West Midlands Readers, NetworkCIO
Trustees, Report and Financial Statements for the year
ended 31 March 2025
Registered Charity number 1197640

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Index
Page
Report of the Trustees
Statement of Trustees responsibilities
Report of the independent examiner
Statement of financial activities
io
Balance sheet
li
Princrpal Accounting Policies
12-13
Notes to the financial Statements
13-16

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
forthe year ended 31 March 2025
Report of the Trustee5
The Trustees of West Midlands Readers, Network CIO 1.the charit￿) have pleasure in presenting their report and
financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the
Charity's Constitution and Accounting and Reporting by Charities- Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to
charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting 5tsndard applicable in the UK and Republic
of Ireland IFRS1021 (updated l January 20191.
The charity. formerly known as West Midland Readers, Network. which was previously an unincorporated entity, was
registered a5 a charity on 24 January 2022.
OBJEcfivES AND AcnviTIES
The objects of the Charity. as set out in its Constitutlon, are to promote education and appreciation of the subject of
creative literature by provision of educational programmes, literary publications and performances and by supporting a
network of book groups and readers in the West Midlands.
The CharIt￿S activities include providing training for the public, public library staff and others concerned with promoting
an interest in creative literature (including an annual online conference),. organising visits by professional writer5 to books
groups: organising gatherings of members of books groups and independent readers with professional writers I'Readers'
Days),. arranging for book groups to commission short stories from professional writers and providing an information point
to support book groups In their work in the region.
When reviewing and planning activities over the year, Trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on
public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit.. running a charity IPB21'.

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Report of the Trustees (continued)
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The period of thi5 report covered a programme of activity funded by a successful National Lottery Projert Grant from Arts
Council England. The work of this programme is detailed below. Alongside this work, we undertook the governance and
finance processes necessary to ensure the appropriate running of the organisation.
New Storie5fvr Reoder5 Short Story Commission5
We commissioned, published, and distributed a short story anthology by pairing regional writers with West Midlands
reading groups to create bespoke stories. The writers commissioned were Ania Bas, Tim Franks, Wren James, Richard
Lakin and Kate Mascarenhas.
Library Troininq Events
Following a survey of public library services about reader development training needs. a series of training sessions were
run for public library and independent bookshop staff, hosted by Cannock and Nuneaton Libraries. This training included
publicity. e-letters and the use of social media.
Poets in Libraries Tour, Reading Spas & Reuders'Day
We worked with local poetry publisher Nine Arches Press to deliver a 'Poets in Libraries, tour to five locations. We h05ted
two poetry-based 'Reading Spas,, one in Wolverhampton and one in Nuneaton. We hosted a general 'Readers' Da￿ in
8irmingham, the latter in partnership with 8irmingham Literature Festival.
Readers in Resffdence Pmjert
We hosted a Reader-in-Residence project in public libraries in north Staffordshire with writer Lisa Blower. The residency
involved engagement to create a range of wide reaching and engaging activities. This was experienced by just under 500
readers.
The Librnrlons. Virtuol Toolklt
We devised and delivered a Librarians, Virtual Toolkit to share reader development skills and best practite. We drew
together panellists from across the libraries and creative writing sectors, with a focus on the impart creative reading can
have on health.
Writersfor Readers Event5
We arranged a series of 12 author events with readers groups based in public libraries. These took place across the region.
We also fursded the set-up of a new readers group for men, meeting in Thimblemill Library in Sandwell and in partnership
with Tough Enough to Core. a local men's mental health charity.

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Report of the Trustees (continued)
FINANCIAL REVIEW
A surplus of £10212024.. Deficit of £4531 was reported for the year. This increased total funds as at 31, March 2025 which
now stand at £3,424, compared to £3,322 at the end of the previous year. A grant was once again received from Arts
Council England at approximately the same level as in the previous year, correspondingly the cost of Charitable Activities
has remained at a similar level to the previous year.
Reserves policy and risks
A Reserves Policy has yet to be developed and will be made a priority for completion before the end of the 2025126
financial year. Expenditure is managed against a budget agreed by our main funder, Art5 Council England, with any
increase in expenditure in one area balanced by a reduction in expenditure in another area. As most of the Charity'5 work
Is provided free of charge, there is low risk of a reduction in income being a risk. In addition, prior to each period of work
assurances are sought from public library authorities for their commitment to providing income via a subscription scheme.
Golng Concern
The organisation has been successful with an application to Arts Council England for funding for activities to happen across
2025126. and with this funding the organisation Is tonsidered a going concern.

