## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY**
## **(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORTAND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
**COMPANY NUMBER 3081365 (ENGLAND &WALES)**
## **CHARITY NUMBER: 1048887**
## **CONTENT**
|**CONTENT**||
|---|---|
||Page|
|Legal & administrative information|2|
|Trustees’ Report|3-4|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|5|
|Statement of Financial Activities|6|
|Balance Sheet|7-8|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|9-10|
1
## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY**
## **(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Trustees**|D Akrigg||
|---|---|---|
||N W Eggleton||
||C Gill|(Died 13 February 2024)|
||A P Gipson|(Resigned 27 September 2024)|
||P W Kirk||
||G J Lusher||
||J H Peddle||
||A P Tyldsley||
||D C Grimmett||
||R C Rackley|(Appointed 27 September 2024)|
|**Secretary**|M Yelton||
|**Company Number**|3081365||
|**Charity Number**|1048887||
|**Principal Office &**|100 Sandwell Street||
|**Registered Office**|Walsall||
||WS1 3EB||
|**Reporting Accountant**|Elizabeth Gallacher C.A.||
||28 Birchwood Drive||
||Paisley||
||PA2 9NE||
2
## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY**
## **(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
The trustees present their report accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.
## **Constitution and Objects**
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 19 July 1995 and registered as a charity on 26 August 1995. The charity’s objects and regulations are governed by the memorandum and article of association. The object of the charity is to advance the education of the public in the history of road passenger transport.
## **Trustees’ Trustees and Principal Officers.**
The Trustees of the charitable company are its trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout the report are collectively referred to as the trustees. The trustees that served in the period are shown on page 2. New trustees are selected based on the skill they can provide in order to ensure proper governance of the company. Prospective trustees are interviewed and when appointed provided with appropriate induction,
## **Public benefit**
The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular the trustees consider how activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.
## **Reserve policy**
The trustees have reviewed the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. The reserves are needed to meet the working capital requirements of the charity on an annual basis and the trustees are mindful of the need to keep the unrestricted reserves at a level which will meet these requirements. =
## **Summary of activities in the year**
Activities in the year included more trips, lectures and meeting. The Omnibus Magazine, bulletins and journals continued to be published along with several books.
## **Summary of the financial performance**
Total income rose from £46,906 to £115,224, due largely to a legacy of £52,447, and gains in the value of investments of £20,980. Expenses increased because of the conversion of a loan of £250,000 to the Bus Archive to a donation, and because half of the legacy of £52,447 was donated to the Bus Archive. The overall result is that a deficit of £221,518 was incurred compared with deficit of £5,588 last year. Excluding the exceptional loan conversion, the society made a surplus of £28,482.
3
## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY**
## **(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **TRUSTEE’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 (continued)**
## **Trustees’ responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the accounts in. accordance with applicable law and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare the financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income &expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:
- a. select suitable accounting policies and then-apply them consistently,
- b. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP,
- c. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,
- d. state where applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements and,
- e. prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the charitable company has appropriate systems of control, financial and otherwise. They are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **Small Company Provisions**
The report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (issued in January 2019) and in accordance with the special provisions for small companies in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf by:
Nigel Eggleton Chairman 26th September 2025
4
THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY
(A COMPANY LIMrrED BY GUARANfEE)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER?S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
I report on the accounts for The on1bS Socicty Limited (charity number 1048887) for the
year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 10
Respective responsibilities of trllstees and ernIner
The charity's tnteeS (who arc also directors of the company under company law} are
responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The truste¢s consider that an audit is not
required this ycar under SKtion 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent
examiner is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the eIlty is not subject to audit under Part 16 of the Companies
Act 2006 and is eligible for independent examinatio it is my responsibility to-
examine the aOunts und¢r s¢¢tioD 145 of the Charities Act 2011
b. to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity
Commission (under section 145(5)0)) of the 2011 ACL and to state whether particular
matters have come to my attention
Bssis of the independent examiner'$ report
My examinthon was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the
Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the
charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes
consideration of any unw8uaI items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations
from you &$ tnLStees considering such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provAde all
the evidence that would be required in an audiL and consequently I do not express an audit
opinion on the vi¢w given by the accounts.
