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Charity registration number 1088890 (England and Wales)

Company registration number 3541037

SPREAD THE WORD

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees	A Felone (Co-Chair)
	Dr G Ralleigh
	A Yee
	S Richardson (Co-Chair)
Charity number (England and Wales)	1088890
Company number	3541037
Registered office	The Albany
	Douglas Way
	London
	SE8 4AG
Independent examiner	Frances Wilde FCCA DChA
	Warner Wilde Limited
	Chartered Certified Accountants
	4 Marigold Drive
	Bisley
	Surrey
	GU24 9SF
Bankers	Barclays Bank Plc
	463 - 465 Brixton Road
	London
	SW9 8HL

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	Page
Trustees' report	1 - 19
Independent examiner's report	20
Statement of financial activities	21 - 22
Balance sheet	23
Statement of cash flows	24
Notes to the financial statements	25 - 38

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Constitution

The company is incorporated under the Companies Act, company number 03541037 and its governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The company is a registered charity, number 1088890.

Directors and Trustees

The Directors of the charitable company (“the charity”) are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the Trustees.

As set out in the Articles of Association the Trustees may from time to time and at any time appoint any member of the company as a Trustee, either to fill a casual vacancy or by way of addition to their number, provided that the prescribed maximum be not thereby exceeded.

Any member so appointed shall retain his or her office only until the next Annual General Meeting when he or she will then be eligible for re-election. There shall not be more than three such appointments in any period between Annual General Meetings.

The Trustees serving during the year and since the year-end were:

A J Felone (Co-Chair) S Dodd (resigned 22/08/25) D Hill-Katso (resigned 11/07/25) Dr G Ralleigh J Sedgwick (resigned 02/10/25) S A A Ibitola (resigned 26/06/25) H Steed (resigned 26/06/25) A Yee S Richardson (Co-Chair)

Secretary

There is no registered Co. Secretary

Independent Examiner

Frances Wilde of Warner Wilde Limited, Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors Charity and Not for Profit Specialists. Registered in England No. 6923262. 4 Marigold Drive, Bisley, Surrey GU24 9SF Tel: 01483 488767

Bankers

Barclays Bank, Leicester, LE87 2BB

Registered office and operation address

The Albany, Douglas Way, London SE8 4AG.

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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 Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice for Smaller Entities published on 16 July 2014.

Principal Activity

The principal activity of the Company during the year continued to be the development of writers and their work and the engagement and development of new audiences to participate in and enjoy creative writing in all its forms.

Structure, Governance and Management

Spread the Word’s memorandum and Articles of Association govern the company. In the event of the Company being wound up, the liability of each member is £10.

The charity aims to recruit Trustees with a wide range of business and sector experience from which the charity will benefit. Quorum is set at three with no more than twelve Trustees allowed at any time.

Quarterly Board meetings were held over the year. Sub-committees are convened by the Board as needs to provide governance oversight of strategic areas of work. Board and Staff Away Days take place on a regular basis to develop organisational strategy.

New Trustees are recruited as additional skills become needed in line with the strategic objectives of the company or as trustees resign. New Trustees are provided with a board induction pack that includes information about their responsibilities, a welcome letter from the Director and Chair, Articles and Memorandum of Association and the most recent Audited Financial Statements.

Trustees are encouraged to read Charity Commission and other newsletters and attend training courses designed to keep them abreast of their duties and responsibilities. Board appraisals take place once a year.

The Trustees delegate the day-to-day management of the charity to the Director who reports directly to and is line managed by the Co-Chairs of the Board.

Objectives and Activities for the Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

Summary

In 2024-25, Spread the Word continued to build on the work of the previous year as we celebrated our 30[th] Anniversary, with the security of continued funding from Arts Council England (ACE) as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO).

During 2024-25, Trustees and staff worked to deliver a programme of activities which deliver on our vision, mission and values and on the outcomes in our Theory of Change:

Writers have time, space and money to produce quality work and live as a writer.
Readers and audiences experience a greater range of writing produced by London’s writers.
● More diverse writers are published by mainstream publishing houses.

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Our strategic programmes of activity focused on changing the stories we get to read and hear including the re- launch of the UK’s most successful development programme the London Writers Awards for writers from communities underrepresented in publishing alongside the return of the Wellcome Collection NonFiction Awards for Black, Asian, Global Majority and deaf and disabled early stage non-fiction writers.

We continued to celebrate creativity, community and place whilst developing infrastructure and audiences for literature through the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival and launching the campaign to make our home Borough, Lewisham, the UK’s first Borough of Literature. Our community work in Lewisham continued to engage young people with creativity, words and stories, through our Young Writers Collective , and with Caribbean Elders through the Talk di Tings Dem project in partnership with Entelechy Arts.

As we started 30[th] Anniversary celebrations, we commissioned new work from deaf and disabled and emerging London writers.

We continue supporting talent development through craft and career opportunities for writers through delivering a regular programme of workshops, masterclasses and courses, and our membership scheme the London Writers Network. In addition, staff provided 1-2-1 support and development for individual writers through professional development sessions, and assistance with grant applications.

We continue to work in partnership to extend our offer to London’s writers with a focus on engaging writers from underrepresented communities in publishing. Our partnership work included delivering the Free Reads scheme with The Literary Consultancy and Commercial Publishing 101 with Little, Brown Book Group.

In partnership with CRIPtic Arts we continue to create community for deaf and disabled writers and advocate for change through running the CRIPtic x Spread the Word Salons and the UK’s first Disabled Poets Prize.

The profile of Spread the Word continues to be high and positively perceived. The dedicated and specialist staff provide outstanding development services for writers, with a friendly and ‘open door’ ethos.

Activity detail

In this report we highlight some of the activity that is contributing to us achieving our outcomes, including strategic programmes of activity such as the London Writers Awards, the Lewisham Borough of Literature campaign and the Deptford Literature Festival.

Our priorities continue to be to provide opportunities for writers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to develop their craft and career and to support creativity, wellbeing and connection.

We continue to maintain a portfolio of projects providing opportunities for members of the public to experience and engage with new writing as audiences and as participants and reflective of our commitment to opening up access and bringing about systemic change in the publishing industry.

During 2024-25 we continued to work to ensure we reach audiences traditionally facing barriers to arts participation and to increase engagement with the least engaged through providing targeted free, lowcost and accessible activities.

Working in partnership remained key to us during 2024-25 to not only open up opportunities for writers but also to reach and engage with new audiences and those least engaged. During 2024-25, we partnered with 45 organisations including, amongst others: Little, Brown Book Group, Speaking Volumes, Society of Authors, Poetry in Translation Centre, Earth Tenders, Fuse Theatre, Vietnamese Family

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Partnership, Fitzcarraldo Editions, Transworld, Coco Collective, Heart N Soul, Tidemill Arabic School and Apples & Snakes.

Our total audience for 2024-25 was 902,194 with 10,872 engaging directly with our workshops, masterclasses and events, 2,394 submitting to prizes / opportunities, 2,000 engaging directly with digital content (blogs, vlogs, podcasts), 3,726 engaging directly with our publications, and 1,514 children and young people engaging directly with our work via projects, workshops and events. Our total online audience was 887,658 with 197,360 engaging directly with our online marketing activities.

Supporting talent development through craft and career opportunities Regular programme of activities

We continued to run our regular programme of activities online, focused on providing talent development through craft and career opportunities, giving writers the time, space and money to produce quality work, and access paid for opportunities. The majority of our programme was free, with bursary places being offered if paid for.

We delivered over 35 workshops, masterclasses and courses alongside submission opportunities engaging an audience of over 3,216 including, amongst others:

We ran a new programme – The Basics – a series of free online workshops for early stage fiction writers who had just started or were planning to write a full length novel. The workshops covered the key elements of developing characters, developing an idea, plot and structure, voice and self-editing; delivered by authors Pam Williams, Santanu Bhattacharya, Han Smith, and Cecile Pin and editor Ana Fletcher. Followed by an in person The Basics Day with writers Tom Newlands, Paige Cowan-Hall and Alex Falase-Koya delivering sessions covering the three essential components of writing engaging fiction: dialogue, openings and world building. There was also a panel discussion and Q&A to learn more about developing as a writer, finding an agent and having a portfolio career. 386 early stage writings participated across the programme.

