STRATFORD LITERARY FESTIVAL
A charitable incorporated organisation
no.] 164662
TRUSTEES, REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 December 2023
CONTENTS
Trustee5' Report
Pages2-6
Independent Examiner's Report
Pages7-8
Statement of Financial Activities
Page 9
Statement of Financial Position
Page 10
Notes to the financial statements
Page 11 16
)fy.
BaillieGifford-
UNIVERSITYOF
BIRMINGHAM
irT CO

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.I 164662
TRusfEES' REPORT
for the year ended 31 December 2023
The trustees submlt thelr report and flnanclal statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
AJMS. OIJEcnvES & AcnvmES
The alms and obJectlves of the charlty are..
to advance educatlon by promotlng and provldlng opportunltles for the appreclatlon. understandlng
and enjoyment of Ilterature and the arts, In partlcular through promotlng and runnlng a Ilterary festlval
and educatlonal outreach actlvltles prlmarlly In the Stratford-upon-Avon area.
to provlde rellef to those at a soclal dlsadvantage because of age or111 health through Ilterary related
actfvltles whlch are deslgned to relleve lonellness or Isolatlon and encourage a sense of purpose and
self-worth.
The Trustees conflrm that they have referred to the Charlty Commlsslon's guldance on Charltles and Publlc
Beneflt when revlewlng the charlty's alms and objectlves.
ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE
The Stratford Llterary Festlval's charltable alm Is to Inform and educate through the prornotlon of books,
wrltlng and readlng. The Festlval marked 16 years In 2023 and dellvered a Ilve festlval In May and
November. Audlences were back wlth confldence after the Covld dlsruptlon, and May 2023 proved to be
our most flnanclally successful Festlval to date. The Autumn festlval also proved successful. We plcked
up two further Lead Sponsors.
We contlnued to dellver projects In schools wlth author vlslts, and to dellvered 6 workshops In prlsons.
Our Books wlth Frlends rnonihly book group thrlved and Is over-subscrlbed wlth meetlngs back to face
to face. Successful bld appllcatlons have proved a challenge as the credlt crlsls means there are more
demands on Trusts and Foundatlons. but the festlval Secured unreserved local councll support and
UK5PF levelllng up fundlng.
Page 2

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A chafftable Incorporated oryanlsatlon no.1 164662
for the year ended 31 t>ecember 2023
NANCKL RNEW
The results for the year are set out In the annexed Statement of Flnandal Artlvltles. There was a surplus
of £49,805 on the year's actfvltles. The balance sheetat the end of the year Is satlsfactory. The unrestrfcted
reserves In hand are £47.136 whlch represents l 8% of Income. The trustees belleve that It Is prudent to
hold reserves of 15% of Income to provlde a contlngency agalnst unexpetted shorrfalls In Income. whlch
Is the prlmary rlsk faced by the charlty.
The operatlng surplus for the year arlses prlmarlly because tlcket sales for both the Sprlng and Wlnter
festlvals exceeded expertatlons. The charlty recebved a one-off grant of £20.000 from Stratford Dlstrlrt
Councll and thls has been placed In a Deslgnated Fund to support artlvltles In 2024 and 2025, as there
are concerns about the Ilkely level of tlcket and fundralslng Income In those rwo flnandal years.
The Trustees belleve that the charlty can contlnue as a golng concem for at least the next rwelve months
and that, as a result. no changes need to be made to thls Report and Flnanclal Sratements.
The charlty's sources of funds are:
Tlcket and book sales
144,393
Sponsorshlp
Grants
61.21x1
30,839
Donatlons
12,460
Other Income
8.724
Total
257.616
Page3