Independent examiner's Statement
In connection with my examinatio no matter h&s come to my attention:
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any mats1 res the
requircmcnts:
to ke proper accounting records (in accordance with Section 386 of the
Companies Act 2006). and
to prepare accounts which accord wlth accounting rewrd4 comply with th¢
accounting requirements of Section 396 of the Companies Act 21X)6 and with the
methods and principles of the Sthtement of Recommended Practice: Accounting
and RctM)rting by Charities have not been met: or
b. which. in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Elizabeth Ga1h¢r
28 Birchwood Driv¢
Patsley
PA2 9NE
26th Sepi¢mbcr 2025
(71,(
## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and Legacies received
Income from other trading activities
Gift aid tax refund
Income from investments
**Total Income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
**Total Expenditure**
**Net Income/(Expenditure)**
(Loss)/Gains on investment assets
**Net movement in funds**
Balances brought forward on 1 January
Balances carried forward on 31 December||
|---|---|
|||
6
## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Note**
**Fixed Assets**
Investments
2
**Current Assets**
Debtors
3
Stock
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities: amounts falling
due within one year
4
**Net Current Assets**
Liabilities: amounts falling
due after one year
**Net Assets**
**Funds**
General reserve|**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
130,136
130,136
5,726
3,242
65,600
74,568
20,688
53,880
-
184,016
184,016|**Total**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
109,156|
|---|---|---|
|||109,156|
|||256,818
3,500
52,876|
|||313,194
16,816|
|||296,378|
|||-|
|||405,534|
|||405,534|
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## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY**
## **(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2024 (continued)**
## **Trustees’ Statement required by the Companies Act 2006**
In approving these accounts as trustees of the company we hereby confirm that:
- a. For the year ended 31 December 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, relating to small companies.
- b. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with Sectioit476 of the companies Act 2006, and
- c. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
These accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees, and signed on their behalf by
Nigel Eggleton Chairman 26th September 2025
Registration number 3081365
The notes on pages 9 and 10 form an integral part of these Financial Statements
8
## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY**
## **(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## 1. **Accounting Policies**
- **1.1 Accounting conventions**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain fixed assets measured as fair value. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 (effective January 2015), and thé requirements of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities (effective January 2019) (ERS SORP 2015) and the Companies Act 2006. **1.2 Funds**
General funds represent the funds of the charity that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purpose of the charity.
- **1.3 Income**
## **Recognition of income**
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when; the charity becomes entitled to the resources; the trustees are virtually certain that they will receive the resources; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Income resources with related expenditure**
Where incoming resources have related expenditure, the incoming resources and the related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA.
## **Donations and legacies**
Donations and legacies are only included in the SoFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
## **Tax reclaims on donations and gifts**
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SoFA when the tax refund is paid.
## **Income from investments**
Interest entitlements are accounted for as they accrue. Tax recoverable on such income is recognised in the same accounting year.
9
## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**2. Fixed Asset Investments**
As at 1 January 2024
Purchases/(Sales)
Increase / (Decrease) in valuation
As at 31 December 2024
**3.Debtors**
Other debtors
Until 31 December 2024, debtors
included a loan of £250,000 to The Bus
Archive, repayable in more than one
year. This was converted to a donation
on that date and expensed against the
general reserves
**4. Liabilities: amounts falling due**
**within one year**
Accrued charges and other creditors
Membership fees in advance
**5 General reserves**
Balance at 1 January
Incoming resources
Investments – unrealised gains/(losses)
Resources expended
Balance at 31 December|**2024**
5,726
**2024**
4,624
16,064
20,688
**2024**
405,534
94,244
20,980
(336,742)
184,016|**Total**
**£**
109,156
-
20,980|
|---|---|---|
|||130,136|
|||**2023**
256,818|
|||**2023**
**-**
16,816|
|||16,816|
|||**2023**
411,122
46,906
-
(52,494)|
|||405,534|
## **6. Company limited by guarantee**
The Omnibus Society Limited is a company limited by guarantee and accordingly, does not have a share capital.
Every member of the company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of its being wound up while he or she is a member, or within one year after he or she ceases to be a member.
10
## **THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARENTEE) SUMMARY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Income**
Members' subscriptions & donations
Photograph sales and royalties
Book sales
Other donations
Gift Aid received from HMRC
Dividends and interest received
Total Income
**Expenditure**
**Members’ activities**
OM magazine printing and distribution
Support to branches and Affiliates
Photo costs
Book production costs (net of closing stock)
**General expenses**
Stationery, postage and printing
Insurance
internet &website costs
London meetings
Non-Council Travel and meeting costs
Sundry expenses
Bank charges
Advertising
Governance costs
Council Travel and meeting costs
Accountancy and legal fees
**Total expenditure**
**Net surplus/(deficit) for the year before non-revenue items**
**Less non-revenue expenditure**
LTM museum
Bus Archive
**Total non-revenue expenditure**
**Add non-revenue income**
Legacies received
Net Gain in investment value
**Total non-revenue income**
**Total surplus/(deficit) for the year**|2024
2023
£
£
30,483
35,862
4,656
3,807
669
767
165
-
4,718
6,267
1,106
203
41,797
46,906
18,895
16,263
25,434
15,265
2,450
-
258
346
2,217
1,524
584
750
1,489
1,561
999
2,930
-
-
160
40
1,017
1,024
1,849
1,531
-
-
518
510
55,870
41,744
(14,073)
5,162
-
7,500
280,872
3,250
280,872
10,750
52,447
-
20,980
-
73,427
-
(221,518)
(5,588)|
|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory accounts
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