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2025-12-31-accounts

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 2025 for

Children’s BookFest – Chichester CIO

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Contents

A Word From Our Co-Founders 1
An Author’s Perspective 2
Charity Reference Details 3
Trustees’ Report 4 - 8
Independent Examiner’s Report 9
Statement of Financial Activities 10
Balance Sheet 11
Notes to the Financial Statements 12 – 14

Page 1

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

A Word From Our Co-Founders

2025 was transformative for Children’s Book Fest.

Across Chichester, Bognor Regis and neighbouring communities, our team - powered by extraordinary volunteers, dedicated teachers and the generosity of supporters – delivered our largest programme to date.

Thirty-six schools welcomed authors, illustrators and poets directly into their classrooms. More than 5,800 signed books were distributed during the festivals, each one handed to a child aged five to twelve. A further 2,200 books reached families through local foodbanks, ensuring that reading could flourish even where financial pressures were greatest.

These numbers matter, because book ownership remains at the heart of our mission. Too many children, especially those receiving free school meals, still do not have books of their own, even though we know the impact ownership has on confidence, motivation and attainment. For many of the children who received one of the 8,000 books we gifted in 2025, that signed copy was the first book they had ever been given to keep. That moment is not merely symbolic - it is foundational.

As co-founders, our wish for 2026 is that Children’s Book Fest continues not only to deliver its mission, but to strengthen its voice - to be recognised as an authoritative force within the country’s wider reading crisis. We have seen what is possible when a community rallies behind literacy. We now have an opportunity to build on that momentum and demonstrate what true, locally rooted leadership looks like.

And as always, our thanks go too to the teachers and volunteers who help make the whole event work so seamlessly, they really are unsung heroes.

Penny Tomlinson & Sahra Gott

Page 1

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

An Author’s Perspective

Children’s BookFest is a beautifully focused scheme for enhancing the lives of thousands of children.

We all know (hopefully) that getting children hooked on books is the simplest (and loveliest) way of increasing their life chances: reading for pleasure boosts academic achievement, happiness, empathy, imagination and creativity.

Author visits in schools are a great way to inspire children with the joys of reading. Usually at such an event, some children will meet the author and have their very own book signed and dedicated. All the other children go home with nothing. But these empty-handed children have not merely been denied a new possession; they have been reminded of the pernicious exclusivity of book ownership (in Britain, in the 21st century).

few, not the many cannot be overstated. Children’s BookFest rights this wrong, putting a signed book into the hands of every child. At a BookFest event, no child goes home with the damaging belief that books and reading are not for them. Every child gets to meet the author. Some of these children will never have had a book bought for them before. And these are not tokenistic £1 pamphlet “books”; these are brand new, full-price, full-length, signed-and-dedicated, hand-delivered books to be read and treasured.

One day, I would love to see the BookFest model rolled out nationally, then globally. In the meantime, may it continue to grow throughout this little corner of the south coast, bringing joy, hope and unity to many more children and their families.”

Jim Beckett

Page 2

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Charity Reference Details
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 Sir Mark Featherstone-Witty OBE (Chair)
Penelope Tomlinson
Sahra Gott
James Gough
Anna Ashworth
Jennifer Rogers
Elaine Bentley
Amanda Kings
None of the trustees hold title to property of the charity.
Trustee payments None
Management and
employees		 The charity is managed by its trustees with the support of
volunteers. There are currently no employees, the Festival's
activity is undertaken by freelance providers, Georgina Lippiett,
Festival Director, and Abbie Herlihy, Administrative Assistant.
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.

Page 3

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Trustee Report

31st December 2025.

Meeting Our Charitable Objective

Children’s Book Fest (CBF) is charity focussed on helping children in the West Sussex area, regardless of background, feel the joy of having books that belong to them. The link between childhood book-ownership and a happy, healthy life is well-established, yet many children live in homes without any books at all:

CBF’s mission is to address the latest worrying statistics from the National Literary Trust:

(Research by National Literacy Trust in 2024):

CBF seeks to ensure every child, regardless of background, has access to books to develop a love of reading. CBF works with teachers to arrange for our signature ‘Bookfests’ in state primary schools in the Chichester and Bognor Regis area, when every participating child meets an author, illustrator or poet. Each is given a signed book, bought by CBF, to take home and keep, for some children it is their first book. Reluctant and struggling readers are also supported with an Outreach programme in schools and new books are gifted every month to five local Food Banks. Access to books is vital and instilling a love of books and reading for pleasure has the biggest impact of any factor on children's life chances.

