REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 03456224 (England & Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1072529 REP RT F THE TRUSTEE FINAN IAL STATEMENT For The Year En rrLESF RD AND MM NI TRAVEL Andrew Richardson FCCA 5 Wells Court Springfield Chelmsford Essex CMI 6ND
Ma h202 Page Report of the Trustees Ito4 Report of the Independent Examiner Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes to the Financial Statements 8toll Detailed Statement of Financial Activlties 12
VE DIRECTORS. AND TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sr MARCH 2025 The Directors present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS Registered Company number 3456224 (England and Wales) Registered Charlty number 1072529 Reglstered offlce Unit I Flitch Industrlal Estate Chelmsford Road Great Dunmow Essex CM6 IXJ Patron Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP. Trusteeg Icshaw S J A Biddlecombe J V Fox (Resigned 0310612024) F M M Benson J Tokley P M Churchlll Company Secretary J M Goodwln Accountant AndW Rlchardson 5 Wells Court Springfield Chelmsford CMI 6ND srRucfuRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Objectives and actlvltles for the public benefit. uttlesford Community Travel (ucr) is a charity and Is reglstered as a Company Limited by Guarantee and is thefOre governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Assoclation. The charfty's objective and its princlpal activity Is to provlde a non-profit community door to door transport sen4ice for the residents of the Distrirt of Uttlesford who, because of age, mental or physical disability or rural isolation, are unable to use publlc transport to meet their needs. The charity Is organised so that the trustees/dirertors meet monthly to manage its affairs. There is also an Advlsory Committee that meets on alternate months. Thls allows the trustees to obtain support and advice from users of our service and members of other local representative organisation5, Includlng local government and the voluntary sector. Risk management The trustees have a duty to Identlfy and revlew the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. Page I
RD MM NITY REPORT OF DIRECTORS. AND TRusfEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Public benefit statement The trustees conflrm that they have complled with their duty in the Charities Att 2011 and amendments In the Charities act 2022 to have due regard to public benefit guldance published by the Charlty Commlssion In revlewing the alms and objettives in planning future attivities and in reviewing the outcome of our work. The public benefit of the Charity's attivities is outlined wlthln this report through our activltles and achievement and In planning future development. Development, actlvlties and achlevements thls year 2024/25 has been a year of change for Uttlesford Communlty Travel (ucr), Malcolm Barrell our General Manager retired in June after 14 years of extremely valuable service to ucr, the Trustees have thanked Malcolm and look forward to hlm Jolnlng the Board of Trustees. After 6 months of shadowing Malcolm and leaming all of our procedures Mick Bott took over the General Manager role and quickly got to grips wlth addlng value to the organlsation. At the end of the financlal year, we had 1031 Book A Rlde members and 85 Group members whlch is a record for ucr, and of course the number of members Is one of the reasons that 24/25 has been a very busy one for us. The total number of passengers thls year was 31,632 which, is virtually the same as last year whlch was a record for ucr. The Hospltal Car servlce carrled 4,740 passengers which is a 200/0 increase over last year which resulted in volunteers coverlng Just under 52,000 miles. As a result of a reduction of our Uttlesford Dlstritt Council Grant and how busy we were and how much more dlfficult It Is to obtain external fund raising we unfortunately flnlshed the year with a deficlt of just over £22,000. We have improved our worklng methods and IT systems, whlch are essentlal for ucfs efflclent operatlon. Our webslte was completely redesigned and has resulted In not only members using it for many more funttions but Is also supporting the offfice staff in allowing them more time to spend on thelr very busy dutles. We were havlng great dlfficulty In attractlng drlvers whlch we were badly in need of so the Trustees agreed that all drivers not Just the full-time ones should be contracted, thls change successfully allowed us to attract the drlvers we so badly needed. I would Ilke to thank all the office staff and drivers for thelr continued dedicatlon to our members