Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
**Registered number: 07977987 Charity number: 1149001**
# **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) UNAUDITED**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 DECEMBER 2024**
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **CONTENTS**
||Page|
|---|---|
|**Reference and administrative details of the charity, its Trustees and advisers**|1|
|**Trustees' report**|2 - 4|
|**Independent examiner's report**|5|
|**Statement of financial activities**|6|
|**Balance sheet**|7|
|**Notes to the financial statements**|8 - 16|
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Trustees**|Katherine Anderson|
|---|---|
||Maurice Biriotti, Chair|
||Stella Bruzzi|
||Tim Coker|
||Joe Hancock (resigned 30 September 2024)|
||Nicola Logan (resigned 25 April 2024)|
||Nick Potter|
||Abigail Tan-Giroud|
||Professor Rosalind Ann Raine|
||Mark Patrick Savage (resigned 30 September 2024)|
||Andrew Choi (appointed 17 January 2024)|
||Maya Catherine Wilson (resigned 26 February 2025)|
||Anna Paschali (appointed 26 March 2024)|
|**Company registered**
**number**
07977987
**Charity registered**
**number**
1149001
**Principal office**
8th Floor
Becket House
36 Old Jewry
London
EC2R 8DD
**Accountants**
Xeinadin London Limited
Accountants
8th Floor
Becket House
36 Old Jewry
London
EC2R 8DD
**Bankers**
The Co-Operative Bank
PO Box 101
Balloon Street
Manchester
M60 4EP
**Solicitors**
Bates Wells & Braithwaite
2-6 Cannon Street
London
EC4M 6YH||
Page 1
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.
The Annual report serves the purposes of both a Trustees' report and a directors' report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the Annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Since the charity qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitted.
## **Objectives and activities**
## **a. Policies and objectives**
The Charity's principal objective is to deliver and support an annual cultural festival in Central London, and in particular the area of Bloomsbury, in conjunction with local creative and business partners, institutions and residents.
IIn setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.
## **Achievements and performance**
## **a. Achievements and performance**
Bloomsbury Festival works with over 100 partners and numerous Bloomsbury venues each year to offer a tenday annual festival in October 2024, celebrating the culture, emerging talent and local communities in and around Bloomsbury. The festival relies on annual sponsorship revenue from local businesses, grants from local institutions, and public sector grant income with some commercial ticket income, commercial advertising and services income. During 2024 the festival benefited from a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant which supported the first year of a two-year programme exploring local heritage of the last 1000 years, and an Arts Council England and Camden Council grant supporting our New Wave and trainee scheme Springboard.
The festival continues to attract audience numbers over 30,000 across live events, exhibitions, broadcast and digital events.
New partnerships with City Lit and Holborn Library (and the wider Camden Libraries) are supporting the scope of the festival to offer theatre and music performance spaces and to enable a more structured approach to our emerging talent schemes.
Page 2
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
**BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **Financial review**
## **a. Going concern**
After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
## **b. Reserves policy**
Reserves at the end of 2024 is at the level of £23,206. The organisation has only one part-time employee on PAYE with the remainder of services provided by contracted staff, and with in-kind support for the office space. With minimal ongoing financial obligations, the reserves would cover 3 months of freelance and office costs should the need arise.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **a. Constitution**
Bloomsbury Festival is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association.
## **b. Methods of appointment or election of Trustees**
The management of the charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Memorandum of Association.
Page 3
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities**
The Trustees (who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial . Under company law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
................................................
**Maurice Biriotti** Chair 30/5/2025 Date:
Page 4
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Bloomsbury Festival ('the charity')**
We report to the charity Trustees on our examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024.
## **Responsibilities and Basis of Report**
As the Trustees of the charity (and its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied ourselves that the accounts of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, we report in respect of our examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out our examination we have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent Examiner's Statement**
We have completed our examination. We confirm that no matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination giving us cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts 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)].
We 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 accounts to be reached.
