Trustees’ Annual Report for the year
From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Ride Bristol |
|---|---|
| Registered charity number |
1191199 |
| Charity’s principal address |
12B Flax Bourton Road Failand Bristol BS8 3UW |
Objectives and Activities
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
The object of the CIO is: the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation in Bristol and the surrounding area by providing opportunities and facilities to participate in off road cycling through the construction and maintenance of safe cycle trails which protect the integrity of the physical and natural environment and encourage responsible cycling. |
|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
The Trustees have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission |
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
Trailwork repair activity has continued in 2024 on the Ashton Court Nova trail with a mix of monthly volunteer only dig days and Ride Bristol funded commercial contractor led projects. We continue to be supported by a pool of about 15 Dig Leaders and roughly 200 public volunteers who have supported the circa 8 dig days that have been arranged this year. We have patch repaired
| wider benefits to society as a whole and 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. |
about 2km of trail on the quarry climb / descent and fully rebuilt about 1km of trail between rusty door and picnic benches. Our community building activity continues to expand. Our womens only rides have prospered and an open to all monthly ride has been initiated which is growing in numbers. We have established links with a group of key parties to provide ongoing support to the Ashton Court trails. Lobbying Forestry England, in a similar vein, has resulted in a change of policy by FE towards the YerTiz trail to one of support rather than opposition. Ride Bristol have taken on organising the annual Reframing Mtb conference in 2025. We applied for and were awarded our first ever grant funding this year. Other fundraising activity has significantly improved our financial position this year with donations from Mtb related organisations. A significant setback in the spring was the theft and loss of our horsebox tool store and all our tools. This provided the impetus for a fundraising campaign which has enabled us to replace everything with more and better equipment. The trustee group has evolved to a management steering group comprising trustees and supporters. We have formalised some of our processes and divided our work into workstreams consisting of trail works, community, advocacy, coms & fundraising, and governance. As a result of our activity this year the trails in Ashton Court are in better shape than they were a year ago to the benefit of the thousands of riders who use them each year. Many riders have made social connections through our peer led organised rides. Our ongoing activity has created the conditions for us to be able to continue these positive trends next year. |
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Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
At the end of the financial period the charity held £20,768 (2023: £14,328) in the bank and made a surplus of £6,440 for the full year |
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| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
The trustees aim to maintain reserves in unrestricted funds at a level that will allow sufficient funds to be available to respond to charitable activities as they arise. |
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| Amount of reserves held | The balance held as unrestricted funds at the yearend was £14,328 |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
There are no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Type of governing document |
Ride Bristol is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation established by a constitution dated 8 September 2020. It was registered as a charity on 8 September 2020, charity number 1191199. |
|---|---|
| How is the charity constituted? |
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| 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 |
Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Knowles | General | |
| 2 | Christopher Leeks | General, Finance & Recruitment |
|
| 3 | James Adamson | Wild Trails | |
| 4 | Hywel Jones | Wild Trails | Resigned 6th Jan 2025 |
| 5 | Jamie Edwards | Communicati ons |
|
| 6 | Jeremy Wheatcroft | Existing Trails & Finance |
|
| 7 | Joe Sullivan | Existing Trails | Resigned 6th Feb 2025 |
| 8 | Fionna Wilson (Spotswood) |
Community | Appointed 12th Feb 2024 |
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Jeremy Wheatcroft Date 22nd September 2025
Receipts and payments accounts for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Ride Bristol CIO
Receipts and Payments
| 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 |
1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 |
1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 |
1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 |
1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 |
1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Total Funds £ |
Unrestricted Funds £ |
Restricte d Funds £ |
Total Funds £ |
||
| Receipts | |||||||
| Donations | 11,101 | 5,200 | 16,301 | 9,792 | - | 9,792 | |
| Gift Aid | 2,217 | - | 2,217 | 417 | - | 417 | |
| Other Income | 144 | - | 144 | 241 | - | 241 | |
| Total Receipts | 13,462 | 5,200 | 18,662 | 10,450 | - | 10,450 | |
| Payments | |||||||
| Trail Maintenance and Development |
7,758 | 3,553 | 11,311 | 8,384 | - | 8,384 | |
| Banking and Card Fees |
388 | - | 388 | 113 | - | 113 | |
| Community development |
250 | - | 250 | - | - | - | |
| Other Expenditure | 273 | - | 273 | 48 | - | 48 | |
| Total Payments | 8,669 | 3,553 | 12,222 | 8,545 | - | 8,545 | |
| Net Surplus | 4,793 | 1,647 | 6,440 | 1,905 | - | 1,905 | |
| Reconciliation of Funds | |||||||
| Cash funds brought forward |
14,328 | - | 14,328 | 12,423 | - | 12,423 | |
| Cash funds carried forward |
19,121 | 1,647 | 20,768 | 14,328 | - | 14,328 |
Ride Bristol CIO
Receipts and payments accounts for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| the period | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 December 2023 | 31 December 2023 | ||||||
| Unrestricted Funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Total Funds £ |
Unrestricted Funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Total Funds £ |
||
| Cash funds | |||||||
| Cash in bank | 19,121 | 1,647 | 20,768 | 14,328 | - | 14,382 | |
| Total cash funds | 19,121 | 1,647 | 20,768 | 14,328 | - | 14,328 |
Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by
Jeremy Wheatcroft Date 22nd September 2025