Dunster Festival- Registered Charity No. 1193491 DUNSTER FESTIVAL Inspiring music in the heart of West Somer5et TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT 02.09.24- 01.09.25 The Board of Trustees has pleasure in presenting their annual report and financial statements ft>r the period ended I September 2025. Reference & Adminlstratlon Detalls Charity name Dunster Festi)rdl Registered charity number 1193491 Date of registration February 112021 Principal address Dunster Festival 25 Sherrards Way London EN5 2BW Trustee5 Alastsir Bruce Mclntosh {Chair) Sarah Gordon Joyce Roscoe Jasmine Bourne Richard Pearce Murray Botes Artistic Directors Rachel Wick Rory Mccleery Bankers Natwest Bank 9 The Parade Minehead TA24 5NL Structure, Governance & Management Type of governing document Constltution How the charlty Is Constituted CIO New trustees are appointed by the existing charity trustees by h resolution passed at a properfy convened meetin8 ofthe board. Dun5ter Festlval- Registered Charity No. 1193491 Objertives & Actlvltle5 The objects as ststed in its governing document, and for vthich the charity was eStab1￿hed. are: The advancement ofthe arts and culture, and the education of the public in the artofmusit, in particular but not limited to chamber music, for the public benefit by.. al The presentation of concerts and other muslcaS activities, chiefly as part of an annual festival in West Somerset: and bl Trnining and coaching for those from all demographics and age groups {particularty but not exclusively for young people) The Trustees are aware of the Public Benefit provisions of the Charities Act 2011 and of the guidance on them published by the Charity Commission. They are satisfied that the objects and the activities of the Charity are within the definitions of Charitable Purposes as set down in the Act, and in making decisions pertaining to this artivity and when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant they have had due regard to both. Dunster Festival carrie5 Out its purpose to advance the arts ond education for the public benefit by: al organising an annual festival of high quality concerts and performances, including repertoire which otherwise V￿uld not be performed widely, which this year tCK)k place between May 23 and 26 2025. b) workin8 With young people in schools. the elderly in care homes and those with special educational needs in day centres, and amateur musician5 from a variety of vrdlks of lrfe. introducing them to new repertoire and enabling them to enjoy music and develop and improve their musical skills. Achlevements & Performance While some aspects of our 2025 community & outreath work were slightly scaled back on the previous few years, with a variety of factor5 (the departure of key contacts at both local Middle Schools. slightly less success with project-specific funding applications, some logisticallscheduling difficultie51 contributing to this. we were excited to pilot a new community-centred event as part of the Festival weekend, allowing us to reach new and far larger audiences than previously: during the day on Monday 27 May 2025 we held our first ever Dunster Festival Fète. The Fète, which took place in one of our key Festival venues, the historic fithe Barn in Dunster, and in the village gardens surrounding it, was free to attend, and across the day more than 5CKI visltors (many of whom had no prior experience of Dunster Festival) had the opportunity to experience high-quality live rnusic and engaging performances in a convivial setting With f(￿d vendors and local craftspeople. Luls Martelo & KnottedAeriolperform at the inouqurol Dunster Festivol Féte Dunster Fe5tival- Registered Charity No. 1193491 We also provided pupils at Danesfield Middle schc>ol with a day of choral vlorkshops, engaging Year 5 students and introducing them to the sound world and expressive p05sibilities of a cappella v(xal music in sessions led bv acclaimed vocal ensernbleThe Marian Consort. Students were encouraged to think about how they could express themselves musically using their own voices through various warrn-ups. singing games and songs, and each session culminated in the performance of a plece of Renaissance polyphony, with the Year 5 students singing their part alongside the professional musicians. They were then given the opportunity to ask questions atthe end of the session. Jackie Shave, former leader of Britten Sinfonia and in-demand