Regi8tsred Numbor . 28277441 England & Wal￿}
Reglstsrnd Charfty . 1045654
WELLS FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE LIMITED
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

WELLS FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE LIMITED
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
For the Year Ended 31 December 2023
The Directors, who are trustees of the Company for the purposes of charity law, present their
annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
STRUCTURE. GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
The Company is a registered charity. number 1045654, has no share capital and is limited
by guarantees of £1 by each of the Directors. The Company is governed by the Board.of
Directors in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Directors who
served during the year under review were:
RDJ Manning (Chairman)
HT Cain
AJ Kolornbos
SE Decamp
FM Rowe
D Wright
Directors are appointed by the existing m8mbers at Directors, meetings as required by the
ompanl5 ArtiGlo* of AssoGiation. No remuneration is received by any Director and the
Company has no employees. The Company is not supported by grants or funding from any
public body.
SHARE CAPITAL
The Company has no Share Capitsl and is limited by £1 guarantees by each of the
Directors.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The Company's objects are as set out in the Memorandum of Association and are in
essence to promote and assist in the advancement of education in the arts and in particular
literature and poetry. To this end, the Company organises the annual Wells Festival of
Literature held in October and various educational activities during the year.
During the year, a Committee was responsible to the Directors for the smooth running of the
annual Festival and its educational projects. The Committee, comprising all of the Festival
year-round voluntèers and itself working through various sub-committees, met monthly and
implemented the strategy determined by the Directors who reviewed progress on a regular
basis. This structure is kept under review to ensure that governance and operations are
properly maintained. The Directors normally meet 4 to 5 tim8 por year.
Each year. the Festival brings leading local, national and intemational writers to Wells to
inspire, entertain, educate and challenge audiences of all ages and tastes. The Festival
includes the Prize Giving for its poetry and short story competitions. The Company funds
workshops for groups of young people of school age, from primary through to sixth form, to
meet and interact with inspirational authors and poets writing for their respective age groups.
The Company has also supported Coram Beanstalk, a national literacy project, in the South
West and other relevant schemes.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE FOR THE YEAR
st
Our 31 Festival took place once again with a full line up of 34 authors over 9 days at
Cedars Hall. This was the sixth year we have held the event at Cedars Hall which provides a
modem and comfortable environment to host the Festival.
The Directors pay tribute to the organisation, enthusiasm and professionalism of all involved,
most of whom are volunteers, which has enabled us to retain our record of having put on a
Festival every year since our inception in 1992.
The line-up once again covered a wlde and fascinating spectrum catering to the diversity of
interests our audiences have come to expect. Our speakers came from far and wide to
attend and the Directors are extremely grateful to them for doing so. This year we increased
the speakers, fee, and although slightly down on 2022 levels, ticket sales remained healthy
across the whole Festival and ensured all events were well attended.
Our poetry and short story competitions grew again with entries from near and far, and are
now well established as significant in the competition landscape. With a first prlze of £1,000
open poetry attracted a large number of entrie8, but there was good support for all
categories. We also held a Wells Literary Quiz for the first time, which sold out in two weeks.
and will be repeated in 2024.
The Company has again been fortunate to secure a high level of 8ponsorship and support
from many businesses and individuals, contributing a large proportion of the flxed costs of
many of the events. We are extremely grateful for thi8 continued support in what remain
difficult economic times.
Therefore, we were able to achleve our charltable objectives by spending £30,000 to 8UPPOrt
over 40 schools in Somerset with a wide range of litsrary initiatives from supplying books,
author visits, one to one reading schemes, plays and theatre outlng8.
A special Friends and Sponsors event was hosted by Mariella Frostrup in July, Just prior to
the stsrt of ticket sales. We are very grateful to our expanding group of Friends, who88
enthuslastic contribution and engagement is much appreciated.
The Festival continues to be a vibrant component In the cultural and educatlonal Ilfe of Wells
and the Directors welcome the engagement and support of so many people. The Festival
and the Company's activities are run and managed entirely by volunteers; there are no
employees, and the Directors thank all those involved with the Company.
Once again, careful cost management and prudent financial judgements mean that the
reserves of the Company have provided a buffer against the extensive challenges of rising
costs and the current uncertain economic environment.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The net income for the year of £2.112 was impacted in part by InC￿aSed remunerations for
authors and intervi8wers. Despite this we were able to hold our ticket price at £10 for the 11
consecutive year.
th
The company's reserves increased slightly to £81,807 in the year ended 31 December 2023.
In light of the recent challenging years. the Directors consider this to be an acceptable