We ran 3 London Writers Network events supporting writers’ career development to an audience of 281: Commercial Publishing 101 with Little, Brown Book Group, From Pitch to Publication with C&W Literary Agency and Meet the Editors event with Transworld.

We commissioned 5 blog posts from writers including, amongst others: Non-Fiction on Health and Being Human by Fran Barrie and Ellen Johl of Wellcome Foundation, Love Re-imagined by Sara Jarari, Other Worlds Re-Imagined by Alex Falase-Koya and My Experience of a Free Read by Emma Lindsey. Our blog posts and resources engaged nearly 2,000 directly.

We gave 92 in-depth 1-2-1 development sessions to writers and organisations, 90 of which were offered for free. We ran 2 agent opportunities with Frog Literary and Little, Brown Book Group, receiving 93 submissions with 24 writers from underrepresented backgrounds going on to benefit from editorial feedback on their writing projects.

We were a partner on the Brick Lane Short Story Prize, which received 1,035 submissions, offering development support to writers.

Our partnership with The Literary Consultancy which provides manuscript assessments and feedback to writers on low incomes continues. 28 submissions received. 5 writers referred for Free Reads, total bursary value £2,500 with all 5 receiving a Free Read.

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Supporting writers to continue working

London’s writers and organisations continued to be impacted by the loss of their means of earning a living or generating income due to the cost of living crisis and the on-going impacts of Covid-19. During 202425, we helped raise a total of over £108,936 in funding for writers.

We ran 4 free Getting Funding sessions with 138 engaged and supported 9 successful applications to Arts Council England ’s Developing Your Creative Practice funding through advice and letters of leveraging £97,822 for London writers.

Developing Tutors: a paid opportunity for writers with little or no experience of workshop design and facilitation to develop and run a workshop and get feedback. Six alumni participated, Nadia Attia, Joe Rizzo-Naudi, Lorraine Lui, Tomek Mossakowski, William Andrews and Alex Blank with 99 workshop participants (from 142 sign ups).

We continued to support poets and organisations to develop and engage audiences with their projects, including: Jet Moon’s You Are Here survivor writers project.

We continued to support writers and reach audiences through commissioning and paid opportunities, including: 30[th] Anniversary Deaf Disabled Writer Commissions and 30[th] Anniversary Emerging Writer Commissions. The value of our commissioning of writers over the year was £18,610.

We engaged 249 artists, creative practitioners and freelancers during 2024-25 in paid employment, of which: 48% were Black, Asian or global majority; 35% LGBTQI+, 21% deaf and disabled and 24% neurodivergent.

We routinely collect feedback and monitoring forms which shows us that the audience for our regular – programme of activity is diverse 38% of our participants being Black, Asian and Global Majority; 37% LGBTQI+; 28% working class and 34% deaf and/or disabled and 28% neurodivergent. The majority of people engaging are under 49 years of age (64%), with 25% of people aged between 18-34.

Our audiences also enjoy and value what we do: 94% rated our tutor preparation excellent or very good; 91% rated the structure of our courses/ workshops excellent or very good and 89% strongly agreed or agreed that they feel motivated to keep improving as a writer.

From participants in our 2024-25 programme:

“Without Spread the Word I would not have the time or confidence to develop my writing practice. It has been transformational.”

“Spread the Word helped me plot out the shape of the mountain I need to climb to achieve my dreams. I've attended their activities over the past 10 years, and they are instrumental to me both working in publishing and becoming a professional writer.”

“As a person with disabilities, I love the fact that your courses are online so that I can have access to them.”

“I look forward to the Spread the Word events. I have no money but I want to be a writer and I need to learn so these events you do mean the world to me.”

“As a writer of colour with hidden disabilities and reliance on benefits for income these events and opportunities with bursary places are vital to people like me. There are so many events or courses I’d like to attend to work on my writing which aren’t possible due to finances and it’s very isolating and

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

overwhelming at times. The day I attended the workshop I was losing faith in myself as a writer and thinking I should focus my limited energies on something else and this workshop gave me hope. I felt part of the writing community and I want to remain in i t.”

Creating community for deaf and disabled writers and advocating for change

During 2024-25 we continued our partnership with CRIPtic Arts to offer creative writing opportunities for deaf and disabled writers from across the UK. Our partnership work is focused on creating community, amplifying the work of deaf and disabled writers, providing paid work for deaf and disabled writers, and advocating for the urgent change needed within the literature and publishing sectors to provide accessible spaces, development and commissioning opportunities for deaf and disabled writers.

CRIPtic x Spread the Word Salon - building community spaces

We continued to run the CRIPtic Arts x Spread the Word Salon. A free, online space for deaf and disabled writers which takes place across the year. Each Salon was led by a guest artist and included a workshop, followed by a reading and sharing spots for the community to share their work.

Guest artists during 2024-25 included, amongst others: Cathy Reay on getting a book deal, Peyvand Sadeghian on personal archives: fragments to form, Elspeth Wilson on exploring unreliable narration, Marchella Rick on embracing regionalism and divergence in our characters’ voices and Simi Roach on how to write and perform spoken word. Over 455 deaf and disabled writers participated in and attended the 10 Salons ’ workshops and readings, with over 34 writers sharing their work at the open mics.

Disabled Poets Prize 2025 - amplifying the work of deaf and disabled poets ‘The Prize is such an important and necessary part of a poetry ecosystem in which far too many barriers to equality of access and opportunity are perpetuated. The support, perspective, expertise, and community of other disabled writers has been invaluable to me as a writer and a person.’ Polly Aitken, 2025 judge

Founded in 2023 by Jamie Hale, the UK’s first Disabled Poets Prize is a collaboration with CRIPtic Arts and Verve Poetry Press. The Prize looks to find the best work created by UK based disabled poets, in written English.

Deaf and disabled poets face significant barriers to developing their careers. The Prize brings the work of the winning writers to new prominence, focusing attention on the exceptional work being produced by deaf and disabled writers. The judges for the 2025 Prize were Polly Aitken, Kharani Barroka and Jamie Hale.

– Deaf and disabled poets were able to submit to two categories best single poem and best unpublished pamphlet with over 290 submissions being received. In both categories, there was a first place prize (£500), second prize (£250), third place prize (£100), and three highly commended entries (£50).

To support poets in preparing their submissions to the 2025 Prize, two workshops were run, led by the 2024 Prize winners: Susie Wilson on Putting Good Pamphlets together and Editing Your Poems by Gayathiri Kamalanthan with over 65 participating in total.

“Finding a place where disability is accepted, celebrated and authentically shared is a first for me in the online writing community world. I have attended online course with various organisations over the past five years and I have never felt as comfortab le as in Susie’s workshop where her open and genuine style made me feel able to participate as my true self. Thank you for reducing the invisibility of disabled writers and acknowledging the existence of specific challenges through these workshops.” Participant in Susie Wilson’s workshop

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Prize offered significant professional development opportunities for the winning and shortlisted writers, including a publication deal with Verve Poetry Press for the best unpublished pamphlet as well as development prizes from CRIPtic Arts, Spread the Word, The Literary Consultancy and Arvon Foundation.

The announcement of the Prize winners took place as part of the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival on Saturday 29 March 2025 engaging an audience of over 150.

The 2025 winning poem for best single poem ‘ to whom/ it may/ concern ’ by Oli Isaac: ‘ This Prize is a source of immense pride and gratitude. To now be at a stage in my writing career where the work is – recognised with an award remains surreal but also profoundly meaningful on a personal level. This poem, at its core, is about communication and its difficulties. I am endlessly grateful for opportunities like this that allow me to cross that gap and connect to others with my words.”

The winner of best unpublished pamphlet was Rue Collinge for ‘ No Where Near As Safe As a Snake In Bed ’, which will be published in Autumn 20 25 by Verve Poetry Press: ‘ The last few years have been increasingly housebound and filled with dragons of every size and shape. Life became small. Writing went to the bottom with my complicated health and daily life taking priority. It is deeply affirming to be selected as one of the winners. It gives me hope that my writing has impact. ”

The 2025 Prize is funded by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and supported by The Literary Consultancy, Arvon Foundation and Verve Poetry Press.