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Report of the Trustees (continued)
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governln8 Document
The West Midlands Readers, Network is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation I'CIO'I and was registered as a charity on
24 January 2022. The CIO is governed by its Constitution which was adopted by the Board of Trustees on 2 December
2021.
Appointment of Trustees, Induction & training
New Trustees are appointed by invitation to join the Board given that they have the necessary skills and experience to
contribute to the Clo's activities and to be able to discharge their obligations as Trustees. Prospective new Trustees meet
initially with the Chair and are then invited to observe a meeting of the Board of Trustees, at which they are given all
relevant papers, intluding financial reports. A document produced by the Charity Commission on the responsibilitie5 of
Trustees is also provided. Subject to the prospective Trustee and the Board of Trustees being in favour of membership a
Resolution is issued and voted on at a Board Meeting.

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
forthe year ended 31 March 2025
Report of the Trustees (continued)
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees:
Elizabeth Gardner
Stella Thebridge
Natalie Marlow
Mar8aret HarrSs
Charlty NumbÈr: 1197640
Re8lstered Offl¢e'.
Studio 130. Zellig,
Gibb Street
Birmingham
B9 4AT
Independent Examlner:
Karen Hanlan. ACA
Karen Hanlan Independent Examiner Ltd
I Saracen Close
Ettington
Warwick5hire
CV37 7SZ
Bankers..
The Co-operative Bank plc
PO Box 101
l Balloon Street
Manchester
M60 4EP
Approved by the Board and signed on its behalf bv:
Stella Thebridge. MBE
Trustee
Date..

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Statement of Trustees. responsibilities
The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the
state of the affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit incurred by the charity for that year. In preparing those
financial statements the Trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting poli¢ie5 and then apply them consistently:
make judgments and estimate5 that are reasonable and prudent-
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed. subject to any material departures disclosed
and explained in the accounts,. and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
charitable company will continue to exist.
The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the charity has an appropriate system of controls. financial and
othewise.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time,
the financial position of the tharity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities
Act 2011.
They are also responsible for safeguardlng the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurance that..
the charity is operating efficiently and effectively:
its assets are safeguarded against un-authorised use or disposition-
proper records are maintained, and financial information used within the charity or for publication is reliable..
the charity complies with relevant laws and regulation5.

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of The West Midlands Readers Network CIO
{'the Charit￿)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Chartty for the year ended 31 Mèrch 2025 which are set out
on pages 10 to 16.
Responsibilitlès and ba515 of report
As the charity trustees of the Charity you a￿ responsible for the preparation of the account5 in accordance with the requirements of
the Charities Att 20111'the 2011 Act'l.
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Art and in carrying out my
examination I have followed all the appltcable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 1451Sllbl of the 2011 Act.
Independent e¥aminerfs statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come tts my attention in connectton wlth the examination
giving me cause to believe in any material respect..
11 accounting record5 were not kept in respect of the Charlty as required by section 130 of the 2011 Att- or
21 the account5 do not accord with those records.. or
31 the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the
Charities IAccounts and Reports) Regulatiorbs 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view
which is not a matter consldered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come acr055 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.
Karen Hanlan,
Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales
Karen Hanlan Independent Examiner Ltd
I Saracen Close
Ettington
CV37 7SZ
Date..

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Statement of Financial Activities
2025
Income from..
2024
Note
Donations and legacies
Charitable Activities
29,437
11.857
29,438
11,557
Totsl Income
41,294
40,995
Expendlture on:
Raising funds
2,425
2,212
Charitable activities
38.767
39,236
Total Expendlture
41,192
41.448
Net incomel{expendlture) and net
movement In funds for year
102
14531
Reconclllatlon of funds
Total funds brought forward
3,322
3,775
Totsl funds carrled forward
3,424
3,322
The statement of flnancial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities and all funds are unrestrirted.
10

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Balance sheet
Notes
31 March
2025
31 March
2024
Current Assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
2,944
2,908
5.852
2.983
1,008
3,991
Current Llabilities
Creditors.. amounts falling due within one year
12A28)
16691
Net current assets
Net assets
3.424
3,424
3,322
3,322
The funds of the Charlty..
Unrestricted Funds
Total ¢harity funds
3,424
3,424
3,322
3,322
The accompanyin8 a¢counting policie5 and notes forrn part of these financial stètements.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by..
Stella Thebrldge, MBE. Trustee
Date..

