Essex Book Festival
Charity No. 1143727
Company No. 07538636
Trustees' Report and Unaudited Accounts
31 December 2025
Essex Book Festival Contents
| Pages | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trustees' Annual Report | 2 to 4 | |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 | |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 | |
| Summary Income and Expenditure Account | 7 | |
| Balance Sheet | 8 | |
| Notes to the Accounts | 9 to | 15 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 16 to | 17 |
Page 1
Essex Book Festival Trustees Annual Report
The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Company No. 07538636
Charity No. 1143727
Registered Office
125 High Street Colchester Essex CO1 1SZ
Directors and Trustees
The Directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law. The following Directors and Trustees served during the year:
P.B. Donaldson
T. Fisher
P.A. Gaudin
J.A. Macdonald
F. Ogunlana-Fadipe
C. Shestopal
Accountants
Quantic Accountancy Limited 1 Second Avenue Bluebridge Halstead Essex CO9 2SU
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objectives of the charity are to advance the education of the public in Essex by promoting literature, reading for pleasure and supporting and developing writers. The objectives are met, primarily, through an annual Essex Book Festival, which offers opportunities for local, national and international authors to discuss their works, writing workshops and competitions for budding authors.
Significant activities:
Essex Book Festival is the lead literary organisation in Essex. It is also one of the highlights of the county’s cultural calendar. Each year it hosts events in a range of venues across Essex reflecting the rich and diverse geography and heritage of the county. Its key aim is to celebrate the book and storytelling in all its forms focussing on all ages and communities, and supporting literacy, promoting health and well-being, and nurturing community cohesion.
Page 2
Essex Book Festival
Trustees Annual Report
In terms of meeting this aim, 2025 was a successful and an impactful year for Essex Book Festival. During June we hosted 75 events in 38 venues county-wide involving 188 writers and artists, which were attended by 20,000+ people.
We are pleased to announce that the Festival's earned income (ticket sales and book sales commissions) grew by 68% from 2024. This was due in part to an increase in ticket prices and larger audiences, but also reflects a post-Covid 'return to normal'.
We are also pleased to announce a growth in new audiences with 35% of our audience members saying this was their first Essex Book Festival event. This is up 10% on 2024 and particularly pleasing in terms of the ensuring the future sustainability of the festival. In addition, our Net Promoter Score (the likelihood to recommend the Festival to a Friend) increased to 72%, a growth of 3% from 2024. We also witnessed a substantial increase in our social media engagement which has gone from 17k interactions in 2024 to 1192k in 2025.
Other activities/projects undertaken outside of the Festival month include our National Saturday Club activity for young people aged 13-16 years living in Chelmsford hosted by Anglia Ruskin University and funded by Arts Council England, our participation in Chelmsford Science Festival Family Days Weekend, and our new series of Art events hosted in partnership with EA Festival and The Minories at The Minories in Colchester. Essex Book Festival is keen to build on these achievements for 2026, while exploring new funding and marketing opportunities to maintain its financial security moving forwards.
Public benefit:
Our main activities and who we try to help are described above. All our charitable activities focus on the education of the public and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy:
The Essex Book Festival maintained two reserves during the year.
The general reserve is maintained at a level which the board of Trustees believe is required in order to continue to run the charity as a going concern. It is the Trustees' opinion that a relatively high general reserve is required in order to mitigate the risks around future grant and other support income. The current reserve level will offer some certainty to provide future festivals.
The charity also maintained restricted reserves generated from the Arts Council England, Essex County Council and Historic England. The reserves were used to develop specific projects, partnerships and audiences with the aim to embed diversity into all our festival events.
Going concern:
No material uncertainties exist regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document: The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees: The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law. The trustees are elected to serve at Annual General Meetings.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Page 3
Essex Book Festival Trustees Annual Report
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime as set out in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
Signed on behalf of the board
J.A. Macdonald
Trustee
24 April 2026
Page 4
Essex Book Festival Independent Examiners Report
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Essex Book Festival
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Essex Book Festival for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the company (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 ('the 2006 Act.