touring and session violinisL led a workshop supported by three other professional musician5 for the pupils of Dunster First Sch¢)ol, dernonstrating the sounds and explaining the workings of a variety of orchestral instruments and encouraging the students to listen creativelv and to participate in making music themselves. As has been experienced previously, implementing projects of this nature is alvAys challenging and relies to an extent on the goodwill of individuals in our partner organisations, as the environment within these partner organisations (schools in particularl is one where staff have many demands on their time and energy, and where they are often overstretched and under-resourced. This was again particularly true this year, with continuing and increased difficulties liaising with our schools partners. due to changes of personnel and stsff shortages, but the feedback from both staff and students v4as hugely positive, and is excerpted below: Yhe Festival ha5 been a partnerof oursforseveml yeors now. providing high quolity. free of chorge (thonks to their fundroising work) musical workshops ond longer-term projectsfor our Year5 and 6 students, enobling them to leorn from and perfom? olongside professional musicians of internationol ollibre. a highlight of the p¢irtnership. Their involvement has had o pmfoundtyp051tive impact on ourpupils boosting theirconfidence ondproviding them with the unique opportunity to experience pmfessionolsinging. Their inspiring workshops introduced the children to Renoissonce vocol music the concept of singing together. ond the different voice type5fvund in a choir. They ortively participoted in mu5ic-moking, learnin& ond singing a round together. We greatly volue this partnership ond lookforword to continuing ond growing otsrcollaborqtion with DunsterFestival in thefuture."SenlorAdmlnlstnitw. DaneslleldS¢hool he children all re(711y enjoyed the music performt7nce. When we come bt7ck to closs they had lots of ideos and thoughts that they wonted to shore (about the music instruments. pitch t7nd volume). They particularly enjoyed the InterGTrtive noture of yourperformance. Thank youl" aa55 Teacher, Dun5ter Hrst Sthool 00 "I learnt about dynomic5. going loud ond quief Elliot "I think the best part of the workshop wa5 when we did the performance altogether. l also reolly enjoyed hearing the proftssionolsingers" Megan DurbSterFestival- Registered Charity No. 1193491 .1 enjoyed when we song the song5 ond got the chance to condurt them ourselves. It wos reollyfvn heoring them and leorning about MUSI￿ Daniel 'Myfovourite thing wos the singing because I had never heard it live tefvre" Matthew Our live festival from May 25 to 27 2025 comprised 9 events lan increase on 20241 which twk ploce both in Dunster (St George's Church and the historic Tithe Barn) and in Watchet, the latter once again hosted by our partner organisation East Quay, a collaboration which has proven successful in building diverse audiences and reaching more of our local community with high-quality live music. Despite the weather requirin8 the performers be moved indoors, the family concert at East Quay attracted a large and engaged audience. seated both outside and inside the café. EAST QUAY Jackie Shave & Robert Irvinefvmifyperfvrmance qt East Quayi Watchet Artists featured included intemationally renowned instrumentslists Jackie Shave, Robert Irvine and aare Finnimore. the Antsra Flute & Harp Duo, early music specialists Elspeth Pi880tt and Kristiina Wat( vocal ensemble The Marian Consort and Spiritato baroque orchestra, performing a diverse Tange of styles and repertoire spanning eight centuries. The choral workshop once again proved extremely popular, with both local singers and sorne who had travelled from as far as Cornwall, Manchester and London Ispeaking to the Festival's reputation) enjoyin8 the acoustics of the fithe BaTn and the opportunity to work together with our Artistic &>Director and choral music expert Rory Mccleery in a friendly and relaxed environment Dun5terFestival- Registered Charity No. 1193491 Feedback from audiences was extremely positive, with average numbers up from 2024 (taking into account the greater number of events in 20251, and our artists were very appreciative of the opportunity to experience what it is that makes Dunster Festival so unique. Sample Audience feedback: "DunsterFe5tival is 0rn02ing- everyone here is made tofeel so welcorne, ond