## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
## **From Feb 2024 Period start date To April 2025 Period end date Charity name: Clevedon LitFest Charity registration number:1206829 Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|_To promote public appreciation of the arts in Clevedon_
_and the surrounding area for the public benefit by_
_providing an annual programme of events._|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|_Activities include workshops, talks, demonstrations,_
_films, theatre, music, art, authors, books, poetry,_
_storytelling and anything to do with the written and_
_spoken word._|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|Charity Trustees were sent and read guidance on
public benefit 27 05 2025|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||
SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**n/a**|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|**n/a**|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|All trustees are volunteers and play an active role in
organising and delivering the activities. In addition, we
have a list of 30 or so volunteers who we meet
throughout the year and discuss their ‘on the day’
roles and responsibilities. We ask for feedback after
each event from our volunteers on how they
experienced their duties and what could be improved,
their feedback is included in the planning of future
events.
We encourage our volunteers to find out more about
the role of the trustees through discussions and if
desired, attendance at a board meeting. This is one of
our avenues to recruitment of new trustees.
We have offered training in first aid and safeguarding,
EDI, and we are researching new Data Protection
rules and training.|
|Other|||
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|Main achievements of the charity from Feb 24 to April 25
are providing:
1.
Summer four-day weekend of talks, poetry,
storytelling, performance and workshops for the
public to experience and interact with.
2.
The launch of a digital app project which
showcases local poets and part of the coastal
path and encourages people to walk and explore
the history of the local area.
3.
Four poetry and music events to celebrate the
seasons and reflect on nature and it’s benefit to
wellbeing.
4.
An October weekend in collaboration with Show of
Strength Theatre Company who presented a
performance of ‘’Outrage or The Ghost of Mabel
Hunt’’ showing how the struggle for women’s
suffrage came to Clevedon. This was followed up
by publishing a pamphlet detailing the research
behind the project.
5.
A November Saturday event to celebrate less
well- known local authors and poets, some with
workshops who promoted and shared their work
and skills.
6.
A Poetry and Short Story Competition which
included under 19 yrs, local and national entries.
7.
Story times with interaction and music in Spring
and Autumn for families with young children.
Our events help to combat loneliness and isolation by
encouraging people to attend low cost or no cost events.
Social media analysis and feedback cards distributed at
events has shown that we have increased our profile
across the local and nearby towns and our take up by
lower age groups and males.
By offering community events at low or no costs to
visitors, skills and knowledge have been shared more
widely across workshops and talks.
We have provided local venues across the town for
people to come to come together, network and make
connections across the local area.
Our focus on diversity of age range saw events held for
children eg story time and comic art masterclass and|
adults with a mix of interactive and educational content.
Legacy:
**1.** Visitors interact and contribute to the sharing of knowledge and skills.
**2.** Networking with fellow creatives has led to follow on commissions.
**3.** The digital ‘app’ is now in place for five years and will promote local poets and our town.
**4.** Ten copies of our ‘Outrage’ pamphlet have been donated to a local secondary school, with donations to other local schools being investigated, plus sales.
**5.** Competition winners and entries have been showcased on our website and social media.
6. Culture Club – a networking group for culture and arts, met monthly during this period.
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|Our feedback postcards at each event allow us to
evaluate visitor satisfaction, age, post codes, ethnicity,
accessibility issues, marketing success and comments,
**Objectives.**
**To avoid physical barriers**, we use level access
venues, to include as many people with physical
disabilities as possible.
Our low cost and no cost events ensure accessibility
during the current cost of living crisis.
**To reach a wide audience.**
Our marketing reaches local towns and cities, uses
social media and distributes to many locations. We were
featured in a local free newspaper and magazine
several times promoting our events.
Our range of event times ensures that we reach a
diverse audience e.g. retired and working people and
children and young people.
**To reach younger people and more males**.
Our programme has reflected themes which will attract
younger and male audiences e.g. around sport and
mental health subjects. 1 event in 2023 raised to 3
events in 2024
Our
analysis
of available data
shows we are reaching
younger and more males in our audiences
**To provide legacy projects.**
In the time period we have launched a poetry digital
App, a pamphlet and competitions. These will be
maintained, promoted and showcased in the future for
all.|
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|**Objectives. To raise some much-needed**
**unrestricted funding.**
We held a literary quiz night, a sell-out event.
We sold prints of Doris Hatt paintings, books of ‘Doris
Hatt Revolutionary Artist’and pamphlet‘Outrage’|
|||We are launching a subscriber’s group for donations.
