Word Up North Limited
Charity number 501801
A company limited by guarantee number 01061343
Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025

Word Up North Limited
Annual Report and Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 March 2025
Contents
Page
Trustees, report
3-16
Examiner's report
17
Statement of financial activities
18
Balance sheet
19
Notes to the accounts
20-25

Word Up North Limited
Trustees, report for the year ended 31 March 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were:
Name
Catherine Baxandall
John Dignum
Professor Fra nk Finlay
Georgina Frieder
Anita Ganeri
Professor Gregory Radick
Tahira Sardar
Ellen Thorpe
Vice Chair
Mary Margaret Katherine Wright {Kitty Wright)
Position
Dates
Special Responsibility for Finance
Chair
Resigned 9 Nov 2025
Resigned 15 Apr 2024
Appointed 24 Sep 2025
Appointed 18 Jun 2025
Company secretary Catherine Baxandall
Charity number 501801
Registered in England and Wales
Company number 01061343
Registered in England and Wales
Reglstered and princlpal address
Bankers
HSBC
I Well Croft
Shipley
BD18 3QH
nd
2 Floor Offices, Fairfax House,
38, The Grove, Ilkley
Yorkshire
L529 9EE
Independent examlner
Alan Dodd FCCA
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
Stringer House
34 Lupton Street
Leeds LSIO 2QW
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed on 12 July 1972. The Charitable Company was
known as I Ikley Literature Festival Lim ited until 11 April 2023. It is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of
th
Association as amended on 11 April 2023. The liability of the members in the event of the company being wound
UP Is limited to a sum not exceeding £1. The trustees of the charity are also the directors for the purposes of
company law.

Word Up North Limited
Trustees, report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the charitvs financial statements for year
ending 31st March 2025; these are also prepared to meet the Companies Act requirements for a directors, report
and accounts.
The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and
Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable
to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and
Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 (effective l January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Purpose and Alms
Our charitable purposes as set out in the objects contained in the Memorandum and Articles of Association are:
To foster and promote the maintenance, improvement and development of artistic taste and knowledge and the
understanding and appreciation of literature and the other arts amongst the general public.
The strategic aims of our charity are to provide access to cultural experiences and creative activities that open
minds, inspire curiosity, increase empathy and improve communication. We do this by:
Encouraging and inspiring enthusiasm for books, words, reading and writing by providing opportunities for
all readers- avid and reluctant- to meet, hear, and learn from the finest contemporary writers, poets and
performers.
Actively supporting professional and emerging writers, providing platforms on which to present their work,
advance their professional development and reach new audiences.
Delivering accessible, inspiring and relevant artistic, cultural and educational experiences to our local
communities.
Stimulating children and young people's creativity by encouraging a love of words and stories, and providing
opportunities for them to discover, learn, create and share diverse experiences through writing and reading,
Taking advantage of our geographic location to act as a cultural bridge between artists and audiences living
in Yorkshire's urban cities and those living in it5 rural towns and villages.

MAIN ACTIVITIES
We deliver our purpose through four main areas of activities: New Writing and Talent Development; Live Literature
Events; Creative Communities; and Children and Young People.
Activities delivered during 2024/25 included:
New Writing and Talent Development
New Northern Poets talent development programme in partnership with University of Leeds.
Nature Writer in Residence project in partnership with the National Trust Brimham Rocks.
Dedicated Poetry Day at Ilkley Literature Festival 2024, including workshops, showcases and networking
sessions.
Key partner of the 2024 Sl Leeds Literary Prize for unpublished novels by Black and Asian women.
Creative writing and professional development workshops for writers.
Bursary Places offered to applicants who would otherwise not participate due to financial limitations.
Children & Young People
Keighley Young Wrlters weekly creative writing sessions for young people aged 12-18 led by
professional writer Shabnam Ahsan.
Weekly Story Explorer creative reading and writing sessions at Keighley Library for children aged 7-12,
'Brid8e' poetry and visual art project with young people in Lawkholme and Showfield areas of Keighley,
in partnership with Keighley Youth Service.
Creatlve Communities
Continuing development of Word on the Street, a community engagement programme utilising a
hyperlocal Asset Based Community Development approach in six areas of Keighley.
Word Out- a series of workshops developing creative expression with adults with learning disabilities
and autism, delivered in partnership with Outside the Box, Ilklev.
Llve Llterature Events Proqramme
The October festival involved 117 writers taking part in 99 in-person events, 13 live-streamed events, 9
workshops and 7 children's events. Over 13,800 tickets were sold.
This year's Settee Seminars series was a three-part Spin-off, 'Translators on Translation,, presented in
partnership with the John Dryden Translation Competition and the Centre for World Literatures at the
University of Leeds.
Public benefit
In shaping our objectives and planning our activities for the year, the Trustees have had regard to the Charity
Comm ission's guidance on public benefit in managing the activities of the charity, including the guidance on public
benefit and fee charging.
In setting the level of fees, charges and concessions, the Trustees consider the accessibility of events and
participatory activities for those on low incomes, offering concessions for children and young people under 25,
students, and people in receipt of disability and unemployment benefits or support. Established community groups
and schools are eligible for group concessions with free places for group leaders.
In 2024/25, fully funded places were made available for free across a range of writing development initiatives to
emerging northern writers from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the cultural sector.

