CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees. Annual Report For Period Period start date Period end date From Oct 2023 To 30 Sept 2024 Section A Reference and administration details Charity name Buxton Well Dressing Festival Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1156707 Charity's principal address 17 Lansdowne Road Buxton Postcode SK17 6RR Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Date8 acted If not for whole ear Trust88 name Offlce (If any) Name of person {or body) 6ntltled toa olnt trustee Ifan Richard Lower Chair Kathryn Gilson Christine Gould Member Well Dressing Secretary Vice-President John Moss Martin Gilson Helen Barker Linda Grooby Aneta Mosley Treasurer Minutes Secretary Secretary Member Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) Name Dates acted if not for whole ear none Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members Mana ement Committee.. Richard Lower, Martin Gilson, Christine Gould, Maureen Kitchen, Claire Wood, Charles Kitchen, Helen Barker, Graeme Kitchen, Colin Phillips, Linda Grooby, Aneta Mosley, Mark Stout, Neill Eltringham, Claire Morrell Trustees, Annual Report - BWDF November 2024
Section B Structure, overnance and mana ement Description of the charity's trusts Constitution: last amended at Extraordinary General Meeting on 4th April 2014 Type of governing document How the charity is constituted A Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than its charity trustees Trustee selection methods (eg. 1¢ ppoinleu Dy, eieciea D j, I Elected at a General Meeting and re-appointed annually at the AGM held in November or December Additional governance issues {Optional information) You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about: Buxton Well Dressing Festival is a Registered Charity (Charity Number 1156707) policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees. the charity's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works., relationship with any related parties. trustees, consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. The Buxton Well Dressing Festival is managed by a committee of members that includes trustees. All trustees, committee members and members give their time voluntarily and received no remuneration or other benefits. Section C Ob'ectives and activities To promote the arts and advance education for the benefit of the public in Buxton, Derbyshire and the surrounding area. in particular but not exclusively by.. Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document (1) preserving and promoting the historical tradition of a Well Dressing Festival and (2) advancing education in the historical tradition and craft of well dressing, particularly but not exclusively, through the provision of workshops, exhibitions and demonstrations. Trustees, Annual Report - BWDF November 2024
The focus of our activities remains the Well Dressing Festival which takes place in Buxton every July. This includes the preservation of the historical tradition of a Well Dressing Festival in Buxton which began in 1840. The festival includes: The annual dressing of the floral boards. This includes the engagement with students from Buxton Community School who design and dress their own floral boards. The blessing ceremony. where local dignitaries, clergy and town's people process through the town blessing each well dressing and giving thanks for the provision of water. The selection and crowning of a Well Dressing Queen and Retinue. The Well Dressing Queen and Retinue represent Buxton at events in Buxton and the surrounding region. A carnival parade around the streets of Buxton. creating a day of celebration in the town supported and enjoyed by many organisations, individuals and businesses. A fun fair on Buxton Market Place for the entertainment of the people of Buxton and the surrounding area. Other events and competitions. Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit) Details and information can be found on our website: www.buxtonwelldressing.co.uk Additlonal details of objectives and activities (Optional information) A great contribution is made by member volunteers and other volunteers from Buxton. We are grateful for the many hours volunteers have spent working to make the Buxton Well Dressing Festival a success. Without this valuable contribution of time, energy and expertise we would not have been able to maintain our traditional festival. You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about.. policy on grantmaking., policy programme related investment" We are also grateful for the financial contribution made by donation. sponsorship and grants that allows the costs of staging the festival events to be met. contribution made by volunteers. Thank you to everyone. Trustees, Annual Report- BWDF November 2024
Section D Achievements and performance Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year During 2024 we have organised the full range events of the Buxton Well Dressing Festival. The Well Dressings celebrated the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery and celebrating the Earth's Biological Diversity. In the Pump Room the lion-head fountain commemorated 60 years of Buxton's Mountain Rescue, and the pupils from Buxton Community School designed and dressed the Children's Well on Spring Gardens. The Buxton Well Dressing Festival Queen and Rosebud were crowned by Maureen Kitchen who has been involved in all aspects of the festival and, for many years, has dedicated her time organising the Buxton Well Dressing Royalty. This has included arranging events and creating spectacular dresses. Our Queen and Retinue have won many awards whilst representing Buxton in neighbouring carnivals and events. Last-minute changes had to be coped with this year.. Our reservation of St John's Church as a venue for petalling and crowning the queen had to be changed when the church hosted events for Buxton International Festival. Medical cover on Carnival Day had to be adapted to meet demands from Emergency Services. Thank you to everyone for their hard work. Trustees, Annual Report- BWDF November 2024
Section E Financial review Brief statement of the charity's policy on reserves We endeavour to hold reserves to cover one year's expenses of running the Buxton Well Dressing Festival Details of any funds materially in deficit Not applicable Further financial review details (Optional information) You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about: the charity's principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)., how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity., investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. Our principal sources of funding remain: Public collections made during the carnival and at the well dressings Sponsorship and grants Advertising revenue for our programme Fund raising events We thank everyone for their generous support. Details of income and expenditure will be reported in detail at our AGM on 26th November 2024. Section F Other optional information Section G Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signature{s) Full name{s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Richard Lower Chair Date /7 Q,,• 20£ Trustees, Annual Report - BWDF November 2024
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