**The Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Trustees of Access the Dales, a charitable incorporated organisation. A Charity registered with the Charities Commission in England and Wales.**
**Registered Charity no: 1199934.**
**Date** : January 12th 2025
## **Letter from the chair**
Dear Friends,
As Chair of Access the Dales, I am honoured to share with you our progress, vision, and gratitude for the incredible support we have received over the past year. Together, we are breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for everyone to enjoy the unparalleled beauty and tranquility of the Yorkshire Dales and in the Forest of Bowland
When Access the Dales was founded, our mission was simple yet profound: to ensure that the outdoors is accessible to all, regardless of physical ability or mobility challenges. Nature belongs to everyone, and we believe that no one should be excluded from experiencing its restorative power and joy. This mission continues to drive every project, partnership, and initiative we undertake.
In 2023, we accomplished several key milestones. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to:
- Expand our fleet of all-terrain wheelchairs, ensuring more people can explore’ rugged trails and get out to places that would otherwise be inaccessible.
- Develop additional accessible routes and provide detailed guides to help individuals plan their visits with confidence.
- Partner with local communities, businesses, and organizations to promote inclusivity and raise awareness about the importance of accessibility in the outdoors.
While we are proud of these achievements, we know there is still so much more to do. In the coming year, our focus will include:
- Continuing to advocate for improved accessibility infrastructure across the countryside of Yorkshire and Lancashire
- inspire future generations to embrace inclusivity and sustainability.
- Strengthening our volunteer network to provide hands-on assistance and support for those who need it most.
None of this would be possible without you—our dedicated supporters, partners, and volunteers. Whether you have donated, volunteered your time, or simply shared our message, you have played a vital role in advancing our mission. On behalf of the entire team at Access the Dales, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As we look ahead, we invite you to continue this journey with us. Let us dream bigger, reach further, and ensure that the Yorkshire Dales remain a place where everyone can find peace, adventure, and connection.
With heartfelt gratitude and best wishes,
Melanie Globe Chair, Access the Dales
## **What the People Say**
Survey of users December 2024 - Individual user
Below are some of the data collected from our recent survey of group and individual experiences. These are very useful for use when applying for grants
What did you enjoy most about your experience with Access the Dales?
“Being able to enjoy the countryside. Without the use of the all-terrain wheelchair/tramper, I wouldn’t be able to.”
“The opportunity to get out in the countryside with my mum like we always used to, but which she can no longer do on foot”
“Being able to visit sites I would have been unable to without specialist mobility equipment:
“Inclusive atmosphere”
“Engaging activities”
“Freedom to go where I can’t normally go”
“Freedom”
“Being a permanent wheelchair user access to the Dales gave the opportunity to reach places that without the mobility scooter would be impossible.”
## Were there any challenges or barriers you faced?
## • None
- Finding the location to loan the wheelchair. Perhaps could do with a discrete sign at the entrance.
- None
- Always check the battery level before use.
- I would love to have more accessible routes opened up, stiles, steps, narrow bridges obviously really limit to where mobility impaired people can enjoy.
- deciding which hub to visit
- The website was difficult to see when the equipment was available.
## **Feedback for visiting groups**
_“Access the Dales have given our members 2 memorable trips which our members still talk about. They have generously funded transport for our members, most of whom live in an area of high deprivation. Access the Dales have been great with providing information about the planned walks and have also been very flexible and responsive to the needs of Feel Good Factor members. They have provided trained facilitators and volunteers to enable our members to walk at their own pace and to split into groups when required. They have also arranged mobility scooters to be ready to use as soon as our groups arrived. Always friendly and accommodating, Access the Dales have been fantastic in creating opportunities for our members to get into the Dales.”_
_“It's just amazing that anyone with a disability can borrow an all terrain wheelchair so can join friends family and good for mental health”_
**Did anything special happen for any member of your group?**
_“One of our members had not left Leeds for 5 years and due to being a wheelchair user, had not been able to take part in our yearly coach trip to the seaside. This gentleman really appreciated the opportunity that Access the Dales provided. Saw something I had not seen before.”_
## **Policies**
**Trustees have reviewed and agreed upon adult Safeguarding and Children’s Safeguarding policies. To be reviewed and agreed by Trustees in September 2025**
**The behaviour Code for Adults Working with Children has been reviewed and agreed by trustees in December 2024**
## **1. Accounts**
**Reporting Period** : 01.04.23 - 31.03.24.
## **Annual and Financial Statements** :
After consulting with Community First, it was clarified that the charity does not require the appointment of an accountant for this process. Community First supported DN to report our accounts.
The reporting of the closing balance for last year is not a true reflection of the bank account's balance, as it included our assets. The accountant prepared the accounts as a business and not as a charity. DN has checked this with the Charity Commission, and this is correct information.
