Cockerniouth Festivals Group ao ReOstered as a tharity wlth the Charity Commission for En8land and Wales No. 1206784 Annual Report and unaudtted ACnts prepared bythe Trustees for the first finandal perfod, from re$tratIOn I3janry 2024) untll 31° Decefflber 2024
Introd Thls Is the first annual report and accounts prepared by the Tru¥(ees of Cockermouth Festlvals Group CIO (the 'CIO'}, whlch Is a Charitable 1nrpOratsd Organlsation restered wlth the Charfty Cornmlsslon of En8land and Wales on 30 January 2024 wlth reglstsred number 1206784. The reglstered address ot the ao Is Packhorse Cotta8e, Low Lorton, Cockarmouth, Cumbrla CA13 9UW. The CIO was qstsbllshed and reglst•rnd In order to take over the enttr• undertakln& assets and Ilabllltles of an unlncorporated assoclatlon known as Cockerniouth Festlvals Group, whlch for a number of years had organlsed and run an annual arts festlv•l In tho town of Cockormouth In Cumbrla. The festlval Is known as"Cockermouth LIVEI.. Cockernwuth UVEI has be¢n an annual f¢stlval whlch be8an In 2010 when the town was r•coverlng from the devastatlng floods of 2009. It has contlnu•d ••eh year slncq th•n, apart from • hlatus durln8 COVID. Th• fgstlval always operated on • voluntaryi not for profft basls, but had out8rown Its orl8lnal oryanlsatlon•l and governance structur•. Thos• who ran It falt that the tlmo had come to establlsh a new •nttty, the CIO, whlch had a modern, fit for purpose constltutlon, was regulthd and could operat• on a much mor• transparent and accountsble basls. That Is why the CIO was set up and reglstered wlth the Charlty Commlsslon on 30th January 2024. Th• CIO Is a 'Foundatlon' CIO Ind Its constltutlon clos•ly follows th• Charlty Comml$slon's r•I1nt recommended forrn. Thè purposos of the CIO ar•: he advaneoment of th¢ arts, culture and h¢rltage for the publlc ben•fit by th• prornotlon, organlsatlon and runnlng of an annual festlval of performlng and other arts {Sncludlng muslc. drnma, danu, and the spok?n and wrftten word) In th¢ town of Co¢kemiouth In Cumbrla. whlch all Its r•sldents, and the resldonts and vlsltors to the surroundlnz area, towns and vlllag•s may attend, as wèll as oth•r slmllar •v•nts from tlme to tlrne." Our maln actlvlty durlng the reportlng perlod was th• organlsatlon of th• festlval whlch took place 0r the first weekend In July 2024: we were abl¢ for the flrst tlrne to extend It from the Frfday nleht to tho Sunday- In prevlous years It had not Included a full day of events on the Sunday- and althou8h there were somo tlcketed •vents the vast majorlty wero free for the publlc to attond and were famlly friendly. Our alrn In arranglng ticketed events Is on the one hand to contrlbute to the fund5 avallable for the festival as a whole, and on the other to stsge performances whlch would Ilkely not otherwlse be seen In our part of North West Cumbria. Tlckets are affordably priced and therefore enable the publlc to experlen¢e what would not otherwlse be accessible to them.