We continue to apply for grants – e.g. to ACE, Town
Council, Quartet Community Foundation, BID local
businesses.|
|---|---|---|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|**N/A**|
|Other||**n/a**|
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|As at April 2025 our financial position contained most of
the funding for our summer event, with a cut down
version ready to go until further funding was obtained.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|Reserves are ringfenced for paying freelancers, this
money is provided by ACE and Quartet for this purpose.
It is our intention to build reserves equivalent to at least
six months trading income. Current ongoing liabilities
only extend to staff roles and funding for them is in
place for the next 12 months. Nevertheless, we intend
to generate additional reserves through events e.g. out
of season events like our May Quiz night.
Our charitable status and objects demand that we would
never trade at a loss.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**0**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|We did not hold any reserves at April 2025 as we had
plans /commitments that would take the monies we had
at the time had we not got additional funding or reduced
our cost.|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**n/a**|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|No uncertainties other than volunteers required and at
times, these have had to step back or retire.
Replacements are sought on a rolling basis to make
sure we avoid a deficit and where possible will include
succession planning.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|
Para 1.47|
**As above**|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**n/a**|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|Our principal risk is being able to maintain a healthy
number of volunteers to organise and deliver the
programme together with raising the funds required to
hold meaningful events each year. Programmes are
only created and delivered once funding is in place, so
there is no financial risk to the charity.|
Other
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Constitution**|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**CIO**|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Our policy is to advertise widely, taking due account
of the current lack of diversity on our board, targeting
if possible, candidates who are younger and more
diverse. We also expect proposed candidates to
work with us on a volunteer basis over a six-to-nine-
month period before being invited to formally join the
board. Finally, we ask for references of previous
posts/ charity work.”
**We take account of our responsibilities under the**
**Chairty Commission registration.**
(a)
In selectng individuals for
appointment as appointedcharity
trustees, the charity trustees must
have regard to the skills, knowledge
and experience needed for the
efectve administraton of the CIO.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|We have policy documents for the application,
recruitment and induction of all volunteers and
trustees. And these are shared and approved by the
board|
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|We have a board of trustees which approves
decisions proposed by sub committees and working
groups within the volunteers.
We work collaboratively with many local creative
organisations and networks, businesses and
voluntary groups.|
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|**none**|
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Clevedon LitFest|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1206829|
|Charity’s principal address|11 Ashley Rd
Clevedon
BS21 7UX|
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## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Carol Price|Chair|||
||Jayne Linington|Website|||
||Isabel White|Funding|||
||Paul Truan|Poetry& Short Story|||
||ChrisseyHarrison|Events|||
||Jeff Lightly|Treasurer|||
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## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name**
**none**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**||
|---|---|---|
|**none**|||
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## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity|n/a|
|---|---|
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|n/a|
|Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets|n/a|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Names and**|**addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|
|**Type of**
**adviser**|**Name**
**Address**||
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|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **CHAIR’S REPORT**
I am writing this report at the end of my tenure with the organisation, having been co-founder in 2019, and I look back with pride on what we have achieved and how much we have grown over the past six years. Clevedon LitFest is now in its 6th year, though it is our first as a Charitable Incorporated
Organisation (CIO). Our team, activities and understanding of our audiences continue to evolve, backed by extensive evaluation - a learning culture is embedded in what we do. From a one-day event in 2020 to 55 events over ten days (an unsustainable format) in 2023, over the last 18 months we have moved to year-round programming. We are becoming recognised as making a significant contribution, both to local culture and the economy of the town. As I write this report, new trustees are being recruited, strengthening and diversifying our board, though we are not complacent. With two of our long serving board members stepping down, we anticipated problems recruiting replacements, but were pleasantly surprised by the response, with up to four people joining, all with interesting CVs. We would still welcome younger and more diverse members that better reflect our local community. Over the past six