WELLS FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE LIMITED

Registered charity 1045654 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

In line with its educational objectives, the company organises the annual Wells Festival of Literature at which leading writers give inspirational, challenging lectures to audiences of all ages and tastes. The Company also funds workshops for young people to interact with inspirational authors. The company is also instrumental in promoting Beanstalk, a national literacy project, in the South West.

Objects

TO PROMOTE THE ARTS GENERALLY AND ADVANCE EDUCATION BY MEANS OF FESTIVALS OF THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENTS IN THE CITY OF WELLS AND ELSEWHERE IN SUCH MANNER, AT SUCH TIMES, IN SUCH PLACES AND SO OFTEN AS THE BOARD OF THE COMPANY SHALL THINK FIT AND DO ALL SUCH THINGS AS ARE INCIDENTAL OR NECESSARY TO THE ATTAINMENT OF SUCH OBJECTS.

Area of benefit: IN PRACTICE, THE CITY OF WELLS

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves increased to £102,210, which the Directors consider an acceptable position to maintain operations and educational projects. The charity reported a net income of £19,240 for the year ended 31 December 2025, supported by ticket sales, sponsorship, and donations. The organization is run entirely by volunteers with no employees or director remuneration.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

• Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
• Complaints handling
• Complaints policy and procedures
• Conflicting interests
• Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
• Internal risk management policy and procedures
• Investment
• Risk management
• Safeguarding policy and procedures
• Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
• Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
• Volunteer management

Corporate structure

• Registered company of the charity Companies House 02827744

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

• ROWE, Frances Mary — director, appointed 23/02/2018on trustee list
• WRIGHT, Dorothy — director, appointed 23/02/2018on trustee list
• DECAMP, Sian Elizabeth — director, appointed 23/02/2018on trustee list
• KOLOMBOS, Alexander John, Dr — director, appointed 20/02/2017not on trustee list
• MANNING, Richard Denley John — director, appointed 11/06/2014on trustee list
• CAIN, Hilary Thomasine — director, appointed 20/05/2010on trustee list
• MANNING, Richard Denley John — secretary, appointed 13/11/2013

Official officers record.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

• Richard Denley John Manningchair
• Alex Kolombos
• Dorothy Wright · trustee of 1 other charity
• Frances Mary Rowe
• Hilary Thomasine Cain
• Sian Elizabeth Decamp

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Somerset

Income and spending

Common questions