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2025-03-31-accounts

REPUBLIC OF CONSCIOUSNESS FOUNDATION

Registered Charity Number 1197829

Trustees’ Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025

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Contents
Reference and Administra1ve Informa1on 3
Annual Report by Trustees 4
Approval of trustees’ report and unaudited fnancial statements 11
Independent examiner’s report 12
Financial statements 13

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REPUBLIC OF CONSCIOUSNESS FOUNDATION

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION YEAR ENDING 31[ST] MARCH 2025

Charity’s name Republic of Consciousness Founda1on

Status Charitable Incorporated Organisa1on (registered on 8 February 2022)

Charity Registra1on Number 1197829

Registered ofce 20 Parklands Road London SW16 6TE

Trustees (at date of report and during period) Professor Leigh Wilson (Chair) John Mitchinson Paul Fulcher (Treasurer) Administrator Neil Griffiths

Independent examiner Claire Davies

Bankers Metro Bank 1-2 Wimbledon Bridge London SW19 7NW

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REPUBLIC OF CONSCIOUSNESS FOUNDATION

ANNUAL REPORT BY THE TRUSTEES YEAR ENDING 31[ST] MARCH 2025

Introduc1on

ending 31 March 2025.

the Chari1es Act 2011 and the Guidance ‘Charity repor1ng and accoun1ng: the essen1als November 2016’ issued by the Charity Commission, as updated on 14 June 2023.

The Republic of Consciousness Founda1on (the “Founda1on”) was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisa1on with the Chari1es Commission on 8 February 2022.

Purpose and governance

The charity is governed by its Cons3tu3on, dated 1 July 2021.

art of literature and in par3cular to promote literature of high merit published by small presses in the UK and Ireland by the provision of grants to prac33oners and producers of literary fic3on and the promo3on of such literature to the public.”

Commission on public benefit when exercising their powers and direc1ng the ac1vi1es of the Founda1on, as described in the next sec1on.

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Achievements and ac1vi1es

The Republic of Consciousness Prize 2025

The key ac1vity of the Founda1on is the running of the Republic of Consciousness Prize (the ‘Prize’), which both promotes literary fic1on by small presses in the UK and Ireland via the publicity and events organised around the Prize, and supports the works of small presses via the distribu1on of grants as prize money.

2024 by eligible small presses based in the UK and Ireland. This was the 9[th] year for which the Prize has been awarded, and the third year with charitable status. The Prize accepts both long-form fic1on and collec1ons of short-stories, as well as translated works alongside English language originals, which is, we believe, close to unique amongst UK literary prizes, and which reflects the purpose of the Founda1on.

We received 50 submissions for the 2025 Prize from small presses in the UK and Ireland. This was a small drop in entries to the prior year, in part due to a further change in eligibility criteria designed to ensure the funds from the Prize were focused on those with the greatest need. In par1cular, we’ve been pleased to see that a number of independent presses now have Na1onal Porjolio Organisa1on funding, which contributes to core costs, cushioning the impact of low sales for risk-taking books, but this essen1ally duplicates our purpose. The criteria for entry for the 2025 Prize were:

And meet two of the following three criteria:

statements, were chosen with our charitable purpose in mind.

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Alice Jolly’s novel Mary Ann Sate (2018), published by Unbound, was runner up for the Rathbones Folio Prize. Alice has also won the Pen Ackerley Prize for memoir and the V.S. Pritchem Memorial Prize for one of her short stories. She was awarded an O.Henry Prize in 2021. Her latest novel The Matchbox Girl (which is about Dr Asperger) is published in autumn 2025. She reviews for various newspapers and literary journals.

Houman Barekat reviews books for various outlets including the Guardian, the Sunday Times, the Irish Times and the Spectator; and theatre for the New York Times. He is coeditor (with Robert Barry and David Winters) of The Digital Cri1c: Literary Culture Online.

the Guardian, the Spectator, Literary Review, New Statesman, TLS, the i-Paper, Review 31and 3AM Magazine. His essays and short fic1on have appeared in a number of publica1ons. He is also an editor for The Literary Consultancy, and currently teaches Crea1ve Wri1ng at the University of Westminster.

The longlist of 10 books was announced on 30 January 2025, a shortlist of 5 books on 26 February 2025 and the winner on 1 April 2025. The featured presses and 1tles were:

Winner:

Bullaun Press for ‘There’s A Monster Behind the Door’ by Gaëlle Bélem, translated by Karen Fleetwood & Laë11a Saint-Loubert

Shortlisted:

CB edi1ons for ‘Invisible Dogs’ by Charles Boyle

Divided Publishing for ‘How to Leave the World’ by Marouane Bakh1, translated by Lara

Vergnaud

Les Fugi1ves for ‘Célina’ by Catherine Axelrad, translated by Philip Terry

Peninsula Press for ‘Mother Naked’ by Glen James Brown (Shortlisted)

Longlisted:

Holland House Books for Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings

Prototype for The Seers by Sulaiman Adonia

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Rough Trade for Good Lord by Ella Frears

Scotland Street Press for Somewhere Else by Jenni Daiches

Splice , for Daybook by Nathan Knapp (Longlisted)

in the UK and Ireland in the 9 years for which it has been awarded.

All of the featured presses receive prize money in the form of a grant and, as a condi1on for entering the Prize, are required to explain how funds will be used to further the purpose of the Founda1on. The prize fund for the 2025 Prize was £10,000, as with the previous year. It was split between the 10 longlisted presses (£500 each) and then a further £1,000 was awarded to each of the shortlisted presses, divided 70% to the press, 30% to the writer (or 15% to the original author, and 15% to translator for translated works). The winner does not receive further monetary prizes, but rather the recogni1on of the award.