years, we have built strong relationships with our cultural partners, not just in Clevedon but across North Somerset. We maintain good relations with our local MP, North Somerset Council and the Arts Council, who have funded us every year since our inception. We have begun to diversify our income streams, with new grant sources and increasing individual donations, set against a backdrop of challenging economic times. This year, we recruited our first artistic director who delivered an excellent first event, reducing pressure on our trustees and volunteers; she has been promoted and retained for next year. Although smaller scale, the June festival was more strongly themed, and we delivered well in terms of audience satisfaction. Our satisfaction scores were overwhelmingly at 4 out of 5 and above. We recorded audiences from 24 postcodes beyond Clevedon, mainly across the WECA region but also from Taunton to Cardiff. Quirky, high-profile free events on the seafront attracted large audiences – day visitors and families – underlined by positive feedback and a 6-fold increase in cash donations, demonstrating that street theatre, entertainments and public art all help to attract a younger demographic. We also benefitted from the high profile (though subsequently controversial) presence of some speakers (Raynor Winn, the Salt Path). The Poetry App featuring 35 local poets encouraged people to visit Wains Hill, an often-overlooked part of the town for day visitors, enabled 3 events and delivered sales through Bristol Books, adding to the other two publications we launched in 2025. This initiative, along with the Little Libraries currently being installed, gives us greater year-round visibility in the town. Our Motown inspired poetry competition generated entries from 49 postcodes across the UK (Aberdeen to Kent & Devon), plus entries from the USA, France, Ireland and South Africa. Further publicised via the Poetry Society (108 UK and Intl. groups) and others, we reached audiences in Australia, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan and Poland. This has given us a higher profile within both the music and poetry communities. Box office income was down by nearly 50% on the previous year, due in part to the current economic climate significantly affecting working people (our future target audiences). Our forecast was already prudent. Competition from a crowded summer weekend of events was also a factor, questioning the value of the ‘summer festival format’. Our audience profile was less diverse this year; we need to do more to encourage and programme activities with broader appeal. Six years’ feedback has helped us to better understand our audiences, helping to inform next year's theme, ‘Roots and Routes’.
Although we benefit most from face to face contact, we also plan to build our digital presence, especially to attract younger and more tech savvy audiences.
Despite ongoing uncertainty and challenges in the economy and continued challenges facing UK cultural organisations, we are looking forward to our 2026 season with optimism and with exciting plans for programming in the coming year. We will continue to programme challenging content (being risk aware), with more events on the streets, particularly targeting families, with more learning initiatives and publications. We also plan to continue to develop our wider partnerships with local government, regional cultural forums and partners, and our MP who works very hard for his constituency.
Our finances are reasonably robust for a fledgling organisation, and we are looking at ways to build our unrestricted reserves. Our network of partners and influencers is growing. All in all I am confident that I am leaving the festival in good hands, facing an exciting future.
SIGNATURE
Carol Price
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)** Carol Price **Full name(s)** Carol Susan Price
**Position (eg Secretary,** Acting Chair **Chair, etc)**
**Date** 31[st] Dec 2025
don£
CLEVEDON LITFEST
Charity number: 1206829
MORE THAN
WORDS
Receipts and payments accounts
Period start date
For the period from 26/0312024
23/24
Restricted
Funds
Period end date
To
3110312025
23/24
All
Funds
23124
Unrestricted
Funds
Last Year
Funds
Income
Transfer in
Grants
1,544
6,000
1,829
215
254
1,544
25,489
1,829
215
254
837
106
237
739
2,091
4,610
37,949
19,489
Donations
Book Sales
Competition
Event Sales
Misc
Prints
Stripe
Sumup
Ticketsou rce
Total
837
106
237
739
2,091
4,610
24,936
13,013
N/A
Costs
Artists, Costs
Book Sales
Competition
Director
Event Cost
Expenses
Insurance
Mailchimp
Paid Support
Poets Walk
Printing Etc
Prints
Venue Hire
Virtual Landline
Website
Total
6,782
6,782
348
475
1,275
13,104
1,697
472
21
829
500
2,924
348
475
1,275
13,104
447
1,250
472
21
829
500
2,924
1,783
1,783
78
148
78
148
24,719
5,723
30,443
N/A
Excess
216
7,290
7,506
N/A
Signed by two trustees on behalf of all
the trustees
Signature / Position
Print Name
Date of
approval
Trustee Treasurer
Jeff Lightly
)3.01,2
(Q. (Ji. I
Trustee
CATII IT(.
## **Clevedon LitFest Year ended 31.03.25 Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees/Directors of Clevedon LitFest charity number 1206829**
I report on the accounts of the company for the year to 31 March 2025, as attached
## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner**
The Trustees (who are also the Directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility:
- To examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- To follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under
- section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination is carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to the matters set out in the next statement.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: i.e. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met: or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Alex Bickley 56 Apseleys Mead, Bristol, BS32 0BG 23 January 2026