419 14,651 14,651	2020 £ 13,708 - 856 14,564 154 - 175 329	£ 2,165 14,235
				16,400
				16,400

OPEN TRAIL

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2021

1. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
	Plant and		Motor	Computer
	machinery		vehicles	equipment	Totals
	£		£	£	£
COST
At 1 October 2020	1,517		1,900	-	3,417
Additions		-	-	664	664
At 30 September 2021	1,517		1,900	664	4,081
DEPRECIATION
At 1 October 2020		421	831	-	1,252
Charge for year		164	267	166	597
At 30 September 2021		585	1,098	166	1,849
NET BOOK VALUE
At 30 September 2021		932	802	498	2,232
At 30 September 2020	1,096		1,069	-	2,165

Trustee remuneration: No remuneration was paid during the period to any charity trustee or person connected to a trustee.

Trustee expenses: No expenses were paid to any charity trustee during the period.

Guarantees: No guarantees have been given by the CIO where any potential liability under such is outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities.

Debts: No debt is owed by the CIO at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities and which is secured by an express charge on any of the assets of the CIO.

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Open Trail

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Open Trail for the year ended 30 September, 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed by examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3) the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Name: Stephanie Jackson

Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies: F.M.A.A.T

Address: 17 High Haden Crescent Cradley Heath West Midlands. B64 7PD

Date: 17 March, 2022