Boo fes" Report by Shropshire Bookfest's Chair of Trustees. th presented at the Annual General Meeting. 26 January 2026 2025 has been an outstanding year for Bookfest, marked by high-quality delivery, stron9 partnerships and a clear, positive impact on children's reading, writing and onfidence. Readers to Writers was delivered for the fourth year in its current form and once again proved to be a flagship programme. In January, eight authors delivered 41 inspiri ng creative writing workshop5 to 963 pu pils across 17 primary schools, from Reception to Year 6. Schools were exceptionally well supported through the provision of author books for every pupil, detailed Teacher Packs and high-quality CPD resources. The programme was made possible by the dedication of 11 Bookfgst volunteers, whose commitment ensured tha smooth running of an ambitious and tightly scheduled week. Following the workshops, pupils spent February and March writing their own books, supported by encouraging video messages from authors. By April, almost every pupil had Submitted a completed book, with many demonstrating remarkable Creativity, effort and pride in their work. For the first time, every book received individual feedback from the Bookfest team, a development that was warmly welcomed by both pupils and teachers. All pupils were recognised with certificates celebrati ng their achievement as authors, a longside class prizes and eight county-wide winners whose books were published online. Feedback from schools was overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the project's ability to en9age reluctant writers, build confidence and foster a genuine love of storytelling. Book Award 2026 swung into artion in late July. Interest in the project quickly amassed and all seats at the Theatre Severn Awards Ceremony were booked within days of goi ng live. The publishers, longlist of nomi nated titles were swiftly reduced to a very strong shortlist of six titles,. it was great to welcome two new schools to our regular core of longlisting schools.
Bookfest also delivered a highly successful Teachers, Conference in November 2025, attended by 60 teachers who participated in a programme of well-received CPD workshops. In addition, Bookfest continued to play a valued national role by nominating an author and illustratorfor the Children's Laureate. Shropshire Bookfest has also responded to the call for evidence from the cross- party Education Committee Inquiry12025-261 into reading for pleasure, spurred by the sharp decline in numbers of children reading informally, outside of school. A submission was prepared over the Christmas break. Many thanks to the officers and trustees involved, testament to the recognition that this charity has something of value to offer at the level of national debate. Finally, we have indicated ourwillingness to support Shropshire Council in its contribution tothe National Year of Reading 2026 IDfEI although, as a reading for pleasure charity, this may require only alignment of our planned work with the NYOR calendar of events. There are some concerns over the bracketing of this national initiative with the local standards agenda highlighted by Shropshire Education Service., it was an ideal opportunityto restate a principle of Shropshire Bookfest- and of reading for pleasure itself- that we are not an outcomes-led project in terms of reading ages, comprehension test scores or other measurable results. Wh i 1st we may use feedback i nformation includ ing statistical data to reflect on individual projects, we do not solicit standardised pupil performance data from any of our schools. Our concern remains forthe experience of reading, for supporting teachers and schools in enhancing their provision for the pleasure of reading for all children. Looking ahead, Book Award 2026 is engaging 1,909 pupils from 38 schools, including several new schools, demonstrating the continued reach and reputation of Bookfest's work. Overall, 2025 has been a year of which Bookfest can be extremely proud, reflecting the organisation's commitment to excellence, creativity and lasting impact in children's literacy. Thanks and reco9nition are due to our schools coordinator, Simone, and our project coordinator, Annabel, whose dedication, attention to detail and grit and determination mean the Bookfest light continues to shine brightly,. and to our amazing volunteers who courageously carry that light into classrooms right across the county. Chris Tay. Chair of Trustees
(HARIIY COMM15SIO FOR ENGLANO AND WALE Recei ts and ments accounts CC16a Forlh• p•rfod 01mir2025 3111212035 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted lund• RBstrictod fundi Endowment lund Toial funds Last year loth• t•thn••M•¢£ toth• GIBfit 24.000 2.500 Othfip Inccqn 704 Sthoo Book $75 IGross ARI 37,1 A2 A•t Inv•*tm•nt $15bA, i•• t•bl• . Sub tDt•l Tol•l r•¢•lpt8 3&.874 30,074 J7,161 AJPa F•Tr& F•eA 7•0 720 ??0 •21 Vu0 h J,104 6,915 pthi Ch•Gkil InraOI st41¥ 3$2 75J 1.142 75J 3,071 Fl ook UTthoi•i 5.570 4,tOB 36,6D7 2.450 Sub tot•1 3•,907 A4 l•t and Inv•8tm•nt rcha••A, Sub toial 38,607 34107 41.143 Pletof r8t•lplsl(p8ym•ntsJ A5 Trnn•fors belw8en lunds 07 3.874 Cash fvnds thls end 52,427 SW7 52,J61 CCXX Rl arxtthit8 ISSI 1110212026
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities al the end of the period Unrestricted fund• Endowment C640r10• etoil¥ fund• B1 Ca•h fund• Mgin ac¢ouni 3•,177 14260 Total cash lunds SZ.47 UnrestrtGtod fund R••trl¢t•d lund$ endowm•nt fund• to n•¥•BtE pt811 Pund lothlGh Curr•Mw IIOMI 83 Inv••tm•nt a•••t• Fnd(+Whh ••¢•J B4 A8s•ts ratsln•d forth• ch•rlty• own u•• Fundto B5 Llablllil• Dal? or roval r4allthe tru514 Signature Prfnt Name CHRISTOPHER TAY Ib.g.z SSAN mSHL CCXX R2acc¥Avts ISSI 11KJ212026
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Shropshire Bookfest On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 Charity no lif any) 1120177 Set out on pag88 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charilyllhe Trust.) for the year ended 3111212025. Responslbllltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation ba818 of rèport of th8 accounts in accordance with the r8quirem8nts of the Charities Act 2011 1.the Act ). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried oul under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have corne to my attention { ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent axamlnèr's statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in ¢onnection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding ofthe accounts to be reached. Ple85e delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Datè: 27 ILF11026 Name: C Moelwyn-williams Rèlevant professlonal qualification(sl or body lif any): Bsc FCA Address: TCA Accountants, Third Floor. 21 Sl Mary's Street. Shrewsbury, SY1 1ED IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Glve herè brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclose. No matters noted October 2018