Shortlist readings were held at Depjord Lounge part of Lewisham Libraries, a conscious amempt to move the centre of gravity away from the centre of London and reach people who might not ordinarily go there for book events. Our award ceremony was hosted by Foyles, Charing Cross.

The Republic of Consciousness Book Club

A second key ac1vity of the Founda1on is a Book of the Month club, where a curated choice of a book from a small press is sent out monthly to subscribers who can choose from the selected 1tle or opt for a book previously featured on our longlist. This serves both to promote literary fic1on of the highest merit from small presses, to provide revenue for small presses, and also to raise funds for the Founda1on.

Support for Book Banks

As part of the applica1on for the Arts Council grant (see ‘Financial Overview’ below), the Founda1on pledged to provide £800 per annum of support to help literary fic1on reached underserved audiences. In the year to 31 March 2025, this took the form of support for the charity Bookbanks (charity registra1on number: 1204919) both as cash dona1ons and in the

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form of books purchased from small presses and passed to them for distribu1on via their book banks.

Trustees and Ofcers

The Trustees of the Founda1on throughout the period were:

of the Republic of Consciousness Prize serves as the Administrator and Literary Consultant.

Financial overview

following sponsors:

Revenue from Book Club subscrip1ons increased 38% to £17,178 against associated costs of £9,404, genera1ng a net surplus of £7,774 (PY: £6,246) which is a key source of support for the Prize. These costs include £4,219 paid to small presses for books.

money, to small presses in the UK and Ireland. This consisted of £4,500 rela1ng to the previous prize year and £9,500 for the 2025 Prize, with the remaining grants for the 2024 and 2025 Prizes paid ater the end of the financial year.

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as reported last year, the Founda1on received a grant from the Arts Council of £21,000, with £18,900 (90%) paid up front in the year to 31 March 2024. The amount received was, under the receipts and payments basis, accounted for in the year to 31 March 2024, but was available to support the opera1on of the Founda1on during this financial year.

Reserves and fund accoun1ng

The Founda1on ended the year with a cash balance of £9,807, of which £2,200 represented payment due to creditors, leading to a net balance of £7,607.

received in advance but intended to support the opera1on of the Founda1on in the coming financial year.

The Founda1on’s Reserve policy is that the Founda1on does not need to hold material cash reserves, as the amounts awarded each year to the presses featured in the Prize are set by the Trustees toward the end of the financial year, based on funds available generated during the year. Amounts awai1ng payment, or where public funding or sponsorship has been received that is intended to provide support over more than one year, such as the Arts Council grant are excluded when considering the amount of reserves.

judges of the Prize, net of any commimed sponsorship, as well as to cover 3 months of expected expenditure, which amounts to around £2,000. If reserves were to increase above £15,000, represen1ng 150% of the current annual prize fund, the Trustees could consider increasing the prize fund, or finding other ways to distribute funds to further the Founda1on’s charitable purpose, although this would be balanced against the need for a buffer to ensure the future opera1on of the Founda1on given the uncertain nature of external funding.

The cash balance is held in unrestricted funds which the Trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the Founda1on’s Charitable Purpose. There are no designated or restricted funds.

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Outlook

From 2026 the Republic of Consciousness Founda1on is partnering with Queen Mary University, London to rebrand our Prize for Small Presses as the Queen Mary Small Press Fic1on Prize. Their shared commitment to nurturing fic1on from the margins - having already sponsored the Queen Mary Wasafiri New Wri1ng Prize - makes it a perfect partner for us as we rebrand and further our support of small presses.

that of our other sponsors, will also help secure the future of the Prize and the Founda1on.

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REPUBLIC OF CONSCIOUSNESS FOUNDATION

APPROVAL OF TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDING 31[ST] MARCH 2025

This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Paul Fulcher, Trustee

Date: 1 September 2025

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees of Republic of Consciousness Founda1on On accounts for: Year ended 31 March 2025 Charity no 1197829

Set out on pages 13 I report to the trustees on my examina1on of the accounts of the above charity (“Founda1on”) for the year ended 31 / 03 / 2025 .

Responsibili1es and basis As the charity trustees of the Founda1on, you are responsible for the

of report prepara1on of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chari1es Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examina1on of the Founda1on’s accounts carried out under sec1on 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examina1on, I have followed the applicable Direc1ons given by the Charity Commission under sec1on 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's I have completed my examina1on. I confirm that no material mamers have

statement come to my amen1on in connec1on with the examina1on which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other mamers in connec1on with the examina1on to which amen1on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Date: 11[th] Jan 2026 Signed:

Name: Claire Davies

Relevant professional ACMA qualifca1on(s):

Address: 30 Leigh Road, London N5 1AH

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REPUBLIC OF CONSCIOUSNESS FOUNDATION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR PERIOD 1 APRIL 2024 TO 31 MARCH 2025

Receipts and Payments

Receipts
Public Funding £ -
Sponsorship £ 13,000
Book of the Month Subscription £ 17,178
Earned Income £ -
Total £ 30,178
Payments
Prize Money £ 14,000
Staff costs £ 6,075
Judges £ 2,741
Book of the Month – books £ 4,219
Book of the Month – other costs £ 5,184
Event costs £ 200
Overheads/expenses £ 710
Donations £ 600
Total £ 33,730
Net receipt/(payments)
Cash funds at start of period
Cash funds at end of period
£(3,552)
£ 13,360
£ 9,807

Statement of Assets and Liabilities at end of period (all unrestricted funds)

Cash funds at end of period £ 9,807

Creditors at year-end

Creditors atyear-end
Prize Money £ 1,500
Judges £ 500
Donation to Bookbanks £ 200
Total £ 2,200
Total Net Assets
£ 7,607

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