and would again particularly like to thank all our volunteers who give up their own time to ensure that our members needs are met. As I mention every year, we are very reliant on volunteers wlthout whom the Hospltal Car Serrflce would not exlst, and we would not be able to fulfil our passenger journeys or be able to cover all the admlnlstration In the office. When we calculate the value of their time on a commerclal basls, our volunteers saved us £159K. As always, we are immensely grateful to our prlnclpaS funder Essex County Coundl and our second most important funder Hertfordshlre and West Essex Integrated Care Board (H&WEICB) (formerly The West Essex Cllnlcal Commlssloning Group) who have guaranteed our grant until 2029130 for which we are very grateful and Uttlesford District Councll who have guaranteed our grant for 3 years. Without their grants and those from Saffron Walden Town Council, and Gat Dunmow Town Council we would not be able to function. I would also Ilke to thank all the Parish Councils, local organisations and Individuals who made donations to us this year. These, together with the proceeds of our fundralsing events, are a vital part of our Income. Page 2
Future developments As a result of us having the largest number of members in our history, 25/26 will continue to be a very busy year for ucr whlch obviously results in our costs increasing which means that our drlve to reduce costs will continue. I am delighted to report that our funders continue to support us, and that Uttlesford Distritt Council have guaranteed our grant for 3 yeats together with a 6 % increase. One of the operatlng changes that wlll take place is the introduction of a new system for recording the pickup and drop off of our members which will save time and efft>rt of both ddvers and offlce staff, this follows from Mick Bott our General Manager working with the team at Flexl-route (our route plannlng system) to initialise a process that existed but had never been used. As always fund raising wlll be a vital part of our Income and with ever increasing costs we wlll continue to investigate all sources of funds. Our annual Chrlstmas Concert whlch Is an Important part of our fund-ralslng will take place on 6th December we are very grateful to the Dunmow Town Band and the Great Dunmow Big Voices Communlty Choir, As we not only provlde transport to our members It Is recognlsed that there Is a great deal of soclal work Involved In the service we provide, wlthout whlch many of our members would not have the freedom which UCT allows them. To thls end we are researching which organisatlons a wllllng to support charltles who are providlng a soclal service to thelr communities. As the use of our servlces Increases, we shall again need more volunteers for the Hospital Car Servlce, and to help with our administration and we shall use all the means at our dlsposal to achieve thls. To support our ever-lncreaslng sen4lce, Mlck Bott wlll be responslble for both attractlng volunteers and of marketing our service. Our office staff will as always ensure that we are obtaining and uslng the full capablllties of Flexl- route, the computer system whlch allows us to plan Journeys, and which calculates all the metrics that we requlre to operate our servlce In our ongoing quest to make our operatlon as efficient as posslble. We have seen a very positive Improvement in the way we can plan trlps, and the staff are keen to continue to ensure that we build on this. I would like to thank my fellow Trustees who unstlntingly give of their time and talents, and the members of our Advlsory Committee and all the staff and drlvers for their efforts for UCT and the help and guldance they have given me during the last year. Page 3
UNI Reserves policy and going concern It is the policy of the charity to maintain Un$tritted funds, whlch are the free reserves of the charity, at a level which equates to approximately the to six months of unrestricted expenditure. This provides sufficient funds to cover management and administration and support costs. Unrestricted funds were maintained at this level throughout the year. The Accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis. No materlal uncertalntles that cast significant doubt about the ablllty of the Charity to continue as a going concern have been Identlfied by the trustees, STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES The trustees are responsible for preparing the financial statements In accordance wlth appllcable law and United Kingdom Generally'Accepted Accountlng Practlce. Company law requires the trustees to Ppare financlal statements for each financial