The Rlpon City Festlval Trust 1986
Charlty number S14981
Report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
The trustees present their report and the annual ststement of accounts for the year ended 31
March 2025.
The charitvs main charltable objects are to promote the appreciation of the historical,
archaeologlcal and cultural aspects of Ripon and the surrounding area. The principal activity of
the trust in the year was Ripon Theatre Festival 2024.
Ripon Theatre Festival's mission Is to bring colour and culture to all the communities of the city.
through performance, participation and community celebration.
The festival's aims are to:
provide high quality, professional performing arts which are not normally avallable
locally, tsckling the barrier5 of access, affordability, geography and perception:
animate the cltrfs open spaces and venues, contrlbuting to Ripon's development as a
socially connerted and vibrant place to live, work and visit;
work collaboratively, making the most of local skills and partnerships, developing
volunteers and creating participatory opportunities for all of the citls communities.
Summa
ofRi
on Theatre Festival 2024
RTF24
RTF24 took place over six days and nights (2-7 July 2024). More than 2,5CX) people were
involved as audiences, participants or performers, with totsl attendances exceeding 5.000. From
digital theatre viewed through a VR headset to open-air family theatre in multiple locations,
more than events including drama, puppetry, circus, comedy and poetry were staged in
varied and unique venues.
The focus of the weekend was on free family events- street entertainment on the Saturday and
a Famlly Day in Rlpon Spa Gardens on the Sunday.
The majorlty of weekend events were free and the city streets and open spaces hosted a variety
of characters and acts, with community performers taking part alongside professional
performers from across the UK.
69 different shows and arts
19 community performances
109 performances
71 professional performers
256 community performers

Outreach
RTF was able to deliver a number of community Outreach activities and events both during and
in the run-up to the festival.
Artist Sharon H(Kkin worked with community groups to create an art Installation made from
recycled umbrellas. She delivered a total of 9 workshops at Ripon Walled Garden, Jennyruth
Workshops and Evolve College, involvfjng a total of 60 participants with learnlng disabilities and
special educational needs.
RTF also took theatre and music to 6 different care settings in Ripon, Boroughbridge and nearby
villages, workin8 With Goofus Theatre and with sin8er Nicola Mills. A total of 120 residents or
service users took part.
The Storyteller in Resldence. Ilaria Passeri, worked with a group of Year 2 puplls at Outwood
Greystones School.
Continuing the festival's work in care homes and dementia settings, Vamos Theatre delivered a
Listening with Your Eyes training session attended by 24 care workers.
Volunteers
A total of 38 volunteers supported the festival. This included a team of 9 volunteers working on
the festival across the year with an additional 29 volunteers joining in to staff the festival events.
These included a Youth Squad comprising 13 members who assisted at events and with
monitorin& marketing and social media.
Totsl estimated volunteer hours: 1,500 hours
An Impact Report summarising the activities of the festival can be viewed on the webslte:
www.ri
ontheatrefe5tival.or
Governance
The trustees who seNed durlng the year were:
Mr B. Elsworth
Mr A. Hutchinson
Mr B. Price
On 12 March 2025, Mr B. Elsworth and Mr A Hutchinson resigned and the following trustees
were appointed:
Mrs. Hewltt
Mrs T. Salden
Mrs C. Scott
Mrsj. Whitham

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duties in section 4 of the Charities Att
2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general 8uidance on public benefit and
ensuring its activities are compatible with the aims and objectives of the Trust.
Finance
The Trust's primary activity is the festival taking place in July each year, so the bank position at
31 March includes short-term liabilities for funding the 2025 festival.
As the festival is to some extent weather dependent. reserves are also deemed sufficient and
necessary. The reserves on 31 March 2025 were £31,987.44
No trustees received any renumeration or beneffts during the year.
Catherine Anne Scott
Trustee
28 September 2025

THE RIPON CITY FESTIVAL TRUST 1986
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THE MEMBERS OF
THE RIPON CITY FESTIVAL TRUST 1986
YEAR ENDED ai MARCH 2025
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBIUTIES OF TRUSTEES AND INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
The Council members are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The council members considerthat
an audit is not required for this year (under section 43{21 of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act). as amended
by section 28 of the Charities Att 2(M)6) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to".
examine the accounts (under section 4313)la) of the 1993 Act. as amended);
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission {under
section 43{7}(b> of the 1993 Act, as amended)," and
. to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
BA515 OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMEwr
My examination was 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 conceming any such matters. The procedures
undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit. and consequently I do not
Èxpress an audit opinion on whether the accounts present a 'true and fairview,.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention:
111 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respett the trustees have not met the
requirements to ensure that:
proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 41 of the Act); and
accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting
requirements of the Act: or
121 to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts to be reached.
Date..
2£-08- ZOLS

Ripon City FestivalTrust 1986
Trading as Ripon Theatre Festival
3110312025
3110312024
Income
RTF 2023
38501.50
RTF 2024
RTF 2025
34191.72
23084.21
12418.81
Total Income
57275.93
50920.31
Expendlture
RTF 2023
32357.93
5256.05
RTF 2024
39164.88
RTF 2025
6860.70
Bank charges
88.86
Total expendlture
46025.58
37702.84
Proflt
11250.35
13217.47
Balance sheet
Bank
Cash
31982.44
20737.09
5.00
31987.44
20737.09
Represented by
Reserve b fwd
20737.09
7519.62
Prof itlLoss for the year
11250.35
13217.47
Reserve c Iwd
31987.44
20737.09
Unrestrlcted Reserves
Theatre Festival
31987.44
20737.09
31987.44
20737.09