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BOWNESS THEATRE FESTIVAL LIMITED

Registered charity 1088229 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as OLD LAUNDRY THEATRE

Provide drama, music and comedy of the highest quality attracting audience members both locally and nationally.

Objects

THE PROMOTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF AESTHETIC EDUCATION AND THE CULTIVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC TASTE IN DRAMA, OPERA, MUSIC, PAINTING AND THE OTHER ARTS.

Area of benefit: BOWNESS, CUMBRIA

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

Latest income
£353k
Latest spending
£340k
Registered
2001
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity had a net surplus of £47,858 for the year ended 31 January 2025, although it reported net liabilities of £11,790. The trustees note that the charity is dependent on the continued financial support of two trustees, C R Scott and R P Glossop, in the absence of other funding, to maintain going concern status.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £-47k; policy: kept to a minimum but are sufficient to fund those projects where income received does not cover the costs incurred)
“The free reserve figure at year end is a deficit of £47,322 (2024 - £62,089).” — page 4
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor
“The company is dependent, in the absence of other funding, on the continued financial support of its trustees, C R Scott and R P Glossop. These trustees have confirmed their commitment to provide the necessary support. On this basis the trustees consider it appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if C R Scott and R P Glossop were not to provide further support.” — page 4
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustees C R Scott and R P Glossop received £1,190 for production costs in the prior year (2024); £nil in the current year.
“C R Scott and R P Glossop, trustees, received £nil (2024 - £1,190) for production costs. These payments were made in accordance with paragraph 28A of the company's Articles of Association.” — page 14
“During the year C R Scott and R P Glossop made donations of £36,500 (2024 - £26,000).” — page 17
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustees C R Scott and R P Glossop made donations of £36,500.
“C R Scott and R P Glossop, trustees, received £nil (2024 - £1,190) for production costs. These payments were made in accordance with paragraph 28A of the company's Articles of Association.” — page 14
“During the year C R Scott and R P Glossop made donations of £36,500 (2024 - £26,000).” — page 17
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 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.

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

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Cumbria

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/01/2025£353k£340k
31/01/2024£284k£314k
31/01/2023£229k£264k
31/01/2022£85k£87k
31/01/2021£80k£59k

Common questions

Is BOWNESS THEATRE FESTIVAL LIMITED financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity had a net surplus of £47,858 for the year ended 31 January 2025, although it reported net liabilities of £11,790. The trustees note that the charity is dependent on the continued financial support of two trustees, C R Scott and R P Glossop, in the absence of other funding, to maintain going concern status. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
South Lakeland District Council—£2kCommunity Grants

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
THE THEATRES TRUST CHARITABLE FUND3£29k
THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST2£38k
MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUND2£33k
THE JOHN THAW FOUNDATION2£3k
FRIENDS OF BUXTON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL1£658k
Laidlaw Opera Trust1£458k
THE MICHAEL BISHOP FOUNDATION1£268k
COLWINSTON CHARITABLE TRUST1£100k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE GRANGE FESTIVAL.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
BOWNESS THEATRE FESTIVAL LIMITED£353k—0below—noted
THE GRANGE FESTIVAL FY2025£4.0m£60,001 - £70,000—unclear—no doubt
NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL TRUST LIMITED FY2025£16.3m——unclear—no doubt
FRIENDS OF BUXTON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL FY2025£203k—0unclear—no doubt
BUXTON ARTS FESTIVAL LIMITED FY2024£2.0m——above—no doubt
FRINTON SUMMER THEATRE FY2025£557k—0unclear—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.