Contribution made by volunteers
57 volunteers supported the running of our Live Literature events programme in 2024. We were also joined by
20 student volunteers from Ilkley Grammar School, aged 16-18, who assisted at with a range of events, including
interviewing authors. In addition, a small group of office-based volunteers supported the year-round administration
of our membership schemes and helped to mail out festival brochures. The total contribution of all volunteer hours
was 783.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
New Wrltlng and Tolent Development
2024 New Northern Poets
NNP
A professional skills development programme for six new rising talents from the North of England, particularly those
from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the cultural sector. The selected 2024 poets were Melanie Banim,
Holly Bars, Mike Farren, lan Harker, Sheena Hussain and Claire Lynn.
The programme aims to support new and emerging poetry talent by providing opportunities for poets to improve
their practice, receive advice from professionaSs and join a network of poets on similar paths to help grow their
confidence and experience.
Each New Northern Poet received one-to-one mentoring sessions with a poet from the University of Leeds Poetry
Centre. Mentors included Matt Howard, John Whale, Jess Richards & Zaffar Kunial. The mentors helped the poets
work on a piece they performed at the NNP Showcase as part of ILF 2024.
Participants received a Poetry Delegate Package, profile building opportunities, the opportunity to attend events
and workshops for free during the festival and deliver a commission; host a New Northern Poets Podcast, online
workshop or a poetry reading group.
"It was actuolly quite a surreal experience. I honestlyfelt a little like a poetry celebl It wos incredible.
-Holly Bars
"It's been fantastic joining myfamily of other new northern poets, it really doe5feel like stepping into a network, we
hove oll got to know each other andfind out about each other's projects and look at the worldfrom different
perspectives as well. It's been an absolutely enrichino experience.
-lan Harker
he Showcase at the CF Centre with o packed audience was ¢7 real confidence boosterfor me. It empowered me (7nd
renewed my belief that l am (7 poet."
-Sheena Hussain
National Trust Brimham Rocks Nature Writer in Residence
Working in partnership with the National Trust at Brimham Rocks we provided a 6-month nature writing residency.
25 northern writers applied for the role with Leeds-based poet Natalie Anastasia Davies being appointed.

Natalie undertook research to produce a poetry commission inspired by the Brimham Rocks site. A reading of the
final piece was filmed on site and a printed version was made available to the public to view/read in the exhibition
room at Brimham Rocks.
The project gained significant coverage in local, regional and national press outlets.
2024 51 Leeds Litera
Prize
The Sl Leeds Literary Prize is a biennial event for unpublished fiction by UK-based Black and Asian women. We
worked with Prize Director Fiona Goh and fellow key partners, Peepal Tree Press and Sl Leeds, to promote and
present the online announcement of the 2024 Prize.
The digital event was premiered via YouTube on 13 November and featured readings from all six shortlisted writers.
2024 Prize result5:
I" Prize and Reader's Choice award,. Maeve Clarke for Trapped Between Two Worlds
2, Prize: Arathi Menon for Da
3, Prize,. Jac Shreeves-Lee for The House that Jack Built and other stories
Poet Da
at Ilkle
Literature Festival 2024
On Sunday 13 October we delivered a day of poetry events and activities. This included three workshops from Peter
Sansom, Amanda Dalton & Jess Richards,. one Poetry Corner Reading Group hosted by New Northern Poets Sheena
Hussain & Holly Bar5; four poetry showcases With a total of 24 contributors and a poetry networking session.
The Poetry Day was a success in developing engaged audiences for poetry events and creating a poetry
community/network at the festival. There was a great atmosphere throughout, with 100 more tickets purchased
than the previous year.
Creative writin
and
rofessional develo
ment worksho
Our Autumn festival included nine workshops covering poetry, fiction writing and professional practice for writers.
Workshop leaders included published fiction writers Monique Roffey, Saima Mir and Sarah Brooks, acclaimed poetry
tutor Peter San50m and Jess Richards Playwright and essayist Amanda Dalton, award-winning Raymond Antrobus,
Editor Consultant and former Senior Commissioning Editor, Zoe Berville also hosted se55ions.
We delivered a free-to-attend workshop for unsuccessful applicants to our New Northern Poet programme. This was
hosted by poet and author, Rachel Bower focusing on developing and editing work.
It was such o warm group, and they all seemed to really volue the opportunity to develop their work,
- Rachel Bower
One-to-one sessions
Poet John Whale- editor of Stand magazine and Director of the University of Leed5 Poetry Centre provided five one-
to-one sessions offering professional feedback and editorial advice on participants work.
Bursa
Places
Across the festival, 21 bursary places were given to applicants who would otherwise not have been able to attend
due to financial limitations.

