2023-09-30-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 October 2022 To 30 September 2023

Charity name: Chester Folk Festival

Charity registration number: 1192704

Objectives and Activities

----- Start of picture text -----
SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of Para 1.17 To advance public education in, and
the charity as set out in its appreciation of British and Multicultural Folk
governing document Arts (including traditional and contemporary
folk music, dance, crafts and spoken word such
as poetry and storytelling) in Chester and
surrounding area through the staging of an
annual folk festival and the provision of a range
of participatory workshops, activities and other
events throughout the year.
Summary of the main Para 1.17 and After the success of our first ‘post-lockdown
----- End of picture text -----

Objectives and Activities	Objectives and Activities	Objectives and Activities
SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document Para 1.17 To advance public education in, and appreciation of British and Multicultural Folk Arts (including traditional and contemporary folk music, dance, crafts and spoken word such as poetry and storytelling) in Chester and surrounding area through the staging of an annual folk festival and the provision of a range of participatory workshops, activities and other events throughout theyear.
Summary of the main	Para 1.17 and	After the success of our first ‘post-lockdown
activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	1.19	event in November of 2022, we decided to run an annual ‘showcase’ event highlighting emerging young talent. Again, this was held in November at All Saints Church in Hoole, Chester and was very well supported. When planning the 2023 February Folk Day, the facilities at All Saints provided us with more space and options. We decided to take advantage of these and move the event there. Again, the day attracted a wide audience of both local and travelling supporters. The event made a profit which boosted our operational funds. The 2023 Main Festival was again held at Kelsall Green and was very well supported and welcomed by residents, supporters and paying ticket holders. We ran many ‘free’ events during the festival which benefitted local residents and their children. In July 2022 we obtained funding from another Charity, The Earl of Chesters Benevolent Fund, specifically to help us run a series of free workshops for musicians and singers in the Chester and surrounding area. These commenced in Januaryof 2023 and ran

		through to May. The workshops culminated in a performance at the Festival by the young participants. The Trustees believe that our charity continues to fulfil its obligations set out in its governing document. We are run entirely by volunteers. The events we put on totally depend on large numbers of people giving up their time and expertise to set up and run our events as well as clear away afterwards. We believe that we bring entertainment and awareness of the Folk Arts to the public, both locally resident and further abroad.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	All trustees have read and have appropriate regard to the relevant guidance.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other

Achievements and Performance

----- Start of picture text -----
SORP reference
----- End of picture text -----

Achievements and Performance	Achievements and Performance	Achievements and Performance
SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	Autumn Evening Concert held at All Saints Church, Hoole November 2022 February Folk Day held at All Saints Church Hoole February 2023 Main Folk Festival held at Kelsall Green Kelsall in May 2023 Funding secured to run a series of free music workshops for young people at Storyhouse from January to May 2023.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

----- Start of picture text -----
Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 Overall, the charity made a small
financial position at the end surplus in the year of £828 (2022: £4,300
of the period deficit) reflecting a return to more in
person live events post pandemic. The
charity continues to work to slowly
increase reserves whilst ensuring that
our events are affordable and
accessible to as many people as
possible.
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 The charity aims to maintain a healthy reserve
policy for holding reserves to support its objectives and be able to fund
stating why they are held investment in future activities. Overall, the
Charity aims to maintain reserves in excess of
£2,000.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 As at 30 September 2023 our reserves were
£4,405 (2022: £3,577)
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 N/A
reserves
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 N/A
deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 N/A
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern
----- End of picture text -----

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Association Model Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Nominated by original members and thereafter elected / re-elected at the AGM in accordance with the constitution

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

----- Start of picture text -----
Charity name Chester Folk Festival
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number 1192704
Charity’s principal address 21 Dee Fords Avenue
Chester
CH3 5UP
----- End of picture text -----

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

----- Start of picture text -----
Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Elizabeth Armstrong Chair
2 Cheryl Hunt Treasurer
3 Paul Thompson
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
----- End of picture text -----

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Recei tsand ents accounts CC16a To Section A Receipts and payments Total fund Lastjwr A1 Rvl 32MI3 ndfr . rants &tkn8ti Pro Sub total{Gross income trAR) A2 As•et aTrd Inw6kn•nt 8ak. labknl 51 51 Sub total Sl 51MS• 17 13.187 C8bkng & bar(AXts Prfndn Station & ty)Y8r Tranw costs 0 & othor rAYwml•s 387 Fe68 & hits PRSI VenuB &equipmeTrtfvre I￿. w89ts th$￿￿} arrtj Sound 1.7 1.1 14 1.355 qoo 10th 1.198 oth Sub total 5Q.I JO.197 4ID.914 A4 A¥8et and kn¥•stm•nt purthpswI4￿ tabl•1 F￿￿¢$, wrc*Ges 2M•2 51,131 51.131 41706 A5 Tr4nsf•rs b•tr•Mn lund A6 Calh fund• laAty•ar •nd Cash funds INsi•vend 7.8TI 4405 CCXX R1 %¢rwrd¥ {SSI

Section B Statement of o£sets and liabilities at tlie end of tle period fund rth B1 C•8h funds Im 719 4405 nd* Detsils Details Details B5 Llablllll8• Section C Notes C1 N4)ts• Hunt 2¢

Independent examlner's report to the trust¢e8 of the 'Chester Folk Fesllval. CIO I rep￿ to the trustees on my examination ol the acxJ)unts of ts 'Chester Folk Festival, CIO (the Festival) for the year ermjed 30 SeFrtember 20fJ. R￿ponsIbl[￿leS and ba818 of report As ts charity trustees of the Festiva are reSp(￿ible for the preparation of tt accounts in a(XXjrdar￿ wilh ts requirements of Ihe Charities AGt 2011 (Ihe Act). I rep)rt in resr*ct of rny e￿9M1nation of the Festival's accounts cafried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carryir¥J out my ekqminalion I have followed all the applicable Directiorts given by the Charity Commission under sedK)n 145(5){b) of I have completed my examination. l (x)nfinn that rK) material matters have come to my attention in t￿nI￿￿k)n Ihe examination gMThJ me ¢xuse to believe that in any matsrial respect: 1. accounting records were nol kept in respect of the Festival as required by section 130 ofthe Ad; or I have no COn￿mS and have rnme across no other matters in ￿nnectIOn with the examinats'on to whith attention Str￿1d be dravm in this re￿)rt in order to enable a proper understanding of the a(￿)Unts to be reached. Signed by the Independerrt Examiner: Date: 251h July 2024 Name and address of the IrMJyndent Examiner: Peter Hayes FCCA 4 Southgate Chorltonville Manthester M218EA