30[th] Anniversary Commissions

To mark the start of the celebrations of our 30th Anniversary in 2025, we commissioned a series of new writing for London-based writers, providing a developmental and profile-raising opportunity.

Each programme offered mentoring and support to the commissioned writers to develop their work, as well as career development opportunities. The commissioned work was showcased at two events as part of the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival and published in the Festival Anthology, with the writers taking part in a panel discussion event at the Festival about their work, creativity and the process of being commissioned.

Emerging Writer Commissions

The 30[th] Anniversary Emerging Writer Commissions aimed to showcase new work by three London-based unagented and unpublished writers of fiction, non-fiction or poetry from underrepresented backgrounds. One of the commissions was for an early stage writer living in our home borough of Lewisham. The commissions’ open call received 109 submissions and were judged by Olumide Popoola and Joelle Taylor.

The commissioned writers – Giselle Cory for Last Orders , Eliezer Gore for Last Orders and Naomi Walsh for To Ears and Tongues – received a commission fee and developmental support including mentoring from Jarred McGinnis, Vanessa Kisuule and Ruby Cowling.

“I can’t believe someone is commissioning me to write! This will be my first commission and publication, and it feels really good to be engaged as a writer in this way. I hope that being on the programme will help me better situate myself as a writer, build my confidence and most importantly, produce some work I’m proud of.” Giselle Cory, Commissioned Writer

The Emerging Writer Commissions were supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts and the London Community Foundation.

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Deaf and Disabled Writer Commissions

“The opportunity comes at a time when I’ve had to rethink my practice in relation to an exacerbation in my disability and being signed off on long- term sick leave. It also marks the first time I’ve had dedicated professional development support around my writing. Doing so with the support and collaboration of disabled writers who inherently understand the unique barriers of living and working in an ableist world, means I feel uniquely understood and encouraged to find my way back to the process of writing, a form I’ve always returned to in order to better understand myself and my place in the world.” Jamila Prowse, Commissioned Writer

The 30[th] Anniversary Deaf and Disabled Writer Commissions aimed to showcase new work by three London-based disabled writers of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, or writing for performance. The commissions’ open call received 50 applications where were judged by Ayesha Chouglay and Joe Rizzo Naudi.

The commissioned writers – Oli Isaac for Accepting Dirt as Tenderness , Jamila Prowse for Flare: the muted outline of a body in bed as a camera flash overtakes the scene and Ellie Spirrett for To my Aunty – Beryl who didn’t speak at first received a commission fee, an activation budget and developmental support including mentoring from Alycia Pirmohamed, Abi Palmer and Tobi Campion.

“I’ve never done anything like this before so I’m excited, nervous and proud. It’s great to be working somewhere where my disability is recognised and celebrated as part of what makes me me. I’m so excited to see where this takes me next as a writer. ” Ellie Spirrett, Commissioned Writer.

Strategic programmes of activity

During 2024-25 Spread the Word our strategic programmes of activity included the Lewisham, Borough of Literature Campaign and Deptford Literature Festival, and the return of London Writers Awards and Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards

Changing the stories we get to read, see and hear London Writers Awards

London Writers Awards aims to increase the number of writers from underrepresented communities being taken up by agents and publishers. It is a 10 month programme of critical feedback groups, craft and career masterclasses, one-to-one feedback and professional development. The Awards are free to participate in with bursaries for writers on a low-income and an Access Fund for disabled writers.

The first iteration of the programme ran from 2018 to 2022 and supported 120 writers of literary, commercial, children’s/Y A fiction and narrative non-fiction. The second iteration of the programme for writers of literary, commercial and children’s/YA fiction is running annuallyfrom 2025 to 2027 supported through philanthropic donation by Sam and Rosie Berwick.

It has become the most successful writer development scheme in the UK with, at March 2025, 51 alumni agented and over 63 book deals. Alumni of the programme include, amongst others: Natasha Brown, Oisín McKenna, Tice Cin, Pam Williams, Santanu Bhattachaya, Tom Newlands, Cecile Pin, Emma Lowther, Tomek Massakowski, Han Smith, Lui Sit. Almuni have been, amongst others, shortlisted for the Goldsmiths Prize and Dylan Thomas Prize and longlisted for the Booker Prize and David Cohen Prize,

The 2025 Awards ’ Judges were: Author judges: Nilesha Chauvet, Oisín McKenna, Jyoti Patel and Tolá Okogwu

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Industry judges: Cara Lee Simpson (Susanna Lea Associates), Emma Leong (Janklow and Nesbit), Lorna Hemingway (Bell Lomax Moreton) and Oli Munson (AM Heath)

The 2025 Awards programme opened for submission in October 2024 with 144 submissions received and 24 writers selected: Literary fiction: Judah Abraham-Silas, Maddy Accalia, Swithun Cooper, J. Lian Ho, Meher Iqbal, Sophia Khan, V. Matsumari, Jose Ignacio Narciso, Laila Obeidat, Lishani Ramanayake, Susie Thornberry, Sukie Wilson Commercial fiction: Emily D. Bean, L.A. Chase, Ally Coker, Daniel Culpan, Nic Falvo, Nkenna Ndujiuba Children’s/ YA fiction: Damisi Adetola, Noel Emerald, Coggin Galbreath, Victoria Ibbett, Shivanthi Sathanandan, Rukiya Shanthi

The programme runs from February 2025 through to November 2025. Starting with a Writerslab featuring: a keynote from alum and bestselling author Oisìn McKenna, and sessions on what is London Writers Awards with Nadėge Ren é, Emma Lowther, Mayo Agard-Olub and How I started Out with Tola Okogwu, following by feedback group induction sessions with facilitators: Christina Carè, Saima Mir, Alex FalasaKoya and Ella King.

“As an alumnus of the programme, I can say with certainty that it’s a career -changing experience. It can make a life and career in writing imaginable and tangible, where before it may have felt remote, nebulous, and difficult to reach, giving participants permission to handle their own work with confidence and seriousness.” Oisìn McKenna, 2025 Judge

Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards

Following a successful pilot programme run in 2022 that supported six writers with four agented and two book deals, the Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards returned with the aim to find and support six writers from underrepresented groups who have a big idea for a non-fiction book for general readers, that engages with the themes of health and being human.

The programme offers each writer a £2,00 bursary, mentoring with an author, five masterclasses on writing on-fiction, insight and industry days and the opportunity to meet with agents. In addition, the is a public programme of masterclasses and panel events to offer a wider range of support to aspiring nonfiction writers.

Each writer is also offered one-to- one sessions with Wellcome Collection’s publishing team, research specialists and editorial teams , alongside access to Wellcome Collection’s Library. The Awards opened for submissions in October 2025 to Black, Asian, Global majority and deaf and disabled early stage non-fiction writers from across the UK, 373 submissions were received. The judges were award-winning science journalist and author, Angela Saini and novelist and poet, Daisy Lafarge.

The awarded writers and their projects were:

Ammad Butt, The Internatioanl Health Service
Jordan Whitewood-Neal, Disability, Space, and Citizenship
Lindsey Allen, Fallow
Ricky Nathvani, Street Life: The Science of Health Outside Your Front Door
• Shema Tariq, Speculum: a history of women’s bodies through one object • Yemisi Bokinni, Finding Medicine: Untold stories of healing plants the scientists in search of them

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The programme launch event took place in person at Wellcome Colelction in March 2025 with opening remarks from Francesca Barrie, publisher, a library rour with Rebecca Bryant and workshop on writing a non-fiction proposal by Claire Lynch. The programme runs through to November 2025.

“I’m still pinching myself that I’ve been selected for this programme to be honest [...] As a racially minoritised woman, the publishing world has nvever felt accessible to me. Thank you Wellcome and Spread the Word for breaking do wn some of those barriers.” Shema Tariq, 2025 Awardee

Celebrating community, creativity and place Lewisham, Borough of Literature Campaign

During 2024-25 we launched our big bold vision to see our home borough Lewisham declared as the UK’s first Borough of Literature. Lewisham is a Borough rich with word-related creative activities and home to some of London’s best new writers and famous authors and many charities working with words, stories and poetry, and many more that include creative writing, publishing, spoken word and other art forms like film-making and music.

