Wokingham Pride
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts 26th June 2024 - 30th September 2025
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Trustees’ Annual Report
CHARITY INFORMATION
Wokingham Pride was constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales as a charity on 26 June 2024.
Charity name Wokingham Pride Charity registration number 1208840 Address of principal office 44 Ormonde Road, Wokingham, Berks, RG41 2RB Board of trustees Rachel Bishop-Firth from 16 June 2024 Imogen Shepherd-DuBey from 16 June 2024 Jillian Hardie from 16 June 2024 Kian Bendriss-Myers from 5 August 2025 Vijay Chohan from 15 June 2026
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Type of governing document Constitution
How the charity is constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
How trustees are appointed Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustee Board. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
In this report, the charity is referred to as “Wokingham Pride”, “The Charity” or “The Charity Wokingham Pride”, whereas the annual event is referred to as the “Wokingham Pride Event”, with the year specified, where appropriate.
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The charity’s governing document provides for a minimum of three trustees. Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
The trustee board delegates the organisation of the annual Wokingham Pride Event to the Management Committee, which includes representation from the charity trustees. All Trustees and volunteers give their time voluntarily. No payments or reimbursements were made to Trustees or volunteers except for reimbursement of direct out-of-pocket expenses.
OBJECTIVES
The objects of Wokingham Pride are to promote equality and diversity for the public benefit as well as promoting the elimination of discrimination with regards to sexual orientation and gender identity in Wokingham Borough through:
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organising and promoting events throughout the year to celebrate the LGBT+ community and raise awareness of discrimination and other issues affecting the LGBT+ community and the advancement of LGBT+ rights.
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organising an annual festival celebrating the LGBT+ community and providing a space for discussion and advancement of LGBT+ rights.
MAIN ACTIVITY: THE WOKINGHAM PRIDE EVENTS
The period of this first annual report spans two Wokingham Pride Events in July 2024 and July 2025.
Leading up to the two events, we held publicity days in Wokingham town centre, Woodley and Twyford where volunteers distributed pride flags and flyers to local businesses and members of the public. We provided large flags to Wokingham Borough Council in 2024 to distribute to all the libraries in the Borough, as part of encouraging them to put displays of LGBT+ books into place during Pride month, and provided replacement flags where needed in 2025. As part of the Wokingham Pride Event 2025, we offered free training on LGBT+ issues to all stallholders. A large majority of stallholders took advantage of this.
The Wokingham Pride Events benefited local LGBT+ people, by providing a space for them to celebrate their identity and be accepted. The Wokingham Pride Events were publicised through flyers, in the local press and on Radio Berkshire and Virgin Pride Radio (a national station), as well as being widely promoted on social media.
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Thus, public benefit extends more widely to the local community and society by fostering understanding, combatting discrimination and raising awareness of equality and diversity issues, in line with the charity aims.
The Wokingham Pride Events in 2024 and 2025 were attended by an estimated 500 people each year, of varying ages, backgrounds and LGBT+ identities as well as their friends, family members and other allies. Across the two events, we welcomed a variety of organisations as stallholders, including Citizens Advice Wokingham, LGBT+ organisations, organisations reaching out to the community (for example, health organisations) and traders. Both local Members of Parliament and a number of the Borough’s Mayors and councillors attended. There were also a range of performances on the main stage.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
In the events that the trustees and other volunteers run, they work to support full inclusion of everyone who supports the aims of Wokingham Pride, not just on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, but also of all individuals regardless of characteristics such as disability. For example, trustees and other volunteers reach out to those with disabilities to check that the Wokingham Pride Event route and site is as accessible as possible.
The trustees took a positive decision to keep the annual Wokingham Pride Events as relatively small community events rather than expanding to become the size of Bracknell or Newbury Pride. This allows the charity to achieve its aims and keep the event accessible to all. Many neurodiverse people and young families prefer a smaller, quieter event, and we aim to be the event in our part of Berkshire which offers this.
OTHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Wokingham Pride reaches out to libraries, schools and churches to promote the advancement of education / awareness raising on issues of LGBT+ equality. We also promote activities that foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds and cultivate a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity.
