STRATFORD LITERARY FESTIVAL
A charitable incorporated organisation
no.I 164662
TRUSTEES, REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 December 2024
CONTENTS
Trustees, Report
Pages2-6
Independent Examiner's Report
Pages7-8
Statement of Financial Activlties
Page 9
Statement of Financial Position
Page 10
Notes to the financial statements
Page 11 16
0￿7)*.
BaillieGifford-
Howthornden
Foundation
"*icrco

Strarford Llterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated oryanlsatlon no.I 164662
for the year ended 31 December 2024
The trustees submlt thelr report and flnanclal statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
AIMS, OBJEcnvES & AcnvmES
The alms and objectlves of the tharlty 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 otjtreach actlvltles prlmarlty In the Stratford-upon-Avon area.
to provlde rellef to those at a sodal dlsadvantage because of age or111 health through Ilterary related
actlvltles whlch are deslgned to relleve lonellness or IsolatSon and encourage a sense of purpose and
self-worth.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred ro the Charlty Commlsslon's guldance on Charltles and Publlc
BenÈflt when revlewlng the charlty's alms and objectlves.
ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE
The Stratford Uterary Festlval's charltable alm Is to Inform and educate through the promotlon of books,
wrltlng and readlng. The Fesrlval marked 17 years In 2024 and dellvered two festlvals In May and
October. Desplte a flre In our venue In May 24 hours before the festlval started. we were able to deltver
the festlval from dlfferent venues and clalm back losses through Insurance. The October festlval was
very successful wlth tlcket sales above target. In June. we lost our headllne sponsor Balllle Glfford due to
fossll fuel actlvlsm at other festlvals that It supported. Balllle Glfford took the declslon to wlrhdraw Its
entlre Ilterary festlval support. We also lost two lead sponsors as a result of budget pressures on those
companles. We recelved some Impromptu support from three publlshlng companles and the
Hawthornden Foundatlon but our alm for 2025 Is to ensure fundralslng Is central to our actlvltles.
We contlnued to dellver projects In schools wlth author vlslts. and delfvered 9 workshops In prlsons. The
demand for these workshops Is growlng and prlsons can contrlbute somethlng t(Mards costs. Our 8ook5
wlth Frlends monthly book group thrlved and Is over-subscrfbed wlth meetlngs back to face to face.
Succe55ful bld appllcatlons have proved a challenge as the credlt crlsls means there are more demands
on Trusts and Foundatlons. but we recelved local councll 5UPPOrt and UKSPF levelllng up fundlng
granted In 2023, whlch enabled us to dellver projects and develop audlences.

Stratford Lfterary Fe5tlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.1 164662
for the year ended 31 December 2024
￿NANc￿L RNEW
The results for the year are Set out in thé annexed Statement of Financial ActNities. There was a surplus
of £46.804 on the yearfs artivitles. The balance sheet at the end of the year 5s satlsfartory.
The unrestricted reserves in hand are £1 13.939. The trustees bellede that. in normal circumstances. It Is
prudent to hold reserves of 15% of Income to provlde a contlngency agalnst unexperted shortfalls in
Income, whlch Is the primary rlsk faced by the charfty- The trustees believe that a hlgher level of reserves
Is needed at thls tlme because of the general economlc uncertainty and the loss of the 8aillle Glfford
sponsorshlp, whlch has created a particular concern around sponsorship for art5 activities.
The operating surplus for the year arises primarity because tlcket sales for both the Spring and Winter
festlvals exceeded expectatlons.
The trustees belleve that the charity can conilnue as a golng concem ft>r at leasr the nexr t¥velve months
and that, as a result. no changes need to be made to thls Report and FlnancSal Statements.
The charlty's sources of funds are:
Ticket and tK)ok sales
151.532
Sponsorshlp
56.400
Grants
24.991
Donations
25.274
Orher income
22.971
Total
281.168
Page3