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 your charity's financial statements as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the 2006 Act ; or
-
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
-
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements under section 396 of the 2006 Act 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
-
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 accounts 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.
Mr Stuart Foster (FCCA) ACCA Quantic Accountancy Limited 1 Second Avenue Bluebridge Halstead Essex CO9 2SU 24 April 2026
Page 5
Essex Book Festival Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ended 31 December 2025
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 4 Investments 5 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 6 Other 7 Total Net gains on investments Net income/(expenditure) 8 Transfers between funds Net income/(expenditure) before other gains/(losses) Other gains and losses Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 38,148 896 |
Restricted funds 2025 £ 69,538 - |
Total funds 2025 £ 107,686 896 |
Total funds 2024 £ 109,743 551 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39,044 32,812 1,875 |
69,538 69,538 - |
108,582 102,350 1,875 |
110,294 114,705 1,882 |
|
| 34,687 - |
69,538 - |
104,225 - |
116,587 - |
|
| 4,357 - |
- - |
4,357 - |
(6,293) - |
|
| 4,357 | - | 4,357 | (6,293) | |
| 4,357 31,826 |
- - |
4,357 31,826 |
(6,293) 38,119 |
|
| 36,183 | - | 36,183 | 31,826 |
Page 6
Essex Book Festival Summary Income and Expenditure Account
for the year ended 31 December 2025
| Income Interest and investment income Gross income for the year Expenditure Total expenditure for the year Net income/(expenditure) before tax for the year Net income /(expenditure )for the year |
2025 £ 107,686 896 108,582 104,225 104,225 4,357 4,357 |
2024 £ 109,743 551 |
|---|---|---|
| 110,294 | ||
| 116,587 | ||
| 116,587 | ||
| (6,293) | ||
| (6,293) |
Page 7
Essex Book Festival Balance Sheet
at 31 December 2025
| at 31 December 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Company No. 07538636 Notes 2025 £ Current assets Debtors 10 1,376 Cash at bank and in hand 80,621 81,997 Creditors:Amount falling due within one year 11 (45,814) Net current assets 36,183 Total assets less current liabilities 36,183 Net assets excluding pension asset or liability 36,183 Total net assets 36,183 The funds of the charity Restricted funds 13 Unrestricted funds 13 General funds 36,183 36,183 Reserves 13 Total funds 36,183 |
2024 £ 8,605 80,654 |
| 89,259 (57,433) |
|
| 31,826 31,826 |
|
| 31,826 | |
| 31,826 | |
| 31,826 | |
| 31,826 | |
| 31,826 |
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
For the year ended 31 December 2025 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
Approved by the board on 24 April 2026
And signed on its behalf by:
J.A. Macdonald Trustee 24 April 2026
Page 8
Essex Book Festival Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 31 December 2025
- 1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Change in basis of accounting or to previous accounts
There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years.
Fund accounting
-
Unrestricted funds These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the charity.
-
Designated funds These are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
-
Revaluation funds These are unrestricted funds which include a revaluation reserve representing the restatement of investment assets at their market values.
-
Restricted funds These are available for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or through terms of an appeal.
Income
-
Recognition of Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity income becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount of the income can be measured with sufficient reliability.
-
Income with related Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure is expenditure reported gross in the SoFA. Donations and Voluntary income received by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in the legacies the SoFA when receivable and only when the Charity has unconditional entitlement to the income.
-
Tax reclaims on Income from tax reclaims is included in the SoFA at the same time as the donations and gifts gift/donation to which it relates. Donated services These are only included in income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure) and facilities where the benefit to the Charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material.