**Grants received.**
**Matthew Good Foundation:**
**Alpkit**
**Wild Ingleborough**
## **YD Millenium Trust**
## **YDNP**
**Approval the period 2023-24. Prepared by D.North**
## **Registered Charity No. 1199934 Annual Accounts 1[st] April 2023 – 31[st] March 2024**
|**Balance Brought Forward 2022/2023**|**Balance Brought Forward 2022/2023**|||**£ 475.62**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**|**Unrestricted Funds**||**Restricted Funds**|**Total**|
|Donations||£9,658|-|£9,658|
|Fundraising||£157|-|£157|
|Grants1||£6850|£1,500|£8,350|
|Amazon Smile||£13|-|£13|
|Events||£17|-|£17|
|**Total Income 2023/24**||||**£18,1952**|
|**Expenditure**|||||
|Insurance||£1,392|-|£1,392|
|Equipment||£400|-|£400|
|Events||£50|-|£50|
|Advertising||£257|-|£257|
|Merchandise(T-shirts and Hoodies)||£2,890|-|£2,890|
|Transport||£1,251|-|£1,251|
|Sessional Staff||£4,108|£1,000|£5,108|
|Admin & Booking System||£240|-|£240|
|Repairs and Maintenance||£60|-|£60|
|Sundries3||£391|£500|£891|
|**Total Expenditure**||||**£ 12,539**|
|**Profit/Loss 2022/23**||||**£ 5,656**|
|**Bank Balance 31.03.2024**||||**£6,131.62**|
|**Cash in Hand**||||**£0**|
|**Total balance carried forward 2024/25 **||||**£6,131.62**|
## **Notes**
1. Grants received this financial year include
2. The balance carried forward from this financial year is significantly different to that of 2022/23 as the previous accounts included the net value of the tangible assets within the income. The value of the tangible assets is detailed below but not included in the income for this year.
3. Sundries include refreshments, backpack resources and printer ink.
## **Tangible Assets Retained for Charities' Own Use**
## **Current value**
## **Details**
## **Purchase Value New**
**(cost value new / number of years product is serviceable)**
Quingo **3,000 2,400** Mimo. Plus x2 **3,000 2,400** Partrekersx2 **6,000 4,800** Terrainhopper x3 **36,000 28,800** TGA breeze x2 **8,000 6,400** Tramper x2 **12,000 9,600**
**Accounts signed:** Debbie North **Debbie North, November 22nd 2024**
## **External examination by Jean Norris.**
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my 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. l 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
## Jean Norris
20[th] December 2024
**£**
## **Registered Charity No. 1199934 Annual Accounts 1[st] April 2023 – 31[st] March 2024**
**Balance Brought Forward 2022/2023 475.62**
|**Income**
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Income**
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Income**
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Restricted Funds**|**Restricted Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Total**|||||
|Donations|£9,658|||-|
|£9,658|||||
|Fundraising|£157||-|£157|
|Grants1|£6850|||£1,500|
|£8,350|||||
|Amazon Smile|£13||-|£13|
|Events||£17||-|
|£17|||||
|**Total Income 2023/24**|||||
|**£18,1952**|||||
|**Expenditure**|||||
|Insurance|£1,392|||-|
|£1,392|||||
|Equipment|£400||-|£400|
|Events||£50||-|
|£50|||||
|Advertising|£257||-|£257|
|Merchandise(T-shirts and Hoodies)||£2,890||-|
|£2,890|||||
|Transport|£1,251|||-|
|£1,251|||||
|Sessional Staf|£4,108|||£1,000|
|£5,108|||||
|Admin & Booking System||£240||-|
|£240|||||
Access the Dales
1199934
Repairs and Maintenance £60 £60 Sundries[3] £391
-
£500
£891
**Total Expenditure £ 12,539**
**Profit/Loss 2022/23 £ 5,656 Bank Balance 31.03.2024 £6,131.62 Cash in Hand**
**£0**
**Total balance carried forward 2024/25 £6,131.62**
## **Notes**
1. Grants received this financial year include
2. The balance carried forward from this financial year is significantly different to that of 2022/23 as the previous accounts included the net value of the tangible assets within the income. The value of the tangible assets is detailed below but not included in the income for this year.
3. Sundries include refreshments, backpack resources and printer ink.
## **Tangible Assets Retained for Charities' Own Use**
|**Details**
Quingo
Mimo. Plus x2
Partrekersx2
Terrainhopper x3
TGA breeze x2
Tramper x2|**Purchase Value**
**New**
**3,000**
**3,000**
**6,000**
**36,000**
**8,000**
**12,000**|**Current value**
**(cost value new /**
**number of years**
**product is**
**serviceable)**|
|---|---|---|
|Quingo|**3,000**|**2,400**|
|Mimo. Plus x2|**3,000**|**2,400**|
|Partrekersx2|**6,000**|**4,800**|
|Terrainhopper x3|**36,000**|**28,800**|
|TGA breeze x2|**8,000**|**6,400**|
|Tramper x2|**12,000**|**9,600**|
## **Accounts signed:** Debbie North
## **Debbie North, November 22nd 2024**
Access the Dales
1199934
Access the Dales
1199934