Our aim in arranging non ticketed events was alsotwo fold: some performers were paid from funds raised for the purpose, 50 that their performances were free for the public to attend; but it is also core to our purposes that we provide a5 many opportunitie5 as possible for the widest possible range of local artists to perform, unpaid, to an audience. That is an opportunity which enables them to develop and grow, and it is good for the health and welfare of the community at large to experience and share in the cultural life of the town. The Trustees have therefore had due regard to guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission and have operated with the public benefit in the forefront oftheir thinking and planning. What we achleved In 2024 We aim to animate and use the town itself, which maximises accessibility, rather than using particular festival slte. We want people- residents and visitors alike- to experience and use every part of our town to the full. We believe that was achieved. A short video summary of this year's festival is available to view on You Tube at htt outu.be WRYMOiZTeUO Thls year we used up to 20 venues around the town, ranging from the Kirkgate Centre lour local arts venue) to many of the pubs, cafes, shops and churches in the town. Uslng 50 manv venues meant we could host a wide variety of events, and as many people as possible could attend. We also staged some events in the streets {5uth as our inaugural 'buskathon'l and two of the town's unique herltage buildings. By kind pemission of Lord and Lady Egremont we used the grounds of Cockermouth Castle for two full days of variou5 performances,. it is the only time each yearthat the public can freely access the Castle. And we put on a number of events at Wordsworth House, which was the home of t>orothy and Willlam Wordsworth and which is now run by the National Trust. Although most events were musical, we included poetry. painting and other craft activities so as to appeal to the widest possible tastes, age range and demographic. Overall this year we used more venues, and staged more performances, than in previous vears. We publish a guide and s¢hedules online and in hard copy. We estimate that over 4,000 people attended performances staged as part of the 2024 festival, and the town was noticeably busier than normal throughout the weekend; many of the local businesses, some of which kindly 5UPPOrt us. reported more custom as a result. We aspire to Use this experience to develop our financial support base in the local community. Financial Review Our accounts, prepared on a receipts and payments basls, are included in this report.
During the reportlng period we made a surplus of Income over expenditure, whlch was added to our reserves to fund the festiyal In 2025. We are unable to provlde comparable figures for prlor year5 since the predecessor unine0Orated assoclatlon dld not keep such detslled books and records, or report In the same forniat or on a calendar year basls; In future yeats we wlll be able to provlde comparable figures, prepared cons15tentlyi for the prior year. The entlrn undertaklng assets and Ilabllities of the predecessor assodation were transferred to the CIO as soon as posslble after the CIO was registered. That was Mthen the CIO had opened suitable bank accounts. There were no rnaterlal assets transferr•d apart from credlt balances held atthe Cumberland Buildlng Sod¢ty and Natwest Bank ple. Those balances represented reserves built up over prevlous years and sorne yant funding whlch had been applied for and recelved in advance of the 2024 Fesdval. Our reserves pollcy Is to rnaintaln. so far as posslble, reserves representlng half of our antl¢ipated annual expenditure. We believe thls Is conslstent wlth other similar charfties and it refiects the highly olICal and seasonal nature of our activlties and cashllow. Most of our annual expendlture occurs in the run up to and shortly after the festival In early July, but we Must commlt to It mafty months in advance. A substantial amount of our income Is received at and very soon after the festlval. That Is why we conslder it prudent to rnaintaln sufficlent reserves at that level. Fundratslng Our income ¢omes from four sources: first, we seek grant funding from other charltles, and from local and central government; second, we approach local businesses• especially those whSch are likely to benefft from the increased footfrall in town during the festival. or which find the publiclty assoclatsd wth thelr support beneficlal; thirdly we seek donatlons from the publlc. whlth in the maln come In as cash collectlons during the festlval Itself: and fourth we generate ticket sales whlch generally balance expendlture on tlcketed events. and can generate a small surplus whlch goes towards funding the rest of the actlvlties comprlsed in the festival. We have not used a professlonal fundraiser; almost all our fvndralslng actlvity Is undertaken by our volunteer trustees. We have had no complaints about our fundraising activlty, and we are mlndful of the need to protect vulnerable people and other members of the publlc from unreasonable Intrusion, perslstence or pressure to donate. We do not hold any material investments apart from malntalnlng as much of our cash as possible In an interest earning deposlt a¢count. Volunteors We are entirely dependent on volunt•e None of the trustees Is pald for thelr servlw or recelve any dlrect or indlrect benefft for what they do.