The Borough of Literature aims to open up opportunities, build community connections, and grow infrastructure and audiences for literature, through:

Giving our Borough recognition;
Driving funding towards word-related activities in the area;
Giving existing and new writers more opportunities to share their work and reach a bigger audience;
Giving more children and young people the opportunity to explore what it means to be a writer;
Giving more communities the opportunity to develop their creativity.

We started a programme of community consultation including running public meetings at the Albany in Deptford, The Fellowship Inn in Bellingham, with Lewisham Education and Arts Network and at the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival, with local communities like schools, writers and creatives, businesses, charities, community, groups to find out: what would a Borough of Literature mean to you? And why is it important for Lewisham? How would they like to get involved?

We also set up several surveys to make sure that we were speaking to and hearing from the broadest range of local residents and started mapping the literature activity in the Borough. We ran a programme of new commission work by Lewisham writers and continued community-based work across the Borough.

We ran an open call to recruit people who live or work in Lewisham and are passionate about the Borough, its residents and the power of stories to make a difference to communities, to join the campaign’s Advisory Group. We received 25 applications and 11 people were confirmed:

Serena deCordova - a spiring children’s author, primary school teacher and consultant ,
Dr Michael Eades - Head of Civic Engagement at Goldsmiths, University of London,
Karla Edwards - English consultant with a decade of primary teaching experience, primarily in Lewisham schools,
Aimée Felone - Founder of Knights of publishers and Round Table Books and Chair of Advisory Group,
Nadine Grandison Mills - legally trained and working on the first book in her dark/epic fantasy series,
Jamie Hale - award-winning poet, director and facilitator and founder of CRIPtic Arts,

10 -

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Cllr Edison Hyunh - lifelong resident of Lewisham and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People,
Lucy Macnab - co-leads Forward Arts Foundation, advancing poetry audiences and talent in the UK,
Jacob Sam-La Rose - celebrated poet, editor and educator,
Ellie Spirritt - p oet and member of the Young Writer’s collective and self -advocacy coordinator at Lewisham Speaking Up,
Becka White - lives in Lewisham and works as a researcher and campaigner at Amnesty International.

The Advisory Group’s purpose is to help inform the Borough of Literature programme, support the development of a funding bid and champion the campaign across Lewisham’s communities.

Lewisham, Borough of Literature Commissions

We ran a Borough of Literature Commissioning programme which aimed to showcase and celebrate new work by four Lewisham-based writers of poetry, fiction (short stories), or spoken word responding to the theme of To All the Places I Have Read.

We were seeking writers to create an evocative poem or short story inspired by the unique stories and atmospheres found within Lewisham’s local green spaces, cafes, libraries, community spaces and restaurants; with the work reflecting the diverse experiences and voices of our community, capturing the essence of these gathering spaces and their significance in daily life; highlighting common threads of community, connection and the power of stories.

The commissioned writers were:

Erica Hesketh for two poems: Reading a Room of One’s Own on park benches and Musings
• Fathima Zahra for two poems: Crofton Books and On the 172 and back
Amii Griffith for two poems: 208 from Lewisham Station to Orpington and Ode to a Bordertown
• Tutku Barbaros for a short story: Sauce, Sprinkles and A Flake Please Boss

The commissions offered a fee and editorial support to the writers to develop their work, as well as career development opportunities. The commissioned work was showcased at as part of the Borough of Literature event at the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival and published in the Festival Anthology, with the writers taking part in a panel discussion about their work, creativity, and being a writer in Lewisham.

Lewisham, Borough of Literature community projects Lewisham Writes

Lewisham Writes are our regular relaxed creative writing workshops which are free to participate in and require no experience. They take place across the year, are led by local writers and run in partnership with Lewisham Libraries. Lewisham Writes aims to open up access to creative writing to communities across Lewisham, particularly in areas which have low level provision of and engagement with the arts, provide a paid opportunity for local writers and support building connections and writing communities.

During 2024-25 we ran three sets of Lewisham Writes with each also providing the space for participants to share their work. The first set of six workshops at Catford Library was with the writer Carinya Sharples which explored place and wellbeing; the second set at Downham Library with the writer Amber Obasi

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which invited participants to explore deep listening and the sounds around us and the third set was the – poet Helen Bowell touring Lewisham libraries Grove Park, Forest Hill, Catford and Corbett with the final – session taking place Deptford Lounge as part of the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival exploring what ‘community’ means to us . Across the year XXX people participated in Lewisham Writes.

“Attending this workshop has given me a boost to write poems at home again. I have written a few since attending I appreciate the books that were available to see different poetry & authors, on the table. Interesting when discussing what we read, or what we watched different interpretations of what we read or listened to. Gained so much more than me wanting to find a different style of writing for myself.” Lewisham Writes participant

“I attended a brilliant workshop. Very excited to attend the following sessions. I wrote in a focused way, great space to share if we wanted to. Felt among friends, the group facilitator made it a safe space, we did not all have to agree, we were free to s hare different opinions. Location, great for me.” Lewisham Writes participant

Unheard Histories and Untold Stories: Talk di Tings Dem

Run in partnership with the Albany and Entelechy Arts, the Talk di Tings Dem project celebrated the voices and stories of Caribbean elders from the Meet Me community. Over the course of eight weeks, poets Courtney Conrad and Lola Oh led workshops with eight Elders where they explored themes such as family, race, faith, migration, and culture, opening up the space for these unheard voices to share their experiences and be creative. The Elders’ work was produced in a printed and online anthology ‘ Talk di Tings Dem ’ which was distributed at Deptford Literature Festival, across Lewisham Libraries and Caribbean voluntary organisations in Lewisham. The Elders shared their work at an anthology launch event in the Albany Cafe to an audience of over 40.

“The depth and richness of the discussions and creative expressions that have emerged are a testament to the profound impact of giving space for these voices to be heard. The poems in this anthology are a mosaic contributing to the collective tale of a resilient and vibrant community.” Courtney Conrad and Lola Oh, from the anthology preface

Unheard Histories and Untold Stories: Sole Sisters

Run in partnership with South London and Maudsley (SLaM) Recovery College and Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network, the Sole Sisters project aimed to provide a safe, comfortable space for local women – particularly those who are currently seeking asylum - to help improve their wellbeing through creating community and arts. Over six sessions with the writer Carinya Sharples, the five participants explored our journeys and the footprints or impressions we have left and want to leave on the world. The drawings, paintings and stories created during the sessions went on to be exhibited at Deptford Lounge as part of the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival.

“Honestly, taking part of this project is really good to me, I feel relaxed and think well. Also with people in the project did amazing by bringing new life in me.” Project participant

“I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in this project and the company was lovely, sharing food, ideas, doing things as a group left me feeling refreshed.” Project participant

The Unheard Histories and Untold Stories projects Talk di Tings Dem and Sole Sisters were both supported by the National Lottery Awards for All.

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Young Writers Collective

There is a lack of opportunities for young writers and poets to take forward their creative careers in South East London. During 2024-25 we ran the second iteration of our Young Writers Collective which aimed to engage young people aged 18-25 from Lewisham, Bromley, Greenwich or Southwark who:

Were interested in creating poetry, spoken word or stories
Were just starting out, or are already being creative with words and performance
Wanted to get their voices heard about issues that matter to them

32 applications were received to be part of the Collective with 20 young people selected, 50% from Lewisham. The lead facilitator across the 21 sessions was Tolu Agbelusi. Award winning guest tutors included Malika Booker, Anthony Anaxagorou, Rachael Allen and Caroline Bird. Through a partnership with Speaking Volumes, the young people got the opportunity to attend the Complete Works’ Mapping the Future event at British Library for free and receive a copy of the Mapping the Future anthology published by Bloodaxe Books.

