APPENDIX 1
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period |
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period |
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period |
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period |
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period |
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period |
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period |
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period start date | Period end date | ||||||
| Day | Month | Year | Day | Month | Year | ||
| From | 01 |
11 | 2024 | To | 31 |
10 | 2025 |
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
Reference and administration details
Charity name Stonehaven Folk Festival SCIO
Other names charity is known by
Registered charity number Charity’s principal address
SC049859
Broomlea Glenbervie Road Drumlithie STONEHAVEN Postcode AB39 3YU
Names of the charity trustees on date of approval of Trustees’ Annual Report
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
David Bliss | Chair | ||
| Susan Briggs | ||||
| Margaret Findlay | ||||
| Andrew Harding | ||||
| Martin Kasprowicz | ||||
| Anna Matheson | ||||
| Louise Park | ||||
| Blythe Primrose | ||||
| Diane Reid | Secretary | |||
| Garry Sutherland | Treasurer |
Reference and administration details
Names of all other charity trustees during the period, if any, (for example, those who resigned part way through the financial period)
| Name | Dates acted if not for whole year |
|---|---|
| George Kenneth Clark | |
| James Thomson | |
| Ann Reid | 01.11.24 – 10.04.25 |
| John Crawford | 01.11.24 – 10.04.25 |
Structure, governance and management
Type of governing document Trustee recruitment and appointment
The charity is a SCIO registered on 15 January.2020. The governing document is a constitution adopted on 2 February 2020, and subsequently amended on 9 May 2024 and 11 July 2025. Prospective trustees are recruited from amongst existing members. They can then either be elected at the AGM, or co-opted by the existing board at other times during the year.
Objectives and activities
Charitable purposes
Stonehaven Folk Festival’s (SFF) purposes are to promote, maintain, improve and advance education particularly by promoting and encouraging the study, practice and knowledge of the arts, especially folk music.
Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects
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SFF organises and promotes a festival of traditional and contemporary music each year during July in and around Stonehaven.
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From time to time, as decided by the board of trustees, SFF may award scholarships, sponsor or otherwise support individuals or organisations in the community, in the furtherance of its purposes.
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By these activities, SFF aims to promote the appreciation and preservation of folk music; encourage youth participation in, and attendance at, the festival; promote new talent; and encourage active participation in musical activities.
Achievements and performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the financial period |
The 2025 Festival was an outstanding success. This was due – in no small part – to the success of the board of trustees who have proved themselves, once again, to be a very effective management team helping to ensure that the organisation of the festival runs smoothly, whilst dealing with changing conditions, missed flights, frantic bus bookings and much, much more. The line up for the 2025 festival continued to emphasise its commitment to bringing high quality acts to Stonehaven, as well as highlighting local talent. The workshop programme demonstrated one of the ways that we promote learning and understanding of traditional music and song. Financially, 2024 – 25 saw the festival achieve a stable base from which to continue this championing of folk music for the foreseeable future and the statement of accounts bears this out. Our finance model is such that we are not currently dependent on outside organisations to keep us afloat. The planned development of sponsorship packages will only enhance te festival’s financial stability and help it to achieve its educational aspirations. The board of trustees are developing a set of policies and procedures to enhance the organisation and to ensure the safety of all those who attend festival. The SFF social media presence has been much improved over the last two years, and the short films produced by one of the trustees are increasingly being recognised for their clarity and strong production values. The organisation is managed and run by volunteers. Without them, the Stonehaven Folk Festival would not happen. Their contributions have ensured the success of the festival and the organisation’s achievements in meetingitspurposes. |
|---|---|
Financial review
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
Stonehaven Folk Festival’s policy is to hold reserves to:
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meet contractual obligations if the festival is cancelled at short notice,
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provide financial resilience against unforeseen events such as extreme weather or public health emergencies, and to
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support continuity of charitable activities and protect the charity’s reputation.
Details of any deficit
Donated facilities and services (if any)
The festival’s aim is always to break even and to create a small surplus to reinvest to maintain the ongoing development of the organisation. In 2024 - 25 the festival generated a surplus.
The festival did not receive any donated facilities or services during 2024 - 25.
Other optional information
The 2025 festival featured a fantastic line-up including Mànran, The Henry Girls, Ally Forsyth, Old Blind Dogs, Tom Campbell Trio, Ellie Beaton, Fiddlers Bid, Fell Line, Pete MacCallum as well as El Pony Pisador all the way from Spain! Their journey to the festival was not without its challenges as their late arrival into Edinburgh airport meant that they missed their train to Stonehaven. They were re-booked on to the Ember Bus and two hours later disgorged on to the side of the A90 at Fordoun where a mini-bus met them and brought them on to the Town Hall. It was well worth it as their performance at the closing concert was the highlight of the festival.
In addition to the main concerts, there were 53 fringe events over the weekend - 22 workshops, 16 sessions and 15 other events. As part of the festival’s commitment to retaining musical culture, the Tradition Bearers Concert welcomed stalwarts from across the UK including Paddy Buchanan (Scotland), Susie Kelly (Scotland), Rosie Upton (England) and Denis McGonigle (Ireland).
2025 marked the first Stonehaven Bothy Ballad Competition, which was run in conjunction with TMSA, and replaced the Falkland Competition, which has been hosted in Stonehaven for the last few years. There were 17 entries, and the winner of the brand-new cup was Paddy Buchanan.
Another new event in 2025 was the children's Scottish poetry and music recital that was run in conjunction with the Burns Club who were very happy with the inaugural event and are working hard to encourage more participation in 2026.
The free Concert in the Square is always a big draw over the weekend and in 2025 was blessed with fantastic weather. Normally relying on a marquee, the event became an open-air concert as temperatures soared!
The contribution of the hard-working board throughout the year and of all the volunteers over the weekend of the festival itself to ensure the smooth running of all the events, are thoroughly appreciated. Without them the festival would simply not happen.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) David Bliss OSCR will accept digital or typed signatures Full name(s) David Bliss Position (e.g. Chair) Chair Date 13 May 2026