Cockerniouth Festivals Group ao
ReOstered as a tharity wlth the Charity Commission for En8land and Wales No. 1206784
Annual Report and unaudtted AC￿nts prepared bythe Trustees for the first
finandal perfod, from re￿$tratIOn I3￿jan￿ry 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 1n￿rpOratsd Organlsation re￿stered
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•I￿1nt 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 0￿r 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
unine0￿Orated 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 o￿lICal 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 particip*e are unpald," some youps (who for example put on
ticketed perfomian¢es whlth help raise funds for the festival) re￿1Ve 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 ever￿ne 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 Coc*ernK>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
, I￿50
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 perf0m￿lS 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 Ac￿￿nt
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 d￿rIty 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.ar￿e
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
26￿74
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
8￿63
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 n￿reSt £
B1 Cash funds
Current Account
Deposit AC￿Unt
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