Children & Young People
Sto
lorer Grou
Kei
hle
Libra
The group regularly attracts 14 young people aged 7-12 years. The Autumn term focused on a book by a children's
author appearing at ILF 2024, Sam Copeland. This linked the children and their families to the festival, creating
opportunities for greater engagement and learning. The children and their families145 pax) attended the event and
a VIP tea party where they had their book signed by the author, free of charge.
We launched a mini project called Doodle Diaries alongside our regular activlty. The project was designed and led by
Ellie W., an 18-year-old young person from Keighley. With our support Ellie successfully secured project funding of
£1325 from The Leap. Work to create a 'doodle diary, booklet, which will be shared by three Keighley schools and
the library, began in January 2025 and will See completion in the next financial year.
Youn
Writers Grou
Kei
hle
Libra
Over the year, we welcomed an average of eight young writers aged 12-16 each week, There was a sharing session
held for family and friends at Keighley Creative on 4 December. Additionally, there were three guest writer sessions:
Poet and creative practitioner Chris Singleton supported them with a performance poetry workshop prior to the
end of term Showcase to help develop their confidence and presentation skills.
Bradford-born actres5 and screenwriter Jessica Knappett delivered an inspirational session provid ing insight into
the proce55 of screenwriting.
Charles Humphreys from The Unit ran a practical workshop on turning prose and fiction writing into screenplays
and how to structure and format work for tv and film.
Showfield and Lawkholme 'Brid
e, Pro
ect
We worked with Sangat Centre Youth Service in Keighley to raise pride and aspirations in areas of the town in which
young people are identified as being at risk of involvement in organised crime. Working with local spoken word
artist Wilko Wilkes, 15 young people aged 14-17 explored what their neighbourhood means to them in words. They
then worked with community-focused visual artist Emma Denby to translate this work into a mural painted onto a
local railway bridge.
Children's Da
at Ilkle
Literature Festival
A full day of events for children was planned for Sunday 20th October at Clarke Foley Centre. This included four
author talks. Sam Copeland & Sophie Kirtley's took place as planned. Rachel Morrisroe was scheduled to deliver two
events but sadly had to cancel due to illness. There were two free to attend drop-in sessions. One run by Maddie
Coelho of Story Bees, which focused on autumnal activities and a range of picture books. The other was hosted by
Marianne Matusz, a local practitioner who focused on storytelling and mysteries. Both drop-in sessions were
incredibly busy, particularly due to the cancellation of Rachel's event. At one point there were 70 people (children &
adults) in a session. The day also included a face painter for young children and a dedicated space for BSL one-to-
one teaching. We also welcomed children's author Kate Pankhurst at the King's Hall on Sat 19th October.

Creative Communities
Word on the Street
Following the successful launch of Word on the Street in early 2024, we continued to engage with the same six
hyperlocal community groups over the 2024125 year. This allowed us to further deepen our connections with these
neighbourhoods and implement learning from the first year of the project.
Our Programme Manager for Young People and Communities is embedded within Bradford Metropolitan District
Council's Keighley Neighbourhood Team one day a week. Working alongside the Ward Officers, we explored new
ways to employ creative activities to support and enhance the Neighbourhood Team's day-to-day community
engagement work and share, knowledge, skills and networks.
We undertook a range of creative consultations, inputted into local planning committees, and helped secure
creative activities that will support Keighley communities in realising their own vision for local celebrations of
Bradford UK City of Culture in summer 2025.
Outside The Box
Outside The Box is a local charity that supports adults with disabilities and special educationa I needs in the Bradford
district. Working with them, we delivered five sessions for their members that allowed them to experiment with
creative expression via poetry, spoken word, music and visual art. Creative workshop leader and neurodivergent
poet Chris Singleton supported them to create their own performance poetry pieces. These were shared before an
audience of around 30 friends, family and other supporters during ILF 2024.
Llve and Online Literature Events
2024 Ilkle
Literature Festival
The annual Ilkley Literature Festival took place 4-20 October 2024. The programme comprised of 112 ticketed
events, 99 were in-person and 13 were live-streamed. Additionally, there were nine workshops and 8 children's
events, including one for primary schools.
A total of 13,834 tickets were sold, The average house capacity for in person events was 78Yo, a 7% increase from
2023. 38 in person events sold out {seven more than 20231.
The festival programme was as varied and wide ranging as ever. The diverse themes wove across fiction, non-fiction
and poetry event5. These included 'Democracies in Dangers? Murder, They Wrote,, 'In Verse,, 'A Matter of Taste,,
'Legacies', 'Explore Moor: Nurturing Nature,, 'Ethics & Technology, and 'Shaking up Shakespeare,.
Highlights included interviews, talks and readings from novelists Kate Atkinson, Jodi Picoult, Monique Roffey,
Wenyan Lu, Janice Hallett, Andrew Mcmillan, Saima Mir, Eleni Kyriacou, Andrew Michael Hurley, Elizabeth Macneal,
Richard Morton Jack and Colin Grant,. poets Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay, Raymond Antrobus, Amanda Dalton, Matt
Howard, Sarah Holland-Batt and Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa; politicians and journalists Theresa May, Sir Graham Brady,
Caroline Lucas, Gabriel Gatehouse, Aamna Mohdin, Alan Johnson, Polly Toynbee and Paul Caruana Galizia; historians
Linda Porter, Sophie Shorland, Stephen Alford and David Kynaston, Director of the Museum of Music History Kate
Kennedy and other specialists including architect Laura Jane Clark, former UK diplomat Dr Samir Puri, leading
international human rights lawyer and digital rights pioneer Susie Alegre, space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock,

