Guildford Book Festival Reglstered Charity No. 1158746 Reglstered Company Number 8971550 (England & Wales) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 December 2024 Ww￿,.gUildf0rdbonkfG'stIVa1.ef).uk CHARITY OVERVIEW Registered name: Guildford Book Festival Registered Charity No: Registered Company No: Registered Office: 1158746 8971550 Changed from 79 Binscombe Lane. Godalming GU7 3QH to 2 Hindmoor Manor, Hindhead Road, Hindhead GU26 6AX on 10.09.24. Secretsry John Thorp (r8signed 29.07.24) Emma McKenzie (appointed 09.09.24) Patricia Graybum MBE DL Linda Philippson (Chairman to 08.01.24,' reslgned as trust8a 10.06.24) Nikki Nelson-smith (appointed Chairman 08.01.24) Gordon Jackson John Thorp (resigned 29.07.24) Will Salmon Andrew Whitby-Collin8 Christopher Wade Jan8 Purnell Michael Hacon Susan Lea (appolnted 09.09.24) Emma McKonzie (appointed 09.09.24) Alexandra Andrews Trust8eslDirectors.' Festival Director: Treasurgr., Michael Hacon Independent examiner: Sue Reeki8, CPFA 2024 SPONSORS Festival funders: Guildford Borough Council Cressive DX Martin Grant Homes Simba Sleep Old Dungate Press Worshipful Co of Makers of Playing Cards Arts for Impact Angus Stovold Festival supporters: Waterstones The Haslemere Bookshop Patricia Grayburn Media partners: BBC Surrey Round & About The Guildford Magazine Muddy Stilettos Vantag8 Point The Guildford Dragon REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES Constltution Guildford Book Festival is a company limited by guarantse, formed on 1 April 2014, which was registered with the Charity Commission as a charity on 1 October 2014 and commenced trading in 2015. The company now runs the Guildford Book Festival previously run by an unincorporated charity No. 1131040. Management The Guildford Book Festival is managed by the Board of Trustees named on page 2. The Trustees engage the services of an independent contractor, Alex Andrews, to act as Festival Director and to administer the day-to-day operations of the Guildford Book Festival. The arrangement for marketing and sponsorship functions remained unchanged - the Festival Director worked closely with Wigwam PR. Linda Philippson was Chaimian from 12 December 2022 until 8th January 2024, on which date Nikki Nelson-smith was appointed Chairman. Charitsble Objèctives To advanc8 éducation for the public benefit by promoting and providing opportunities for the appreclation, understanding and enjoyment of Ilterature and the arts, in particular by operating an annual literary Festlv81. This key oblects've is achleved through the following subsidiary objectives.. Deliver a financially sustainable Festival Ralse awareness of the Festival Encourage a love of books and reading In young people Calebrate books and reading Ensure equality of access to all members of the local community Enable adults to develop creative writing skills Promote Guildford as an arts and cuEtural centre Trustees Trustoos are elected under the terms of the Articles of Association. Regular reviews ar8 held to identify any expertise gaps within the Board of Trustees and appointments made when required to strengthen the Board of Trustees, subject to all Trustees, approval. No other person or external body is entitled to appoint any Trustees of the charity. The Trustees who served during the year and after the period end are shown on page 2. Statement of Publlc bon6flt The Trustees confimi that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefrt published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties. ACTIVITIES OF THE CHARITY The 2024 Festival was held from 6th to 20th October 2024, with a few events held just prior and after this period. The programme for schools ran throughout the year. Th8 Maln Festival Guildford Book Festival aims to encourage people to open books and to inspire a love of reading. Our main Festival this year curated 37 events over 20 days in 17 different venues. We hosted 54 authors and attracted 2,900 audience members. Each event encouraged audience participation and people could talk to each author afterwards as their book was being signed. Some events were outdoor walking events, some were creative events, some were partnership events that included music or were for specific groups of people. Each event celebrated books and encouraged both a love of reading and of discussion. Using different venues helped us to promote Guildford as an arts and cultural centre. Events & Venues We kicked off 2024 by welcoming back Spring Readers, Day to Grade 1 listed building West Horsley Place and a packed line-up of speakers including Sunday Times bestseller Elly Griffiths. The return was popular and gave us the opportunity to invite sponsors, authors, patrons and Festival supporters to showcase the ev8nt and invite them for a buffet lunch in the main house. With contlnued high parf(ing charges in Gulldford town ￿ntre, W8St Horsley Place was once again also used for our most popular Festival events in the autumn: Readers, Day and History Day. The venue has continued to grow in popularity since it was used to film the BBC ￿ series Ghosts and with free parking and a line-up of excellent Speakers both events were once again sold out. Guests were able to book separately for tours of the main house in their lunch break and either bring their own lunch or pre-order a packed lunch (included in the ticket) in the beautiful grounds. We hosted a variety of events over three nights in The Electric Theatre with Festival favourite Kate Mosse, veteran China expert Michael Sheridan, award-winning writer and producer. Lynda La Plante. Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant and queen of Latin ballroom. Shirley Ballas. History events proved more popular than ever, and we retumed to Guildford's historic Guildhall where we welcomed Henry Hemmlng, Patrick Crowley, Kate Summerscale and Ava Glass. This year we retumed to St Mary's Church (the oldast building in Guildford) for fitting historical events with Amy Jeffs, Ana Sampson and highly acclaimed podcaster Paul Cooper. Wa were delighted to ratum to the nawly refurbishod County Club in Guildford High Street for a Literary Dinner with Festival patron Adele Parks. This was another sell-out event with a large percentage of the audience buying books after the event. A two-course meal was included in the ticket. One of our newest venues, Guildford Baptist Church welcomed worldwide master storyteller Alexander Mccall Smith in conversation with Stephanie Merritt and he spoke about his two latest books. Reachlng and ongaging with audiences With th8 popularity of family events, and in particular a hugely popular event with Kes Gray, we saw more young children and families than ever before. We built on our relationship with educator Activate Learning and used Guildford College to host events with Olympic medallist and former World Champion, Iwan Thomas who spoke passionately about his autobiography. We saw many new visitors attending this event and it attracted large numbers of higher education students. This year we programmed an event with charity Books Beyond Words that co-create word- free stories for people with beaming disabilities. This saw a large attendance from Surrey Choices members who had never before att8nded one of our events. Working on The Thousand Year Tree pro]ect also enab18d us to attract many new familles to the Kes Gray Oi Dinosaurl Event, drawing an audience of over 300 at Guildford Baptist Church. Two ROAR-some family events took place at newly renovated Leith Hill Place where palaeontologist Professor Anjali Goswami who works at the Natural History Museum in London brought along some real-life dinosaur bones from her travels. Hugely popular illustrator and environmentalist Yuval Zommer lead a nature workshop in the grounds of Watts Gallery, where children created beautiful art using twigs, seed pods, petals and leaves from around the grounds of the maln house. Older children were invited to a free event and planted a tree with award-winning garden writer and broadcaster, Kate Bradbury. She spoke about her latest book - One Garden Against the Wortd - and how even the smallest of garden spaces can make positive impact on the environment and mental health. Partnershlp Programm8 The Festival once again collaborated with a number of local groups including Wey Poets, Guildford Jazz, Surrey Choices, Surrey Hills Society, Amnesty International and The Hive Community Centre. The event at The Hive was a free community event for 100 people with local author Emma Snow. This yearfs Amnesty Intematlonal event welcomed Mathilda Della Torre who spoke passionately about her experience volunteering in the French port city of Calais and the thousands of displaced people whose voices ara so often silenced or ignored. The event with Guildford Jazz was hugely popular with music and a talk from Alyn Shipton and a performance of Mulligan's music by a live quartet featuring Alan Bames on baritone. Tickets for the community events were advertised via our brochure and website and given out on a first-come-first-served basis to the general public. We then gave 50 free tiGkets to aldorly patrons of Tha Hiva who were able to listen to tho author talk and thon take part in lunch and activities inspired by the book on the history of the NHS. Partnerships with the Untversity of Surrey meant that highly knowledgeable lecturers such as Simon Curtis (Senior Lecturer in Intemational Relations) were able to interview authorlspeakers, and we could offer their students free or significantly discounted tickets to events. Book sales Waterstones Guildford continued as the main festival bookseller- selling books at the majority of events and setting up a pop-up bookshop in the foyer of The Electric Theatre. During the Festival more than 700 books were sold, and publishers hold us up as having a good audience to book sales ratio. Local independent bookshop The Haslemere Bookshop continued to supply books ft)r the schools. programme throughout the year. Volunteers The role of volunteers continued to be invaluable, and the Trust88s are grateful for this support. The Festival itself included a totsl of 68 'slots' which were supported by 27 volunteers (an average of over 2 events per volunteer). Each event had volunteers with a range of experience, with an acting team leader to guide and support newer members. Volunteers also assisted in the distribution of Festival brochures - a vital part of driving ticket sales - widening th8 reach outside Guildford to include Woking, Redhill, Haslemer8. Chiddingfold, Grayshott, Milford, Hambledon, Farnham & Aldershot. Schools, Programme As mentioned in our introduction, the schools. programme happens throughout the year. The schools, programme continued to grow again in 2024 seeing pupils from over 18 local state schools and 5,000 children. Authors ranged from Ally Sherrick with her middle-grade historical fiGtion. to James Carter entertaining younger pupils with his hilarious poetry and music on Steva th6 Melodica. This year we onhanced the offering to secondary schools and held events surrounding Shakespeare's Slsters by Ramie Targoff and Woman Upl by Carrie Dunn. We also worked on the creation of the Brilliant Book