This report is made solely to the charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's Trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's Trustees as a body, for our work or for this report.
2/6/2025 Signed: Dated:
## **Xeinadin London Limited**
Accountants 8th Floor, Becket House, 36 Old Jewry, London EC2R 8DD
Page 5
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Donations, Legacies and Grants
2
Festival fund-raising
3
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
4
**Total expenditure**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**186,400**
**55,531**
**241,931**
**237,379**
**237,379**
**4,552**
**18,654**
**4,552**
**23,206**|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**186,400**
**55,531**
**241,931**
**237,379**
**237,379**
**4,552**
**18,654**
**4,552**
**23,206**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_174,420_
_45,663_
_220,083_
_231,702_
_231,702_
_(11,619)_
_30,273_
_(11,619)_
_18,654_|
|---|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 8 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
Page 6
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL REGISTERED NUMBER: 07977987**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Note**
**Current assets**
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
10
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets**
**Charity funds**
Unrestricted funds
12
**Total funds**|**13,620**
**12,781**
**26,401**
**(3,195)**|**2024**
**£**
**23,206**
**23,206**
**23,206**
**23,206**
**23,206**|_10,842_
_14,324_
_25,166_
_(6,512)_|_2023_
_£_
_18,654_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_18,654_|
|||||_18,654_|
|||||_18,654_|
|||||_18,654_|
The charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of Companies Act 2006.
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
................................................
**Maurice Biriotti** Chair
30/5/2025 Date:
Page 7
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **General information**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee registered in England. The members of the company are the Trustees named on page 1. The registered office address is 8th Floor Becket House, 36 Old Jewry, London, EC2R 8DD.
## **1. Accounting policies**
## **1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - 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 Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Bloomsbury Festival meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
## **1.2 Income**
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Grants are included in the Statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.
## **1.3 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management carried out at Headquarters.
Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the charity's operations, including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
## **1.4 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **1.5 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Page 8
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **1. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **1.6 Liabilities and provisions**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
## **1.7 Financial instruments**
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **1.8 Government grants**
Grants of a revenue nature are recognised in the Statement of financial activities in the same period as the related expenditure.
## **1.9 Pensions**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the charity to the fund in respect of the year.
## **1.10 Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
## **2. Income from Donations, Legacies and Grants**
|Donations
Grants|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
699
185,701
186,400|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**699**
**185,701**
**186,400**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_4,470_
_169,950_
_174,420_|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 9
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **3. Income from festival fund-raising**
||**Unrestricted**|**Total**|_Total_|
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|_funds_|
||**2024**|**2024**|_2023_|
||**£**|**£**|_£_|
|Festival fund-raising|55,531|**55,531**|_45,663_|
## **4. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities Summary by fund type**
||**Unrestricted**|||
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**Total**|_Total_|
||**2024**|**2024**|_2023_|
||**£**|**£**|_£_|
|Annual cultural festival|237,379|**237,379**|_231,702_|
## **5. Analysis of expenditure by activities**
||**Activities**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**undertaken**|**Support**|**Total**|_Total_|
||**directly**|**costs**|**funds**|_funds_|
||**2024**|**2024**|**2024**|_2023_|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|_£_|
|Annual cultural festival|163,470|73,909|**237,379**|_231,702_|
Page 10
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **5. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of direct costs**
|Marketing and PR expenditure
General production costs
Event costs
Digital costs
Staff costs (see note 7)|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**29,656**
**82,116**
**28,319**
**-**
**23,379**
**163,470**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_32,982_
_51,816_
_44,495_
_10,449_
_24,739_
_164,481_|
|---|---|---|
Page 11
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **5. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of support costs**
|Independent examination fees
Printing, postage and stationery
Office costs
Travel and subsistence
Trustee meetings
Consultancy and freelance costs
Legal, accountancy and professional fees
Insurance
IT and software costs
Bad debt expense
**6.**
**Independent examiner's remuneration**
Fees payable to the charity's independent examiner for the independent
examination of the charity's annual accounts|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**2,000**
**-**
**1,500**
**3,200**
**1,306**
**61,980**
**1,150**
**1,096**
**1,670**
**7**
**73,909**
**2024**
**£**
**1,750**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_2,250_
_152_
_1,088_
_475_
_685_
_56,735_
_1,306_
_986_
_2,783_
_761_
_67,221_|
|---|---|---|
|||_2023_
_£_
_1,750_|
Page 12
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **7. Staff costs**
|Wages and salaries
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes|**2024**
**£**
**22,880**
**499**
**23,379**|_2023_
_£_
_24,200_
_539_
_24,739_|
|---|---|---|
The average number of persons employed by the charity during the year was as follows: 2024 - 1 (2023 - 1)
No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.
