REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 04918368 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1104757

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

for

HASLEMERE FESTIVAL

Page

Reference and Administrative Details

1

Report of the Trustees

2

to

5

Independent Examiner's Report

6

Statement of Financial Activities

7

Balance Sheet

8

to

9

Notes to the Financial Statements

10

to

16

TRUSTEES

H Donaldson MBE, DL

B E Farley BEM (resigned 2.6.25)

B Howard MBE

Ms M J Odell MBE

A Stent (appointed 4.3.25)

REGISTERED OFFICE

Haslemere Hall

Bridge Road

Haslemere

Surrey

GU27 2AS

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER

04918368 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER

1104757

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Knox Cropper LLP

Chartered Accountants

Office Suite 1

Haslemere House

Lower Street

Haslemere

Surrey

GU27 2PE

SOLICITORS

Potter, Owtram & Peck

42 West Street

Haslemere

Surrey

GU27 2AN

Patrons

The Patrons of the Haslemere Festival are Michael More-Molyneux (Lord Lieutenant of Surrey), Rt. Hon

Jeremy Hunt MP (resigned on 4th July 2024), Dr Francois Dolmetsch, Admiral Sir Derek Reffell KCB, Rt Hon Gregory Stafford MP (from 20th November 2024).

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The objects of Haslemere Festival are to promote and advance education particularly by the encouragement of the arts, including the art of music, singing, drama, painting, literature, dance and visual arts by the promotion of concerts, performances, exhibitions and other activities for the benefit of the inhabitants of Haslemere District. In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'Public Benefit: running a Charity (PB2)'. Affordability and access to our programmes is important to us; we receive relatively little support in the shape of grants but access to many of our events is free or at modest cost.

Significant activities

Haslemere Festival ran the many events listed below.

Christmas Market, a popular event in the centre of the Town every December; Melanie Odell & Iain Lynch

80th Anniversary of VE Day, an event on Lion Green organised by Haslemere Town Council which included a ride in a Spitfire for the winner of a raffle. Hamish Donaldson, Ken Griffiths, Jim Edwards, Craig Hills, Melanie Odell, Nick Westcott-White.

Arts Festival, featured 52 events over a 15 day period including evening concerts, weekend family events and weekday talks; Hamish Donaldson (Chairman & Treasurer), Adrian Stent (Programme Director), Paul Ashton, Christopher Ashton-Jones, Jeannette Baylis, Ishani Bhoola, Deborah Bowyer, Stephen Dennison, James Ewing, Melissa Gay, Ken Griffiths, Aine Hall, Melanie Odell MBE, Jane Puttock, Richard Reincke, Martin Robson, Marion Stent.

Little Lumpy Cycling Sportive, a successful cycling event with three levels of difficulty (from the 40 mile Sport to the 100 mile Epic); Ken Griffiths Chairman, Linda Griffiths, Richard Hart, Rupert Maude, Jon Mills, Stephen Moss and Robert Smith. The partner charity this year was Midhurst Palliative Care (£3,245 raised).

Classic Car Tour & Show, was run successfully for the 15th year; James Ewing, Jane Puttock

Food Festival, had to be cancelled this year as the ground was unsuitable after the Circus

Public benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have considered the general guidance issued by the Charity Commission in connection with public benefit in setting the objectives of the charity and in particular they have considered how planned activities further the charity's objects.

Volunteers

We are grateful to the chairmen and members of these committees and the many volunteers who gave their considerable time and expertise to make this year's events such a success. It is estimated that total attendance at these events was of the order of 5,000 including a significant number of families with children.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

Haslemere Festival's financial performance for 2025 shows a surplus for the year of £17,106 (2024: Deficit of £11,049).

The Balance Sheet displays an increase in unrestricted reserves to £95,159 (2024: £78,053). Restricted funds at the year-end amounted to £5,452 (2024: £5,452).

Results by charitable activity, including voluntary income:

Income

Expenditure

2025

2024

Arts Festival

51,642

(38,371

)

13,271

(2,041

)

Fringe Festival

1,101

(360

)

741

(41,601

)

Sportive Cycling

13,896

(10,653

)

3,243

4,532

Classic Car Show

8,471

(4,722

)

3,749

3,552

VE Day

207

(2,811

)

(2,604

)

-

D Day Anniversary

-

-

-

(81

)

Haslemere Events

50

(4,099

)

(4,049

)

(950

)

Christmas Market

10,890

(5,387

)

5,503

3,973

Food Festival

-

(686

)

(686

)

(596

)

Charter Fair

-

(584

)

(584

)

735

Spitfire Ride

4,413

(4,413

)

-

Support Costs

-

(720

)

(720

)

(720

)

Depreciation

-

(758

)

(758

)

(758

)

Total

90,670

(73,564

)

17,106

(10,876

)

Principal funding sources

We are very grateful to our sponsors for their support for our activities. The major donations and sponsorship are listed in Note 3.