ultrarunner Allie Bailey and Europe's leading futurist Patrick Dixon.
Audience satisfaction levels matched previous years, with 93Yo of survey respondents rating the quality of events as
'very good, or'good, and 90% rating the overall experience as 'very good, or 'good'. 94% of respondents were likely
to recommend the festival to family or friends, with 76¥0 'extremely likely,.
Sample audience feedback:
o oll the team at Ilkley Literature Festival, I wonted to write to thank youfor your support during my booking ond
my attendance at the recent Patrick Grant event... From booking my tickets, where extra core was taken so I would
be in a seat that cateredfor my long-term anxiety condition, I knew that the festivol team took accessibilityfor
mental health issues seriously... I was able to sit ond listen to the event in o space thatfelt comfortable to me and a
member of your team assisted me to be able to access the book signing queue with myfriend. I cannot praise your
staff highly enough for the compassionate response andfor moking mefeel so looked after.,
'Thanksfor accommodating u5 yesterday - really impressed by the event and the lovely stoffl The sCQUt5 certainly
enjoyed meeting Gyles too I, West Yorkshire Scouts
'It's a great eventfor the town and team ILF- well donefor running this so well,
'1 watched 2 live streaming events. l enjoyed both the live streaming events - thank you,
We've been attending since we moved to Ilkley 4 years ago - really enjoyed all the event5 and talks we've been to.,
117 professional writers, poets and performers took part in ILF 2024. 26% featured writers with protected
characteristics. 17% of writers taking part in ticketed events were Black/Black British, Asian/British Asian, of dual
heritage or other ethnic background. 6% of the programme included professional writers identifying as disabled or
neurodiverse.
Sample author/participant feedback:
"Firstly, thonk you both so much for your PGtience, help and support on myfirst sharing of 'Cone, Corn & Gully.. The
Show,. This is something I have wanted to do since the book wa5 published and hoving the opportunity to try new
things has given me a boost of confidence. Also, please pass on my thonks to the stuff, and the hospitality was some
of the best I have experienced. I will remember this for o long time."
- Safiya Kinshasa, choreopoet and author of Cane, Corn & Gully
"The Ilkley Literature Festival is the first Harold Wilson event I've done in the great man's home county, My wife
drove me there on a wet Sunday morning to Speak to a packed-out audience offive hundred in the magnificent
King's Hall opposite the station. Ilkley 15 one of the biogest bookfestivals in the country with over 90 event5. It's also
one of the best."
- Alan Johnson, Former Labour MP and Home Secretary and author of Harold Wilson
"Thank you so much to you ond oll your team for inviting me and pulling off such a lovely event. I really enjoyed every
bit of it... Please thank everyone else involved. I didn't want to write another book but now I do so that I con come
again.
Ned Palmer, cheese expert and author of A Cheesemongerfs four de France
°Thanks to you & your team at the eventfor oll their hard work which made our job easier. They were a lovely
responsive audience which mode it o real pleasure to be in Ilkley again for your wonderful Festival. I really enjoyed
the event on Sunday with such a wonderful audience and a very good backstage team."
John Sampson, multi-instrumentalist and long-time collaborator with Carol Ann Duffy
10

"Most importantly, thonk you so much for having me again at the Festival, which is always one of myfavourites."
Susie Dent, Countdown's lexicographer, etymologist and author.
Settee Seminars Podcast Series
The latest season of Settee Seminars was a three-part spin-off series. 'Translators on Translation, was presented in
partnership with the John Dryden Translation Competition and the Centre for World Literatures at the University of
Leeds. For each episode, an academic from the Centre for World Literature at the University of Leeds interviewed
one of the competition winners. They discussed their process, choice of text and why their translation was
recognized by the competition.
The series includes contributors Antonella Lettieri l First Prize) in conversation with Olivia Santovetti (Associate
Professor of Italian); Naomi Mottram (Second Prize) in conversation with Sarah Hudspith (Associate Professor of
Russian),. David Mccallam (Third Prize} in conversation Richard Hibbitt (Senior Lecturer French & Comparative
Literature).
Major Projects
BBC Contains Stron
Lan
ua
e: Bradford 2025
In May 2024, Word Up North was invited to partner with the BBC and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture to produce
the 2025 edition of BBC Contains Strong Language, a festival of contemporary poetry and spoken word commissions,
performances and participatory events,
Word Up North submitted a Major Projects Grant funding application on behalf of the partnership in September
2024 and were notified the application had been successful in December of the same year.
Work began in January 2025 on delivery of the two linked strands of the project:
11 a 4-day poetry and performance festival taking place 18-21 September 2025 with 20 contemporary poets &
spoken-word artists commissioned to make new work alongside an estimated 30 hours of live/recorded broadcast
on BBC Radio.
21 an extensive engagement programme running January to December 2025 delivered in partnership with a range of
community organisations across the Bradford District.
Word U North di
ital latforms
Project management of the design and development of the 'Word Up North, website continued from 2023/24
acros5 2024125 with the new site going live in January 2025 at wordupnorth.org.uk
Social media platforms for Word Up North were established during the year, enabling us to communicate more fully
the full range of the work we do across the areas of New Writing & Talent Development, Creative Communities, and
Children & Young People.
li

STRucfuRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document
The governing document of the charity is the Memorandum and Articles of Association establishing the company as
a company limited by guarantee under company legislation.
The charity's name was changed from Ilkley Literature Festival Limited by special resolution by unanimous written
consent of the trustees on l April 2023.
The original Memorandum and Articles were dated 12 July 1972. The charity adopted new Articles of Association
on 31 July 2013.
The charity is registered in England & Wales with the Charity Commission in England & Wales ICCEWI with charity
number 501801.
By operation of law als trustees are directors under the Companies Act 2006 and all directors are trustees under
Charities legislation and have responsibilities, as such, under both company and charity le8151ation.
Our Trustees
The Board of Trustees, which must number between 3 and 15 members, administers the charity. The trustees are all
individuals and offer their services on a voluntary basis.
The Board of Trustees meets at least four times a year with extra meetings held when necessary. The Board elects a
Chair, Vice-chair, Trustee with Special Responsibility for Finance and Secretary from among the trustees. The Board
of Trustees may constitute committees for specific purposes from time to time, and has constituted a standing
Finance Committee, which includes the Chair and Trustee with Special Responsibility for Finance, to deal with
detailed financial matters, and a 5tandin8 HR Committee, which includes the Vice-chair and deals with staffing and
recruitment policies and procedures. The Finance Committee meets before each board meeting, while the HR
Committee meets periodically when required.
The present Board of Trustees incorporates a wide and diverse range of experience, expertise and skills nece55ary to
effectively lead and manage the charity with trustees having a broad knowledge and skills base including: arts and
cultural sector; law; financial strategy and risk management, and teaching and higher education.
Our policy is to ensure that the Board of Trustees is representative of the diversity of West Yorkshire and the wider
population of the UK and that the composition of the Board appropriately reflects the scope of our operations, and
the needs of our communities, audiences and stakeholders.
We aim to increase our pool of potential trustees to ensure that we deliver on this commitment and address anv
skills and expertise gaps that may emerge because of retirementslresignations from the Board. We openly
communicate opportunities for Board involvement and trustee recruitment and have a clear procedure for
recruiting and selecting potential new trustees.
Trustee Induction and Training
Potential trustees are invited to attend a board meeting as an observer prior to being invited to become a trustee.
New trustees meet with the Chair of the Board and receive a comprehensive induction pack that includes details of
their legal obligations and duties. They are also provided with appropriate induction and training, including briefing
sessions by the Senior Management Team. The Board of Trustees holds annual away days to address training needs
and the charity's strategic aims.
12

Organisational Structure
The Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, management and policy of the charity. The
Trustees are supported in their work by the Director, who in turn manages a small staff team of between 4-6
employees. The Director works to agreed levels of delegated authority reporting to the Board of Trustees. The
Director and Partnerships & Operations Director form the executive Senior Management Team.
We continually monitor the organisation's structure and staffing to ensure that we have the right resources, skills
and expertise to deliver our charitable objects.
Pay and Remuneratlon of the Charity's Key Management Personnel
The pay and remuneration of key management personnel is agreed by the Board of Trustees during the annual
budgeting process. Pay is benchmarked against similarjobs in the arts and charitable sectors regionally.
Wider networks
Word Up North work5 closely with several key strategic partners including: The University of Leeds Cultural Institute,
Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Bradford 2025, as well as publisher Peepal Tree Press and Sl Leeds
International with whom Word Up North partners on a biennial literary prize for new writing by Black and Asian
women.
Relatlonships between the charlty and related partles
The charity has a close relationship with Arts Council England and is currently part of its National Portfolio of funded
organisations. The organisation nominates an observer to the Board of Trustees and provides funding to enable the
charity to carry out its charitable objectives. The charity received revenue core funding grants amounting to
£139,95312023-24: £139,953) from Arts Council England during the year.
Relatlonshlps wlth other groups, charitles and Indlvlduals
Valuable partnerships this year included the National Trust, Keighley Creative, Outside The Box, BBC, Bradford 2025,
National Poetry Centre, Keighley Youth Service, West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Combined Authority,
University of Leeds Poetry Centre & Cultural Institute, Bradford Libraries, Bradford Museums and Bradford MDC
Keighley Neighbourhood Team.
13

