Charity number: 1183937
Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation number CE 017872
Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 for
Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Contents
| Charity Reference Details | 2 |
|---|---|
| Trustee Report | 3 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report on the | 6 |
| Accounts | |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance Sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9-11 |
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Charity Reference Details
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Charity name Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Registered charity number 1183937
Organisation constitution Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Incorporated on 17 June 2019
Governing document CIO foundation document dated 17 June 2019
Charitable objects For the public benefit the advancement of education of
children and young people, particularly but not exclusively,
through the provision of subsidised literary festivals and
books
Principal address 19 Westgate
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 3ET
Email amanda@childrensbookfest.org
Website www.childrensbookfest.com
Trustees Penelope Tomlinson (Chair)
Sahra Gott
James Gough (appointed 15 May 2023)
Anna Ashworth (appointed 15 May 2023)
Jennifer Rogers (appointed 6 March 2023)
Elaine Bentley
Amanda Kings
Sir Mark Featherstone-Witty OBE (appointed 16 April 2024)
None of the trustees hold title to property of the charity.
Trustee payments None
Management and There are currently no employees, reflection its small size.
employees The charity is managed by its trustees and volunteers with
Festival activity undertaken by freelance providers.
Related companies None
Independent examiner James Tickell (FCA)
21 Southdown Road, Horndean, Waterlooville PO8 0ET
Fundraising The charity raises funds from the public but does not work
with professional fundraisers or commercial participators.
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Trustee Report
31st December 2023.
Meeting Our Charitable Objective
Children’s Book Fest’s (CBF) overarching mission is to address worrying statistics such as this, from the National Literacy Trust: ‘One in 12 children and young people aged five to 18 in the UK say they do not have a single book of their own at home.’ The associated benefits of literacy and reading for pleasure are legion, and access to books plays a vital part. CBF goes straight to the source by bringing books directly into schools and since 2019 has brought more than 90 di�erent authors to schools in the Chichester and Bognor Regis area and given over 20,000 books to children in West Sussex.
Bognor Regis Festival, February 2023
4 schools; 5 authors; 14 sessions; 5 stewards; 1,210 books
gave 14 sessions to over 1,200 delighted children in 4 schools – and CBF bought each child their very own book, personally signed for them by the authors.
The authors and their stories were all very di�erent, but every school found their children to be engaged and enthused by the experience. One pupil commented, ‘It was great to get a new book from an author! I’ve loved reading it and have read it four times already!’ and Karen Ison, at Rose Green School said, ‘It has been great to see so many children avidly reading their books during reading time in class and so many children eager to tell us about the stories. It is fantastic to see the power of the Children’s Book Fest to not only inspire children but also to excite them and broaden their reading diet. We look forward to welcoming Children’s Book Fest back again in February next year.’
Candy Gourlay summed it up beautifully saying, ‘This is one book festival that knows the warm, beating heart of reading and how to take a child, any child, and turn them into a reader. I was proud to be a part of it all. The best thing was to see the joy on the children’s faces as they walked away with their signed books clasped to their hearts.’
Chichester Festival, October 2023
30 schools; 33 authors; 67 sessions; 27 stewards; 3,939 books
Chichester BookFest in October was jam-packed with intrepid authors who battled rail strikes and tra�ic jams to get to their schools. Thanks to the determination and commitment shown by the authors, teachers and volunteer stewards, the children were not disappointed. In total 33 authors visited 30 schools and we bought and donated 3,939 books, an increase of 400 on 2022.
We had a wonderful mix of authors, including author/illustrators such as Cressida Cowell, Ed Vere and Jenny McLachlan, as well as poets, graphic novelists, interactive picture book writers and historians.
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Mrs Udell-Hart of St Joseph’s School said, ‘the children are all buzzing and so excited about drawing and reading now! It’s so inspiring!’ and Jacqui Dommett, Headteacher at Boxgrove Primary School said, ‘The book buzz here was amazing with some children heading o� trying to read their books as they walked home!’
his beautiful book, Tyger, to Portfield School, and supercharged Key Stage 2 with the magic of words.
The feedback from the schools and authors involved has been overwhelmingly positive, and as our reputation grows, so does the demand for our BookFests.
Foodbanks in 2023:
Chichester, Selsey, Bognor Regis, Midhurst, Petworth
170 books monthly January to October (50 books per month to Bognor); 250 books in November & December. Total: 2,200 books
Altogether, with Outreach work, CBF bought and gifted over 7,300 books in 2023, an increase of 1,800 on the previous year.
In 2023 CBF welcomed three new trustees; Jen Rogers, a trained primary school teacher, as CBF’s Outreach and Food Bank Co-ordinator; Anna ~~ie~~ Ashworth, an author and the director of the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival and James Gough, the Director of GJG Consultancy with over 25 years of experience in cultural management. These appointments have strengthened the trustee board, and, in addition, Jane Churchill came on board as Festival Programme Consultant. CBF is also thrilled that Sir Mark Featherstone-Witty, who established the BRIT school and founded the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and Iszi Lawrence, author, comedian and broadcaster, have both agreed to be patrons of CBF bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience with them.
As with many small charities, CBF is also grateful to all the unpaid volunteers who act as stewards ensuring that all the festivals run smoothly.