year. Under the law the trustees have elerted to prepare the financlal statements In accordance wlth the Unlted Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practlce (Unlted Klngdom Accounting Standards and appllcable law). The flnanclal statements are requlred by law to glve a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the surplus or deficlt of the charltable company for that perlod. In preparlng those flnanclal statements, the trustees are qUIred to: Select sultable accountlng pollcles and then apply them conslstently; Observe the methods and prlnclples in the Charitles SORP: • Make Judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; State whether appllcable UK accountlng stsndards have been followed, subject to any materlal departures dlsclosed and explained in the financlal statements. ppare the financlal statements on the golng concern basis unless It is approprlate to presume the charltsble company will not continue in buslness. The trustees are responsible for keeplng proper accounting records which dSsclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any time the financlal positlon of the charltable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply wlth 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 detectlon of fraud and other irregularities. Independent Examlner The Independent Examiner, Andrew Rlchardson, wlll be proposed for re-appolntment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: Date: I C Shaw - Chair Page 4
FORD MM IND ARE EP I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 6 to 11. Respectlve rnsponsibllltles of trustees and examiner The trustees (who are also directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the pparatIon of the accounts. Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not qUIred to be aLJdited under part 16 of the 2006 Att and that an independent examlnatlon Is needed. The charlty's gross Income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualitled to undertake the examinatlon by being a qualified member of The Association of Certlfled Chartered Accountants. Having satlsfled myself that the charity Is not subjett to an audlt under company law and is eliglble for independent examination, it is my responslblllty to: Examlne the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Att: Follow the procedures lald down In the general Dlrectlons glven by the Charlty Commlsslon under settlon 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, as amended. and stste whether particular matters have come to my attention Basls of indep¢ndent examlnerfs statement My examinatlon was carried out in accordance wlth the general Dlrettions glven by the Charlty Cornmlsslon. An examination Includes a review of the accountlng records kept by the charlty and a comparlson of the accounts presented with those records. It also Includes conslderation of any unusual Items or dlsclosures In the accounts, and seeking explanatlons from you as trustees concernlng any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provlde all the evldence that would be requlred In an audit and consequently no opinlon Is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out In the statement below. Independent •xamlner's Statement In connectlon wlth my examlnatlon, no matter has come to my attention: Whlch glves me reasonable cause to believe that, in any materlal respett, the quirements. to keep accountlng records in accordance wlth sectlon 386 of the Companles Act 2006. and to prepare accounts which accord wlth the accountlng records, comply wlth the accounting quirements of section 396 of the Companles Act 2006 and with the methods and prlnclples of the Statement of Recommended Prattice.. Accounting and Reportlng by Charities. have not been met. or To whlch, in my opinlon, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Andrew Rlchardson FCCA 5 Wells Court Sprlngfield Chelmsford CMI 6ND Signed.......................................-...-. Date: 21)r Page 5
FOR OMM TIV 3110312025 Total funds 3110312024 Total funds Notes Unrestricted Restricted funds funds INCOME Income from generated funds Voluntary income Activities for generatlng funds Investment income Inco efr harl Grants 9,721 149,643 9,435 9,721 149,643 9,435 11,779 127,965 4,860 273,217 273,217 190,756 Totsl Income 442,016 442,016 335,360 Cost of generating funds Fundraising trading.cost of goods sold Charltable attivltles Grants 264,261 264,261 167,815 197,878 197,878 180,045 Governance costs 2,513 464,652 2,513 464,652 1,783 349,643 Total expenditure NET INCOME / (DEFICIT) 22,636 22,636 14,283 RECONCILITAION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward Transfer to vehlcle replacement fund Movement on resenles 96,501 80,459 176,960 158,567 (49,027) (49,027) 32,676 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 73,865 31,432 105,297 176,960 The charlty has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above. The notes form part of these flnancial statements Page 6