Strathird Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.I 164662
for the year ended 31 December 2024
Constltutlon
Stratford Llterary Festlval Is a charltable Incorporated organlsatlon governed by Its Constltutlon.
Trusteq5
Anna Ashworth (reslgned 31 Jr July 2024)
Nell Davls {appolnted 7 5th Aprll 2025>
Davld Fletcher
Phlllp Heath (dled l June 2025
Dlana Owen
Madelelne Parker
Julla Wheeler
Apart from the flrst charlty trustees. every trustee must be appolnted for a terni of three years by a
resolutlon passed at a properly convened meetlng of the charlty trustees. In selectlng Indlvlduals for
appolntment as charlty trustees, the charlty trustees musi have regard to the skllls, knowledge and
expertence 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 latesr
Trustees, Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements, the Charlty Commlsslon booklet about thelr legal
obllgatlons under charlty law, and a copy of the Constltutlon.
Remuneratlon to Anna Ashworth Is glven for her seThlces as the Dlrertor of the Festlval. not for her
dutles as a trustee. Remuneratlon to Julla Wheeler Is glven for her servlces as an InteNlewer. not for her
dutles as a trustee. No expenses are pald to trustees for the fulfllment of thelr dutles as trustees. Anna
Ashworth recelves relmbursement of expenses Incurred as the Dlrector.
Chlef Execu
Anna Ashworth Is Festlval Dlrettor and Chlef Executlve.
Independent Examlners
Cooper Adams Charrered Accountants. Reglstered In England & Wales. Company number 03861448.
Bankers
Lloyd5 Bank plc. 25 Gresham Street. London EC2V 7HN. Reglstered In England and Wales no. 2065.
Charws Pflnclpal address
33 Sanctus Road. Stratford-upon-Avon. CV37 9AL
Page 4

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
TRUSTEES, REPORT
for the year ended 31 December 2024
SUPPORTERS
Stratford Llterary Festlval Is very grateful to the followlng organlsatlons for thelr sUPPOrt for our
actlvltles In 2024 and 2025..
Headllne Sponsor
Balllle Glfford
M￿Or Supporters
Strarford-on-Avon Dlstrlct Councll
Hawthornden Foundatlon
Unlverslty of Blrmlngham
Bloornsbury Publlshlng: Proflle Books
L•ad Sponsors
Pragnell
Davld Hunt Llghtlng
CG Optlcal
Evqnt and Vanua Sponsori
Montpelller Gallery; Shakespeare Martlneau., Start Wlthln,. Benchmark Grounds Malntenance., Flrst Look
TV, Stradfas; Warwlckshlre County Councll
Advertlsers
Royal Shakespeare Company; Warwlck Arts Centre: The Healthy Back Bag Company; TIM Cox Assoclates;
Cooper Adams Chartered Accountants: Vaughan Reynolds., Stratford Bed Companv
Partners
The Week,. Headllne Books,. Penguln Random House; Davld Flnkllng Books
Sponsors-ln-klnd
Prontaprlnt Stratford upon Avon: The Arden Hotel:
Crown Plaza Hotel Strarford: Welcombe Horel
Booksell•rs
Watersrones Stratford upon Avon and Kenllworth Books
Trusts
The Blg Glve: Heart of England., The Allen Lane Foundation: The 29th May 1961 Charlty: The Seccombe
Trust, Stratford Town Trust, Hedley Foundatlon. Ampa Foundatlon
Page5

A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
for the year ended 31 December 2024
TRusfEES' RESPONSIBILMES IN RELATION TO THE RNANCIAL sfATEMEKrs
Statement of Thistees. responslbllftl•$ lft respect of the FIn￿¢111 Statements
The trustees are responslble for preparfng the Trustees, Report and the flnanclal statements In accordance
wlth appllcable law and Unlted Klngdom Accountlng Srandards (Unlted Klngdom Generally Accepted
Accountlng Practlce).
The law appllcable to charltles In England and Wales requlres the trustee5 to prepare flnanclal 5tatementS
for each flnanclal perlod whlch glve a true and falr vlew of the state of affalrs of the charlty and of the
Incomlng resources and appllcatlon of resources of the charlty for that perlod. In preparlng these flnanclal
sratements, the trustees are requlred to:
select sultable accountlng pollcles and then apply them conslstently;
obseNe the methods and prlnclples of the Charltles SORP 2019 IFRS 102)
make Judgements and estlmates that are reasonable and prudent:
state whether appllcable accountlng standards have been followed. subject to any materlal
departures dlsclosed and explalned In the financlal statements:
prepare the flnanclal statements on the golng concern basls unless It Is Inapproprlate to presume
that the charlty wlll contlnue In operatlon.
The trustees are responslble for keeplng accountlng records whlch dlsclose wlth reasonable accuracy at
any tlme the flnanclal posltlon of rhe charfty and to enable thern to ensure that the flnanclal statements
comply wlth the Charltles Act 2011. the Charfty (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 and the
provlslons of the Constltutlon. They are also responslble for safeguardlng the assets of the chartty and
hence for taklng reasonable steps for the preventlon and detectlon of fraud and other Irregularltles.
Approved by the Board on 2rAI July 2025
Slgned by Davld Fletcher on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Page 6

