2025-07-31-accounts

Downderry and District Community Bus Association

- Charity Number 1000967

Financial Statements & Report

For The Year Ended 31[st] July 2025

Downderry And District Community Bus Association

Contents :

Information

Trustees Charity Report

Financial Statements:

Accountants Report Balance Sheet Income & Expenditure Notes to the Accounts

Downderry And District Community Bus Association

Information For The Year Ended 31[st] July 2025

ADDRESS:	Downcliff
	Brenton Road
	Downderry
	Torpoint
	Cornwall
	PL11 3JA
ACCOUNTANT:	M P Rogan BA Hons, ACMA, CGMA
	Kenwyn
	Brenton Road
	Downderry
	Torpoint
	Cornwall
	PL11 3JA

Downderry & District Community Bus Association Charity Report

- End July 2024 End July 2025

Charity Number 1000967

Trustees:

Robert Gascoigne - Chairman Lynne Rees Heather Thomas

Committee:

Jem Hall – Vice Chair Jane Hall Richard Broad Jane Mather Bev Brighton Jo Woodley

Table of Contents

Page

1. Foreword from Chairman 3-4. Review of previous year 5. 2026 Plan 6. Statement of Finances

2. Thanks

Foreword from the Chairman

Rob Gascoigne

After 36 years of providing a community bus service, the Downderry and Seaton Community Bus Association continues to move forward on very firm ground indeed. I am very privileged to be supported by a such a very dedicated and loyal committee, who in turn are supported by some quite magnificent drivers and fundraisers. We can certainly look to the future with justifiable confidence. The annual report below provides an oversight of our achievements this year and a statement of accounts that clearly shows the stable and sustainable position we are in. 2026 will be focussed on ‘keeping things going’ as the delivery model we have is clearly working well.

I continue to be acutely aware that our efforts need to focus on the needs of our community and we standby to respond to any changes we perceive or are suggested to us. Our new website (www.dscombus.com) contains all the information you need to see how we operate although any feedback or suggestions will be warmly received (please use [e-mail]).

So all in all, a highly satisfactory year that the Association can look back on with no small amount of pride. Our appetite for delivering this service for our community shows no sign at all of wavering and we look forward to bright and productive year ahead.

A few statistics from the last year:

Journey	Completed
Scheduled Plymouth & Liskeard	100
Seaton-Downderry (school run)	195	39 weeks
Excursions	14
Extra Runs	35	Truro,Totnes,Tavistock,Looe,Exeter
Private Hires	24
TOTAL	368

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2024/2025 REVIEW – How did we do?

Our Mission

is to provide a safe, reliable, and targeted minibus service that meets the needs of communities in Seaton/Downderry and the surrounding area

Key Associated Aims

1. Sustainable

2. Flexible and adaptable

3. Focuses on identified community needs

4. Friendly, respectful, community focus - a 'social enterprise'.

5. Value for money

6. Adherence to legal and directed requirements

1.

Sustainable.

Finance . 2024/2025 accounts are attached and clearly demonstrate that income from the bus and fundraising activities cover the costs of bus maintenance and building towards a new bus in approximately 6 years.

Personnel . There have been no bus cancellations due to lack of drivers and all committee appointments have been filled. There has been the unavoidable turnover of drivers during the year but a focus on recruiting has enabled a balance to be maintained.

Fund Raising . The Association has been successful in organising and developing a variety of fund-raising events and initiatives. This has established a very ‘firm base’ for generating funds for the future and one which is continually being nurtured. Achieving the Association’s future financial aims look very positive.

2. Flexible and Adaptable

Routes . When required, bus routes have been changed to meet local needs as demonstrated by our response to set up a temporary stop off at St Germans. An element of flexibility in drop off points to meet specific individual demands has also been a feature of the bus service.

Ways of Working . 2025 has seen the development of a bespoke bus website (www.dscombus.com). All committee members have access to an electronic shared calendar and WhatsApp group, giving real time information. This facilitates the ability to provide direction and respond to requests/change quickly and efficiently.

New Initiatives . The bus committee encourage and support new ideas for bus usage in support of local community activities. An example being the new ‘swim bus’ that is encouraging and helping to advertise a new sea swimming club.

3. Community Needs

Schedule . The regular bus scheduled routes continue to focus on those areas where there is a lack of council provided services.

Feedback . The Bus Chairman attends monthly Coffee mornings in the village hall to update on events and also gauge support and respond to ideas/suggestions. The website also has a bespoke email that all are encouraged to use to send in feedback.

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4. Social Enterprise

NOT just drivers ! Our drivers make very effort to assist passengers with their baggage and are trained in ‘Safeguarding’. Whether it’s a child or adult, if any signs of distress or discomfort are recognised, without being intrusive into people’s lives, we have a system to try and assist.

Feedback . Whilst evidence is mainly anecdotal, the continued levels of support from within the local community is testament to the high regard that the bus organisers/administrators are held. Feedback from passengers is invariably positive and voluntary financial contributions towards journey costs remain high.

Responsiveness . Suggestions and ideas from bus users are registered and acted on where appropriate, either immediately (via the Chairman) or through the committee. Drivers’ ‘performance’ is a regular topic for the bus regulars!

Hirings . For a small one-off fee (£10), local organisations (only) can add their names to the register of authorised bus ‘hirers’.

5. Value for Money.

Scheduled Journey Costs . Fares are always under review there have been a few small increases in costs for some routes to keep in line with rising external costs. Bus pass journeys are reclaimed and there have been no adverse comments/feedback on fares that are either in line or cheaper than council provided services.