We organised or promoted events for members of the LGBT+ community to get together. These included a Christmas do, regular brunch meetings, and promoting performances by LGBT+ musicians in the area, which also provides opportunities to socialise. Fundraising also brought members of the LGBT+ community and their family and friends together.
Throughout the year the private Facebook group has provided an opportunity for members of the LGBT+ community to stay in touch.
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Corporate and private funding, donations to Give As You Earn and the Rainbow Lottery have also helped to raise funds and promote awareness.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE INCLUDING PUBLIC BENEFIT
The trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Commission in exercising their powers or duties.
Wokingham Pride supports the estimated 3,000 people in Wokingham Borough who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or other, and almost 500 people having a gender identity different from their sex registered at birth. We also support their friends, family and all others who share the aims of Pride. As the LGBT+ community is a minority group, and faces disadvantages, Wokingham Pride aims, through its Annual Pride Event and other activities, to provide a safe space for the community free of discrimination such as homophobia, biphobia or transphobia.
Wokingham Borough is made up of small towns and villages and, in contrast to larger, urban towns and cities, there are no obvious places for LGBT+ people and their families to meet face to face and get support. Wokingham Pride benefits the LGBT+ community by reducing social isolation and improving mental health and wellbeing. It provides a space for support and connections between members of the community and their families and friends.
Feedback from Wokingham Pride event attendees has been that they have been able to benefit from personal connections and support, which would otherwise not have occurred without the existence of Wokingham Pride. Keeping the event small helps to keep the event manageable for the growing Management Committee and avoids the charity facing significant financial risks.
Wokingham Pride is a true grassroots community charity. It is supported by bodies throughout the community. We have around 20 volunteers that help at events and on a regular basis throughout the year. Wokingham Town Council allows the use of Elms Field for the Annual Pride Event; Wokingham Fire Station hosts monthly trustee and management meetings; some local companies provide facilities at cost; performers entertain the community for a small contribution towards their cost; Reading Buses, local libraries and the local media advertise the event; and churches, schools, and individuals all take part. Many volunteers kindly donate their time.
The trustees would like to thank everyone who has contributed to making Wokingham Pride a reality.
There were no serious incidents affecting the charity, either at the event itself or at any other point in the year.
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial performance
The charity prepares its accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
The receipts for the year were £17,163, including £1,480 that was transferred in relating to amounts received in the period before the ICO was registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales. Payments for the year were £10.
Principal Funding Sources
In the period covered by this annual report, the charity received one grant from a local authority of £1,000 and a grant from the National Lottery of £11,359.
The main sources of other receipts were donors including private individuals and public and private companies amounting to £2,128, and £696 from fundraising events.
Cash balances and Liabilities
Because of the funding received, and minimal costs paid, there is a cash balance of £17,153 at the end of the period.
Due to delays in receiving grant funding, trustees paid £6,821 of the £6,861 liabilities from their personal bank accounts, and these were reimbursed by the charity during the year to September 2026. The analysis of those costs is shown in the Statement of Liabilities.
Nature of costs
The primary costs relate to fundraising and events, the majority of which is the Annual Pride Event, and comprise entertainment, including stage hire, performers and audio engineer; event insurances and licences; safety and security including training, first aid provision, and waste disposal; and small amounts for promotional and other materials. The administration costs of the charity are minimal, primarily related to indemnity insurance.
Reserves Policy and Managing Financial Risk
Reserves are required by the charity to meet its objectives, especially the annual Wokingham Pride Event. At the end of the period, the total unrestricted reserves were £3,814 and restricted reserves £13,339 (total cash reserves £17,153). The fund is not in deficit. After deducting the £6,861 liabilities at the end of the period from cash reserves, free resources available to fund the Wokingham Pride Event 2026 were £10,292.
In order to manage risk and uncertainty, the trustees have determined that should free resources (cash reserves less liabilities) at the end of the accounting period equal to or more than 60% of the budget for the following year’s Wokingham Pride Event.
