Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 October 2024 To 30 September 2025
Charity name: Chester Folk Festival
Charity registration number: 1192704
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 |
We have continued to hold our Autumn Trilogy concert in November.at All Saints Church in Hoole, Chester. As before, it was very well supported. We again used the rooms and church at All Saints for our annual February Folk Day. The day attracted a wide audience of both local and travelling supporters. The event made a profit which boosted our operational funds. The 2025 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. We continued to run the series of monthly, free youth workshops in Chester. This was aimed at young musicians and singers in the Chester and surrounding area. These commenced in November 2024 and ran through to May 2025. 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. |
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|---|---|---|
| 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
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 2024 February Folk Day held at All Saints Church Hoole February 2025 Main Folk Festival held at Kelsall Green Kelsall in May 2025 Monthly free music workshops for young people in Chester from November 2024 to May 2025. |
|---|---|---|
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 • Free workshops for young folk musicians held monthly in Chester |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Overall, the charity made a small surplus in the year of £869 (2024: £940). 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 policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The charity aims to maintain a healthy reserve to support its objectives and be 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 2025 our reserves were £6,214 (2024: £5,345) |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: | |||
| Monies raised by ticket sales and sales of | |||
| merchandise at our events | |||
| The charity’s principal | |||
| sources of funds (including | |||
| any fundraising) | Para 1.47 |
| 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: |
|---|---|---|
| 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: |
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|---|---|---|
| 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. Paul Thompson stood down at the AGM but was re-elected to sit on the board of trustees. |
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
| 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 |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Armstrong |
Chair | All year | ||
| Cheryl Hunt | Treasurer | Allyear | ||
| Paul Thompson | Allyear | |||
| Nick Mitchell | 22 July 2025 – 30 Septemner 2025 |
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– 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 |
N/A |
|---|---|
| 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)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| 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, Trustee Chair, etc)[Chair ]
Date 29 July 2026
Charity Name No (if any) Chester Folk Festival 1192704
CC16a
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/10/2024 30/09/2025
Section A Receipts and payments
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||||
Sales - Tickets, programmes,bar and catering |
50,345 | - | - | 50,345 | 45,304 | ||||
| Council funding, grants & donations | 4,824 | - | - | 4,824 | 4,773 | ||||
| Programme adverts & stall consessions | 2,015 | - | - | 2,015 | 1,988 | ||||
| Merchandise sales | 1,539 | - | - | 1,539 | 1,245 | ||||
| Interest | 12 | - | - | 12 | 11 | ||||
| Roundings | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 58,735 | - | - | 58,735 | 53,321 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||||
| 53,321 | |||||||||
Performers fees & accomodation costs |
19,031 | - | - | 19,031 | 18,761 | ||||
| Catering& bar costs | 1,187 | - | - | 1,187 | 988 | ||||
| Printing,stationery, postage & other consumables | 1,806 | - | - | 1,806 | 1,656 | ||||
| Security& first aid cover | 6,955 | - | - | 6,955 | 5,790 | ||||
| Transport costs | 1,957 | - | - | 1,957 | 1,824 | ||||
| Publicitycosts | 828 | - | - | 828 | 433 | ||||
| Fees & licences(inc. PRS) | 1,594 | - | - | 1,594 | 1,264 | ||||
| Venue & equipment hire(inc. waste disposal) | 15,731 | - | - | 15,731 | 15,107 | ||||
| Public Announcement System and Sound Engineers | 5,070 | - | - | 5,070 | 4,190 | ||||
| Website hosting,onlineplatform fees & computer equipment | 706 | - | - | 706 | 100 | ||||
| Insurance,conferences & subscriptions | 1,393 | - | - | 1,393 | 1,321 | ||||
| Merchandise costs | 1,608 | - | - | 1,608 | 342 | ||||
| Other | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Roundings | - | - | - | 1 | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 57,866 | - | - | 57,866 | 51,777 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investmentpurchases, (see table) | |||||||||
| Fixtures,fittings & equipmentpurchases | - | 604 | |||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | 604 | |||||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| 52,381 | |||||||||
| 869 | 940 | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| 5,345 | 4,405 | ||||||||
| 6,214 | 5,345 |
R&P Accounts
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 £ 17 4,931 1,266 6,214 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.
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
| Signature | Print Name Cheryl Hunt Elizabeth Armstrong |
Date of approval |
|---|---|---|
| Cheryl Hunt | 29/07/2026 | |
| Elizabeth Armstrong | 29/07/2026 |
R&P Accounts
Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independ•nt Examin8r'8 Report A•rt to th• trust•e41 MOMlS of Chesler Folk Festlval On accounts for the year ended 30 September 2025 Charlty no 1192704 S•t out on pag I rep the trustees on my examin81K ol the acawnts ol the atx>ve chty (tr Tru5f) for Ihe erKled 3010912024. R•sponslbilitS•8 and basb ol report As the chantys trustee5. you we SpsIble ftx the preparalbon of the accx)unls in wKdance Ihe requireffnts of the Charrties Acl 2011 rthe A¢r). I re[ in re¥ct of my exarr#nalM)n of the Tntst's accothts carried ¢xrt urbjef Section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrytng out my examinab.. I havo all the applicable DIrlI(S givgn by Ihe Charity Convniss#Jn ur{ seclion 145{5)(b) of the Ad. Independent I have Crp181ed my examirbalion. I ccth that no material matters havo examinefs statement CA)mp. lo my attention in cOnn'0n th8 examina1 whith V0S n cause to beh'eve that in. any material respèct: the acccAJnh"ng reClS wer• kopt in acwd8e valh 130 of Ihe Charities Acl.. or Ihe aG¢wnts did nol accryd wlth ihe ac£ounbr¥J rec%yds: or Ihe acuMJnts did not ccryty with ttbo ¥plicablo Towir¥Nnwts ¢(wmiNJ the f(ym aNI r£rf)tenl of accounts sel in Ihe Chaniles {ACcnts and RepJrt5) RegulatNJns 2008 other than any requirement tt)at the acc£wJnts give a 'lnJe and farf view which ts not 8 matter c)Midered as part of an independent examinalK)n. I have no concems and have come )$$ no othar malt8rs in n¢tion the examinab'on lo which attention sM)uld be drawn in Ihls repcKt in (Kdor to enable a pyoper understsndiTr3 of accwnts to be reached. Siqn•d: QSIE £6 Narn•: James lan Jones R•l•vant prof•ssional qualfficatlon(s) or body: Associate Chwtered Man3gerrEnt Address: 26 Ecdeslon Avenu8 Chesler, CH4 7EX IER Oct 2018
Secilon B Dlsclosuro Only romplete If the examinor need5 to highlighl material mdllers of concom (s¢e CC32, lTrJependent eXamTh1K of thanty acc4)unts. dwectbonts WMI guKlan¢e fof examiners). Glv• horn briel detalls of any ltsms that the examlner wishes to ls¢los•. Not app1K48 IER Oct 2018