Volunteer help The value of any volunteer help received is not included in the accounts. Investment income This is included in the accounts when receivable. Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value revaluation of fixed at the end of the year. assets Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments. investment assets
Page 9
Essex Book Festival Notes to the Accounts
Expenditure
Recognition of Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis. Expenditure includes any VAT expenditure which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. Expenditure on These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income, fundraising raising funds trading costs and investment management costs. Expenditure on These comprise the costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities charitable activities and services in the furtherance of its objects, including the making of grants and governance costs. Grants payable All grant expenditure is accounted for on an actual paid basis plus an accrual for grants that have been approved by the trustees at the end of the year but not yet paid. Governance costs These include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the Charity, including any audit/independent examination fees, costs linked to the strategic management of the Charity, together with a share of other administration costs. Other expenditure These are support costs not allocated to a particular activity.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Stocks
Stock is included at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Donated items of stock are recognised at fair value which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay for the items on the open market.
Trade and other debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities. In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the company's cash management.
Trade and other creditors
Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Page 10
Essex Book Festival Notes to the Accounts
Leased assets
Where the charity enters into a lease which entails taking substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset, the lease is treated as a finance lease.
Leases which do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to charity are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are initially recognised as assets of the charity at their fair value at the inception of the lease or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the balance sheet date as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are apportioned between finance expenses and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance expenses are recognised immediately, unless they are directly attributable to qualifying assets, in which case they are capitalised in accordance with the charity's policy on borrowing costs.
Assets held under finance leases are depreciated in the same way as owned assets.
Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In the event that lease incentives are received to enter into operating leases, such incentives are recognised as a liability. The aggregate benefit of incentives is recognised as a reduction of rental expense on a straight-line basis.
Pension costs
The charity operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the company pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the company has no further payments obligations. The contributions are recognised as expenses when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals in the balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the company in independently administered funds.
Receipt of donated goods, facilities and services
All donated goods, facilities and services received are recognised within incoming resources and expenditure at an estimate of the value to the charity.
2 Company status
The company is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital.
Page 11
Essex Book Festival
Notes to the Accounts
3 Statement of Financial Activities - prior year
| 3 Statement of Financial Activities - prior year |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Investments Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities Other Total Net income Net income before other gains/(losses) Other gains and losses: Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 4 Income from donations and legacies Other income Grants 5 Income from investments Bank interest received |
Unrestricted £ |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 52,296 551 |
Restricted funds 2024 £ 57,447 - 57,447 56,644 803 57,447 - - - - - Total 2025 £ 19,798 87,888 107,686 Total 2025 £ 896 896 |
Total funds 2024 £ 109,743 551 |
| 52,847 58,061 1,079 |
110,294 114,705 1,882 |
|||
| 59,140 | 116,587 | |||
| (6,293) | (6,293) | |||
| (6,293) | (6,293) | |||
| (6,293) 38,119 |
(6,293) 38,119 |
|||
| 31,826 | 31,826 | |||
| Restricted £ |
