Festival Report for 2024 

We had another tremendous festival in 2024.  In total we had 32 events in the week of the festival as well as several events outside the Festival week.  As always there was a real breadth to the events that we put on, appealing to a wide range of interests in the local community.  Some of the speakers were those who have supported us before such as Pam Ayers, Larry Lamb and Max Hastings, as well as an array of new speakers.  As with previous festivals we also held events for children. We had Iszi Lawrence for our primary school events and Marcus Brigstocke for the Sir Christopher Ricks Lecture given in conjunction with King Alfreds, the local secondary school. 

A big new development in 2024 was the events we held outside the festival week.  This included some talks, such as Graeme Hall, writing competitions for school children, Tea and Cake, Quiz Night and The Big Read with Tom Hindle.  This again emphasises how much the Festival brings to the local community. 

The success of the Festival is reflected in the Finances.  We ended the year almost £10,000 ahead of the previous year. We are a not-for-profit charity, so this additional money will be reinvested back into the 2025 programme. 

The whole event would not be possible without our splendid Festival Director, Judith Knight, and the wonderful team of volunteers. We are very grateful to them all.  They all put in a huge amount of effort and are constantly evolving the festival and what it delivers.  The Wantage community is lucky to have them! 

Ben Dreyer Chairman of the Trustees Wantage Literary Festival 



## **Wantage Literary Festival 2024-2025** 

## **Receipts and Payments for Year ended 31st March 2025** 

|Registered Charity 1165315<br>**Receipts**<br>Net Ticket Sales<br>Donations, Grants & Sponsorship<br>Fundraising Events<br>Book Sales Commission<br>There's A Monster Merchandise<br>Café<br>Floats<br>**Total Receipts for the Year**<br>**Payments**<br>Salary Festival Director<br>HMRC<br>Team Welfare<br>Bank Charges<br>Speakers' fees and expenses<br>Venue costs<br>First Aid Training<br>Insurance<br>Miscellaneous<br>Website Costs:<br>Seven Design<br>CD Associates<br>Hosting<br>Advertising and Marketing<br>(including leaflet design and printing)<br>Refreshments - café and green room<br>Schools Programme books, donation and bursary<br>VOWHDC - The Beacon - Deposit<br>Wantage Methodist Church Deposit<br>The Comrades Club - Hire and Cleaning<br>Ticket Refunds<br>**Total Payments for the Year**<br>Surplus of Receipts over Payments<br>**Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31st March 2025**<br>Funds in hand as at 31st March 2024<br>Surplus of Receipts over Payments<br>Balance at Barclays as at 31st March 2025|**2024-2025**<br>**£**<br>30,806.67<br>10,014.79<br>658.14<br>600.00<br>-<br>595.98<br>100.00<br>42,775.58<br>12,113.19<br>£<br>315.00<br>£<br>259.02<br>£<br>81.00<br>£<br>8,063.06<br>£<br>3,710.87<br>£<br>-<br>567.08<br>£<br>851.18<br>£<br>936.00<br>£<br>128.40<br>£<br>2,831.68<br>£<br>153.56<br>£<br>540.00<br>£<br>961.00<br>£<br>-<br>110.00<br>£<br>44.00<br>£<br>31,665.04<br>£<br>11,110.54<br>£<br>43,888.09<br>£<br>11,110.54<br>£<br>**54,998.63**<br>**£**|**2023-2024**<br>**£**<br>23,386.63<br>£<br>13,058.01<br>£<br>2,141.94<br>£<br>535.00<br>£<br>725.55<br>£<br>-<br>£<br>70.00<br>£<br>39,917.13<br>£<br>10,911.51<br>£<br>928.12<br>£<br>325.97<br>£<br>115.83<br>£<br>10,193.68<br>£<br>5,806.79<br>£<br>399.60<br>£<br>501.50<br>£<br>1,218.01<br>£<br>936.00<br>£<br>128.40<br>£<br>2,432.45<br>£<br>80.93<br>£<br>756.00<br>£<br>50.00<br>£<br>-<br>162.00<br>£<br>34,946.79<br>£|
|---|---|---|
|||4,970.34<br>£|
|||38,917.75<br>£<br>4,970.34<br>£<br>£43,888.09|





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