15 young people participated on average across the sessions (315 participation opportunities in total) and 15 young people submitted their work for professional feedback. The young people co-created their event at the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival with 10 reading or performing their work to an audience of 45.

They also had the opportunity to have their work published in the Young Writers Collective Anthology which was made available online as well as 1000 copies being printed and distributed at the Festival, across libraries in Lewisham as well as youth organisations.

Through taking part young people were able to build a creative and supportive community; learn new techniques to improve their poetry, writing and performance skills, become more confident in their voice as a poet, writer or spoken word artist, make connections, work with professional writers and get an insight into having a creative career.

The Young Writers Collective was free to participate in with a bursary fund for young people who needed support for travel or data and an access fund to make reasonable adjustments. Food and refreshments were provided at each of the in person sessions.

Before being part of the programme, 64% of the participating young people had never performed their own poetry and 73% had not had their work published. 82% said being part of the Collective had helped them to improve their craft through feedback and 73% said it had pushed them to write more regularly. At the beginning of the Collective 45% said they were very or somewhat confident in their writing ability, by the end, 78% felt very or somewhat confident.

Feedback from young people participating in the programme shows that they enjoyed: “The supportive nature that I feel confident to give and answer even if it’s wrong. How everyone is so supportive and how I feel comfortable talking and being myself which is difficult for me and also that now I can actually believe I can make something of myself writing whether that’s poetry or something else I have a lot more confidence. I don’t think there is really anything else like it out there…Oh and the free pizza as well.”

“Being in a welcoming, non -judgemental community that encourages me to read and write weekly, as well as allowing me to experiment with my ideas.”

“I’ve found it incredibly inspiring to be surrounded by people that love to write and that encourage you to keep writing and reading different writers and styles. It’s a beautiful community with a lot of interesting

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people. I’ve enjoyed learning about different poets and the meanings behind their poems and writing styles.”