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
TRusfEES' REPORT
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Constltutlon
Stratford Llterary Festlval Is a charltable Incorporated organlsatlon governed by Its Constltutlon.
Thistees
Anna Ashworth
David Fletcher
Phllip Heath (appointed 30th March 2023)
Archie G Kane {reslgned 31si December 2023)
Dlana Owen
Madelelne Parker
Julia Wheeler
Apart from the flrst charlty trustees. every trustee must be appolnted for a term of three years by a
resolutlon passed at a properly convened meetlng of the charlty trustees. In selecrlng Indlvlduals for
appolntment as charlty trustees. the charfty trustees must have regard to the 5kllls, knowledge and
experlence needed for the effectlve admlnlstratlon of the charlty. The charlty trustees wlll make avallable
to each new charlty trustee, on or before hls or her flrst appolntment. a copy of the charlty's latest
Trustees, Annual Report and Financlal Statements. the Charlty Commlsslon booklet about thelr legal
obligatlons under charlty law. and a copy of the Consrltutlon.
Remuneratlon to Anna Ashworth is glven for her servlces as the Dlrector of the Festtval, not for her
dutles as a trustee. No expenses are paid to trustees for the fulfllment of thelr dutles as trustees. Anna
Ashworth recetves reSmbursement of expenses Incurred as the Dlrector.
Chlef Executlve
Anna Ashworth Is Festlval Dlrertor and Chief Executive.
Independent Examlners
Cooper Adams Chartered Accountants. Reglstered In England & Wales. Company number 03861448.
Banker5
Uoyds Bank plc. 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Reglsrered In England and Wales no. 2065.
Charltvs prlnclpal address
33 Sanctus Road. Stratford-upon-Avon. CV37 9AE.
Page4

Strarford Llterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated oryanlsatlon no.l 164662
TRUSTEES. REPORT
for the year ended 31 December 2023
SUPIIORTERS
Stratford Llterary Festlval Is very grateful to the following organlsatlons for their 5UPPOrt for our
actlvlties In 2023 and 2024:
Headllne Sponsor
Balllle Glfford
Strafftird-on-Avon D15tr1ct Councll
Unlverslty of Blrnilngham
Lead Sponsors
Lodders Sollcltors
Insplred Vlllages
George Pragnell
Spec5avers
Event and Venue Sponsors
FCN Group: Montpellier Gallery: CG Optlcal. OG Optlcal," Jackson West., Shakespeare MartSneau:
Start Wlthln- Benchmark Grounds Malntenance
Advertlsers
Royal Shakespeare Company: WaNick Arts Centre. The Healthy Back Bag Company., Davld Hunt Llghtlng.
TIM Cox Assoclates. Cooper Adams Chartered Accountants. Vaughan Reynolds. Barnfleld Homecare.
Rathbones Investment Management: Stratford Bed Company
Partners
The Week: Headllne Books; Penguln Random House
Spon$ors-In-klnd
Prontaprlnt Stratford upon Avon: The Arden Hotel: MacDonald Alveston Manor Hotel.,
Crown Plaza Hotel Stratford.. Mercure Shakespeare Hotel: The Llmes Hotel., Welcombe Hotel
Booksellers
Waterstones Stratford upon Avon and Kenilworth Book5
Trusts
Heart of England., The Allen Lane Foundatlon: The 29th May 1961 Charity: Willlam Cadbury Trust:
Executors of the Felix Dennis Estate. Rlgby Foundatlon: The Seccombe Trust
Page5

Stratford Llterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.1 164662
TRUSTEES. REPORT
for the year ended 31 December 2023
TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILMES IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKrs
Statement of Trustees, responslbllltles In respect of the Flnanclal Statements
The trustees are responslble for preparing the Trustees, Report and rhe flnanclal statements In accordance
wlth appllcable law and Unlted Klngdom Accountlng Standards Iunlted Klngdom Generally Accepted
Accountlng Practlcel.
The law appllcable to charltle5 In England and Wales requlres the trustees to prepare flnanclal starements
for each flnanclal perlod whSch glve a true and falr vlew of the state of affalrs of the charity and of the
Incomlng resources and appllcation of resources of the charlty for that perlod. In preparlng these flnanclal
statements, the trustees are requlred to:
select 5ultable accountlng pollcles and then apply them conslstently.,
observe the methods and prlnclples of the Charltles SORP 2019 IFRS 102)
make Judgements and estlmate5 that are reasonable and prudent.,
state whether appllcable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any materlal
departures dlsclosed and explalned In the flnanclal statement5',
prepare the flnanclal sratements on the golng concern basls unless It Is Inapproprlate to presume
Ihat the charlty wlll contlnue In operatlon.
The trustee5 are responslble for keeplng accountlng records whlch dlsclose wlth reasonable accuracy at
any tlme the flnanclal posltlon of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the flnanclal statements
comply wlih the Charitle5 Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 and the
provisions of the Constltutlon. They are also responslble for safeguardlng the assets of the charlty and
hence for taklng reasonable steps for the prevention and detectlon of fraud and other Irregularitles.
Approved by the Board on 30 September 2024
Slgned by Davld Fletcher on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Page 6

