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Our Aim is to promote walking as a means of enjoyment, exercise and social contact. We are also active in ensuring that our legacy of footpaths remains open for all walkers.
The 75th.Anniversary Baton Walks. At the moment our minds are invariably turned towards leisure activities, holidays booked sitting round a roaring fire soon to be upon us and hopefully with the prospect of refreshing our reserves of memories to share with others towards the end of the year. You will notice, tucked away on the Calendar page, a fairly comprehensive schedule of walks from Wednesday 6th. to Tuesday 19th October around the outskirts of London (75th Anniversary London Loop Baton Walk) that would make an idea walking holiday in its own right but more likely to appeal to those wishing to attempt a day or so at a time. Check it out as they say, plenty of opportunity for exercise, food, drink, friendship and if the weather holds up, some well chosen locations for photos. Hopefully, full details of each days walk will appear elsewhere – it is likely to be three days longer than originally planned so that it can start from City Hall with appropriate personalities. By now Group Secretaries will have been contacted by the Hazel Jarrold, Area Chair, telling them of the Area’s decision that all Groups should hold their own Anniversary Baton walks or combine with a neighbouring group to do so. We want as many people as possible to walk part of the Loop and ask those in the London Boroughs to officially support one of the legs.
Summary of the Board of Trustees meeting 24th July 2010Read a summary of the decisions taken at the Board of Trustees meeting in July (News - posted 16th August 2010)
The Board of Trustees met at Central Office on Saturday 24th July. We welcomed our youngest-ever attendee - two-month old Danny Montgomery, the new son of trustee Eleanor Harris. Unlike others present, he was permitted to sleep quietly through most of the meeting. AnnouncementsThe Board noted with sadness the death of Geoff Stevenson, who was a member of the Ramblers for over 50 years. He was an active member of the former Southern Area of the Ramblers and joined the Inner London Area committee when it was set up over 20 years ago. Chief Executive’s ReportThe Chief Executive reported that the Ramblers has been short listed for Third Sector Magazine’s Excellence Awards, in the category of ‘brand development’. We will find out in the autumn if we have won. He reported on the launch of our ‘Dead End for Walkers?’ campaign, highlighting the risks to public paths from threatened cuts in local authority spending. This is part of our major campaigning theme for the coming year, and we are highlighting 20 local authorities where there are threatened budget cuts or massive backlogs in clearing paths. He reported on the intensive lobbying which was taking place around both rights of way funding, and funding for coastal access. The Chief Executive reported that Get Walking Day took place in May, with about 50% more walks than last year. About 6,000 special ‘£1 membership forms’ were sent to participating groups, of which 2,000 were handed out, and about 700 returned. All of these have signed up by direct debit, and we hope they will renew next year. In 2011, Get Walking Day will be on 15th May, and Groups are being urged to start organising walks so that it will be the biggest ever. He said that more than 32,000 ‘Get Walking, Keep Walking’ packs have been distributed to people new to walking (beating our target for the project), and that we’ll soon be producing an on-line version. The Big Lottery Fund and the Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust pay for this project. He reported that the Senior Management Team had, during July, been telephoning Groups that are reporting either membership growth or membership shrinkage, to ask why they thought this was happening. He reported that the Groups were generally pleased to receive the calls, and to share information. Whilst there was no ‘single issue’, which he could say to groups, “if you do this, you will grow”, he did detect some themes. Groups, which are growing, tend to:
Groups that are shrinking often:
FinancesThe Board received a forecast to the end of the financial year (end of September) as well as the latest monthly accounts. They show a forecast surplus to the end of the year of c£650k. This is largely due to: additional legacy income of c£370k (one-off); the claiming of c£150k previously unclaimed gift aid stretching back to 2003 (one-off – made possible by the new CRM software); membership income being c£100k higher than forecast. The Honorary Treasurer welcomed the positive forecast, however he pointed out that apart from additional membership income, the rest of it was one-off and thus could not be relied on in future years. Key Performance IndicatorsThe Board reviewed the latest monthly Key Performance Indicators. These are 16 key indicators – covering finance, membership, campaigns, and organisation – which give a snapshot of how we’re are performing against the Business Plan Target. Of the 16, we are on track with 14, and behind with two. Budgets and Targets for 2010/11The Board reviewed the Business Plan for 2010/11 (starting from October), and approved the budget and targets. The Board approved a base budget for 2010/11, which balanced, plus additional spending of £314k (taken from this year’s surplus). It also agreed to put £250k aside into a specially designated fund for the possibility of having to make good a pensions shortfall in the future. As part of the budget, it was agreed to put £130k aside into a specially designated legal fund, to pay for national legal walking environment casework; to fund a modest investment in our website; to increase the amount spent on marketing to help achieve our target of membership growth; and to increase the total budget for Areas and Groups from £340k to £400k. It was also agreed to expand the ‘Information and Inspiration’ booklet for new members, which would be pocket-sized, and taken out on walks, with useful information on what to do about footpath problems, basic legal rights, etc. The Board also approved the targets, linked to our four priorities for the coming year:
