2024-09-30-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 October 2023 To 30 September 2024

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
governing document 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 the year.
----- 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 the year.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	After the success of our first ‘post-lockdown event in November of 2021, we decided to make it an annual event. This was held again in November 2023 at All Saints Church in Hoole, Chester. It was very well supported and included two young performers and a more seasoned veteran. When planning the 2023 February Folk Day, it was decided that the facilities at All Saints had provided us with more space and options. We decided to take advantage of these and moved the event there for that Folk Day and the subsequent Folk Day in 2024. Again, the day attracted a wide audience of both local and travelling supporters. The event made a profit which boosted our operational funds. The 2024 Main Festival, as usual was 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 2023, we obtained further funding from the Earl of Chesters Benevolent Fund, to enable us to again run a series of free workshops for musicians and singers in the Chester and surrounding area. These commenced in November 2023 and ran through to May 2024’. 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
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The Charity would cease to function without the many volunteers who give up their time and expertise to help run our events and perform administrative duties. The trustees acknowledge this and take the opportunity to thank them for all their help.
Other

Achievements and Performance

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

SORP reference	SORP reference	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 2023 February Folk Day held at All Saints Church Hoole February 2024 Main Folk Festival held at Kelsall Green Kelsall in May 2024 Funding secured to run a series of free music workshops for young people in Chester from November 2023 to May 2024.

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

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	We believe that we have met all the objectives we set out to achieve, namely,  Trilogy of Folk concert  February Folk Day  Annual 4-day Folk Festival  Funding of free workshops for young folk musicians
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 surplus in
financial position at the end the year of £940 (2023: £828) reflecting a
of the period 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
policy for holding reserves reserve to support its objectives and be
stating why they are held able to fund investment in future activities.
Overall, the Charity aims to maintain
reserves in excess of £2,000.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 As of the 30 September 2024 our reserves
were £5,345 (2023: £4,405)
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	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	Monies raised by ticket sales and sales of merchandise at our events
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:

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 -----
Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee
whole year
(if any)
Elizabeth Chair All year
1
Armstrong
2 Cheryl Hunt Treasurer All year
3 Paul Thompson All year
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

----- Start of picture text -----
Trustee name Dates acted if not for
whole year
----- End of picture text -----

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A 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
N/A

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

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details N/A

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Elizabeth Sarah Jane Armstrong Paul Thompson Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)[Chair ] Trustee Date 29/07/2025

CC16a

Charity Name No (if any) Chester Folk Festival 1192704 Receipts and payments accounts For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/10/2023 30/09/2024

Section A Receipts and payments

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Sales - Tickets, programmes, bar and catering 45,304 - - 45,304 43,322
Council funding, grants & donations 4,773 - - 4,773 5,871
Programme adverts & stall consessions 1,988 - - 1,988 1,530
Merchandise sales 1,245 - - 1,245 1,228
Interest 11 - - 11 8
Roundings - - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for AR) 53,321 - - 53,321 51,959
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 53,321 - - 53,321 51,959
A3 Payments
Performers fees & accomodation costs 18,761 - - 18,761 17,240
Catering & bar costs 988 - - 988 1,599
Printing, stationery, postage & other consumables 1,656 - - 1,656 1,002
Security & first aid cover 5,790 - - 5,790 5,986
Transport costs 1,824 - - 1,824 1,500
Publicity costs 433 - - 433 640
Fees & licences (inc. PRS) 1,264 - - 1,264 1,749
Venue & equipment hire (inc. waste disposal) 15,107 - - 15,107 14,096
Public Announcement System and Sound Engineers 4,190 - - 4,190 3,930
Website hosting, online platform fees & computer equipment 100 - - 100 100
Insurance, conferences & subscriptions 1,321 - - 1,321 1,156
Merchandise costs 342 - - 342 1,198
Other - - - - -
Roundings 1 - - 1 1
Sub total [ 51,777 ] - - 51,777 50,197
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
Fixtures, fittings & equipment purchases 604 - - 604 934
- - - - -
Sub total [ 604 ] - - 604 934
Total payments 52,381 - - 52,381 51,131
Net of receipts/(payments) 940 - - 940 828
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 4,405 - - 4,405 3,577
Cash funds this year end 5,345 - - 5,345 4,405
----- End of picture text -----

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

29/07/2025

1

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets	Miscellaneous small chattels (e.g. signage, leaflet display, etc) Computer equipment (Laptop, NAS Drive, Electronic payment card reader) Details Treasurers Account Deposit Account Paypal & Cash Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details Stage & chairs Lighting equipment	Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 2,851 919 1,575 5,345 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Fund to which liability relates	Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - Cost (optional) Amount due (optional) - - - -	Endowment funds to nearest £ - - -
				-
				OK
				Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - Current value (optional) When due (optional)

Section C Notes

C1 Notes

The Charity received notice of it's registration on 8th December 2020, as such there are no prior period accounts figures provided above. For the purpose of simplicity and future comparability the accounts have been prepared for the year ended 30 September 2021 rather than the period from 8th December 2020 to 30 September 2021.

----- Start of picture text -----
Date of
Signature Print Name
approval
Cheryl Hunt 29/07/2025
Elizabeth Armstrong 29/07/2025
----- End of picture text -----

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

29/07/2025

2

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR [￿l￿￿ MD WALES Independent examlnerfs report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examlmr's Report m•mb•rs of Ch••tsr Folk F•slival Ch•rlty no 1192704 8•t <xrt on pag•• I r8rKAt to th8 trust688 on my exaffmnalicffi d the accourts cl the ab rthe Tnf) tho year ended 3010912024. R•spon•lbllitiM undw sectKxi 145 of ts 2011 £t CXryiTrJ CArt My examnation. I undw 145ISXb) ol the ACI aw to thal in, matenal respe(t (AcccAmts WKI RaFxxts) RewlaIm￿ 2rTh olher than any requirerywkt Ihal tr acwjnts g¥ve a Irue arwj fairf view wtwch is not a matter Sn•d: 55P- 23 J￿Y 2025 wallficatlonlg} or body: ctr￿ CH4 7EX O¢t 2018

Scction 8 Disclosure i)Ily c(ymplele if the exafniner neads to highlight material matters ol concem Glv• h•r• brknl <kntall* al any It•ms that th• •xamln•r WISh￿ Io IER Oct 2018