Stratford Llterary Festlyal
A charltable Incorporattd organlsatlon no.l 164662
INDEPENDEKf EXAMINER'S REpoirr
for the year ended 31 December 2024
Independent examlnerfs report to the trustees of Stratford urerary FeStIv￿ Cthe Charltrf)
I report to the charlry trustees on my examlnatlon of the accounts of the Charlty for Ehe year ended 3 7
December 2024 whlch are set out on pages 9 to 16.
Responslbllltl•s and b•sl$ of report
As the charlvs trustees of the Charfry you are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts In
accordance wSth the requlrements of the Charftle5 Att 2011 I'the Act,).
I report In respect of my examlnatlon of the charlvs attounts carrled out under settlon 145 of the Act
and In carrylng out my examlnatlon I have followed all the appllcable Dlrectlons glven by the Charlty
Commlsslon under sectlon 145151 (b) of the Act.
Independent •xamln•es statem•nt
I have completed my examlnatlon. I confirm that no matters have come to my attentlon In connettlon
wlth the examlnatlon glvlng me cause to belleve that In any materlal respect-
accountlng records were not kept In respect of the charlty as requlred by sectlon 130 of the Act or
2. the accounts do not accord wlth those records or
3. the accounts do not compty 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 accounts glve a 'true and falr vlew, whlch Is not a matter consldered as part
of an Independent examlnatlon.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters In connectlon wlth the examlnatlon to vthlch
attentlon should be drawn In thls report In order to enable a proper uTrderstandlng of the accounts to be
reached.
Page 7

Stratlord Uterary Festlval
A charftable Incorporated organlsatlon no.I 164662
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
for the year ended 31 December 2024
Davld C Cooper FCA
For and on behalf of Cooper Adams Ltd
Charrered Accountants
12 Payton Street
Stratford upon Avon
Warwlckshlre
CV37 6UA
Date: 2￿1 July 2025
Page 8

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcfMTIES
for the year ended 31 December 2024
Restrlcted
Incorne
funds
Unr•stritted Deslgnated
funds
funds
2024
2023
Notes
Incomlng rosourcos
Donatlons and legacles
Charltable actlvltles
17.240
33.025
50,265
43,299
226,203
4,700 230,903 214,317
Toral
243,443
37.725 281,168 257.616
Resources expended
Ralslng funds
Charltable actlvltles
21,322
21,322
12,475
175,318
37.725 213.043
195,336
Total
196,640
37,725 234.365 207.811
Net 1ncomel(ex￿ndttUrQ1
46,803
46,803
49,805
Transfers between funds
Not mov•m•nt In funds
46,803
46.803
49.805
Reconclllatlon of fund5:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carrled
lo￿ard
47,136
20,000
67,136
17,331
93,939
20.000
113.939
67.136
The notes on pages I I to 16 form part of these flnanclal statements.
Page 9

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.1 164662
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
As at 31 December 2024
Restrfcted
Incorne
fvnds
Unrestrlcted Deslgnated
funds
funds
Total
2024
Total
2023
Notes
Current Assets
Debtors & Prepayments
Cash at bank
9.263
9.263
17.465
137.008
20.000
157.008
111,362
Total
Credltors: amounts
falllng due wlthln one year
Net current
assets/ffllabllltles)
146,271
20.IXIO
166.271
128.827
io
52,332
52,332
61,691
93.939
20,000
113.939
67,136
Total net assets
93.939
20,000
113.939
67,136
Funds of the Charfty
13
Restrlcted income funds
Deslgnated Funds
Unrestrlcted funds
20.000
20,000
20,000
93,939
93.939
47,136
Total funds
93.939
20,000
113.939
67,136
The notes on pages I I to 16 form part of these flnanclal statements.
Approved by the Board on 2nd July 2025
Slgned by Davld Flercher on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Pageio

