BATH FESTIVALS

Registered charity 801617 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as BATH FESTIVALS TRUST, THE FOUNDATION FOR THE BATH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AND RELATED ARTS INITIATIVES

Promotion of the arts.

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

Latest income
£554k
Latest spending
£480k
Registered
1989
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a net deficit of £14,568, with unrestricted reserves at a negative £17,200, which is below the board's stated policy target of maintaining between £50,000 and £150,000. The trustees acknowledge a material uncertainty regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern due to funding uncertainties, though they believe adequate resources exist for the next twelve months.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £-17k; policy: between £50,000 and £150,000)
“In recognition of the fact that unrestricted reserves are negative and outside of the acceptable range identified by the Board” — page 8
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Going concern: material uncertainty disclosed
“the Directors acknowledge that these circumstances represent a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt upon the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern.” — page 17
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustees waived unsecured bonds of £50,545 in 2023; £nil waived in 2024.
“During the year, unsecured bonds (including accrued interest) due to Trustees were waived of £nil (2023 - £50,545) and treated as an unrestricted donation.” — page 30
“During the year, donations of £25,000 (2023 - £31,450) were received from Medlock Charitable Trust.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations received from Medlock Charitable Trust.
“During the year, unsecured bonds (including accrued interest) due to Trustees were waived of £nil (2023 - £50,545) and treated as an unrestricted donation.” — page 30
“During the year, donations of £25,000 (2023 - £31,450) were received from Medlock Charitable Trust.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Sponsorship income received from Bath Recreation Limited.
“During the year, unsecured bonds (including accrued interest) due to Trustees were waived of £nil (2023 - £50,545) and treated as an unrestricted donation.” — page 30
“During the year, donations of £25,000 (2023 - £31,450) were received from Medlock Charitable Trust.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations received from Ludlow Trust Company Ltd.
“During the year, unsecured bonds (including accrued interest) due to Trustees were waived of £nil (2023 - £50,545) and treated as an unrestricted donation.” — page 30
“During the year, donations of £25,000 (2023 - £31,450) were received from Medlock Charitable Trust.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Payments made to Bath Philharmonia for recording and performance fees.
“During the year, unsecured bonds (including accrued interest) due to Trustees were waived of £nil (2023 - £50,545) and treated as an unrestricted donation.” — page 30
“During the year, donations of £25,000 (2023 - £31,450) were received from Medlock Charitable Trust.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Bath Festivals (matched by registered charity number).

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

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)

Total income
£553k
Total spending
£480k
Cost of raising funds
£23k
Reserves (reported)
£0
Employees
2

Reported reserves equal ~0.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 4.2% of total income — below the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Bath And North East Somerset

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2024£554k£480k
31/12/2023£1.0m£758k
31/12/2022£931k£946k
31/12/2021£1.1m£1.0m
31/12/2020£589k£525k

Common questions

Is BATH FESTIVALS financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a net deficit of £14,568, with unrestricted reserves at a negative £17,200, which is below the board's stated policy target of maintaining between £50,000 and £150,000. The trustees acknowledge a material uncertainty regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern due to funding uncertainties, though they believe adequate resources exist for the next twelve months. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds BATH FESTIVALS?

Funders whose own accounts filings name BATH FESTIVALS as a grant recipient include THE ASHLA CHARITABLE TRUST, THE MEDLOCK CHARITABLE TRUST, THE ROPER FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE BROWNSWORD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE COLES-MEDLOCK FOUNDATION.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.