A large number of other volunteers help with the operntlon of the festiwdl eath year. for example by stewarding and helpin£ to run specific event& And of course. there is a large community of local musicians also perforn) on a voluntsry basis. Most of the rnusiaans who participe are unpald," some youps (who for example put on ticketed perfomian¢es whlth help raise funds for the festival) re1Ve a fee or donation, but not at a commercial rate. We aim to assist them to cover costs so thatthey can continue to operate on a voluntary basis throughout the year. Most venues provlde thelrfadlltles. and a Significant level of support In temls of help and manpower. free of tharge. We are enomlously grateful to everne who provides us Mnth suth invaluable help and SUPPOrt, wlthout which the festival would not be possible. The trustees have a broad range of different skills and experIen. The followlng Trustees (listed in alphabetkal order) were appolntsd on incorporation and reglstration of the ao aive David Bamard (currendy the Treasurer) Chrlstopher Kevin Bridgman John Coulson Moore Catherlne Ellzabeth Parry Thomas Richard Speight Icurrentlythe thalr) The following Tnthes were appointed on 2thd April 2025 Andrew Coonev CharIotte Dumbill Alison Hllton (currently th8 rnlnute5 seuetary) John Moore resigned at the end of August 2025. As noted above. the CIO and the CocernK>uth Live festival is run by an unpald board of Trustses. In accordance wlth the constitukn of the CIO. with help from other volunteers, so that we can draw on a wlde and relevant range of expertise experlence. Plannlng meetings. thaired by one of the Trustees. are usually held on a monthly basis (but more frequently in the run up to the festival). We Invite others frorn the cx)mmunity to attend, and we are opw to belng joined by arryone with relevant complernentary ¢x speclallst skills.
Particular individuals or group5 take the lead for matters such as finance, fundraising, publicity, risk assessment, venue management, performer liaison, governance, Social media and the website. but all are accountable to the Trustees. A5 a registered charity we are required to file an annual report and accounts which are publicly available on the Charity Commission website and whl¢h are available on request. We are not obliged to hold an Annual General Meeting but we intend to hold an annual meeting with stakeholders and others to encourage feedback, so that we are open to new idea5 and transparent in what we do. Measurlng our performance We systematically gather feedback from and in relation to venues, performers and all other aspects of each year's festival. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and we use it to inform improvement and development each year. We assess how successful we have been by financial measures laimingto at least break even and if possible, to build reserve5 to fund the festival's continuing developrnentl, by the number, breadth and age range of our performers and audiences, by feedback from local businesses, spon50rs and other sUPPOrter5. Our aim each year is to learn from and build on what has happened before. Land and Property and other assets The CIO does not own and/or lease any land or property, and it has no material assets. This annual report was approved by the Trustees on2S October 2025 Signed on b If of the Trustees
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES ChaFity Name Cock•rn)oulh Festivals Grou No lif anvl 1206784 cio Receipts and payments accounts Period start dale Period eiid dale Forth• pwlod from 30th Janua 2024 31st December 2024 Section A Receipts aiid payments Unr•8trlctsd fund8 Rastrlctsd funds Totsl fun(ts f•) th• nw•r••t £ A1 Racei ts Transfer from Cockemiouth Fe811vals Nota 1 Donations from Cornmerdal Spon80r8 Note 2 Donatsons fmm Indlvlduals Tlckel Sales Note 4 Grants Not8 5 othor Donatlon re(*lv8d l)r 2025 Interest 5.732 12.682 lJ50 , I50 Nots3 2M19 2M19 1.550 500 1150 900 300 125 400 125 rot•lR•cW• (Gross Inoom• fiy AR) 17.574 9000 26,574 A2 Paym•nt8 Paymants to perf0mlS for dckaknd events Paymant8 to porfornierJ for non Ilcketad events Hire of preml8e8, PA.Marqu88s.Porta1008.Piano Publlclty and Markellng Admlnlstrallon and general Cfverhead8 Bank charges 5.155 700 2,026 514 532 2,026 400 932 84 rot•iP•ym•nts 9.011 7.824 18035 Netolrecewpaymerts) Bolan¢lng amwrt In roundlng Cash fiumls thls year •nd 8563 1.176 9.739 28 9.767 CCXX R1 ac<4)unls {SS) 2811012025