Stratford Llterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKTS
for the year ended 31 December 2024
NOTE I - BASIS OF PREPARATION
The flnanclal statements are prepared on a golng concern basls under the hlstorical cost conventlon,
wlth Items recognlsed ar cost or transattlon value unless otherwlse stated In the relevant note(5) to
these accounts.
The charlty constltutes a publlc beneflt entlty as defined by FRS 102. The financlal statements have been
prepared In accordance wlth the Charltles SORP (FRS 102) 'Accountlng and Reporting by Charltles:
Statement of Recommended Practlce appllcable to charltle5 preparlng theSr accounts In accordance wlth
the Financlal Reporting Standard appllcable In the UK and Republlc of Ireland (FRS 102> leffectlve I
January 20191.. Flnancial Reportlng Standard 102 'The Flnanclal Reportlng Standard applicable In the UK
and Republic of Ireland, and the Companles Att 2006.
The charity has taken advantage of the followlng dlsclosure 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 - ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Income
Income Is Included In the Statement of Flnanclal Activities when the charity becomes entitled to
the resources, and when it Is more Ilkely than not that the trustees w511 recelve the resources.
and when the monetary value can be measured wlth sufflclent rellablllty.
There has been no offsetting of assets and Ilabllltles. or income and expenses, unless requlred
or pÈrmitted by the FRS 702 or SORP.
Grants and donations are only Included In the SOFA when the general income recognition criteria
are met.
Contractual Income and performance related grants are only Included In the SOFA once rhe
charlty has provlded the related goods or seNlce5 or met the perforniance related condlrlons.
Donated ser¥lces and facllities that are consumed Immedlately are recognlsed as Income wlth an
equlvalent amount recognlsed as an expense under the approprlate heading in the SOFA.
The value of any voluntary help recetved Is not Included In the accounts but Is descrlbed In the
trustees, annual report.
Expendlture and Uabllltles
Llabilltles are recognlsed where It Is more Ilkety than not that there Is a legal or constructlve
obllgatlon committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligatlon can be
measured wlth reasonable certalnty.
The charlty has credltors whlch are measured at settlement amounts less any trade dlscounts.
Pageii

Stratford Uterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l164662
NOTES TO ThE FINANCIAL STATEMEKrs
for the year ended 31 December 2024
2.3 Assets
Debtors are measured on Inltlal recognltlon at settlement amount after any trade dlscounts.
Subsequently. they are measured at the cash or other conslderatlon experted to be recelved.
2.4 Funds
Unrestrlcred funds are avallable for use at the dlscretlon of th¢ trustees In furtherance of rhe
general obJectlves of the charlty and whlch have not been deslgnated for other purposes.
Restrlcted funds are funds whlch are to be used In accordance wlth speclflc restrlctlons Imposed
by donors or whlch have been ralsed by the charlty for partlcular purposes. The cost of ralslng
and admlnlsterlng such funds are charged agalnst the speclflc fund. The alm and use of each
restrlcted fund Is set out In the notes to the flnanclal statements.
Restrlct
Incom•
funds
UnMstrfct•d D•slgnat•d
funds
Funds
Total
2024
Total
2023
NOTE 3 - ANALYSIS OF INCOME
Donatlons and legacl•$
Donatlons and glfts
General grants provlded by
governmentlother charltles
Donated goods, facllltles and
servlces
17,240
8,034
25,274
12,460
24.991
24,991
30,839
Trtal
17,240
33,02S
50,265
43,299
Charltable actMtI•s
Tlcket and book sales
151,532
151.532
144,393
Sponsorshlp
AdvertSslng
Schools programme
Prlsons programme
Other
51,400
51,400
55,700
5.000
5,000
5,500
5,225
5,225
600
4,700
4,700
4,200
13.046
13,046
3,924
Toral
226.203
4.700
230,903
214.317
Page12

Stratford Utsrary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 December 2024
Restrfcted
Income
funds
Unrestrlcted Deslgnated
fund5
Funds
Total Total
2024
2023
NOTE 4 - DONATED GOODS. FACILMES AND SERVICES
None
Donated goods. facllltles and servlces are valued at market rates.
NOTE 5 - ANALYSIS OF EXPENDrruRE
Ralslng funds
Direcrorfs salary costs
Other staff costs
Fundralslng costs
Total
12,150
5,075
4,097
21.322
12.150
5,075
4.097
i 0,000
2,475
21.322
12,475
Charftable actlvltles
Authors and perforrners
Venue Hlre
36.523
36,773
1.232
11.702
18.302
5,913
36,523
41.534
36.773
40.961
1.232
2,773
11.702
7.834
18.302
17,705
S.913
2.535
10,665
6.524
4.097
2,962
12.811
1,345
18,22S
15,000
7.613
11.562
33,039
33,877
4.152
16.148
10,724
37.725 213.043 195,336
Book purchases
Staff costs
Other Festlval costs
Schools programme
Prlsons programme
Books wlth frlends
10,665
4.097
12.811
5.500
500
Other Projects
Dlrectorfs salary costs
Other staff costs
72.72S
7.113
33,039
11,996
175.378
Marketlng and PR
Overheads
NOTE 6 - DEfAILS OF CERTAIN ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE
Accountancy fee
Total
2,575
2,575
2,000
2,575
2.575
2.000
Page