Bognor Regis BookFest, 4-5 February 2025:

8 schools, 10 authors, 1,845 children (2024: 7 schools, 9 authors, 1,650 books)

BookFest Bognor 2025 was a riot of colour and creativity, with 10 authors presenting 21 sessions between them in eight primary schools, meaning the BookFest reached over 1,800 children in just two days.

Each year we aim to raise enough funds to invite at least one additional school to join the BookFest family, and for 2025 we were delighted to welcome the wonderful St Mary's Catholic Primary School for the first time.

Gareth Jones and Sam Copeland entertained over 260 children from Years 1 to 6, bringing puppets, music, bears and animal noises with them to enthuse and inspire all those brilliant

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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

brains. The children had a wonderful time, and left school clutching their personally dedicated books with real joy; it was an absolute pleasure to see the impact the BookFest had on them.

Other schools were visited by poets such as AF Harrold, authors such as Carrie Sellon with her suitcase of mysterious potions, and illustrators like Sophy Henn, who brings the sunshine with her every time she walks into a room. Stephanie Taylor shared her beautiful book about how wide our horizons really are, Joe Todd-Stanton inspired countless children with his adventurous picture book full of intrigue, Zohra Nabi drew magical maps of alchemical mystery and our Patron, Iszi Lawrence, ignited a love of history and ancient Egypt in everyone who had the pleasure to hear her speak. We are truly grateful to all of them for supporting the BookFest and for helping us to spread the book-love.

Chichester BookFest, 7-9 October 2025

28 schools, 28 authors, 4,052 children (2024: 26 schools, 27 authors, 3,802 books)

Chichester BookFest was bigger and better than ever this year, with 28 authors visiting 28 primary schools and talking to over 4,000 children.

We were delighted to welcome Sidlesham Primary School and East Wittering Community Primary School for the first time. Both schools fully embraced the BookFest, welcoming Guy Bass, Ewa Jozefkowicz, Jim Beckett, Jenny McLachlan and Sophy Henn and receiving 358 books in total, each personally dedicated by the very author that wrote them.

John Bond introduced scores of children to his book 'How Long is that Dog? ' and delighted them still further by having a real-life cuddly version hidden in his bag. Terrie Chilvers captivated children at Parklands School with 'Snails of the Unexpected' and Chloe Savage brought the magic of her beautiful book, 'The Search for Carmella ,' to both The March and Tangmere Primary.

Jessie Younghusband Primary had a particularly eventful BookFest this year. In October they welcomed Zehra Hicks to their new site and they also hosted the singing, dancing, farming, One Show-hosting, children’s author JB Gill. JB spent the day talking to the children about his adventure series ‘Ace and the Animal Heroes’ , as well as opening the school’s brand new library. The children in Key Stage two were treated to exceptional authors as well, including the evercolourful Ramzee, with his fantastically funny ‘Cheat Book ’ and the legendary Piers Torday with his sinister and twisty tale of the ‘ Midnight Treasure .’ No BookFest would be complete without poetry, which this year was dynamically provided by Michaela Morgan and Neal Zetter.

The feedback from teachers shows us just how much of a dijerence the BookFest makes to their pupils. The joy of these events, combined with personally meeting the author and getting your very own book to keep, snij, read, share, and discuss with your classmates, is a vital part of unlocking the potential hidden within the pages.

Page 5

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Food Banks

We continued to make regular donations of 170 new books to the Food Banks in Chichester, Bognor, Selsey, Midhurst and Petworth to reach even more children. Our bookshelves are kept well-stocked and beautifully presented with books available to all. Picture books are particularly appreciated as they are accessible to children with all levels of literacy.