Investment policy

The Charity runs current accounts with NatWest Bank and Lloyds bank and a deposit account with CAF (Charities Aid Foundation). The Charity also has invested in Equities with Hargreaves Lansdown managed funds. Following the stock market correction caused by Covid the investments were sold.

Reserves policy and Going Concern

The Trustees wish to maintain reserves of around £40,000 for three main purposes. First, the Fringe Festival is an outdoor event and inevitably ticket sales and other income on the day (approximately £40,000) will be badly hit in the event of bad weather; secondly to cover the Festival's cash flow requirements (artists being paid before tickets go on sale) and thirdly to enable the organising committee to take modest risks when identifying high profile events (as part of our policy of bringing affordable quality entertainment to Haslemere & District). The cost of putting events on is increasing as compliance with ever stricter rules and regulations and public body interaction. Therefore, the reserves are a useful buffer and ensure the Festival can maintain its aims for the future.

The current level of reserves is considered sufficient to meet the charity's needs and the Trustees consider that the Charity satisfies the test of a 'going concern'.

FUTURE PLANS

Planning is well advanced for events in 2026. In particular, the Fringe Festival (where the income is expected to be in excess of £200,000). The Charter Fair will be back together with the Cycling Sportive and the Classic Car Tour & Show in May, the Food Festival in September and the Christmas Market in December.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

Haslemere Festival was incorporated on 1st October, 2003 as a Company Limited by Guarantee and is also a Registered Charity. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which contained the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The Trustees have been selected because of their business experience and their interests in the town. Hamish Donaldson is a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, an ex-Merchant Banker and trustee of several local charities; Bryan Farley is a retired local notary and solicitor; Brian Howard was proprietor of Marley Flowers and a past Councillor and Mayor of Haslemere. The Trustees have appointed Melanie Odell to be a Trustee with effect from 20th October 2024 and Adrian Stent to be a Trustee with effect from 4th March 2025. All the trustees are volunteers.

Bryan Farley retired as a Trustee on 2 June 2025. We are very grateful to Bryan for his support and wise council over the last 22 years.

Induction and training of new trustees

The trustees are appointed to use their skills and experience and thus no specific induction training is required except for those appointed trustee for the first time. Those new to Trusteeship are directed to the Charity Commission web site and specifically to the page 'How To Be An Effective Charity Trustee - Signposts To Our Published Guidance That Will Help You' and 'CC3 - The Essential Trustee: What you need to know'.

Risk management

The Trustees have identified the main risks and are satisfied that they take reasonable steps to mitigate them. The Trustees have reviewed the list and confirm that the following policies have been adopted:

- Financial Controls

- Risk Management

- Conflicts of Interest

- Complaints Handling

- Serious Incident

- Trustee Expenses

- Investments

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors of Haslemere Festival for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) including Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law).

Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 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 that period. In preparing those 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;

-	prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company 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 charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 19 June 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

H Donaldson MBE, DL - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Haslemere Festival ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 30 September 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the 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 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 2011 ('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

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

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.

This report is made to the Trustees, as a body, in accordance with the terms of my engagement. Our work has been undertaken so that we might carry out an Independent Examination of the financial statements in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity's Trustees, as a body, for our work or for this report.

J Holland-Leader FCA

Knox Cropper LLP

Chartered Accountants

Office Suite 1

Haslemere House

Lower Street

Haslemere

Surrey

GU27 2PE

22 June 2026

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

3

15,125

-

15,125

23,074

Charitable activities

5

Events

75,545

-

75,545

269,006

Investment income

4

-

-

-

6

Total

90,670

-

90,670

292,086

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

892

-

892

720

Charitable activities

Events

71,914

-

71,914

301,484

Support Costs

758

-

758

758

Total

73,564

-

73,564

302,962

Net gains/(losses) on investments

-

-

-

(173

)

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

17,106

-

17,106

(11,049

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

78,053

5,452

83,505

94,554

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

95,159

5,452

100,611

83,505

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

11

1,516

-

1,516

2,274

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

12

12,018

-

12,018

4,862

Cash at bank

82,479

5,452

87,931

85,627

94,497

5,452

99,949

90,489

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

13

(854

)

-

(854

)

(9,258

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

93,643

5,452

99,095

81,231

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

95,159

5,452

100,611

83,505

NET ASSETS

95,159

5,452

100,611

83,505

FUNDS

14

Unrestricted funds

95,159

78,053

Restricted funds

5,452

5,452

TOTAL FUNDS

100,611

83,505

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 30 September 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 19 June 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

H Donaldson MBE, DL - Trustee

1.	GENERAL INFORMATION

Haslemere Festival is a charitable company incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006. A description of the nature of Haslemere Festival's operation, its principal activity, and operational address is disclosed in the Report of the Trustees.

