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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