Awards with librarian Geraldine Tame from Holy Trinity Pewley Down School in Guildford and the West Surrey Partnership. The award aims to connect children to new authors and their books. Children from schools across Surrey were sent free copies of the shortlisted books and voted on their overall favourit8 book - the winner was Wild Oak by C.C. Harrington, who spoke to the children via video link from her home in the US. Children were invitad along to the ceremony in June with host Jack Meggitt-Phillips who writes The Beast and the Bethany series. In March 2024 we ran an Arts for Impact campaign with the Big Give and raised £5,500 for our schools. programme. This enabled us to give away hundreds of free books to pupil premium students and also run an illustration W0￿shOp for 30 children with bestselling authorlillustrator Jonny Duddle. The workshop took place at Watts Gallery Artist's Village in thoir Clore studio. All pupils attending were able to participate in an exciting full day of illustration lessons with the illustrator. With the help of local schools, we were able to provide transport, lunch, a lunchtime tour of tha stunning Grada-1 listad terracotta Chapal on site, and every child went home with a goody bag containing art supplies. We worf(ed closely with teachers on selecting those pupils for these sessions that wouldn't usually get the opportunity for art lessons and such a valuable experience. We Gollaborated with the Surrey Hills Society, Surrey Hills National Landscape, Surrey County Council, Surrey Libraries and introduced them to Old Dungate Press who package and printed The Thousand Year Tree. This stunning, 32-page paperback book was co- authored by a class of year 4 children who worked with an author and an illustrator during a series of indoor and on-site workshops. It celebrates and brings to life the ancient yew trees at Newlands Comer, introducing young readers to the thousand years of history the trees have witnessed. The book was then published in October 2024 and the endpapers for the book were designed via a Surrey-wide competition, which attracted 542 entries across all 52 Surrey libraries. The winner of the competition was revealed by illustrator Kes Gray at a Guildford Book Festival event in the main Festival. We are keen to high'fjjttythat even in leafy Surrey. there are people suffering high levels of deprivation - we worked closely with teachers and staff from local schools to bnng authors and illustrators into schools in these areas. Guildford has two of the four most deprived wards in Surrey and we believe that author and illustrator visits to schools have a positive relationship on children and young people's reading, writing and drawing skills, and potentially on their longer-term aspirations. Funding and Sponsorshlp The Book Festival re￿iVed grant funding from Guildford Borough Council. Sponsorship came from local and national businesses including Cressive DX, Martin Grant Homes, Angus Stovold, Simba Sleep and Old Dungate Press. As already mentioned, we received funding from the Big Glve and our 8uccessful Arts for Impact Campaign. Th& Kingfisher Farm Shop in Abinger Hammer and Squires Garden Centre in Milford kindly provided 150 seed packets between them to distribute in the goody bags we provided at Spring R8ad&rs' Day. Reservès Pollcy The Trustees have adopted a reserves policy, which saeks to ensure that the Guildford Book Festival maintains a positive cash balance throughout the year and concludes each financial year with adequate reserves to ensure financial continuity into the following year and Festival season. ReseNes at the end of this reporting year were £29,888. FlnanGlal Performance The Trustees a￿ once again grateful for the support from Guildford Borough Council. This year funding was £5,000. compared to £8,000 in 2023. The Trustees are conscious of the financial pressures faclng local govemment. While considerable effort was made to source sponsorship income, 2024 proved to be a challenging year with the tightening of sponsors, budgets. Such income this year was £13,974, compared to £16,077 in 2023. The addltion of the Spring Readers, Day in 2024, together with a small ticket price increase introduced this year for the main Festival events, contributed to ticket income total of £37,324, an increase of £6,831 (representing 22 % ) compared to this income in 2023, £30,493. Waterstones and The Haslemere Bookshop provided valuable support to the Festival by paying commission on sale5 of books at Guildford Book Festival events. While every effort was made to manage expenditure, most costs increased. In particular, venue hire rose to £8,791 this year compared to £6.129 in 2023. This in part was due to the running of an additional event in 2024: Spring Readers, Day. The overall consequence of the financial changes in 2024 meant that Guildford Book Festival delivered a net income of £1,533 for the year, compared to net income of £9,282 in 2023. Festival Director The Trustees are grateful to the Festival Director, Alex Andrews, for her valuable work and for organising a successful Festival. Emma McKenzie Director and Secretary 10 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT To the Trustses of the Guildford Book Festlval I report on the financial ststements for the period ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 11 to 15. RespectNe responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent examlner The charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the financial statements under section 145 of the Charities Act. follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and