FINANCIAL REVIEW
The company showed a net surplus on operations for the year of £100,488, comprising a surplus of £16,176 on
unrestricted funds, and a surplus of £84,312 on restricted funds.
The significant surplus on restricted funds is due to receipt in of the first instalment of an Arts Council England Major
Project Grant for BBC Contains Strong Language poetry and performance festival, delivery of which is scheduled to
take place January to December 2025.
Princi
al Fundin
Sources
During the year, the company's principal sources of income were grants from Arts Council England and Bradford
Metropolitan District Council, sponsorship and subscriptions, and earned income from ticket sales.
Grants from public bodies- DCMS/Arts Council England and Bradford Metropolitan District Council totalled
£242,65312023/24: £157,913), representing 49% of total income12023124.' 44%).
Grants from recurring sources totalled £154,953 (2023/24., £154,953) and non-recurring sources £101,36312023124:
£7,960).
In the financial year ended 31 March 2025, events income from ticket sales to live literature events and other
associated income wa5 £184,82012023/24: £159,434), a significant improvement from the previous year.
Reserves Polic
The Trustees, policy is that the charity should have sufficient unrestricted reserves to enable it to meet its financial
obligations as and when they fall due without prejudicing the ability of the charity to raise funding and commit
expenditure to its objectives.
The Trustees have carefully considered the financial obligations of the charity and have determined a reseNes policy
that is aimed at protecting a minimum reseNe whilst managing funds to ensure that they are appropriately used to
support the charity's aims. The policy is reviewed on an annual basis with the most recent review undertaken on 20
March 2024,
The lower level of reserves is now set at £48,000, representing approximately three months, worth of contracted
costs.
The upper level is set at £65,000 representing the projected unrestricted funds that the charity requires, based on
review of the budget for the forthcoming year and the risks associated with the delivery of that budget.
Unrestricted reserves, excluding fixed assets, at 31 March 2025 were £66,201131 March 2024.. £50,339}. This is
slightly above the target range due to improved earned income levels against budget forecast and small reductions
in operational costs within the live literature programme.
14

RISK MANAGEMENT
The Trustees are responsible for the charity's risk strategy and appetite and employ a formal risk management
process. This includes:
a n annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces;
the establishment of policies, systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the annual
review,. and
the implementation of procedures designed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity
should those risk5 materialise.
In addition, the Finance Sub-committee has been granted devolved responsibility to lead on the development and
oversight of risk management strategies and procedures as a standing agenda item at its quarterly meetings.
Operational risks are managed by ensurin8 robust policie5 and procedures are in place, and by appropriate training
for staff and volunteers working in all relevant areas.
Risks and uncertalnties facing the charlty
The current period of Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Funding has been extended until March 2028.
The level of this funding has remained at a standstill since 2012, whilst operating costs have risen. Added to this,
the proposed spending review for DCMS creates further concern for the future.
The cost of 8oods and services continue to increase, therefore, so does the demand for higher levels of pay to help
meet living costs from staff and freelance contractors. Competition for funding from grant-giving bodies is
exceptionally high with demand significantly outstrippin8 the amounts available.
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
We will use the relative security of the remainder of the current Art5 Council NPO funding period to establish our
organisation's new brand, and to communicate our ambition and aims through an increasing diverse portfolio of
engagement projects with writers, audiences, young people, and communities in the north of England. New funding
streams and partnerships wlll be sought to support our development into new areas of activity.
Through the delivery of Contains Strong Language, Word Up North will play a role in Bradford 2025 UK City of
Culture. We will build upon this project partnership with BBC Arts and Bradford 2025 to reach new and wider
audiences for our work and increase the visibility and reputation of Word Up North within the cultural ecology of
the north of England.
15

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair
view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources,
including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for the year. In preparing these financial
statements, the trustees are required to:
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently,.
Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
Adhere to agreed procedures for managing conflicts of interest;
State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures
disclosed and explained in the financial statements,. and
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
charity will continue in busines5.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any
time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the
Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are responsible for
the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website.
Legislation in the United Kingdom 8overnin8 the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ
from legislation in other jurisdictions.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and
Reporting by Charities (Charities SORP IFRS102}I, and in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act
2006 relating to small companies.
Flnanclal Statements and Independent Revlew
In line with recommended best practice from the Charity Commission, the charitws financial statements for year
ending 31 March 2025 have been subject to Independent Review and approved by a fully qualified Independent
Examiner.
This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 19 November 2025.
Professor Frank F
nla
Chair of the Board, Director and Trustee
Word Up North Limited
16

## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Word Up North Limited** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 18 to 26. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity's trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act'). 

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. 

## Independent examiner's statement 

Since the charitable company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. 

I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ACCA which is one of the listed bodies. 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair _view'_ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or 

4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)]. 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

Signed: 

Name: Alan Dodd FCCA 

Relevant professional qualification or body: FCCA Date: 2 December 2025 

**West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS102QW** 

17 



Word Up North Llmlted
Statement of Flnanclal Artlvltles
{including summary Income and expenditure account)
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Notes
2025
Unrestricted
funds
2025
Restricted
funds
2025
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
Income from:
Grants and donations
Contributed income
Events income
Young People income
New writing and talent development
Community Engagement
Other income
(2)
160,433
27,515
184,820
2,769
11,523
1,150
2,007
390,217
101,363
261,795
27,515
184,820
2,769
11,523
1,150
2,007
491,579
174,643
22,518
159,434
105
2,452
359,153
Total Income
101,363
Expendlture on:
Salaries, NIC and pension
Freelance staff and other staff costs
Event costs
Box office costs
Young People costs
New writing and talent development
Community Costs
Contributed income costs
Marketin8 Costs
Premises costs
Administrative expenses
Other overheads
Depreciation
Total expendlture
{3)
159,819
10,953
ICM),555
11,613
7,658
12,453
9CK)
1,993
32,841
16,554
13,561
4,319
821
374,041
3,608
5,738
163,427
16,691
l(J),555
11,613
13,222
12,4S3
3,041
1,993
32,841
16,554
13,561
4,319
821
391,092
139,316
14,941
114,418
11,272
9,177
15,850
1,378
2,417
12,086
23,330
10,747
9,937
1,382
366,251
5,$64
2,141
17,051
16,176
84,312
ICM),488
{7,098)
Net income / (expendlture)
Transfers between funds
Net movement In funds
16,176
84,312
l(X),488
(7,098)
Fund balances brought forward
Fund balances carrbed forward
51,295
67,471
6,098
90,410
57,393
157,881
64,492
57,393
(4}
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
18

