ESSEX BOOK FESTIVAL

Registered charity 1143727 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The objectives of the charity are to advance the education of the public in Essex by promoting literature, reading for pleasure and supporting and developing writers.The objectives are met, primarily, through an annual Essex Book Festival, which offers opportunities for local, national and international authors to discuss their works, writing workshops and competitions for budding authors.

Objects

TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN ESSEX BY PROMOTING LITERATURE, READING FOR PLEASURE AND SUPPORTING AND DEVELOPING WRITERS, INCLUDING YOUNG WRITERS, BY ANY MEANS THE TRUSTEES SEE FIT, INCLUDING THE ORGANISATION AND RUNNING OF READING AND WRITING RELATED EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE OF INTEREST TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES AND THE RUNNING OF AN ANNUAL BOOK FESTIVAL

Area of benefit: REGIONAL

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

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity · Recreation · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£109k

Latest spending

£104k

Registered

2011

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a net surplus of £4,357, bringing total unrestricted reserves to £36,183. The trustees maintain that this reserve level is required to mitigate risks around future grant income and ensure the charity can continue as a going concern. The charity operates a defined contribution pension plan and has no disclosed pension deficits or trading subsidiaries.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: a relatively high general reserve is required in order to mitigate the risks around future grant and other support income (held: £36k)

“It is the Trustees' opinion that a relatively high general reserve is required in order to mitigate the risks around future grant and other support income.” — page 4

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.

Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Risk management
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Arts Council England — “This year Essex Book Festival received financial support from Arts Council England, Chelmsford City Council, Colchester City Council, Essex …” (source page)
Chelmsford City Council — “This year Essex Book Festival received financial support from Arts Council England, Chelmsford City Council, Colchester City Council, Essex …” (source page)
Colchester City Council — “This year Essex Book Festival received financial support from Arts Council England, Chelmsford City Council, Colchester City Council, Essex …” (source page)
Essex Libraries — “This year Essex Book Festival received financial support from Arts Council England, Chelmsford City Council, Colchester City Council, Essex …” (source page)
Thurrock Council — “This year Essex Book Festival received financial support from Arts Council England, Chelmsford City Council, Colchester City Council, Essex …” (source page)
Essex County Council’s Writing for Opportunity fund — “This year Essex Book Festival received financial support from Arts Council England, Chelmsford City Council, Colchester City Council, Essex …” (source page)
University of Essex — “This year Essex Book Festival received financial support from Arts Council England, Chelmsford City Council, Colchester City Council, Essex …” (source page)
The Bean Trust — “This year Essex Book Festival received financial support from Arts Council England, Chelmsford City Council, Colchester City Council, Essex …” (source page)

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

Trustees · trustee networks

Christian Josef Peter Leppich
Folasade Ogunlana-Fadipe
Hana Beatrice Yamato Loftus
Helen Wakeham
JAMES ANDREW MACDONALD
Jack Edward O'Hara Robinson
Kimberley Anne Elizabeth Sheehan
Louise-Ann May Williams
Maxime Quetzal Pons Webster
PATRICIA ANN GAUDIN
Paula Clowes
Tony Fisher

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

Operates in: Essex · Southend-on-sea · Thurrock

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£109k	£104k
31/12/2024	£110k	£117k
31/12/2023	£130k	£121k
31/12/2022	£95k	£98k
31/12/2021	£44k	£40k

Common questions

Is ESSEX BOOK FESTIVAL financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a net surplus of £4,357, bringing total unrestricted reserves to £36,183. The trustees maintain that this reserve level is required to mitigate risks around future grant income and ensure the charity can continue as a going concern. The charity operates a defined contribution pension plan and has no disclosed pension deficits or trading subsidiaries. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.