state whether particular matters have come to my attentlon. Basls of Independent examiner's 8tat8ment My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wlth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, view and the report Is limited to those matters set out in the ststement below. Independent examlner's statement In connection with my examination, no material matter has come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that, in any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with s130 of the Charitles Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts dld not comply wlth the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a "true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report on order to enable a proper understandlng of the aGGounts to be reached. Signed: 3 k44th' Date: 26 May 2025 GUILDFORD BOOK FESTIVAL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 December 2024 2023 Incoming resources Unrestrlcted funds Incomlng resources from generating funds: Voluntary income 19,656 25,001 Activities for generatlng funds 3,218 3,478 InGoming resources from charitable activiti&s 37,324 30,493 Total Incomlng r•sourcos 60,198 58,972 Resources expended Costs of generating voluntary funds 4.413 4,002 Charltable activities 54,204 45.688 Governance 48 Total resources expended 58.665 49,690 Net Incomlng rn8ource81(deficlt) 1.533 9,282 12 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024 2023 Flxed assets Current assets Cash at bank Debtors 30.726 1.735 27,479 2,899 Total assets 32.461 30,378 Creditors 2.573 2.023 NET ASSETS 29,888 28,355 Resources Unrestrlcted funds Resources as at 1 Jan 28,355 19,073 9,282 Net incomlng resources 1,533 Restricted funds TOTAL RESOURCES 29,888 28,355 For the financial year in question the company was entitled to exemptlon under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 ralating to small companies. No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with th8 requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with th8 provisions applicable to the companies subject to the small companies, regime. Guildford Book Festival has opted not to deliver a copy of the profit and loss accounts. Approved at a meeting of the Trustees on D g £025 and signed on their behalf by Director and Secretary 13 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the period ended 31 December 2022 Basis of preparation 1.1 Basis of accounting These financial statem8nts have been prepared on a historic cost basis and in accordance with., Accountlng and Reporting by Charities - Statement of Recommended Practica Relevant Accounting Standards Charities Act 2011 2. Accounting policies Incoming resources Recognitlon of Incoming resources These are included in the Statement of Financlal Activlties (SOFA) when: the charity becomes entitled to the resources the Trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources. and the monetary valua can b8 measured with sufficient reliability Incoming resources with related expenditure Wh8re incoming resources hava related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract incom8), thè incoming resources and related expendlture are reported gross in the SOFA. Grants and donatlons Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources. Gifts in kind Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable 8Stimate of their value to the charity or tho amount actually realised. Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are Included In the accounts as gifts only when sold or distributed by the charity. Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SOFA 88 incoming resources when receivable. Donated services and facilities These are only included in inGoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charlty is réasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received. Expenditure and Ilabilltles Resources expended Resources expended are includ8d in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis. inclusive of any VAT. which cannot be r8¢overed. Assets Tangible fixed asséts for use by the charlty These are capitalised if they Can be used for more than one y&ar, and cost at least £1,000. They are valued at cost or, rf gifted, at the value to the charity on rec8iPt. Depreciation is asse888d on a straight-line basis over the lifelime of the asset. 14 3. Incoming resources 2024 2023 3.1 Voluntary income: Guildford Borough Council Other Sponsorship Friends Membership Other 5,000 13,974 8.000 16,077 420 504 25,001 682 19.656 3.2 Activitl8s for generating funds.. Commission on book sales Advertising 2,318 900 3,218 3,128 350 3.478 3.3 Charitable activities.. Ticket income 37,324 30,493 4. R8sources 8xpended 2024 2023 4.1 Costs of generating voluntary funds: Festival Director Administration & overheads 4.275 138 4,413 3,853 149 4,002 4.2 Charitable activities: Festival Director Author & other professional fees & expenses Venue hire & expenses Marketing Books Administration & overheads 24,225 6,340 8,791 11,136 1,380 2,332 54,204 21,831 4,481 6,129 10,044 1,600 1,603 45,688 4.3 Governance.. Strategy meeting The Trustees, Treasurer and Independent Examiner provide their services without receiving any remuneration or expenses. 48 15 5. Donated serrfices The Guildford Book Festival relies heavily on its supporters and volunteers who donate their seniices for no remuneration. The value of these services cannot be reasonably quantified and so have not been reflected in these financial statements. 6. Related party transactions There We￿ no related paty transactions for the reporting year.