During the year, no key management personnel, received any remuneration or other benefits (2023 - £nil).
## **8. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits _(2023 - £NIL)_ .
During the year ended 31 December 2024, no Trustee expenses have been incurred _(2023 - £NIL)_ .
## **9. Debtors**
|Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**2024**
**£**
**192**
**3,695**
**9,733**
**13,620**|_2023_
_£_
_-_
_5,250_
_5,592_|
|---|---|---|
|||_10,842_|
## **10. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Accruals and deferred income|**2024**
**£**
**350**
**845**
**2,000**
**3,195**|_2023_
_£_
_3,375_
_1,083_
_2,054_|
|---|---|---|
|||_6,512_|
Page 13
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **11. Financial instruments**
||**2024**|_2023_|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|_£_|
|**Financial assets**|||
|Financial assets measured at fair value through income and expenditure|**12,781**|_14,324_|
Financial assets measured at fair value through income and expenditure comprise cash at bank and in hand.
Page 14
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **12. Statement of funds**
|**Statement of funds - current year**
**Unrestricted funds**
General Funds - all funds
**Statement of funds - prior year**
**Unrestricted funds**
General Funds - all funds
**Summary of funds**
**Summary of funds - current year**
General funds
**Summary of funds - prior year**
General funds|**Balance at 1**
**January**
**2024**
**£**
**18,654**
_Balance at_
_1 January_
_2023_
_£_
_30,273_
**Balance at 1**
**January**
**2024**
**£**
**18,654**
_Balance at_
_1 January_
_2023_
_£_
_30,273_|**Income**
**£**
**241,931**
_Income_
_£_
_220,083_
**Income**
**£**
**241,931**
_Income_
_£_
_220,083_|**Expenditure**
**£**
**(237,379)**
_Expenditure_
_£_
_(231,702)_
**Expenditure**
**£**
**(237,379)**
_Expenditure_
_£_
_(231,702)_|**Balance at**
**31**
**December**
**2024**
**£**
**23,206**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_Balance at_
_31_
_December_
_2023_
_£_
_18,654_|
|||||**Balance at**
**31**
**December**
**2024**
**£**
**23,206**|
|||||_Balance at_
_31_
_December_
_2023_
_£_
_18,654_|
## **13. Summary of funds Summary of funds - current year**
Page 15
Docusign Envelope ID: A4ECA246-06A2-4AF9-90C4-92CC6EB7C267
## **BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **14. Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - current period**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
Current assets
26,401
Creditors due within one year
(3,195)
**Total**
23,206|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**26,401**
**(3,195)**
**23,206**|
|---|---|
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - prior period**
|Current assets
Creditors due within one year
**Total**|_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_25,166_
_(6,512)_
_18,654_|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_25,166_
_(6,512)_
_18,654_|
|---|---|---|
## **15. Pension commitments**
The Company operates a defined contributions pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Company in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the Company to the fund and amounted to £499 (2023: £539). Contributions totalling £97 (2023: £105) were payable to the fund at the balance sheet date and are included in creditors.
## **16. Related party transactions**
The charity has not entered into any related party transaction during the year, nor are there any outstanding balances owing between related parties and the charity at 31 December 2024.
Page 16