Deptford Literature Festival - growing audiences for literature

“Fantastic initiative - I love that it encourages the community into the library to keep the libraries vibrant and used. More please!”
“Fantastic opportunity to expand the minds of our kids - make it all feel possible.”
```
 - _“Great event, delighted to have talks like this in the local area.”_
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“Keep going! This is a splendid F estival and a vital resource for the community.”
“SUCH a fantastic Festival full of really high quality, specific, useful and enjoyable events, which is diverse in its talent and deep in its expertise shared.”
- “Exciting F estival that's truly local and genuinely supports excellence.”

Taking place in Spread the Word’s home borough of Lewisham, the annual Deptford Literature Festival celebrates the diversity and creativity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance.

The 2025 Deptford Literature Festival took place from Thursday 27 March through to Sunday 30 March, with the launch event on Friday 28 March 2025, and the main Festival day on Saturday 29 March 2025. The Festival invited audiences to explore what literature means to us today in Deptford and Lewisham. The programme featured workshops, talks, walks and performances, including ways to get involved from home, and with the Lewisham, Borough of Literature campaign. The Festival also commissioned an independent Environmental Impact Report.

The 2025 Festival reached 7,656 people. 25 accessible live literature events, 16 public workshops, 98 participation sessions, 9 children’s and young people’s events, , 3 online events, as well as 6 online recordings 12 community projects, 11 new writing commissions, self-led walking tour with new placebased poetry commission, 6 events by local artists via open call, online at-home resource pack, exhibition featuring work by local elders, and Festival marketplace for local publishers and booksellers. The majority of the events were free and BSL interpreted. Footfall at Deptford Lounge, the Festival Hub, was 1,668 on the day.

The headline Festival commissions and events included:

Launch event Lewisham Lyricists curated by Emma Watson celebrating Lewisham’s rich history of MCs and poets featuring sets by 9 artists, including: Cecil B, No Hats No Hoods, Belinda Zhawi, Lezlee Lyrix.
South London Storytellers: From Page to Stage + Screen with Caleb Azumah Nelson, Nathan Bryon, Yolanda Mercy, hosted by Natty Kasambala
Moving Words: Dance + Poetry with Oluwaseun Olayiwola, Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa and Maria Ferguson in partnership with Fitzcarraldo Editions
Chapters: Authors in Conversation with Irenosen Okojie, Santanu Bhattacharya and Sara Jafari
Meet the Agents with Davinia Andrew-Lunch, Emma Leong and Emma Bal
Celebrating Lewisham through the Borough of Literature: featuring new commissions by Lewisham writers Tuktu Barbaros, Erica Hesketh, Fathima Zahra and Amii Griffiths on the theme of ‘To All the Places I Have Read’

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30[th] Anniversary Emerging Writer Commissions with Giselle Cory, Eliezer Gore and Naomi Walsh, hosted by Joelle Taylor and Olumide Popoola.
30[th] Anniversary Deaf and Disabled Writers Commissions with Oli Isaac, Jamila Prowse and Ellie Spirrett, hosted by Joseph Rizzo Naudi and Ayesha Chouglay
Sky Breaks: A Walk with Amber Obasi and Aí Tung, an interactive audio walk/ performance writing produced in collaboration with Deptford residents exploring the power of public breaks and day dreaming at benches, bus-stops, low walls as processes in the creation of change
Young Writers Collective Sharing event featuring young creatives from Lewisham, Bromley, Greenwich and Southwark performing and reading from their anthology;
Celebrating Lewisham through the Borough of Literature:
A Night in Sign with Fuse Theatre shining a spotlight on the UK’s established and up-and-coming Deaf and hard of hearing artists with Chris Fonseca, Zoë McWhinney, Rhiannon May and Sarah Adedeji, hosted by Nadeem Islam
Disabled Poets Prize 2025 announcement of winners with Jamie Hale, Polly Atkin and Khairani Barokka.

The 2025 Festival had opening and closing events engaging over 450 attendees, included: Lewisham Libraries Celebrate Local Writers with Lewisham Multicultural Writers’ Group, Torridon Writers and Forest Hill Stanza and Poetry in the Library with Jacob Sam-La Rose and Ella Frears in partnership with Lewisham Libraries and Conversations on Kindness with Bernadette Russell and family show The Littlest Yak with LASTheatre both in partnership with the Albany.

All the Festival workshops were open to writers with different levels of experience — from regular writers to complete beginners, including: Voice and Versatility with Karen McCarthy Woolf, The Character of Voice with Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Plants as Resistance with Alexandra Yellop and Idman Abdurahaman from Earth Tenders, How to be Held: A Writing Workshop on Queer Tenderness with Annie Hayter,

The Festival ran a day-long programme of family and children’s events : Drawing Animals as Characters with Rikin Parekh, Making Graphic Novels with Vivian Truong, African and Caribbean Folktales with Wendy Shearer and Instruments from Around the World with Nate Holder.

We ran a community commissions callout to local artists and community and arts organisations to submit their ideas for activity to take place on the Festival day, with XX submissions received and 14 local artists and 4 organisations selected, including: Lewisham Fantastical: A Guided Walk curated by David Turnball, Bind Your Own Poetry Book with Lucy Hayhoe and Gayathiri Kamalaknthan, Granny Mermaid with IRIE! Dance Theatre and Goldsmiths, University of London’s Centre for Caribbean and Diaspora Studies, Meet Your Future Favourite Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors event with MH Ayinde, Marve Anson, Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson and Tasha Suri curated by Future Worlds Prize, Translated Literature and Zine Making with Hidden Keileon, interactive comedy chat show Literary Love Match with Rosie Wilby and Robyn Perkins.

The Festival Anthology featuring the new work produced through the 30[th] Anniversary Emerging Writer, 30[th] Anniversary Deaf and Disabled writer and Borough of Literature commissions was published and distributed for free at the Festival and made available online.

The Festival at home pack from Festival writers Karen McCarthy Woolf, Jamie Hale, Annie Hayter and Lucy Hyhoe and Gayathiri Kamalakanthan was made available online.

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In addition to its public programme, the Festival delivered community engagement projects:

Words and Craft sessions with Entelechy Arts’ Meet Me at the Albany elders (over 90 pariticipants) with local artists Laurie Bolger and Barbara Majek and an on the day Festival workshop, with the elders’ work going on to be exhibited at Deptford Lounge from the Festival day for two weeks
Translating Heritage: A Vietnamese Poetry project celebrating language, heritage, and community with April Yee, Quŷnh Nguyen , and Phuong Anh Nguyen in partnership with The Poetry Translation Centre and Vietnamese Family Partnership with participants ’ work showcased at a Festival day event
Poems from the Heart (n Soul) Festival day event with Sam Castell-Ward and Tilley Milburn and a poetry and music open mic with 5 participants in partnership with Heart n Soul.
Lewisham Writes: A Poetic Life workshops led by local writer Helen Bowell in libraries across Lewisham
Young Writers Collective with young people from Lewisham and neighbouring boroughs, reaching 315 participants across 21 sessions
Family and children’s workshops with Rikin Parekh Vivian Truong and Nate Holder in libraries across the borough (over 60 participants.)
Young people’s w orkshops at Tidemill Arabic School with Adham Smart (120 participants)

Books by Festival writers and artists were available to buy at the Festival Marketplace from The Word bookshop with book signings by featured Festival authors taking place. Local publishers and literature organisations also had stalls. Lewisham Libraries offered a Festival Reads book collection with books by Festival authors being available to borrow and read for free before, during and after the Festival.

The Festival worked with 117 artists and 32 partners. In total 96 of programmed artists were from South London and 62% from within Lewisham.

The Festival aims to be heavily place-based, with a focus on local artists and audiences. In total, 90% events were led by Lewisham-based artists or organisations. 57% of audiences were from within Lewisham or from a neighbouring borough (Bromley, Greenwich, Southwark), and 41% from Lewisham itself. This shows the Festival is continuing to build a reputation locally and developing an infrastructure and audiences for literature in Lewisham, one of our key aims.

We specifically look to target non-traditional literature audiences, which we achieved. 70% of our audiences attend literature events once a year or less, with 31% having never attended such an event before. 44% festival attendees were from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds, 42% LGBTQ+, 23% Deaf and disabled, 34% neurodivergent and 41% working class.

We commissioned an external expert, Helen Freudenberg, to develop an Environmental Impact Evaluation Report for the 2025 Festival. The report established baseline measurements and provided recommendations for future sustainability improvements by assessing Transport and Travel; Materials and Resources; Waste Management; Digital Footprint, Venues/Spaces and Food and drink.

The Festival was delivered in partnership with creative producer Tom MacAndrew.

The 2025 Deptford Literature Festival was funded by Arts Council England and supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, London Community Foundation, the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), the Albany, Deptford Lounge and Lewisham Libraries.

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Plans for Future

Spread the Word’s plans for the future include continuing to deliver on an ambitious artistic programme of activity and being responsive to the on-going impacts of the cost of living crisis, culture wars, gentrification and climate change on the communities we work with and for.

During 2024-25 Trustees undertook consultation work with key stakeholders and through focus groups with wider audiences on the organisation’s brand , including testing the appetite to change the organisation’s name, alongside reviewing the vision, mission and values. To continue to ensure the organisation’s future sustainability, profile and fundraising, during 2025-26, Board will be taking forward the recommendations from the consultation work, including making significant investments into a new website, CRM and ticketing systems and rebrand including name change and media support.

During 2025-26 Trustees will also be seeking to continue to build organisational resilience through strategic fundraising and by making investments into: Trustee and staff training and development and reviewing policies including: staff handbook, privacy, policies. the organisations vison, mission and values.

Board will be continuing to implement the Theory of Change with a focus on the delivery of equitable and accessible programmes of activity against outcomes for its primary beneficiaries: Black, Asian, Global Majority, deaf and disabled, LGBTQIA+, working class, low income and young people, including:

Continuing to celebrate its 30[th] Anniversary and raise the profile of the organisation and its work through collecting impact stories, creative commissioning and a celebration event with the cofounders Bernardine Evaristo and Ruth Borthwick;
Continuing the UK’s most successful development programme for writers underrepresented in publishing, the London Writers Awards and Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards
Board will be building on the work of the annual Deptford Literature Festival by continuing to develop infrastructure and audiences for literature in Lewisham;
Continuing to develop the campaign to have Lewisham named as the UK’s first Borough of Literature through community engagement events, projects and strategic partnership development;

Staff and volunteers