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If that test is not met, they will convene a meeting to determine what resources should be committed to that event, including revising the budget and planned activities if necessary, and trustees will develop a plan to close any funding gap. If a feasible plan is not developed to close the gap the Wokingham Pride Event will not take place in the following year.
The budget for Wokingham Pride 2026 was £6,867. Free resources at the end of the period therefore exceeded the budget for the Wokingham Pride Event 2026. The trustees’ risk assessment was that there were sufficient free resources to fund the Wokingham Pride Event in 2026.
Accounts
Section A: Receipts and payments account
for the period from 26 June 2024 to 30 September 2025
| A1 Receipts Transferred in (Note 1) Grants from local authorities National lottery grant (Note 2) Other grants and donations From fundraising and events Return of deposit for venue Total receipts A3 Payments Charity administration costs Total payments Net receipts or (payments) Cash balances brought forward (Note 3) Cash balances carried forward B1 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total 500 980 1,480 1,000 1,000 11,359 11,359 2,128 2,128 696 696 500 500 |
|---|---|
| £3,824 £13,339 £17,163 |
|
| 10 10 |
|
| £10 £0 £0 |
|
| 3,814 13,339 17,153 0 0 0 |
|
| £3,814 £13,339 £17,153 |
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Section B: Statement of assets and liabilities 30 September 2025
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 Cash balances 30 September 2025 | |||
| £3,814 | £13,339 | £17,153 | |
| (Note 4) | |||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |
| B2 Other monetary assets 30 September | 2025 | ||
| Other grants and donations (Note 5) | £823 | £823 | |
| B4 Assets retained for charity’s own use | 30 September 2025 | ||
| Gazebo (donated asset) | Unrestricted | ||
| 15 Hi Viz Tabards | Unrestricted | ||
| 5 Collecting tins | Unrestricted |
B5 Liabilities 30 September 2025
| B5 Liabilities 30 September 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| To be settled from | |||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |
| funds | funds | ||
| For fundraising and events | |||
| ●Entertainment | 267 | 2,322 | 2,589 |
| ●Licences and insurance | 0 | 1,264 | 1,264 |
| ●Safety and security | 553 | 1,003 | 1,556 |
| ●Promotional materials | 189 | 376 | 565 |
| ●Deposit for venue | 500 | 0 | 500 |
| ●Other costs | 11 | 95 | 106 |
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| Charity administration costs Total liabilities (Notes 6, 7 and 8) |
281 0 281 |
|---|---|
| £1,801 £5,060 £6,861 |
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Notes to the accounts
Note 1: £1,480 was transferred relating to amounts received in the period before the ICO was registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales. The amount transferred arose from local authority grants (restricted funding) and another grant (unrestricted).
Note 2: The lottery grant is for specified expenditure related to the 2025 and 2026 Wokingham Pride Events. Unspent funds not approved by the National Lottery funders for carry forward must be returned. To the date of this report, around £2,800 of the grant is not yet allocated, although not all invoices for the 2026 event have been received. Once all invoices have been received and paid, the trustees intend to approach the National Lottery for guidance on carry forward funding.
Note 3: This is the first period for which these accounts have been prepared so there are no figures for prior periods and no cash balances brought forward.
Note 4: The charity holds all its cash in standard charity high street bank online accounts. No funds are held as a custodian trustee.
Note 5: Other monetary assets were held by the trustees of the charity before it was registered with the Charity Commission. The amounts were paid over to the charity during the year to 30 September 2026.
Note 6: Due to delays in receiving grant funding, trustees paid £6,821 of the £6,861 liabilities and were reimbursed in the year to September 2026. There were no related party transactions made by the Charity. The remaining liability is due to a third-party supplier.
Note 7: There are no guarantees given by the charity where any potential liability under the guarantee is outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities.
Note 8: There are no debts outstanding at the date the statement of assets and liabilities which is owed by the CIO and which is secured by an express charge on any of the assets of the CIO.
Signed on behalf of all trustees on 16/07/2026
| Signature | Name |
|---|---|
| Imogen Lisa Shepherd-DuBey | |
| Rachel Bishop-Firth | Rachel Bishop-Firth |
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