stratford Llterary Festlval
A charltable Incorporated organ15atlon no.1 164662
N¢yfES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 December 2024
NOTE 7 - PAID EMPLOYEES
Staff Costs
Salarles and wages
Soclal securlty costs
Total staff costs
44,346
37,765
44.346
37.765
No employees receSved employee beneflts lexcludlng employer penslon costs) for the reportlng perlod
of more than £60,000
Total arnount pald to key management personnel Ilncludes
trustees and senlor management) for thelr servlces to the charlry
31,775
26,300
Average head count In the year
The parts of the charlty In whlch the employees Work
Fundralslng
Charlrable Acrlvltles
Total
NOTE 9 - DEKfoRS AND PREPAYMEKrs
Trade debtors
7,174
16,446
Prepayments and accrued Income
rotal
2,089
1,019
9.263
17,465
All amounts falldue wlrhln one year
NOTE I O - CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS
Trade credltors
Payments recelved on account for contracts or performance-
related grants
Accruals and deferred Income
38,510
45.544
9,167
7.433
Taxatlon and 50clal security
4.6SS
8,714
52,332
61.691
StAtford Lfterary Festlval
A charftable Incorporated organlsatlon no.I 164662
Page14

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEME￿rs
for the year ended 31 December 2024
2024
2023
NOTE I I - CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND
Short term deposlts
Cash at bank and on hand
142,817
70.557
74.191
40.805
Total
1 $7,008
111,362
Note 12 - FAIR VALUE OF ASSEfs AND LIABILITIES
All debtors have now been pald and there are no flnanclal Instruments or Investments so the charlry
carrles no rlsk In these areas.
NOTE 13 - CHARITY FUNDS
Fund balances
b/Avd Income
Expen-
dlrure fransfers
Fund balances
c/fwd
Fund names
Restricted funds
Books wlth Frlends
5,280
5,280
Blg Glve
8,034
8.034
Prlsons Project
Levelllng up
14,726
14,726
9.685
9.685
37,725
37,725
Deslgnated Funds
Unro5trlcted fvnds
20,000
20,000
47,136 243,443 196,640
93,939
Total
67.136 281.168 234.365
113.939
Resrrkted fvnds..
Book wlth Frfends Is a monthly book group for older and soclally Isolated people In the communlty.
Blg Glve provldes free books for schools
Prlson5 Project sends authors Into prlsons to help Inmates wrlte bedtlme storles for thelr chlldren.
Levelllng up funds bulldlng audlences to brlng people to Stratford for the beneflt of the rown.
Deslgnated fvnds..
The grant from Strafftjrd Dlstrlct Councll has been deslgnated to support operatlons In 2025.
Stratford Llterary Fe5tlval
A charltable Incorporated organlsatlon no.l 164662
Page

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKrs
for the year ended 31 December 2024
NOTE 14 - TRANSACTIONS WITH TRUSTEES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES
Trustee remuneratlon and beneflts
Trustee name
Legalauthority
Remuneratlon Penslon
Other rorAL
ulla Wheeler
Annle Ashworth
Intervlewer contract
Governlng document
4.114
31.775
4.114
31,775
Remuneratlon to Annle Ashworth Is made for her serrflces as the Director of the Festlval, not for
her dutles as a trustee. Remuneration to Julla Wheeler Is glven for her ser4ices as an Interviewer,
not for her dutles as a trustee. No expenses are paid to trustees for the fulfllment of their dutles
rthr
Name of the trustee
orrelatedpaity
Oescrlption of
transactiorfs)
RelatlonshlA> to charlty
An7ount
Occaslonallv donatlons are qlven bv trustees, No beneflts are qlven In return for these donatlons.
Page16