The company had the following staff for the period 2024-25:

Director: Ruth Harrison (Full-time) Programme Manager: Bobby Nayyar (Full-time) Programme Manager: Courtney Conrad (3 days per week) Started July 2024 Programme Assistant: Emily Ajgan (Full-time) Left employment May 2024 Programme + Comms Assistant: Noah Staubman (4 days per week) Left employment October 2024 Communications Manager: Okala Elesia (4 days per week) Left employment September 2024 Communications services provided by: Alice Sewell Communications services provided by: Phoebe Hopwood from October 2024 Administrative services provided by: Lucy Evans from October 2024 Production services provided by: Tom MacAndrew Bookkeeping services provided by: Steve Willcox

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

During 2024-25, the Board was focused on developing organisational resilience through taking a strategic approach to fundraising with the support of external consultants Red Pencil and human resources support from Counterculture.

During 2024-25 20 volunteers were provided training and supported the 2025 Deptford Literature Festival.

Financial Review

The Statement of Financial Activities shows income generated of £591,531 with resources expended of £538,296, generating a surplus of £50,648. Funds carried forward at the close of this year are £499,187. These were £445,953 in 2023/24.

Reserves Policy

The designated fund agreed by Trustees is for £189,375 which makes provision for: Core Projects Contingency ( £60,000); Strategic Projects Development ( £51,375); Organisational Development ( £63,000) including the development of a new website and rebrand and Board and Team development: (£15,000) to support costs associated with staffing and training and development of staff members and trustees.

The policy also makes a contingency provision for three months’ operating and redundancy costs of £100,000 and £80,000 for any shortfall in fundraising/ income generation to core operational costs. These figures were reviewed and adjusted to reflect changing opportunities and circumstances and will be reviewed again as part of the business planning process for the period 2025-26.

The current funds position shows restricted funds of £106,271, designated funds of £189,375, and general unrestricted funds of £203,541 . It is Spread the Word’s Policy to ensure that a reserve of £100,000 is maintained in excess of three months running costs. Details of the restricted and designated funds can be found in notes 19 and 20 of the financial statements.

Major Risks

The Arts Council England’s annual assessment of the Company scored it as a minor risk with a risk rating of 4 (on the Arts Council risk rating scale, a risk rating between 1 to 6 is minor). This was based on a review of governance, financial management, quality of artistic activity and audience impact and engagement. The company continues to be a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO).

The major risks identified in the Company’s risk register are:

Financial: fundraising/ income targets not met. The Board is mitigating financial risk by taking a strategic fundraising approach and ensuring financial planning and monitoring systems are in place with regular reporting to Board ensuring oversight is in place on t he organisation’s sustainability and financial position. In a challenging fundraising environment, the Board is progressing the implementation of the Theory of Change and revised business plan as it continues delivery through the Arts Council England National Portfolio investment period 2023-2026.

Organisational: staff recruitment and retention. The Board is mitigating organisational risk by putting in place succession planning and recruitment strategy and appropriate management and support framework for staff. Board continues to monitor and review staffing skills, training needs and capacity as it implements the organisation’s Theory of Change.

Programme delivery: failure to deliver projects. The Board is mitigating programme delivery risk by ensuring project and partnership management processes and sufficient capacity are in place for effective delivery.

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

SIGN .............................. A Felone (Co-Chair) 18 DECEMBER 2025 Dated: .........................

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SPREAD THE WORD

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Spread The Word (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no 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 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

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 financial statements to be reached.

Frances Wilde FCCA DChA

Warner Wilde Limited Chartered Certified Accountants 4 Marigold Drive Bisley Surrey GU24 9SF Date: ............................18/12/2025

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Current financial year Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted funds funds funds general designated 2025 2025 2025 Notes £ £ £ Income from: Donations and legacies 3 339,610 - - Charitable activities 4 93,992 - 156,254 Investments 5 1,675 - - Total income 435,277 - 156,254 Expenditure on: Raising funds 6 10,955 - - Charitable activities 7 381,041 40,694 105,606 Total expenditure 391,996 40,694 105,606 Net income/(expenditure) 43,281 (40,694) 50,648 Transfers between funds (35,069) 35,069 - Net movement in funds 9 8,212 (5,625) 50,648 Reconciliation of funds: Fund balances at 1 April 2024 195,329 195,000 55,623 Fund balances at 31 March 2025 203,541 189,375 106,271	Total 2025 £ 339,610 250,246 1,675 591,531 10,955 527,341 538,296 53,235 - 53,235 445,952 499,187	Total 2024 £ 348,672 248,471 1,343
		598,486
		10,281 456,200
		466,481
		132,005 -
		132,005 313,947
		445,952

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED) INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Prior financial year Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted funds funds funds general designated 2024 2024 2024 Notes £ £ £ Income from: Donations and legacies 3 282,654 - 66,018 Charitable activities 4 91,097 - 157,374 Investments 5 1,343 - - Total income 375,094 - 223,392 Expenditure on: Raising funds 6 10,281 - - Charitable activities 7 219,674 560 235,966 Total expenditure 229,955 560 235,966 Net income/(expenditure) 145,139 (560) (12,574) Transfers between funds (190,155) 190,155 - Net movement in funds 9 (45,016) 189,595 (12,574) Reconciliation of funds: Fund balances at 1 April 2023 240,345 5,405 68,197 Fund balances at 31 March 2024 195,329 195,000 55,623	Total 2024 £ 348,672 248,471 1,343
	598,486
	10,281 456,200
	466,481
	132,005 -
	132,005 313,947
	445,952

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BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 13 Current assets Debtors 14 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 15 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities The funds of the charity Restricted income funds 18 Unrestricted funds - general 20 Unrestricted funds - designated 19	2025 £ 4,807 583,337 588,144 (88,957)	£ - 499,187 499,187 106,271 203,541 189,375 499,187	2024 £ 43,461 426,984 470,445 (28,327)	£ 3,834 442,118
				445,952
				55,623 195,329 195,000
				445,952

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

18 DECEMBER 2025

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on .........................

SIGN .............................. A Felone (Co-Chair) Trustee

Company registration number 3541037 (England and Wales)

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STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from operations 23 Investing activities Investment income received Net cash generated from investing activities Net cash generated from financing activities Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	2025 £ 1,675	£ 154,678 1,675 - 156,353 426,984 583,337	2024 £ 1,343	£ 140,360 1,343 -
				141,703 285,281
				426,984

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

Spread The Word is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Albany, Douglas Way, London, SE8 4AG.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2 Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

1.5 Expenditure

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at the undiscounted amount of the cash or other consideration expected to be paid.

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Fixtures, fittings & equipment 25% straight line Computers 33.3% straight line

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

1.7 Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

1.8 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.9 Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at the undiscounted amount of the cash or other consideration expected to be received.

Basic financial liabilities

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at the undiscounted amount of cash or other consideration expected to be paid.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.10 Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

1.11 Retirement benefits

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

3 Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2025 2025 £ £ Donations and gifts - - Grants 281,029 - Membership fees 1,925 - Donated goods and services 56,656 - 339,610 - Donations and gifts S & R Berwick - - Other - - - - Grants ACE NPO 281,029 - 281,029 -	Total Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2025 2024 2024 £ £ £ - 225 63,018 281,029 281,029 - 1,925 1,400 3,000 56,656 - - 339,610 282,654 66,018 - - 62,500 - 225 518 - 225 63,018 281,029 281,029 - 281,029 281,029 -	Total 2024 £ 63,243 281,029 4,400 -
		348,672
		62,500 743
		63,243
		281,029
		281,029

4 Income from charitable activities

Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2025 2025 £ £ Charitable activities Box Office 1,978 - Commissions 10,550 - Arts Council England- Deptford Literature Festival 76,263 - Performance related grants - 156,254 Other income 5,201 - 93,992 156,254	Total Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2025 2024 2024 £ £ £ 1,978 2,926 - 10,550 9,000 9,968 76,263 78,601 - 156,254 - 147,406 5,201 570 - 250,246 91,097 157,374	Total 2024 £ 2,926 18,968 78,601 147,406 570
		248,471

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

4 Income from charitable activities Performance related grants analysis

(Continued)

	Charitable	Charitable
	activities	activities
	2025	2024
	£	£
Arts Council England	41,551	6,366
GLA	-	10,000
Awards For All	-	9,640
London Libraries	-	80,369
London Writers Awards	62,500	-
Wellcome Collection	25,625	-
Deptford Literature Festival	76,263	-
30th Anniversary Commissions	15,000	-
Jet Moon	2,629	23,659
London Wildlife Trust	-	17,372
Uprising & Resistance	2,414	-
Disabled Poets Prize	6,535	-
Other	-	-
	232,517	147,406

5 Income from investments

		Unrestricted	Unrestricted
		funds	funds
		2025	2024
		£	£
	Interest receivable	1,675	1,343
6	Expenditure on raising funds
		Unrestricted	Unrestricted
		funds	funds
		2025	2024
		£	£
	Fundraising costs
	Other fundraising costs	10,955	10,281

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

7 Expenditure on charitable activities

	Charitable	Charitable
	activities	activities
	2025	2024
	£	£
Direct costs
Artistic Programme	268,468	209,176
Share of support and governance costs (see note 8)
Support	255,741	237,647
Governance	3,132	9,377
	527,341	456,200
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds - general	381,041	219,674
Unrestricted funds - designated	40,694	560
Restricted funds	105,606	235,966
	527,341	456,200

8 Support costs allocated to activities

Staff costs Depreciation Premises/ office costs Freelance staff Other Staff costs Governance costs Analysed between: Charitable activities Governance costs comprise: Independent Examination fee Governance costs Other accountancy costs	2025 £ 149,103 3,835 34,124 68,679 - 3,132 258,873 258,873 2025 £ 1,400 1,127 605 3,132	2024 £ 151,757 3,834 29,563 52,493 1,615 7,762
		247,024
		247,024
		2024 £ 1,444 5,534 784
		7,762

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Net movement in funds	2025	2024
	£	£
The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Fees payable for the independent examination of the charity's financial
statements	1,400	1,444
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets	3,835	3,834