Total 2024 £ 11,756 97,987 |
|||
| 19,798 | - | |||
| 18,350 | 69,538 | |||
| 38,148 | 69,538 | 109,743 | ||
| Unrestricted £ 896 |
Total 2024 £ 551 |
|||
| 896 | 551 |
Page 12
Essex Book Festival
Notes to the Accounts
| 6 Expenditure on charitable activities Expenditure on charitable activities Marketing and audience development Artistic expenditure Development manager fees Governance costs 7 Other expenditure General administrative costs Legal and professional costs 8 Net income/(expenditure) before transfers This is stated after charging: Independent Examiner's fee 9 Staff costs No employee received emoluments in excess 10 Debtors Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income 11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Trade creditors Accruals Deferred income |
Unrestricted £ 6,468 2,114 24,230 |
Restricted £ 8,540 26,442 34,556 |
Total 2025 £ 15,008 28,556 58,786 102,350 Total 2025 £ 1,275 600 1,875 |
Total 2024 £ 18,486 39,612 56,607 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32,812 | 69,538 | 114,705 | ||
| of £60,000. | Unrestricted £ 1,275 600 |
Total 2024 £ 1,232 650 |
||
| 1,875 | 1,882 | |||
| 2025 £ 600 2025 £ 480 896 |
2024 £ 650 2024 £ 7,743 862 |
|||
| 1,376 | 8,605 | |||
| 2025 £ 5,167 651 39,996 |
2024 £ 6,787 651 49,995 |
|||
| 45,814 | 57,433 |
Page 13
Essex Book Festival Notes to the Accounts
12 Deferred Income
Movement of the deferred income shown in Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| At 1 January Released in current year Deferred in current year At 31 December 13 Movement in funds Restricted funds: Restricted income funds: Arts Council Grant Historic England Grant Total Unrestricted funds: General funds Total funds |
At 1 January 2025 - - |
2025 £ |
Resources expended £ (49,995) (19,543) (69,538) (34,687) (104,225) |
2024 £ 7,500 (7,500) 49,995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49,995 | ||||
| (49,995) 39,996 |
||||
| 39,996 | 49,995 | |||
| Incoming resources (including other gains/losses) £ |
At 31 December 2025 £ - - |
|||
| 49,995 | ||||
| 19,543 | ||||
| - | 69,538 | - | ||
| 31,826 | 36,183 | |||
| 39,044 | ||||
| 31,826 | 108,582 | 36,183 |
Purposes and restrictions in relation to the funds:
| Restricted funds: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arts Council Grant | National Lottery Project Grants 'The Great Tide' project. | |
| Historic England Grant | Beach of Dreams | |
| 14 | Analysis of net assets between funds |
| Analysis of net assets between funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Net current assets | Unrestricted funds £ 76,179 |
Restricted funds £ (39,996) (39,996) |
Total £ 36,183 |
| 76,179 | 36,183 |
Page 14
Essex Book Festival Notes to the Accounts
15 Reconciliation of net debt
| Reconciliation of net debt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents Net debt |
At 1 January 2025 £ |
Cash flows £ |
At 31 December 2025 £ |
| 80,654 | (33) | 80,621 | |
| 80,654 | (33) (33) |
80,621 | |
| 80,654 | 80,621 |
16 Related party disclosures
Controlling party
The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital; thus no single party controls the company.
Page 15
Essex Book Festival Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ended 31 December 2025
| Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Other income Grants Investments Bank interest received Total income and endowments Expenditure on: Charitable activities Marketing and audience development Artistic expenditure Development manager fees Total of expenditure on charitable activities General administrative costs, including depreciation and amortisation Bank charges General insurances Legal and professional costs Audit/Independent examination fees Total of expenditure of other costs Total expenditure Net gains on investments Net income/(expenditure) Net income/(expenditure) before other gains/(losses) Other Gains Net movement in funds |
Unrestricte d funds 2025 £ 19,798 18,350 38,148 896 896 39,044 6,468 2,114 24,230 32,812 32,812 120 1,155 1,275 600 600 1,875 34,687 - 4,357 4,357 - 4,357 |
Restricted funds 2025 £ - 69,538 69,538 - - 69,538 8,540 26,442 34,556 69,538 69,538 - - - - - - 69,538 - - - - - |
Total funds 2025 £ 19,798 87,888 107,686 896 896 108,582 15,008 28,556 58,786 102,350 102,350 120 1,155 1,275 600 600 1,875 104,225 - 4,357 4,357 - 4,357 |
Total funds 2024 £ 11,756 97,987 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 109,743 | ||||
| 551 | ||||
| 551 | ||||
| 110,294 18,486 39,612 56,607 |
||||
| 114,705 | ||||
| 114,705 120 1,112 |
||||
| 1,232 | ||||
| 650 | ||||
| 650 | ||||
| 1,882 | ||||
| 116,587 - |
||||
| (6,293) | ||||
| (6,293) - |
||||
| (6,293) |
Page 16
Essex Book Festival Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
| Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
31,826 36,183 |
- - |
31,826 36,183 |
38,119 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31,826 |
Page 17