Strdtford Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.I 164662
INDEPENDEKf EWINER'S REpoKr
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Ind•pendent oxamln•es rnport to th• trust•u of Stratlord Uterary Festlval ftha Charlty)
I report to the charlty trustees on my examlnatlon of the accounts of the Charfty for the year ended 3 7
December 2023 whlch are set out on pages 9 to l 6.
Responslbllltles and basls of r*port
As the charlty's trustees of the Charlty you are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts In
accordance wlth the requlrements of the Charltles Act 2011 ('the Act,).
I report In respect of my examlnatlon of the charlty's accounts carrled out under sectlon 145 of the Act
and In carrylng out my examlnatlon I have folltr*ed all the appllcable Dlrectlons glven by the Charlty
Commlsslon under sectlon 145(5) (b) of the Act.
Independent oxamlnerfs statement
I have cornpleted my examlnatlon. I conflm that no matters have come to My attentlon In connectlon
wlth the examlnatlon glvlng me cause to belleve that In any materlal respert:
accountlng records were not kept In respect of tho charlty as r¢qulrod by sectlon 130 of the Act or
2. the accounts do not accord wlth those records or
3. the accounts do not cornply wlth the accountlng requlrements concernlng the form and content of
accounts set out In the Charltles (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 other than any
requlrement that the account5 glve a 'true and falr vlew, whlch Is not a matter consldered as part
of an Independent examlnatlon.
I have no concems and have come across no other matters In connectlon wlth the examlnatlon to whlch
attentlon should be drawn In thls report In order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be
reached.
Page 7

Stratford Llterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
INDEPENDEKf EXAMINER'S REPORT
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Davld C Cooper FCA
For and on behalf of Cooper Adams Ltd
Chartered Accountants
12 Payton Street
Stratford upon Avon
Warwlckshlre
CV37 6UA
Date: 30 September 2024
Page 8

Stratlord Llterary Fesuval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.I 164662
srATEMEKf OF FINANCIAL AcfMTIES
for the ended 31 December 2023
Unrostrlcted Income Dulgnated
funds
funds
fvnds
Total
2022
2023
Incomlng resources
Donatlons and legacles
Charltable acrlvltles
8.998
14.301
20,000
43.299
22,760
210,117
4.200
214,317
147,524
Toral
219.115
18.501
20.000 257.616 170,284
Resources expended
Ralslng funds
Charltable actlvltles
12.475
12,475
9.438
176.835
18,501
195,336
163.562
189.310
18.501
207.811
173.000
N¢t Incomel(•xp•ndltur•)
29.805
20.0fy)
49.805
<2.716)
Transfers between funds
Nat m(mfflent In funds
29.80S
zo.000
49.80S
(2.716)
Recoftclllatlon of fvnds:
Total funds brought fornard
Total fvnds carrled
foThvard
17.331
17,331
20,047
47.136
20.000
67,136
17,351
The notes on pages l I to 16 forni part of these flnanclal statements.
Page 9

Stratford Llterary Festtval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
srATEmE￿f OF FINANCIAL POSITION
As at 31 December 2023
Restrlcted
Income Deslgnated
funds
funds
Unrestrfcted
funds
Total
2023
Total
2022
Notes
Current Assets
Debtors & Prepayment5
Cash at bank
17,46S
17,465
2,334
91,362
20.000
111,362
39.258
Total
108.827
20,000
128,827
41,592
Credltors: amounts
falllng due wlthln one year
Net current
assets/lllabllltles)
io
61,691
61.691
24,261
47,136
20,000
67.136
17,331
Total net assets
47,136
20,000
67,136
17,331
Funds of the Charlty
13
Resrrlcted Income funds
Deslgnated funds
Unrestrlcted funds
20.000
20,000
47,136
47,136
17,331
Total fund5
47.136
20.000
67.136
17.331
The notes on pages I I to 16 form part of these flnanclal staternents.
Approved by the Board on 30 September 2024
Slgned by Davld Fletcher on behalf of rhe Board of Trustees
Page io