The Board agreed membership rates for the coming year, based on an inflation increase. Individual annual rates will be £31, and joint rates will be £41. Following an original proposal from Surrey Area for a direct debit incentive, it was agreed that new members signing up by direct debit could be offered a discount of up to 50% for the first year (the details are yet to be worked out and will be communicated to Areas and Groups over the next few months). The Board also agreed a new monthly payment option to be introduced from April 2011 at £3 per month (single membership) and £4 per month (joint membership). The Business Plan, as well as a four-page summary, will be published in September for Areas and Groups, and will be discussed at the Special National and Regional meetings taking place around Britain with the Chair and Chief Executive, this autumn. The Chief Executive emphasised that the Business Plan was for the whole charity – not just central office. We needed all parts of the charity, including Areas and Groups, to help achieve our targets such as growing our membership. Sub-CommitteesThe Board agreed that Jonathan Kipling, the Honorary Treasurer, would chair the Finance and Audit Sub-committee; Gus Halfhide would chair the Strategy and Governance Sub-committee; and Kate Ashbrook would chair the Campaigns and Marketing Sub-committee. Governance Review – Terms of ReferenceThe Board agreed the Terms of Reference for the proposed review of Governance, as agreed at General Council, looking into the relationship of General Council with the Board of Trustees – where responsibility for governance lies. The review will look at whether charitable status impacts on this, and whether the work of protecting public paths was enough to satisfy the ‘public benefit’ test for charities. James Thorne, a former senior partner of Farrier and Co, will undertake the review. September Away WeekendThe Board, with the Senior Management Team, will be meeting in Neath, Wales in September for its annual weekend to review strategy. The Board agreed that the weekend will focus on gaining a greater understanding of Wales issues, and on the key issue of how the Ramblers expands its membership after many years of it declining. Reference from East Yorkshire and Derwent AreaThe Board received a reference from East Yorkshire and Derwent Area regarding our policy for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. As a redrafted policy is currently the subject of consultation with Areas and Groups, and will be reviewed at the Board meeting in September, it was agreed to reply fully to the letter after this. Devolution Working PartyThe Chair reported on the first meeting of the Devolution Working Party, set up as a result of the Board motion at General Council, which had held its first meeting the previous day. It had been a very constructive meeting with useful papers submitted by both Scotland and Wales. Wales did not believe that independence was financially viable but had several suggestions for better relationships with the two ‘constituent parts’. Scotland, whilst aspiring towards independence, believed it would be unable to fund important legal cases from its ‘independent’ income and consequently wished to see what greater autonomy could be achieved short of independence. The Honorary Treasurer had agreed to draft the new protocol governing relationships with the constituent parts, which would be discussed at the next working party meeting on September 13th. If you have any comments on the matters discussed at the Board meeting, let us know by clicking here. Special National and Regional Meetings 2010Meetings across Britain for volunteers with the Chair and Chief Executive this autumn Meetings are to take place in Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Liverpool and Plymouth during October and November 2010. Please note - there will be another meeting in Nottingham later in the year, date to follow. The two-hour meetings are being held to help improve communications between Central Office, the Board of Trustees, and Areas and Groups of the Ramblers - Britain's walking charity. They follow similar meetings held across Britain during last winter, which were well received by those attending. Each will involve Rodney Whittaker, Chair, and Tom Franklin, Chief Executive. All volunteers are welcome, although as space is limited (and several of last year’s events were fully booked) early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment (see booking form below). The meetings will:
Tea and coffee will be provided. London, 2nd November 2010 - early evening Timings will be confirmed in an e-mail confirmation of booking during August. We would expect your Area or Group to reimburse your travel costs. If this is not possible, please indicate on the registration form, under other comments. Please note that spaces are limited, you are recommended to book early to avoid disappointment. Registration Form available at: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/Regional+Meeting+Registration.htm
ASK NOT WHAT YOUR AREA CAN DO FOR YOU BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE AREA The Area officers exist to promote effective communication and coordination amongst the Groups that are established throughout Essex. The above is what we do in cooperation with the Groups throughout Essex but if you wish to contact us directly with your ideas drop us an e-mail at the address below. Remember its your Association, without you, we wouldn't be able to get beyond this page! If you have any comments on the above or any other pages within this site please contact the editor at ear@essexarearamblers.co.uk
The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577; Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW |
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If only Essex looked
a little more like this
. Although our landscape is a little flatter
and usually contains more mud, one of the prime functions of Area is to maintain contact between Central Office and the
various Groups that have been formed across the County. Close contact is maintained with Members of the National Executive by sending delegates along to National
Council meeting and from time to time promoting motions to be considered at
national level. We also ensure appropriate distribution of capitation and supplementary funds that are necessary for the efficient running of the Groups. We also have an undertaking to help set up and support formation of new Groups to meet the needs of developing communities across Essex and an involvement in how London is providing for walkers.