Word Up North Limited
Balance Sheet
as at 31 March 2025
Notes
2025
Unrestricted
2025
Restricted
2025
Total
2024
Total
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Total fixed assets
{51
1,270
1,270
1,270
1,270
956
956
Current assets
Debtors and prepayments
Cash at bank and in hand
16}
(71
10,753
67,938
78,691
10,753
168,098
178,851
6,870
71,332
78,202
100,160
100,160
Total current assets
Current Ilabllltles:
amounts falling due wlthln one year
Creditors and accruals
Totsl current liabilities
(81
12,490
12,490
9,750
22,240
22,240
21,765
21,765
Net current assets / (Ilabllltles)
66,201
90,410
156,611
56,437
Net assets
67,471
90,410
157,881
57,393
Funds
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total funds
67,471
67,471
90,410
157,881
51,295
6,098
57,393
90,410
90,410
67,471
For the year ending 31 March 2025 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under
section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies,
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in
question in accordance with section 476. The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of
company lawl acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with
respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companie5 subject
to the small companies, regime and with FRS 102 (effective January 2019).
The financial Statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on:
Date:
11 11. 201£
Signed:
f signatory: Professor Frank Finlay (Director and Trustee)
19

Word Up North Limited
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2025
l. Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or
transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note{sl to these accounts. The financial statements have
been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Charities
preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of
Ireland {FRS 1021 leffective l January 20191 and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
There has been no chan8e to the accounting policies since last year.
No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
Golng concern
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Incomlng resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities ISOFAI when the charity becomes
entitled to the resources; it 15 more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources; and the monetary
value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the
resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the charity earns the
right to consideration by its performance.
Donated assets, facilities or services are valued at their estimated vaSue to the charity. This is the price that the
charity estimates it would pay in the open market for equivalent items; or services and facilities of equivalent utility
to the charity.
Expendlture and Ilabllltles
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more
likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and
the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
Taxatlon
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from corporation tax but not from
VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
20

Word Up North Limited
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2025
l. Accounting policies (continued)
TangSble flxed assets
Tangible fixed assets costing more than £500 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses
of acquisltion. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt.
Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight-line basis
over their expected useful economic lives as follows:
Project and office equipment: over 4 years
Computer equipment: over 3 years
Penslons
The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The costs of contributions are
recognised in the year they are payable.
Fund accountlng
Unrestricted fund5 are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of
the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an
appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
Leases
Rents under operating lease5 are charged on a strai8ht line basis over the lease term or to an earlier date if the lease
can be determined without financial penalty.
21

Word Up North Limited
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2025
2. Grants and Donations
2025
Unrestricted
funds
2025
Restricted
funds
2025
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
Arts Council England
Arts Council England CSL
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Leeds University- CAKE
BMDC- Creative Learning
BMDC- Word on the Street
BMDC- K Town Sound Machine
Bramhall Trust
The Leap
Sir George Martin Trust
Leeds Community FoundationlGive Bradford
Walter Swan Trust
University of Leeds
Ilkley Book Club
Small donations
Gift Aid
139,953
139,953
85,000
15,000
400
200
600
1,500
5,CK)O
663
3,000
s,000
139,953
85,000
15,000
15,000
1,960
1,000
400
200
6CM)
1,500
5,000
663
3,000
5,000
5,000
1,000
1,500
1,000
7,280
950
174,643
2,969
2,511
160,433
2,969
2,511
261,796
101,363
3. Staff costs and numbers
2025
2024
Gross salaries
Social security costs
Pensions
150,811
9,107
3,509
163,427
129,300
7,119
2,897
139,316
The average number of employees during the year was 5.7, being an average of 4.6 full time equivalent
12024: 5, 4.3 FTE).
Freelance and other staff costs
16,691
14,941
22