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A charftable Incorporated organlsatlon no.I 164662
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKrs
for the year ended 31 December 2023
NOTE I - BASIS OF PREPARATION
The flnanclaj statements are prepared on a golng concern basls under the hlstorlcal c05t conventlon,
wlth Items recognlsed at cosi or transacrlon value unless otherwlse stated In the relevant notels) to
these accounts.
The charlty constltutes a publlc benefft entlty as deflned by FRS 102. The flnanclal statements have been
prepared In accordance wlth the Charltles SORP (FRS 102) 'Accountlng and Reportlng by Charltles:
Statement of Recommended Practlce appllcable to charltles preparfng thelr accounts In accordance wlth
the Flnanclal Reportlng Standard appllcable In the UK and Republlc of Ireland (FRS 102) leffectlve I
January 2019),. Flnanclal Reportlng Standard 7 02 'The Flnanclal Reportlng Standard appllcable In the UK
and Republlc of Ireland, and the Companles Act 2006.
The charlty has taken advantage of the followlng dlsdosure exemptlon In preparlng these flnanclal
statements as permltted by FRS 102 'The Flnanclal Reportlng Standard appllcable In the UK and Republlc
of Ireland,: the requlrements of Sectlon 7 Statement of Cash Flows.
NOTE 2 - AccouKllNG POUCIES
Income
Income Is Included In the Statement of Flnandal Actfvltles when the charlty becomes entltled to
the resources, and when It Is more Ilkely than not that the trustees wlll recelve the resources,
and when the monetary value can be measured wlth sufflclent rellablllty.
There has been no offsertlng of assets and Ilablllties, or income and expenses. unless requlred
or pemiltted by the FILS 102 or SORP.
Grants and donatlons are onty Included In the SOFA when the general Income recognltlon crlterla
are met.
Contrartual Income and performance related grants are onty Included In the SOFA once the
charlty has provlded the related goods or seThlces or met the performance related condlrlons.
Donated ser¥lces and faclllties rhar are consumed Immedlately are recognised as Income wlth an
equlvalent amouni recognlsed as an expense under the approprlate headlng In the SOFA.
The value of any voluntary help recelved Is not Included in the accounts but Is descrlbed In the
trustees, annual report.
2.2 Expendlture and Uabllltles
Llabllltles are recognlsed where It Is more Ilkefy than not that there Is a legal or constructlve
obligatlon commlttlng the charlty to pay out resources and the amount of the obligatlon can be
measured with reasonable certainty.
The charlty has credltors whlch are measured at settlement amounts less any trade dlscounts.
Pageu

Strdtford Llterary Fe5tlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.I 164662
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMEKrs
for the year ended 31 December 2023
2.3 Assets
Debtors are measured on initlal recognltlon at settlernent arnount after any trade dlscounts.
Subsequentty. they are measured at the cash or other conslderation expected to be received.
2.4 Funds
Unrestrlcted funds are avallable for use at the dlscretion of the trustees in furtherance of the
general objectives of the charlty and whlch have not been designated for other purposes.
Restrlcted funds are funds whlch are to be used in accordance wlth spedflc restrlctlons Imposed
by donors or whlch have been ralsed by the charity for partlcular purposes. The cost of ralslng
and admlnlsterlng such funds are charged agalnsr the speaftc fund. The alm and use of each
restrltted fund is set out In the notes to the flnancial statemenis.
Total
2023
Totsl
2022
funds
funds
funds
NOTE 3 - ANALYSIS OF INCOME
Donatlons and legacles
Donatlons and glfts
General grants provided
g¢)vernmentlother tharltles
Donated goods. facllltles and
services
8,998
3.462
12.460
9,260
10.839
20.000
30.839
8,000
5,500
8.998
14,301
20.000
43.299
22.760
Charltable actmtles
Tlcket and ljook sales
144,393
144,393
76,062
Sponsorshlp
Advertlslng
Schools programme
Prlsons programme
Other
55,700
55.700
54,900
5.500
5.500
4,700
600
600
4,545
4.200
4.200
6.367
3.924
3,924
950
210.117
4.200
214,317
147.524
Page12