thot is whot contributes to omozing musicolperformt7nces ond experiences that everyone can shore- "It bring5 togethersome omazingty talented mu5ician5. Ivs in ofobulous ploce ond you get children in the oudience, which is reolly unu5Ut71for u clossical audience" love the ctm05phere, iys nice ond bubbly, everyone'ssmiley.. the concert was really qood. Ifound thot reully coor ell, DunsterFestival is omozing becouse of the progromme mi¥ the high quality of the music-making, and of course this beoutiful medievol town- Dunster FestlvolAudlence 2025 We have had three retirements from the trustee board- David Godsal Ichairl, Stephen Clayton and Jess Prendergast. David, Stephen and Jess have all been involved from the Festival's earliest days and remain keen supporters- we are very grateful for the experience and wisdom they have brought to the board and this allows them to step down with the Festival on a sound footing. We are fortunate to have welcomed four new trustees- Murray 8otes, Jasmine Bourne, Richard Pearce and Joy Roscoe. Working with the Artistic Directors, it is the trustees, ambition that the Festival continues to grow, expanding its concert prograrnme and further developing its outreach work within the local community. DunsterFestlvai- Registered ChwityNo. IL93491 Financlal Review Oun5ter Festival Is endeavourln& despiie the dlfficult Present flnancial conditlons. to build up reserves, with a reserves-bu1ld1￿ Strategy under regular revlew. Our reserve5 at year end were £16,662, sufficient to meet the tharity's financial commitments and to support the lon8.term development of the Festival. Declaratlon The trustees declare thatt￿l have approved the tru5tee5' rewt above on Slgned on behalf ofthe chariWs tnjstees Alastalr Bru￿ M¢lnt05h. Chair 19.02.26 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusta Dunster Festival On accounts for the year 8nded 01.09.25 Charlty no Irfany) 1193491 Set out on pages 1-2 attached I report to the trustees on my examination of the ac￿Unts of the ab)ve chaiity (Yhe Trusf) for the year ended 0110912025. Responslbilltles and bas1$ of report As the chaiity's trustees, you are responsible for the p￿paratIon of the accounts in a(Lordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe A¢t°). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts Carried out under section 145 ofthe 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 Ad. Indepondont examinerfs statement app1K￿. Delete [ ] rfnot applicable. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examinats'on (other than that disdosed bel￿4 ") which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect". the accounting re￿rdS were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act: or the a￿untS did not acconl with the 8£counting recA)rds; or the accounts did not Comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of a¢xounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems 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 rethed. ' Please delete the woth in the brnd(ets rflhey do not apply. Slgned: 11 Namo: R T /k/ G Aei6ÉrL ICAEW (retired) Relevant professional qualificatlon{s) or body IER Oct 2018 lrfany): Address: Stable Cottage, Tris¢ombè Bishops Lydaard, Somerset TA43HG Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matenal matters of concern (see CC32, Indep8ndent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brief detslls of any items that the oxaminer wlshes to dlsclose. nla IER Oct 2018 CHARITY COMMISSION ' FOR ENGLAND AND WALE Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the portod To Section A Receipts and payments Unres1￿¢1ed fund8 i•th• n•¥••t Endowmenl funds Rmthctsd lund• Totsi fund• to th• Al R•¢o1 ckBI 531 845 133 1945 Sub tot•l(Gn)ss Incon￿ forARJ A2 A•••t oftd In¥o•tmont saf••,180• I9￿13 35.315 Sub total 35J15 M7 513 17• IDsurarKo Ewnicosta 711 Staff costs 610 610 34763 Sub tota 223J4 A4 ￿Se1 •nd InY¢8tmont 988 tablo Sub total 29h53 7$$ N•t of r•ulpts/(paynMnts) - AS Tr4n8f8r8 beiwwn funds A6 Cash lunds l*st y•ar and rA8h funds th18 y¢4T end 17,100 18.862 17.10 16.fjfjZ 17,1 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period R45tsbGt4d Iusbd5 Endowmènl fund8 Cat•gorle8 Oetal funds B1 Cuh fund• ¢•th 1.9.25 rotsl ¢•sh fvnd 16.e62 funds fuF Details 82 Othw mon•t4ry a￿•￿ CCXX R1 accounts ISS) s￿￿026 r4 Dèfail$ Details Co•t I+]p¥M￿l B4 Ass•ts Yvt•ln•d fr* th• charfty's own Delails BS LlabMldo* •lthe tru51eqs