position to maintain a full Festival and continue to support its educational projects. The
reserves continue to be at a level which we believe will enable us to plan for a full 2024
Festival, our 32nd, and to maintsin the increased educational spend.
PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT
The Festival programme offers a wide range of literary events catering for all ages and
interests. Ticket prices are set as low as is consistent with maintsining both quality and the
resources to fund free 'outreach' events in schools and other educational projects. The
competitions organised as part of the Festival stimulate interest in the written word and
promote literacy.
COMPANIES ACT 2006
This report is prepared in accordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the
Companies Act 2006
This report was approved by the Board on 2 July 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
RDJ Mannlng
Chairman

WELLS FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE LIMITED
COMPANY INFORMATION
For the Year Ended 31 December 2023
DIRECTORS
R D J Manning (Chairman)
HT Cain
A J Kolombos
SE Decamp
FM Rowe
D Wright
SECRETARY
R D J Manning
REGISTERED OFFICE
Tregantle
Milton Lane
Wells
Somerset
BA5 2QT
REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER
2827744 ( England and Vvales)
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER
1045654
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
M.Shelton
Wells

WELLS FESTIVAL OF UTERATURE LIMffeD
STATEMENT OF FINANCIALACTivmES (Incorporatlng t￿ Income arKI expendlluro arxountl
For tho Year Ended 31 Decomb•r 2023
A¢tual Accounts
A¢tual 2023
Uftro#trlet8d fvnd•
Actual 2022
Unre•trktsd ￿ndS
INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
FESTIVAL
Fosttval Tlcket Sale$
Festl¥al Olrert Costs
Speakers, fe8$ and ex￿n$85
Venue exp8n8es
Ti¢keting costs
Catering
54,782
58,477
19,7LIO
10,039
6,320
13,283
9.257
8,183
1,676
37,055
17,727
32,399
26,078
COMPETITIONS
Enty Fees
Prizes and ludging expenses
8,498
6,967
5.895
7,821
1,531
19,258
1,926
24.152
INCOME FROM OThER TRADING ACTIVITIES
Sponsorship
Frlends, M•mbetship$
Donations
Waterstone8 CommÉsslon
21,503
3.599
1,000
23,665
3.178
375
1,336
27,386
28,552
INVESTMENT INGQME
Bank Interest re¢elved
1,350
47.994
253
52.957
EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Marf(eting and PR
Printing
Committee Meeting Expenses
Bank Charges
9,162
9,174
895
153
11,345
515
17.872
35,085
Surplus before grant-makln8 artlvltles
28,810
Gross grants to Institutions- Educ8tional projects
Income from book sales
Net grant
30,785
4,087
27.167
26,e98
24.750
NEf INCOME
2.112
10.335
Totsl Funds Broughl Fonward
Not Income as above
Total Funds Carrled Forward
79,695
2,112
81.807
69.360
10,335
79.695

YIELLS FESTIVAL OF UTERAnJRE LIMITED
For tho Ymr £nd•d 31 DK•mb•r 2023
2023
2022
CURRENT A88ET8
Ca8h al Bank
Accnjed Income
81,073
80,143
82,357
80,143
CREDITOR3.'Amounts falllng
due wlihin one year
550
448
NET CURRENT A88ET$
81,807
79,695
TOTAL ASSETS LES8
CURRENT LIABIUTIE8
FUND8 OF CHARITY
Unresthcted fvnd8
79 695
In approvlng these finaneJal 8thlem￿ts ￿ dlrectOF8 we hereby confimi .'
l al for Ihg year 8tated above tho ￿MpanY wa• endtled to th8 exemptlon from audit confeff•d by
80Ctlon 477{21 of CompAnla$Ad 2008
{ b) that the m•mberJ have requlred the company lo obtaln an audll In a￿ordance wlth
ctlon 476 of the Compan188 Aet 2008
{ c) that we a<*nO￿0d9¢ our rn8pon$lblllllo8 for..
l) enwring that the company keeps ac¢ounllng r¢¢tyd8 %*thl¢h compty wtth 8ecllon 386 of
the Comp8nle8Acl 2006.
21 preparing finandal 8t8lemen18 whSch gSve a true and fair vlew of Ihg Slate of 4ffalr8 of the
1x)M￿nY 88 At the end of th flnanrAal year Ind of Its profll or loss for th8 year then ended In
accordance ¥￿th Ihe requlrements of 8ectlon8 394 and 395 of the Companl88Act 2006, 80 far
•8 4ppllcable to company.
These flnand8181atemenl8 have been prepared In accordanc¢ wth the provlslons 8ppllcAble to
compan1¢8 8ubfv¢t to the 8m811 companies reglme and In acurdance wl
FRS102 SORP.
Th• Ilrnn¢lal •tatsn*Dts worn approvod by th• on L
It• b•hfftlf by
and •lgn•d on
Mr RDJ M8nnlng
Chaiman