NITY TRA h 2025 3110312025 Restritted Totsl funds funds 3110312024 Total funds Notes Unrestricted funds CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Investments Cash at bank and in hand 12 13 24,531 140,257 23,550 188,338 24,531 171,689 23,550 219,770 18,432 180,237 81,744 280,413 31,432 31,432 CREDITORS Amounts falllng due wlthln one year 14 114,473 (114,473) 103,453 NEf CURRENT ASSErs 73,865 31,432 105,297 176,960 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 73,865 31,432 105,297 176,960 NET ASSETS 73,865 31,432 105,297 176,960 FUNDS Unrestritted funds Restrlcted funds 15 16 73,865 31,432 96,501 80,459 TOTAL FUNDS 105,297 176,960 The dlrectors are satlsfied that the company was entitled to exemptlon from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audlt of the financlal statements for the year by vlrtue of section 477, and that no members have requested an audlt pursuant to sectlon 476 of the Act. The directors acknowledge their responsibilitles for: i) ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with Sectlon 386 and 387 of the Act, and 11)preparing accounts whlch give a true and falr vlew of the state of affalrs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of Its profit or loss for the financlal year In accordance wlth the requ1mentS, of Section 393 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance wlth the speclal provlslons for small companles under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the Flnancial Reportlng Standard appllcable In the UK and Republlc of Ireland (FRS 102)(effettlve l January 2015). These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on the .................................... . and are signed on their behalf by: I C Shaw - Chair The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these financial statements The notes form part of these financlal statements Page 7
LESF RD THE FINAN IA ar TATE l Basis of accounting A) The financlal statements have been prepared under the historical cost conventlon, and in accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Companies Act 2006, the Charltles SORP Flnanclal Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (FRS 102, effectlve l January 2015), the Charity's Act 2011 and the Charity Commlsslons guldelines on Public Benefit. B) Income Income from donations and grants, Includlng capital grants, is Sncluded in incomlng resources when these are receivable, except as follows: When donors Impose condltlons which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such Income, the income is deferred and not included In Incoming resources until the pre-conditions have been met. When donors speclfy that donations and grants, including capital grants, are for particular restricted purposes, which do not amount to pre-conditions regarding entitlement, this Income Is Included in incoming resources of StrItted funds when receivable. C) Expendlture Expendlture is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classlfied under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be dlrettly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activlties on a basls conslstent with the use of resources. Allocatlon and apportlonment of costs D) Taxation The charlty Is exempt from corporatlon tax on Its charltable actlvities. E) Fund accountlng Unrestrlcted funds can be used In accordance wlth the charltable objectives at the discretlon of the trustees. Restrlcted funds can only be used for particular restrlcted purposes within the objerts of the charity. Restrlctlons arlse when speclfied by the donor or when funds are ralsed for particular restrlcted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is Included In the notes to the financlal statements, 2 VOLUNTARY INCOME 3110312025 3110312024 Donations and fundralsing 9,721 9,721 11,779 11,779 3 AcfIvITIES FOR GENERATING FUNDS 3110312025 3110312024 Transport 149,643 149,643 127,965 127,965 4 INVESTMENT INCOME 3110312025 3110312024 Deposit account interest 9,435 9,435 4,860 4,860 Page 8