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Fundraising Activity
The charity was grateful to the many trusts, foundations and charitable organisations who generously awarded grants during the year, including the Sussex Community Foundation who supported for the third consecutive year. In addition, JW European also generously sponsored the charity for the third year and we are also grateful to Toovey’s for becoming a sponsor. In addition, many generous individuals gave their support and funds were also raised from a number of fundraising events. The trustees consider that it is important to have a mixed income stream and not to be dependent on just one or two larger funders.
Financial Review
The charity’s income during the year was £32,894 (2022: £32,529), almost entirely the result of fundraising from a range of generous organisations and individuals.
Expenditure amount to £39,692 (2022: £29,381), of which £4,887 relating to fundraising and marketing costs, £825 on support and governance costs with the balance directly on charitable activity of procuring books, meeting author expenses, and holding BookFest activity in local schools.
Unrestricted reserves at the year end amounted to £8,940, comprising a bank balance of £9,690 less a provision of £750 for accruals. As there were no outstanding debts, we consider the year end position to be satisfactory and there is no uncertainty about continuing as a going concern for the following twelve months.
Reserves Policy
We have decided at this stage of the organisation’s development to work towards achieving a reserve policy of a minimum cash balance fixed at £10,000 with no outstanding debts. At this year end, we had not quite reached this position and believe that with careful fund management, it will take around two years to do so.
costs. Currently such costs are negligible as we have neither employee nor property commitments. Nevertheless, we feel it is prudent still to have some reserve set aside, so we have the ability to continue our charitable activity during any period of depressed fundraising. We have adopted a fixed figure with this in mind.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 24 April 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
Amanda Kings Trustee
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity, Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO, for the year ended 31 December 2023.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with 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 fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
........................................................................
James Tickell FCA
21 Southdown Road, Horndean, Waterlooville PO8 0ET
24 April 2024
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Statement of Financial Activities
Year ending 31 December
| Note Income Donations and legacies 1 Charitable activities 2 Investment income 3 Expenditure Raising funds 4 Charitable activities 5 Support & governance 6 Net income over expenditure Transfer between reserves Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 31,834 - 31,834 32,265 887 - 887 240 173 - 173 24 ————— ————— ————— ————— 32,894 - 32,894 32,529 ————— ————— ————— ————— 4,887 - 4,887 2,992 33,980 - 33,980 25,849 825 - 825 540 ————— ————— ————— ————— 39,692 - 39,692 29,381 ————— ————— ————— ————— (6,798) - (6,798) 3,148 - - - - ————— ————— ————— ————— (6,798) - (6,798) 3,148 15,738 15,738 12,590 ————— ————— ————— ————— 8,940 - 8,940 15,738 ————— ————— ————— ————— |
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Balance Sheet
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2023 2022
£ £
Current Assets
Bank balances 9,690 22,098
————— —————
9,690 22,098
————— —————
Current Liabilities
Accruals 750 -
Deferred income - 6,360
————— —————
750 6,360
————— —————
Net Assets 8,940 15,738
————— —————
Funds
Restricted - -
Unrestricted 8,940 15,738
————— —————
8,940 15,738
————— —————
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April 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
Amanda Kings Trustee
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the Financial Statements
Note 1 – Donations and Legacies
Year ending 31 December
| Donations Grants Gift Aid recovery Fundraising events Monthly giving Sponsorship |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 7,765 - 7,765 4,549 15,860 - 15,860 21,920 29 - 29 25 2,090 - 2,090 5,771 90 - 90 - 6,000 - 6,000 - ————— ————— ————— ————— 31,834 - 31,834 32,265 ————— ————— ————— ————— |
|---|---|
Note 2 – Income From Charitable Activities
| Sale of books Sale of author sessions |
Year ending 31 December 2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 887 - 887 240 - - - - ————— ————— ————— ————— 887 - 887 240 ————— ————— ————— ————— |
|---|---|
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Note 3 – Investment Income
Year ending 31 December
| Bank interest | 2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 173 - 173 24 ————— ————— ————— ————— 173 - 173 24 ————— ————— ————— ————— |
|---|---|
Note 4 - Raising Funds
| Advertising Portal charges Other fundraising costs Marketing consultancy Brochure costs Social media Website |
Year ending 31 December 2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 242 - 242 - 41 - 41 40 180 - 180 205 101 - 101 - 1,017 - 1,017 945 2,280 - 2,280 1,470 1,026 - 1,026 332 ————— ————— ————— ————— 4,887 - 4,887 2,992 ————— ————— ————— ————— |
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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO
Charity number: 1183937
Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Note 5 – Expenditure on Charitable Activities
| Authors' fees Bookfest book costs BookFest Director costs Other Bookfest expenses Food bank book costs |
Year ending 31 December 2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 230 - 230 788 21,310 - 21,310 15,423 9,940 - 9,940 8,518 2,500 - 2,500 - - - - 1,120 ————— ————— ————— ————— 33,980 - 33,980 25,849 ————— ————— ————— ————— |
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Note 6 – Support and Governance Costs
| Insurance Professional fees Sundries Subscriptions |
Year ending 31 December 2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 790 - 790 330 - - - 100 - - - 110 35 - 35 - ————— ————— ————— ————— 825 - 825 540 ————— ————— ————— ————— |
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