2025-07-31-accounts - Woodley Community Carnival

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WOODLEY COMMUNITY CARNIVAL 2025

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Our constitution directs the committee to organise a Community Carnival for Woodley that is accessible to as many people as possible, offering opportunities for charities, groups and local businesses to raise awareness, engage with the community and fundraise on the day.

Carnival 2025 delivered strongly on this mission.

Community Engagement

We saw outstanding participation from across the community:

with over 400 performers in our main arena,
150 students in the primary schools’ choir
300+ primary students taking part in the uSports Carnival Football tournament
80+ stalls and displays from community groups and businesses
Over 6000 attendees across our Afternoon Carnival and Evening Concert, in line with previous year's average.

This is a testament to the enduring value of the Carnival as the biggest outdoor event in

Woodley town’s calendar.

Providing opportunities for community groups to promote great causes, increase engagement, discover new members and raise funds whilst all the while entertaining Woodley is exactly what a community carnival is all about.

Our Evening Concert continues to be a great addition to our Afternoon Carnival. Seeing whole families from grandchildren to grandparents gather on the field for Woodley’s biggest party is exactly the community atmosphere we hope to provide. The local bands put on a fantastic show, and I thoroughly enjoyed singing and dancing along.

Challenges of Security Measures

This year, however, was not without its challenges. In response to safety-related incidents in 2024, we were required to introduce significant changes to our security procedures. These decisions were not made lightly. As Chairman, I felt a deep responsibility to balance the safety of all attendees with the need to maintain the Carnival’s welcoming and accessible atmosphere.

Implementing these changes brought with it considerable pressure, not only in navigating new operational requirements but also in managing the wave of criticism that followed, particularly online. Accusations of poor organisation and claims that the spirit of the event was being lost were especially disheartening contributing to heightened stress and anxiety through much of the planning year.

I want to acknowledge the additional pressure placed on our committee and volunteers and thank them for their resilience and commitment. Together, we rose to the occasion and delivered a vibrant, professionally run, family-friendly event. We knocked it out of the park! A

testament to what can be achieved when people come together with shared purpose and passion.

Support & Volunteers

The Carnival is an independent charity which is not subsidised or funded from local taxes, with its income derived from Carnival Day.

Huge gratitude is therefore owed to our sponsors, who make it possible to provide free attractions on our field, light and sound our stage and finish our event off with the fantastic firework finale.

Plus, residents volunteered time to help make Carnival happen, including roles which the committee would otherwise need to pay for, such as our Gate and Bar teams. My heartfelt thanks go to all these individuals, without who the Carnival could not happen.

The incredible level of support seen allows the Carnival to provide all we do at the lowest possible price for the community.

Saturday 13 June 2026

As we look to 2026, I am focused on ensuring the Carnival continues to encourage the fantastic community engagement in our Afternoon Carnival and Evening Concert seen this year, as we create a family friendly community carnival, with the Woodley community at its heart, well organised and accessible to as many in the community as possible.

WOODLEY COMMUNITY CARNIVAL 2025

TREASURES’S REPORT

Report on the Accounts to 31 st July 2025

I am pleased to report that we made a surplus for the year of £7,114.31

Comments

An income of £82407.38 was generated from this year’s event against £79566.23 in 2024. The footfall was down on the exceptionally high levels of 2024, but revenue impacts were mitigated by increased Bar revenues following the security driven need to stop BYO drinks. The revenue increase was down too increased sponsorship and successful quiz events.
This year’s Carnival cost £76004.38 against £63,624.77 in 2024 (19% increase). £4k of the increase was additional infrastructure costs, primarily fence erection and additional security, and the Bar stock accounted another £5k, but this was covered by additional sales. It is hoped we can stabilise the costs in 2026, but there is a recognition we need to fund costs as the workload on volunteers needs to be managed.
Our reserve and current account currently jointly hold £120,514, £5k more than last year, Whilst a healthy and improved position and covering 158% of annual costs, the committee has agreed 2 years of costs, with inflation, and a10% contingency would be ideal and this would require a balance £172K and we are currently £53k short of this ideal position so the carnival is not in surplus at this time.
In line with Constitution clause 7.3, remaining surplus £7,114.31 will be used for the purpose of organising, managing, promoting or otherwise supporting the Carnival and associated events and activities.
The accounts will be independently examined and submitted to the Charities Commission as required.

Woodley Carnival Commitee 2025 (V1.0 - Submitted for Audit)) Profit and Loss Account 2025 2024 £ £

	Income Other Income - Interest Direct Event Costs Gross proft/(loss) Other Charges Surplus/(loss) Surplus/(loss)	82,407.38 711.31 (76,004.38) 7,114.31 - 7,114.31 7,114.31	79,566.23 796.47 (63,624.77)
			16,737.93 -
			16,737.93
			16,737.93

Woodley Carnival Commitee 2025 (V1.0 - Submitted for Audit)) Balance Sheet 2025 2024 £ £ Current Assets 121,374.46 116,202.96

-	120,514.26	-	115,679.95
121,374.46 860.20		116,202.96 523.01

	120,514.26		115,679.95
	120,514.26		115,679.95
	120,514.26		115,679.95