Word Up North Limited
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Defined contribution pension scheme
2025
2024
Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year
3,509
2,897
Balance
4. Restrirted funds
b/f
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers
Balance c/f
BMDC Restart- Creative Learning
BMDC- Creative learning
Leeds Community
Foundation/Give Bradford
Arts Council England - CSL
Leed5 Universlty- CAKE
BMDC-ASB Prevention Work
BMDC- Word on the Street
BMDC- K Town Sound Machine
Liz and Terry 8ramhall Trust
The Leap
Sir Geor8e Martin Trust
1,595
1,000
11,595)
18051
195
3,504
5,000
85,000
400
200
600
1,500
5,000
663
3,000
101,363
(3,164)
18,946)
(4001
5,340
76,054
200
600
11,500)
5,000
663
2,359
90,411
16411
{17,0511
6,099
Fund name
Purpose of restrlrtion
BMDC Restart- Creative Learning For development of year-round programme for children and young people
BMDC- Creative learning
Grant fundin8 to support Creative Learning activities
Leeds Community
Foundation/Give Bradford
Arts Council England - CSL
Leeds University- CAKE
Manjit Wolstenholme Trust grant funding for Keighley Young Writers
Contains Strong Language ICSLI 2025 festival of poetry and performance
Participation in Creative and Artistic Knowledge Exchange (CAKE)
Grant funding to support youth engagement and anti-50cial behaviour
prevention
Grant funding to support Creative Learning activities
Grant funding to support youth engagement and anti-social behaviour
prevention
Grant funding to support Creative Learning activities
Grant funding held for young person to deliver Doodle Diaries project
Grant funding to support Word on the Street (Creative Communities)
BMDC- ASB Prevention Work
BMDC- Word on the Street
BMDC- K Town Sound Machine
Liz and Terry Bramhall Trust
The Leap
Sir George Martin Trust
23

Word Up North Limited
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2025
5. Tangible assets
Furniture
and
Fixtures
Office
Equipment
Total
Cost
At l April 2024
Additions
At 31 March 2025
25,741
870
26,611
11,694
265
11,959
37,435
1,135
38,570
De
reciation
At l April 2024
Charge for year
At 31 March 2025
24,785
768
24,553
11,694
53
11,747
36,479
821
37,300
Net book value
At 31 March 2025
1,057
212
1,270
At 31 March 2024
956
50
956
6. Debtors and prepayments
2025
2024
Debtors
Prepayments
500
10,253
10,753
6,870
6,870
7. Cash at bank and In hand
2025
2024
Current account
Savings account
Cash in hand
165,931
130
2,037
168,098
69,229
128
1,975
71,332
8. Credltors and accruals
2025
2024
Accruals and deferred income
PAYE, NI
Other creditors
18,863
3,377
18,977
2,788
22,240
21,765
24

Word Up North Limited
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2025
9. Related Party Transactions
Trustee expenses
No trustee incurred any expenses in the performance of their duties during this year or the previous year.
Trustee remuneration and benefits
No trustee received any remuneration in the performance of their duties during this year or the previous year.
Key management personnel
The key management personnel of the charity comprises the Director and Partnerships & Operations Director.
The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £80,47212024: £76,508).
Ilkley Literature Festival Limited {139437391 is a dormant company with Directors who are also Directors of
Word Up North Limited.
10. Independent Examiner
2025
2024
Independent Examinerfs Fee
1,656
1,656
11. Operatln8 leases
Expected future minimum lease payments over the remainin8 life of the lease,
analysed into the period in which the commitment expires..
2025
2024
Within one year
In the second to fifth years inclusive
Over five years from the balance sheet date
6,704
6,500
6,806
13,204
13,204
20,010
25

Word Up North Ltd
Statement of financial Activities including comparatives for all funds
(including summary income and expendlture account)
for the year ended 31 March 2025
2025
Unrestricted
funds
2024
Unrestricted
funds
2025
Restricted
funds
2024
Restricted
funds
2025
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
Income
Grants and donations
Contributed Income
Events income
Young People income
New writing and talent development
Communlty income
Other income
Total Income
160,433
27.515
184,820
2,769
11.523
1,150
2,007
390,217
163,183
22.518
159,434
105
101,363
11.460
261,796
27,515
184,820
2,769
11,523
1,150
2,007
491,580
174,643
22,518
159.434
105
2,452
347,693
2,452
359,153
101.363
11,460
Expendlture
Salaries and Nl
159,819
Freelance staff and other staff costs
10,953
Event CQSt5
I￿,555
Box offlce costs
11,613
Youn8 people costs
7,658
New writlll8 and talent development cc 12,453
Communlty costs
900
Contributed income costs
1,993
Marketin8 Costs
32,841
p￿MISeS costs
16,554
Administratlve expenses
13,561
Other overheads
4,319
Depreciatlon
821
Tot41 expendlture
374 041
Net gain5/11055esl on investments
Net Income I lexpendlturel
Transfers between funds
Net mo¥ement In funds
139,316
13,441
114,418
11,272
6,681
12.890
1,078
2,417
12,086
23.330
10,747
9,937
1.382
358.994
3,608
5,738
163,427
16,691
100,555
11,613
13,222
12,453
3,041
1,993
32,841
16,554
13,561
4,319
821
391092
139,316
14,941
114,418
11,272
9,177
15,850
1,378
2,417
12,086
23,330
10,747
9,937
1,382
366,250
1,500
5,564
2.496
2.960
300
2,141
17,OSI
7,256
16,176
111,3021
84,312
4,204
100,488
17,0981
16,176
111,3021
84,312
4,204
100,488
17,0981
Fund balances breu8ht forward
Fund balances Carrled forward
51,295
67,471
62.597
51,295
6,098
90.410
1,895
6,098
57,393
157,881
64,492
S7,393
26