WELLS FESTIVAL OF LifERATURE LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For tho Year Endod 31 DeCem￿r 2023
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Accountlng convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historiGal cost convention, in
accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom
8nd Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Ststement of Recommended Pradice:
A¢counting and R8POrting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordanc8 With th8
Financial R8POrting Stsndard applicable in the UK and Republlc of Ireland (FRS102)
18sued on 18 July 2014.
Turnovor
Tumovgr represents net invoiced sales of 8eNiee8, exduding valu& add￿ tax.
Tanglble flxed a•80ts
Depreciation Is provided at the following annual rates in ordèr to wrlte off each asset over rts
estimated useful life..
Office Furnlture and Flttlng8
25% stralght Ilne
No new a888ts ware added In 2023, arKI th8 r•malnlng assets were fully written down In 2018.
Doferrod Tax
Deferred tsx 18 recogni8ed in resp9Gt of all timing differ8nc8S that have orlglnatsd but not
reversed at the balance 8heet date.
Incomo and Expondlturn
The accruals concept has been applled to the Income and expendlture
2. OPERATING PROFIT
The oper8tlng proftl 18 8tsted after charging:
2023
2022
Depredatlon - owned a8set8
Dlrectors emolum•nts and other b6n8fits
3. TAXATION
No liabllity to UK corporatlon tax ar08e on the activities of the Company for the y88r
ended 31 December 2022 nor for the year ended 31 December 2021.
No provision for d8forred taxation Is requlr8d as in the oplnlon of the directors there
are no material tlming diff8renc88 which are likely to reverse.
4. CREDITORS: AMOUNfJ FALLING DUE
THIN ONE YEAR
2023
2022
Trada creditors
550
448

Report to the Dlrectors and Trustees of Wells Festlval of Llterature Llmlted on the
Report and Flnancial Ststemonts for th• year ended 31 December 2023
Compary number.
2827744
Charlty number:
1045654
Ro8pectlv• r8spon8lbllltlo8 of trusts￿ and examlner
The trustees (who are also the dSr8ctors of the company for the purposes of company law) ar8
responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirement$ of the Companies
Act 2006.
The charity's trustees consider that an audit 18 not required for this year under Part 16 of the Companies
Act 2006 and that an independent examination is needed.
It 18 my rosponsibilty to:
examine th• aGcount8 under 3eGtion 145 of the Charitles Act 2011.
follow the procedure8 laid down in the general Directions given by the Charty Commisslon (undar
section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011, and
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Ba818 of Ind8pènd•nt oxamlner's stat•m•nt
My 8xamlnatlon was carrled out in accordance with general Direction8 given by th8 Charty
Commission. An 8xamination include8 a review of the aGGounting roGords kept by the charty and a
omparison of the accounts presented with those rocords. It 8180 include8 con8ideration of any unusual
items or disclosures in the 8ccount8, and seeking 8xp18natlons from the trustees concerning any such
matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audlt,
and consequently no opinion 18 givan 88 to whether the accounts pr888nt a 'true and fair, view and tha
report18 limited to those matters set out in the Statement below.
Indop•nd•nt examlnorf8 •tatom•nt
In connection with my •xamination, no matarial matters have come to my attention which give me cause
to believe that, in any material respect..
accounting records were not kept in accordance with 8ection 386 of the Compani88 Act 2006 . or
the accounts do not accord with Such record8,' or
tho accounts do not ¢omply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the
Companies Act 2006 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., or
tha accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102).
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wlth the examination to which
attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
reached.
30 June 2024
Date:........................
Mark Shelton FCA
Wells