Sectioii B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period to rnarest £ B1 Cash fund8 Current Account 350 Depo8lt Acnt 9A17 Total cash funds 9.767 Dètall8 None 82 Other mon•tsry a•••ts 0otall• None 83 Inv••lm•nt a88•ts D•t No materfal a86ets 84 A•••ts r•tsln•d for tho charlty'• D•tall8 PRS Llcance (Note 6) AmrANtt {1)OlaMI) 85 Lknb1111108 824 StrJn•d by onè orl*D Iw8t•o¥ on bghall of 911 tho truste88 Thomas Spelght (Chair) Cllvo Bamard (Treasurer) OG 13 zs 10 iozJ Note 1 Note 2 Note 3 Note 4 Note S Nole 6 The CIO trjok over runnlng Cockemioulh Llvo A.numberoflocal busine8888 Meand8rs and Rotary Blazlng Flddles at the Kirkgate. machan1 Band and CCO Lake8 b Sèa, UKSPF. Cothemouth Town Coundl Th8re18 no debc and no guarantees have been glven CCXX R2 ac<4)unts ISS) 23110r2025
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Iiidependenl Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Cio On accounts for the year onded gisÈ J)eu& Charlty no (If any) Set out on pagès I r8port to the trustees on my examinatlon o ccounls of the above Re8ponglbllltle8 and As the charity truslees of the TTUSI, you are responslble for the preparatlon basls of report of the accounts in accordance with the requiremenls of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Acv,). I report In SpeCt of my examlnatlon of the Trust's accounts carried out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and In carying out my examinatlon, I have followed the applicable Directions giv6n by the Charity Commlssion under sectlon 14515)(b) of the Act. I have complet8d my examinatlon. I conflrm thal no materlal matters have come to my attentlon (other than that dlsclosed below") In connection th the examln8tlon vthlch glves me Cause to bell8ve that In, any materlal respecl.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with Sectlon 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wlth the accounllng records Ind8pandent examlnerfs statement I have no concems and have comè across no other matters in connection wlth the examlnation to whlch attention should b8 dravm in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Ple8s8 delete th6 words in the br8ckets rfth8y do not 8ppIy. Slgned: 2C>A Name: Relevant professlonal quallficatlon{s) or body (If any): Address: SI Ll 3PP IER October 2018
bcctioii B DisclosLirc Only complete If the gxamlner needs to hlghllght matters d o)ncem (see CC32, Independent examlnatlon of drIty acrA)unt&' dlre¢tlon8 al gu(danc8 for examiners). Glvo hor• brfef detsll• •ny Ilems that th• oxaminorwl•ho8 to dlsclom. IER Octob•r 2018
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES aFfiii W.are CockernI Festivals CK) Receipts and payments accounts 2jikniS4 Forthe period from 30th Janua 2024 31 st December 2024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrfcted funds Restricted Total funds to th •r•*t to ltr• M•r•st £ toth• M•rMt £ A1 Recei ts Transfer from Cockernioulh Feslivals Grou Note 1 5.732 6950 12.682 Donations from Commercial Sponsors Note 2 Donations from Indivlduals ricket Sales Note 4 Grants Note 5 Other Donation receivod for 2025 Interest 1.950 1.950 Not8 3 2.619 6A48 2.619 6A48 1.550 900 300 125 1.550 500 400 300 125 Tot•lRocelpts (Gross hwom• forAR) 17.574 9.000 2674 A2 PaymDnts Payments to perfonners for ljcketed events 5.155 5,155 Payments to pgrform8rs for non ticketed events 700 3.756 4856 Hire ofpremises. PA.Marquees.Portaloos.Plano Publicityand Marketing Adminlstration and general (fverheads Bank charges 2.026 514 532 84 2.026 4,182 932 84 3.668 400 Total Payments 9.011 7.824 16.835 Net ofreceiptslpaymonts) BalanclNJ amounl in roundlng Cash funds thls year end 863 1.176 9,739 28 9.767 CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 2811012025
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period 10 nreSt £ B1 Cash funds Current Account Deposit ACUnt 350 9A17 Tolal cash fvnds 9,767 Detalls Non8 to rnar• £ B2 Other monotary a880ts Dotalls None 83 hwestment assets Dotalls No matertal assets B4 Ass•ts rotalrnd for th• charlty's C¢•t {0) Dgtalls PRS Licence (Note 6) 35 Uabllttles 824 SvJned by one Ort twstses on behall of am iho trustees Thomas Speight (Chair) Clive Bamard (Treasurer) OC £3 ZS 10 zozs Note 1 Note 2 Note 3 Note 4 Note 5 Note 6 The CIO took over running Cockermouth Live A numberoflocal businesses Meanders and Rotary Blazing Fiddles at the Kirkgab. Mechanics 8and and CCO Lakes ts) Sea, UKSPF. Cockermouth Town Council There is no debL and no guarantees have been given CCXX R2 accounts (SSI 2311012025