10 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.

11 Employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

Programme Programme Assistant Writer Development Director Total Employment costs Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs	2025 Number 1 1 1 1 4 2025 £ 137,058 8,775 3,270 149,103	2024 Number 1 1 1 1
		4
		2024 £ 138,812 9,495 3,450
		151,757

There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.

Remuneration of key management personnel

The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:

	2025	2024
	£	£
Aggregate compensation	58,104	56,958

Key management personnel (KMP) are defined as the senior management team. Total cost of KMP includes employer's National Insurance and pension contributions. This does not include an apportionment of any employers allowance received which reduced the cost of employer's national insurance.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

12 Taxation

The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.

13 Tangible fixed assets

Fixtures, fittings & equipment Computers £ £ Cost At 1 April 2024 762 26,677 At 31 March 2025 762 26,677 Depreciation and impairment At 1 April 2024 762 22,842 Depreciation charged in the year - 3,835 At 31 March 2025 762 26,677 Carrying amount At 31 March 2024 - 3,834 14 Debtors 2025 Amounts falling due within one year: £ Trade debtors 902 Other debtors - Prepayments and accrued income 3,905 4,807 15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2025 Notes £ Other taxation and social security 2,835 Deferred income 16 - Trade creditors 72,006 Other creditors 1,141 Accruals 12,975 88,957	Total £ 27,439
	27,439
	23,604 3,835
	27,439
	3,834
	2024 £ 6,230 34,520 2,711
	43,461
	2024 £ 2,292 180 16,814 125 8,916
	28,327

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

16 Deferred income Other deferred income Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows: Deferred income is included within: Current liabilities Movements in the year: Deferred income at 1 April 2024 Resources deferred in the year Deferred income at 31 March 2025 17 Retirement benefit schemes Defined contribution schemes Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes	2025 £ - 2025 £ - 180 (180) - 2025 £ 3,270	2024 £ 180
		2024 £ 180
		- 180
		180
		2024 £ 3,450

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.

18 Restricted funds

The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.

	At 1 April	Incoming	Resources	At 31 March
	2024	resources	expended	2025
	£	£	£	£
Access to Literature	-	41,551	-	41,551
London Writers Awards	-	62,500	(14,500)	48,000
Uprising and Resistance	-	2,414	(2,414)	-
You Are Here	4,235	2,629	(6,268)	596
Early Career Bursaries	52,521	-	(52,521)	-
Disabled Poet's Prize	(1,133)	6,535	(3,709)	1,693
30th Anniversary Commissions	-	15,000	(15,000)	-
Wellcome	-	25,625	(11,194)	14,431
	55,623	156,254	(105,606)	106,271

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Restricted funds				(Continued)
Previous year:	At 1 April	Incoming	Resources	At 31 March
	2023	resources	expended	2024
	£	£	£	£
Young People's Programmes	4,397	-	(4,397)	-
City of Stories Home	(64,919)	80,369	(15,450)	-
Access to Literature	(3,466)	6,366	(2,900)	-
London Writers Awards	71,284	-	(71,284)	-
Nature Nurtures	-	17,372	(17,372)	-
Uprising and Resistance	9,702	9,968	(19,670)	-
You Are Here	-	23,659	(19,424)	4,235
Deptford Literature Festival	7,733	-	(7,733)	-
Unheard Histories, Untold Stories	-	9,640	(9,640)	-
Early Career Bursaries	46,521	62,500	(56,500)	52,521
Speaking Silences	(2,239)	10,000	(7,761)	-
Disabled Poet's Prize	(816)	3,518	(3,835)	(1,133)
	68,197	223,392	(235,966)	55,623

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

18 Restricted funds

(Continued)

It is not considered necessary to transfer unrestricted funds to restricted funds with a negative year-end balance, as funding is anticipated to cover the deficit.

Young People’s Programmes: fund to support development of young people’s engagement and participation in creative activities, including Young People's Laureate, a high profile annual programme that gives London’s young people a voice through poetry.

City of Stories Home: a creative reading and writing programme taking place in the heart of local communities across London, discovering aspiring local writers and introducing new stories from diverse writers to audiences in library reading groups and at events. Run in partnership with London Libraries.

Access to Literature: an action research project and published report presenting the first national picture of the barriers deaf and disabled people experience in accessing the literature and publishing sectors as writers, creative producers and audience members. Run in partnership programme with CRIPtic Arts.

London Writers Awards: annual development programme for 30 London writers which aims to increase the number of writers from underrepresented backgrounds in getting agented and going on to be published.

Nature Nurtures: a cross-sector project led by London Wildlife Trust with partners Black Girls Hike CIC and London Youth. It aims to link natural heritage with creative arts to get more young people volunteering and taking action for nature.

Uprising & Resistance: history and storytelling project commissioning poets and artists to explore and respond to the archival silences surrounding slavery in Early Modern London through examining the Collection of Lloyd’s insurance market. Run in partnership with Black Beyond Data, John Hopkins University and Ink Sweat & Tears.

Deptford Literature Festival: an annual place-based Festival that celebrates the creativity and diversity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance. The 2024 festival was run in partnership with Tom McAndrew.

Early Career Bursaries: annual programme to provide three London-based writers on a low income with a bursary to create time and space to write, and a development fund to support craft and career development.

Speaking Silences: a creative writing, spoken word and film-making project engaging young people with local heritage and archives, exploring untold and hidden stories with a poet and film-maker. Commissioned by Royal Docks.

Disabled Poets Prize: a partnership project with CRIPtic Arts and Verve Poetry Press, the Prize is UK’s first Disabled Poets Prize and looks to find the best work created by UK based deaf and disabled poets, in written English and in British Sign Language.

You Are Here: peer-to-peer survivor writing project run by the writer Jet Moon with workshops, a writers’ group, commissions and interviews in partnership with Spread the Word and Wellcome Collection.

Unheard Histories, Untold Stories: two community projects, one in partnership with Entelechy Arts engaging Caribbean Elders with poetry and one in partnership with South London and Maudsley Recovery College and Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network engaging refugee women with art and creative writing with respective work published for and exhibited at the 2024 Deptford Literature Festival.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

19 Unrestricted funds - designated

These are unrestricted funds which are material to the charity's activities.

	At 1 April	At 1 April	Resources	Transfers	At 31 March	At 31 March
		2024	expended			2025
		£	£	£		£
Core Projects Contingency		40,000	-	20,000		60,000
Strategic Projects Development		85,000	(40,694)	7,069		51,375
Organisational Development		55,000	-	8,000		63,000
Board and Team Development		15,000	-	-		15,000
		195,000	(40,694)	35,069		189,375
Previous year:	At 1 April		Resources	Transfers	At 31 March
		2023	expended			2024
		£	£	£		£
Experimental (Research and Development)		5,240	(560)	(4,680)		-
Access		165	-	(165)		-
Core Projects Contingency		-	-	40,000		40,000
Strategic Projects Development		-	-	85,000		85,000
Organisational Development		-	-	55,000		55,000
Board and Team Development		-	-	15,000		15,000
		5,405	(560)	190,155		195,000

Designated funds have been established for the following purposes:

Core Projects Contingency: To support various community projects.

Strategic Projects Development: To support the development of specific projects.

Organisational Development: To support the development of a new website and rebrand and communications expenditure in strategic areas of work.

Board and Team Development: Training and development of staff and trustees.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

20 Unrestricted funds

The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.

	At 1 April	Incoming	Resources	Transfers	At 31 March
	2024	resources	expended		2025
	£	£	£	£	£
General funds	195,329	435,277	(391,996)	(35,069)	203,541
Previous year:	At 1 April	Incoming	Resources	Transfers	At 31 March
	2023	resources	expended		2024
	£	£	£	£	£
General funds	240,345	375,094	(229,955)	(190,155)	195,329

21 Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted funds funds funds general designated 2025 2025 2025 £ £ £ At 31 March 2025: Current assets/(liabilities) 203,541 189,375 106,271 203,541 189,375 106,271 Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted funds funds funds general designated 2024 2024 2024 £ £ £ At 31 March 2024: Tangible assets 3,834 - - Current assets/(liabilities) 191,495 195,000 55,623 195,329 195,000 55,623	Total 2025 £ 499,187
	499,187
	Total 2024 £ 3,834 442,118
	445,952

22 Related party transactions

Transactions with related parties

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

23 Cash generated from operations Surplus for the year Adjustments for: Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets Movements in working capital: Decrease in debtors Increase in creditors (Decrease)/increase in deferred income Cash generated from operations	2025 £ 53,235 (1,675) 3,835 38,653 60,810 (180) 154,678	2024 £ 132,005 (1,343) 3,834 2,364 3,320 180 140,360

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2025-03-31-accounts

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ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

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CONTENTS

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Constitution

Directors and Trustees

Secretary

Independent Examiner

Bankers

Registered office and operation address

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Principal Activity

Structure, Governance and Management

Objectives and Activities for the Public Benefit

Summary

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Activity detail

SPREAD THE WORD

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Supporting talent development through craft and career opportunities Regular programme of activities

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Supporting writers to continue working

SPREAD THE WORD

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Creating community for deaf and disabled writers and advocating for change

CRIPtic x Spread the Word Salon - building community spaces

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

30[th] Anniversary Commissions

Emerging Writer Commissions

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Deaf and Disabled Writer Commissions

Strategic programmes of activity

Changing the stories we get to read, see and hear London Writers Awards

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Celebrating community, creativity and place Lewisham, Borough of Literature Campaign

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Lewisham, Borough of Literature Commissions

The commissioned writers were:

Lewisham, Borough of Literature community projects Lewisham Writes

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Unheard Histories and Untold Stories: Talk di Tings Dem

Unheard Histories and Untold Stories: Sole Sisters

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Young Writers Collective

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Deptford Literature Festival - growing audiences for literature

SPREAD THE WORD

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

SPREAD THE WORD

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Plans for Future

Staff and volunteers

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Financial Review

Reserves Policy

Major Risks

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TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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