"Being able to oTer families a choice of books is a simple but powerful way of showing our customers that they are valued. A book isn’t a luxury – it’s a moment of joy, a moment of peace.” Sarah Adams CEO Chichester District Food Bank

Write 950

As part of celebrations for Chichester Cathedral’s 950th anniversary, young people from across Sussex were invited to submit their own short stories, inspired by the Cathedral’s rich history.

The competition attracted entries from children aged 4 to 15 years old, with tales ranging from mischievous gargoyles and magical chalices to surprising wedding day adventures and the celebration in the Lady Chapel in September was both beautiful and uplifting. CBF was proud to be part of such a wonderful initiative. The judges, Ali Sparkes and Simon Philip are long-time supporters of CBF, and their passion and experience were perfect for encouraging children to flex their creative muscles. Writing stories allows children the freedom to explore their own imaginations and in turn helps them to connect more deeply with the stories they read, hear and see; it's two sides of the same coin.

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 fifth consecutive year. Toovey’s have continued their support and JW European has also generously sponsored CBF for five years for which CBF is hugely grateful.

In addition, a number of generous individuals gave their support, including many who now donate on a monthly basis.

We hosted eight public events with total audience numbers of around 1,000, including tickets donated to the FoodBanks and the Family Hub.

We would like to acknowledge in particular the support and encouragement from the following:

Trusts and Foundations: Our Sponsors Arthur Williams Trust JW European Arts Society Chichester Thomson Tyndall Arts Society City of Chichester Toovey's Barness Trust

Page 6

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Bassil Shippam & Alsford Trust Our Partners Chichester City Council BrightWord PR Agency Dora Green Educational Trust Chichester Cathedral F Glenister Woodger Trust Chichester District Food Banks Foyle Foundation One Tree Books Friarsgate Trust Hall & Woodhouse Community Chest Our Patrons Inner Wheel, Midhurst & Petworth Sir Mark Featherstone-Witty John Booth Charitable Trust Iszi Lawrence Patricia Routledge Charitable Trust Sussex Community Foundation World of Books Foundation

Financial Review

building resilience, the charity was able to generate higher surpluses and achieve its reserves policy. During 2025, there was a natural fallback in income although this was still sujicient to meet its expenditure and generate a modest surplus of £8,170 (2024: 27,277).

The charity’s income during the year was £61,058 (2023: £85,705), almost entirely the result of fundraising from a range of generous organisations and individuals.

Expenditure amounted to £52,888 (2023: £58,428), of which £12,724 related to fundraising and marketing costs, £4,241 on support and governance costs with the balance of £35,923 (68% of the total) 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, comprising mostly a bank balance. As there were minimal outstanding debts, the year-end position was satisfactory and there is no uncertainty about continuing as a going concern.

Reserves Policy

The trustees have a reserve policy of retaining sujicient funds to meet at least three months overhead expenditure plus the cost of running the two BookFests during coming year. The trustees consider having funds in place to cover the cost of the coming festivals to be important as it is necessary to make advance commitments with confidence. This policy was achieved at the year end.

Our Future Plans

The Government’s National Year of Reading delivered in partnership with the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust - aims to increase reading for pleasure and encourage families to embed reading into everyday life. We wholeheartedly welcome this initiative. But for it to succeed, it will require organisations like Children’s BookFest to act with clarity, ambition and deep local understanding.

Page 7

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

In 2026 we shall:

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 1 June 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

........................................................................

Amanda Kings Trustee

Page 8

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

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 2025.

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:

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

Page 9

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Statement of Financial Activities

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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Balance Sheet

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1 June 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

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Amanda Kings Trustee

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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 1 – Donations and Legacies

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Three grants totalling £18,000 received shortly before the year are sponsoring 2026 BookFest activity and accordingly have been included in these accounts as deferred income to be recognised as revenue in the accounts for 2026.

Note 2 – Income From Charitable Activities

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Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

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Page 13

Children’s Book Fest – Chichester CIO

Trustee Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Note 5 – Expenditure on Charitable Activities

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