2.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value.

Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions

The charitable company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemption in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland':

•

the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows.

Going concern

The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these financial statements. The trustees have made this assessment in respect to a period of one year from the date of approval of these financial statements. The trustees of the Charity have concluded that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the Charity to continue as a going concern.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income and corresponding expenses when the Charity has control, any conditions have been met and the economic benefit can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Charitable activities

Expenditure on Charitable Activities includes the costs of the artists, performance costs, outdoor infrastructure and other educational costs to further the objects of the Charity.

Allocation and apportionment of costs

Actual costs for each event run by Haslemere Festival are separately identifiable and are apportioned to that activity as appropriate. The only support cost incurred by the charity is the Independent Examiner's fee, which is attributed to 'Events' within charitable activities as the charity's sole activity.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Plant and machinery

-

20% on cost

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

3.	DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

2025

2024

£

£

Donations

5,125

23,074

Legacies

10,000

-

15,125

23,074

Donations received: £2127 from the Friends of the Festival (including GiftAid), Couchman Hanson £2,000. Picture donated £950. Mandy Mckenna for guitars and ukuleles £920. Seymours Estate Agents £900. Leightons Opticians £900. Clement Windows Group £900. Red Rock Property £500. Transform Landscapes £500. Upham Pub co £500. Cocoon (uk) Ltd £250. Revel Accountants £250. Monika Pilat Khaza £250. Planet of Sounds £250.

4.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2025

2024

£

£

Deposit account interest

-

6

5.	INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

2025

2024

Activity

£

£

Arts festival

Events

36,517

-

Fringe festival

Events

1,101

223,254

Cycling sportive

Events

13,896

12,590

Classic car show

Events

8,471

3,606

Haslemere events

Events

50

-

Food festival

Events

-

3,880

Christmas market

Events

10,890

13,345

VE Day

Events

207

-

Charter fair

Events

-

12,331

Spitfire

Events

4,413

-

75,545

269,006

6.	SUPPORT COSTS

Governance

Finance

costs

Totals

£

£

£

Other trading activities

172

720

892

7.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2025

2024

£

£

Depreciation - owned assets

758

758

Independent Examination

720

720

8.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 September 2025 nor for the year ended 30 September 2024.

Trustees' expenses

Total expenses reimbursed to trustees in the year were as follows:

2025

2024

£

£

Refreshments

375

-

Publicity

894

-

Board expenses

66

-

.

1,335

-

Expenses were reimbursed to 2 trustees (2024: Nil).

9.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

funds

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

23,074

-

23,074

Charitable activities

Events

269,006

-

269,006

Investment income

6

-

6

Total

292,086

-

292,086

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

720

-

720

Charitable activities

Events

301,484

-

301,484

Support Costs

758

-

758

Total

302,962

-

302,962

Net gains/(losses) on investments

(173

)

-

(173

)

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(11,049

)

-

(11,049

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

89,102

5,452

94,554

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

78,053

5,452

83,505

10.	VOLUNTEERS

The Festival is run entirely by volunteers and the key organisers are listed in the Report of the Trustees. Haslemere Festival is very grateful to the chairmen and members of the festival committees, and the many volunteers who give their considerable time and expertise to make the events such a success.

11.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Plant and

machinery

£

COST

At 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025

3,790

DEPRECIATION

At 1 October 2024

1,516

Charge for year

758

At 30 September 2025

2,274

NET BOOK VALUE

At 30 September 2025

1,516

At 30 September 2024

2,274

12.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Other debtors

-

4,296

Prepayments

12,018

566

12,018

4,862

13.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Deferred income

-

3,920

Accrued expenses

854

5,338

854

9,258

14.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

At

movement

At

1.10.24

in funds

30.9.25

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

78,053

17,106

95,159

Restricted funds

Haslemere Hens

5,452

-

5,452

TOTAL FUNDS

83,505

17,106

100,611

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

90,670

(73,564

)

17,106

TOTAL FUNDS

90,670

(73,564

)

17,106

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

At

movement

At

1.10.23

in funds

30.9.24

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

89,102

(11,049

)

78,053

Restricted funds

Haslemere Hens

5,452

-

5,452

TOTAL FUNDS

94,554

(11,049

)

83,505

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Gains and

Movement

resources

expended

losses

in funds

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

292,086

(302,962

)

(173

)

(11,049

)

TOTAL FUNDS

292,086

(302,962

)

(173

)

(11,049

)

The Haslemere Hens fund (previously The Haslemere Hares & Hounds fund) is a community art project aimed at promoting the town of Haslemere, its businesses, and art. The fibreglass sculptures are sponsored by local businesses and then auctioned to raise money for charities.