Hiring . Registered organisations/personnel can hire the bus with fares increasing in 2025 from £1.50/mile to £2/mile. These costs deliver a small profit although invariably, travellers donate extra as this is considered such good Value for Money.

6. Legal/Mandatory Requirements.

Requirement	Status	Comment
Maintain Charitable Status	ü	Charity No 1000967
Operate under Section 22 bus permit provided by the Traffic Commissioner:
Purchase appropriate insurance for bus, passengers and drivers.	ü	3 x insurances from Wrightsure Services Ltd
Register the route and timetable with the Traffic Commissioner and display permit disk.	ü
Ensure the vehicle is built, adapted, maintained and certified to PSV standards.	ü	New Mercedes Sprinter purchased in 2025
All profit-making proceeds are used directly to support scheduled services.	ü	See attached annual accounts sheet
Remains open to the general public.	ü
Drivers are to be qualified (Full D1 test if the licence is awarded after 31 December 1996, medically fit, DBS, safeguardingand MIDAS etc).	ü	D1, DBS, Medic a pre- requisite. Further training as availabilityallows
No more than 16 passengers to be carried, excluding driver.	ü
Conduct risk assessments and Duty of Care responsibilities	ü

4

2025/2026 Plan

Aims and Objectives . The Associations’ trustees have referred to the guidance in the Charity Commission's general guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing the Charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities. In particular, they have considered how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

Theme . The plan for 2025/2026 is very much in the mould of ‘much of the same’ . With this in mind, the nurturing and development of bus managers/drivers and avenues of revenue will be at the forefront of our efforts. The committee will continue to ensure that the Association is running the bus in a safe and sustainable manner, and adhering to all the mandatory requirements. Under the leadership of the Chairman, the committee will maintain a schedule of formal meetings to decide all aspects of delivery management and implement a system to ensure all information relating to the bus reaches its intended audience. Whilst it is early days, financial targets need to keep half an eye on the move towards a new minibus in 5 to 6 years time.

Format . A comprehensive plan for delivering the Community Bus services 2025/2026 can be found on the Bus Website at:

https://www.dscombus.com/plan-2025

The key components of the plan are:

Our mission, aims and objectives

Key Tasks

Organisational structure and how tasks are to be met

Our products, services and activities

Our marketing, publicity and fund-raising activities

Openness . Every effort will be made to ensure the decisions made by the committee are transparent. Updates/changes to the plan will be posted on the bus website and briefed verbally by the Chairman at the monthly coffee mornings and when opportunities present themselves. The Chairman will make himself available for consultation/discussion as required.

5

Financial Statement

Format . The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and ‘Accounting and Reporting’ by Charities.

Contents . A full breakdown of the 2024/2025 statement of finances is attached and can also be found on the Bus website. Key takeaways are:

Item
Bus Receipts	+ 9,093
Bus Expenditure	- 5,033
Other Income	+ 16,913
Other Expenditure	- 2,607
Net Income over expenditure		18,366
Balance bought Forward		38,002
TOTAL		56,368

6

And Finall y

Thanks!

And finally, just to reiterate, a heartfelt thanks to all of those who have helped to support our Community Bus – in whatever capacity. There are so many cogs in the bus management wheel and the voluntary work, so selflessly provided by so many, just keeps that wheel turning! It has been a privilege to work with you all. Thank you.

Attachment:

1. July 2024 - July 2025 Statement of Accounts.

7

Financial Statements

For The Year Ended 31* July 2025

Accountants Report to:

D i And District C tty ines we

In accordance with instructions given, the annexed financial statements have been prepared from the accounting records of Downderry And District Community Bus Association and from other information and explanations supplied.

M P Rogan Accountant Kenwyn Brenton Road Downderry Torpoint Cornwall PL113jA

Date: Afb 2p LED: restr

D i

And District C a ge

Balance Sheet

	£
CurrentAssets
CurrentAccount	56,594
Cash In Hand	10
Accrued Interest Receivable	0
Debtorsand Prepayments	546
	57,150
Less:
Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses	782
	56,368
Depreciation Reserve
Balance Brought Forward	38,002
Excess OfIncomeOver Expenditure	18,366
	56,368

We confirm that the accounts for the year ended 31* July 2025 were approved at the Annual General Meeting

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Downderry And District Community Bus Association

Income And Expenditure

For The Year Ended 31st July 2025 £ £ Bus Receipts Fares 5,589 Hire 3,504 Fuel Rebate 0 _ 9,093 Less: Expenditure Fuel 1,990 Repairs 995 Tax 169 Insurance 1,603 Sundries (Bridge Tickets, Parking) 276 ___ 5,033 __ Receipts Net Of Expenditure Other Income Friends of DDCBA 7,010 Cornwall Council Grant 1,250 Other Donations 4,335 300 Club 2,076 Interest 0 Concessionary Fare Scheme 2,242 __ Total Income Less: Expenditure Accountancy 350 300 Club Prizes 540 Computer & Software cost 48 Public Liability Insurance 231 General Expenses 1,438 _ Net Income Over Expenditure For The Year

£ 4,060 16,913 _ 20,973 2,607 _ 18,366 ___

Downderry And District Community Bus Association

Notes to the accounts for year ended 31 July 2025:

• 1) Issues considered in the production of these accounts with regard to the impact of Covid-19:

• a) Whether any disclosures need to be made with regard to this year’s accounts.

No disclosures need to be made with regard to these accounts.

There are currently no solvency issues.