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Principal accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of
Recommended Prartice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting
Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS1021 (updated l January 20191- (Charities SORP IFRS10211 and
the Financial Reporting Standard applitable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS1021.
West Midlands Readers Network meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are
initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unles5 Otherwise stated in the relevant atcounting poliry notelsl.
Going concern statement
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which assume5 that the Charity will continue to
operate. The validity of this assumption is dependent upon the continuance of support from the Charity's keygrant funder
(Arts Council England) and in response to the progress made by the Charity in pursuing a viable budget including the
obtaining of further grants and other funds. The Charity's current business plan shows that the Charity will be able to
operate in the foreseeable future. Based on thi5 understanding, the trustees believe that it remains appropriate to prepare
the financial statements on a going concern basis. The financial statements do not include any adjustments, which would
result from the basis of preparation being inappropriate.
Funds
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purpose5 of charity. Designated funds are
unrestrirted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific
purpose. Restricted funds are donations and grants subject to conditions imposed by the provider or by specific terms of
the appeal under which the funds were raised. The restrictive conditions are binding upon the Charity.
Income
Income is recognised when the charlty has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the itemlsl
of income have been met, it 15 probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Income relating to future periods, as a result of donor imposed conditions specifying the time period, has been treated as
deferred income.
Income dependent on certain conditions, amounting to more than mere administrative requirements, is recognised when
the conditlons have been fulfilled.
Donated services and facilities
Donated professional setvices and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item.
any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the
charity of the item is probable and the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP
FRS102. general volunteer time is not recognised.
On reteipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the
charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain the seNices or facilitie5 of equivalent
economic benefit on the open market: a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
12

West Midlands Reader5 Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Principal accounting policies {continued)
Interest recelvable
Bank interest is shown on the basis of amounts receivable in the year.
Expendfture
Liabilities are recogni5ed as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the
expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenditure is classified under the following artivity
headings:
Costs of raising funds comprises the costs associated with raising income.
Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs undertaken to further the purposes of the charity
and their associated support & governance costs.
Cash and cash equlvalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash at bank and in hand and short-term deposit5 repayable on or wlthin a three month
notice period.
Oebtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are
valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Credltors
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in
the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.
Taxation
As a registered charity no provision is considered necessary for taxation.
Notes to the financial statements
l. Incorne from donatlons and legacies
2025
2024
Grants - Art5 Council England
29,437
29.438
Total Income from donatlons and legacles
29.437
29,438
13

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
2. Income from charitable artlvltles
2025
2024
Library Authority Annual subscriptions
Ticket sales
In-kind support- venues, resources, office space
Total income from Charltable Artlvlties
3,025
2,084
6,748
11,857
3,300
1,744
6,513
11,557
3. Analysls of expenditure on ralsing fvnds
2025
2024
Website development, publicity & marketing cost5
2,425
2,212
Total cost of ra151ng funds
2,425
2,212
14

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Notes to the financial statements (continued)-
4. Analysis of expendlture on ¢harltable activlties
2025
2024
Artistic programme costs
New Stories for Readers
Reader in residence costs
Reading & Poetry Spas
Writers for Readers
Developing & organizing people
In-kind support- venues. resource5. office space
Projert management
General administration
Bookkeeping
Accountancyllndependent Examination
Travel costs
Sundry
10,309
3,779
7,425
3.694
1,760
4,283
3,185
3,089
6,513
2.660
4.455
1,140
650
iio
272
4,026
2,788
3,049
6,748
2.160
2.799
1,140
800
ioi
Total
38,767
39,236
5. Trustee remuneratlon, expense5 & transaction5
The charity has no employees.
The charity's trustees were not paid nor received any other benefits from the charity in the year or previous period.
other than as detailed below. No Trustee expenses were reimbursed during the year or previous period.
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees. Trustees receive no remuneration or other
benefits from the charity.
Writers, fees for work carried out for the Charity of £200.70 were paid to Natalie Marlow ITrusteel during the year
12024.. £631.29). Such fees are in line with those paid to other writers, were agreed by fellow trustee5 and are
authorised by the Charirfs Constitution.
15

West Midlands Readers Network CIO
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
6. Debtors
2025
2024
Trade debtors
Accrued income
Prepayments
290
2,693
2,944
2,983
7. Creditors.. amounts falllng due wlthin one year
2025
2024
Trade creditors
Accruals
1,398
1,030
2,428
19
650
669
8. Controlllng Interests
The charity is controlled by the Trustees.
16