rrL SF TATEME 5 INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARrrABLE ACTivrriES Grants 3110312025 31103/2024 Activlty Grants 184,399 184,399 190,756 190,756 3110312025 3110312024 Gt Dunmow Town Council Vehicle funds restricted H&WEICB (Formally WECCG) Saffron Walden Town Council Garfield Weston Foundatlon Essex Communlty Foundation Grant Uttlesford Distrltt Council Essex County Councll core 5,000 88,818 40,000 8,500 6,000 5,000 39,357 8,500 10,000 35,000 92,899 190,756 32,000 92,899 273,217 6 FUNDRAISING TRADING: COST OF GOODS SOLD AND OTHER COSTS 3110312025 3110312024 Runnlng costs (Inc drlvers wages) Vehicle Purchases Transfer to vehicle rePlarnent fund 175,443 88,818 155,815 12,000 167,815 264,261 7 CHARITABLE ACTIvrrIES COSTS Direct costs Support Costs (See note 8) 646 Totals Actlvlty costs 197,232 197,878 3110312025 8 SUPPORT COSTS Bank charges 646 646 3110312025 3110312024 9 GOVERNANCE COSTS Legal Fees Accountancy (rndependent Inspectlon) 813 1,700 83 1,700 2,513 1,783 Page 9
RD NOTES TO TI 10 TRUSTEES. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There were no trustees, remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024. Trustees. Expenses There were no trustees, expenses pald for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024. No charity trustee received payment for professlonal or other services supplied to the charity (2024: £nil). 3110312025 3110312024 11 STAFF COSTS Wages and salaries 146,561 124,303 146,561 None of the employee's emoluments exceeded £60,000. 124,303 STAFF NUMBERS The average monthly head count was 13 staff, (2024: 12 Staff). The average number of full time equivalent employees (Includlng casual and part tlme staff) durlng the year was as follows: 3110312025 31103/2024 Drivers Administratlon 13 13 12 DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 3110312025 3110312024 Trade Debtors Other Debtors 16,232 8,299 24,531 9,740 8,692 18,432 3110312025 3110312024 13 CURRENT ASSEf INVEsfMENTS Cash at bank 171,689 Apart from cash at bank no other Investments are held. 180,237 14 CREDrroRS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 3110312025 3110312024 Trade creditors Taxation and soclal securlty Other creditors 7,099 4,530 102,844 114,473 2,242 5,004 96,207 103,453 Page 10
OMMUNITY TRAV EFIN rEn 02 Unrestricted General Fund Restricted Funds Total 15 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS At 01104/24 96,501 80,459 176,960 Net movement (22,636) (22,636) Transfer to vehlcle replacement fund Movement on reserves (49,027) (49,027) TOTAL FUNDS 73,865 31,432 105,297 Net movement In funds, Included In the above are as follows: Incoming Resources Resources Expended Movement In funds Unrestricted funds General fund 442,016 464,652 (22,636) Restrltted funds TOTAL FUNDS 442,016 464,652 (22,636) 16 REsfRIcfED FUNDS Restricted funds are made up as follows: 3110312025 3110312024 Tralnlng Stansted Alrport CommunSty Fund Vehicle placement fund 310 790 30,332 310 80,149 31,432 80,459 17 The Charity operates a defined contributlon penslon scheme, whlch Is open to all eligible employees. Durlng the year the Charfty contrlbuted £4,589 to the scheme (2024 £3,882). The pension plan is managed by the Peoples Penslon. The total expenses ratlo of the plan Is 30/0 and this is deducted from the Investment fund annually. The Charity has no liability beyond maklng Its contributions and paying across the deduttions for the employees contrlbutions. 18 The Charlty does not capltalise and depreciate motor vehicles. Motor vehicles are written off in the year of purchase due to the Charity applying for extemal funds exclusively for motor vehlcles. If the Charlty dld capltalise and depreciate motor vehlcles the Net Book Value of the vehicles at 31 March 2025 would be £190,576. Page 11
UThLE RD COMMUN DETAILED S ATE INCOME Notes 3110312025 3110312024 Voluntary Income Donations & fundraising 9,721 11,779 Actlvitles for generating funds Transport 149,643 127,965 Investment income Deposit account interest 9,435 4,860 Incoming from charltable actlvities Grants 273,217 190,756 Other income Total Income 442,016 335,360 EXPENDITURE Drlvers wages Transfer to vehlcle replacement fund Vehlcle runnlng costs Vehlcle purchase 126,763 106,630 12,000 49,185 48,680 88,818 264,261 167,815 Charltable activltles Wages Rent Water rates Insurance Telephone & Internet Postage & stationery Computer expenses Repairs & renewals Llcence & subscrlptlons Covld 19 expenditure Adverts & promotlon Sundry Professional fees Light & heat 146,561 10,000 328 2,808 10,810 3,599 13,789 798 124,303 10,000 284 2,727 7,895 3,211 16,242 477 215 43 315 3,197 2,209 2,818 197,232 4,757 6,632 2,331 179,117 rn Audit & accountancy Legal fees 1,700 813 2,513 1,700 83 1,783 Finan Bank charges 646 928 Total expenditure 464,652 349,643 Net expenditure 22,636 (14,283) This page does not form part of the sLttutory financial statements Page 12