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A tharftable Incorporated organ15atlon no.I 164662
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKrs
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Unrestrfcted
Restrlcted
fvnds Income funds
Total 2023
Total 2022
NOTE 4 - DONATED GOODS, FACIUTIES AND SERVICES
Use of property
Webslte support
5.500
5,500
Donated goods. facllltles and servlces are valued at market rates.
NOTE 5 - ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE
Ralslng fund5
Dlrettor's salary costs
Fundra151ng costs
io,000
2,475
12,475
io,000
2.475
6,000
3,438
9.438
12.475
Charltable actfvltles
Authors and performers
Venue Hlre
41.534
40,961
2,773
7.834
17.705
2.535
41.534
40,967
2,773
7,834
17,705
2.535
6,524
2.962
1.345
I s.000
11,562
33,877
10.724
30,548
30.650
2.379
7.446
23.261
4.515
Book purchases
Staff costs
Other Festlval costs
Schools programme
Prlsons programme
Books wlth frlends
6,524
2.962
,345
2,000
6,227
3,616
3,852
9.000
7.884
23,876
10.308
Other Projecrs
Dlrectovs salary c05tS
Other staff
13.000
11,562
29,127
9.804
Marketlng and PR
Overheads
4,750
920
176.835
18.501
195,336
163.562
NOTE 6 - DEfAILS OF CERTAIN ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE
Independent examlner's fee
2,000
2,000
2.000
1,800
2,000
1.800
Page

StratFord Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organisatlon no.I 164662
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKrs
for the year ended 31 December 2023
2023
2022
NOTE 7 - PAID EMPLOYEES
Staff Costs
Salarles and wages
Soclal securlty Costs
Total staff costs
37,765
24.974
37,765
24.974
No employees recelved employee beneflts lexcludlng employer penslon costs) for the
reportlng perlod of more than £60.000
Total amount pald to key management personnel (Includes
trustees and senlor managemenr) for thelr servlces to the
charlty
26,300
17.200
Avernge head count In the
The parts of the charfty In whlch the employees work
Fundralslng
Charftable AcrEvltles
Total
NOTE 9 - DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS
Trade debtors
16,446
Prepayments and accrued Income
1,019
2,334
Total
77.465
2,334
All amounts fall due wlrhln one year
NOTE I O - CREDrroRS AND ACCRUALS
Trade credltors
Payment5 received on account for contracts or
performance-related grants
Accruals and deferred Incomè
45.544
12.998
7,433
8,140
Taxatlon and social securlty
Total
8,714
3,123
61.691
24.261
Allamounts falldue wlthin one year
Page14

Stratford Llterary FesUval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.1 164662
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATrIEpirs
for the year ended 31 December 2023
2023
2022
NOTE I I - CASH AT BANKAND IN HAND
Short term deposlts
Cash at bank and on hand
70,557
40.805
39.258
111.362
39.258
NOTE 12 - FAIR VALUE OF ASSEfs AND UABILMES
Debtors still outstandlng at the date of slgnlng this reporr are less than £l.000 (2022: £nll) and
there are no financlal Instruments or imiestments SO the charlty carrles no rlsk In these areas.
NOTE 13 - CHARITY FUNDS
Fundbalances
brought fonvard Income
Expen-
Fundbalances
dlture fransfers carrled fotward
Fund names
Restrlcted funds
Books wlth Frtends
2.962
2.962
Fellx Dennls Prlze
1.500
i.soo
Prlsons Project
8,924
8.924
Levelllng up
5.115
5.115
18.501
18.501
Deslgnated Funds
Unrestrlcted funds
20.000
20,000
17,331 219.115 189,310
47,136
17,331 257.616 207.811
67.136
Restrfrtedfunds."
Book ￿th Frlends Is a monthty book group for older and soclally Isolated people In the communlty.
Fellx Dennls Prize funds the Young Poets Competition.
Prlsons Projert sends authors into prlsons ro help Inmates wrlte bedtlme storles for their chlldren.
Levelllng up funds bulldlng audiences to brlng people to Stratford for the benefit of the
town.
Deslgnatedfvnds."
The grant from Stratford Dlstrlct Council has been deslgnated to SUPPOrt operatlons In 2024 and 2025

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKrs
for the year ended 31 December 2023
NOTE 14 - TRANSAcfioNS wrrH TRUSTEES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES
Trustee remuneratlon and beneffts
rnistee n47me
Legal aurhorlty
Remuneratlon Pension
Other TOTAL
Annle Ashworth
Governlng document
26.300
26.300
Remuneratlon to Annle Ashworth Is made for her servlces as the Director of the FestSval.
not for her dutles a5 a trustee. No expenses are pald to trustees for the fulfllment of thelr
dutles as trustees. Annie Ashworth recelves relmbursement of expenses Incurred as the
Dlrertor.
Transa¢tlons wlth related partles
Name of the
trustee orrelated
party
None
L>escrlptlon of
transactsonlsj
Relatlonshlp to charlty
Amount
Occaslonally donatlons are given by trustees. No beneflts are glven lft return for these
donations.
Page 16