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2025-03-31-accounts

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

FOR

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED Company Registration Number 05338802 Charity Registration Number 1109107

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Page
Reference and Administrative Details 1
Report of the Trustees / Directors 2 to 5
Report of the Independent Examiner 6
Statement of Financial Activities / 7
Income and Expenditure Account
Balance Sheet 8
Notes to the Financial Statements 9 to 15

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

DIRECTORS / TRUSTEES: Mrs P L O'Toole (Chairperson) Mr D R Pipkin (Vice Chairperson) Mr J J O'Toole Mr M Freeman Mr N W Jephcote (resigned 01/01/2025) Ms S Wetherall (appointed 01/01/2025) COMPANY SECRETARY: Mr M Gale REGISTERED OFFICE: Initivo Stanbridge Road Leighton Buzzard LU7 4QH REGISTERED NUMBER: 05338802 (England and Wales) CHARITY NUMBER: 1109107 BANKERS: CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: Zubair Arshad FCCA Ad Valorem Accountancy Services Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants & Statutory Auditors 2 Manor Farm Court Old Wolverton Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire MK12 5NN

Page 1

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES / DIRECTORS for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

The trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors' report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The financial statements comply with the Charities Acts, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP FRS102)

Status

The company is both a charity and a company, limited by guarantee. It is a member of the Community Transport Association UK, a registered charity (number 1002222), but operates independently of that charity.

Our Purpose & Principal Activity

The principal activity of the Company in the period under review was that of carrying out the objects of the charity, which is to provide a Community Transport Service for the inhabitants of Leighton Buzzard and surrounding Bedfordshire villages. The service provides transport where age, illness, disability or lack of an alternative service is availabile.

In setting our objective and planning our activities our trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit.

Public Benefit

Buzzer Buses has been providing a safe, secure and friendly Door to Door transport service for the elderly, frail and disabled people of Linslade & Leighton Buzzard for over 33 years.

We have over 1000 members, and our service improves the quality of our members lives and makes a very positive contribution to social inclusion. We also facilitate “Buzzer Buddies” whereby we enable regular travellers to swap contact details with each other should they so wish, so they can keep in touch.

Directors/Trustees/Structure

The directors, who act as the Management Committee and are also trustees under the Charities Acts, during the year under review were:

Mrs P L O’Toole Mr D Pipkin Mr J J O’Toole Mr N W Jephcote Mr M Freeman Ms S Wetherall

Day-to day operations are the responsibility of a General Manager who reports directly to the Management Committee.

Financial Review

During the year under review, the company made a net loss of (£8,893) (2024: net loss £5,206). The balance sheet weakened by 4% to £224,581 (2024: £233,475).

Reference and Administrative Details

These are detailed on Page 1 of this report.

Page 2

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES / DIRECTORS (continued) for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Chairman’s report

This year began in a particularly challenging and hectic way for us, as we had to vacate our longstanding office on New Road at very short notice. Fortunately, we were able to move into temporary accommodation at the Vinci (now renamed Initivo ) Technology Centre.

We are incredibly grateful to Initivo for their continued support of Buzzer Buses over the years. Not only have they generously allowed us to park our vehicles at their depot free of charge, but they also stepped in to provide us with vital office space during this transition. Their ongoing support has been instrumental in helping us continue our services without disruption.

At the time of the move, we had no computers or communication systems in place, leaving us in a state of limbo for several weeks. However, in May 2024, Initivo kindly confirmed that we could extend our temporary accommodation to a more medium-term arrangement. This allowed us to install essential telephone and IT systems, enabling us to operate in a fully professional and efficient manner once again.

We have continued to operate our vital Dial-a-Ride service for the town and surrounding areas, and demand has been higher than ever—largely due to recent changes in local bus service provision. Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) have committed to a five-year grant to support our ongoing delivery of this essential service.

Our Vice Chairman continues to dedicate a significant amount of his time to fundraising and supporting various aspects of the charity’s operations. His efforts have once again resulted in a substantial contribution towards our Bus Replacement Programme and general running costs. Thanks to his hard work and the generosity of our supporters, we have been able to purchase a quality used vehicle within this financial year.

Our Buzzer Buddy scheme continues to be a popular and valued initiative, helping our members stay connected and offering a friendly means of communication and support between them.

As always, we remain committed to upholding our company’s No Response Policy , which ensures that an unanswered door is never ignored. This policy once again proved vital when one of our drivers discovered an extremely vulnerable individual left alone following the unexpected passing of their carer. Thanks to our proactive approach, a potentially fatal situation was averted—underscoring the critical safeguarding role our service continues to play in the community.

The biggest thank you from everyone at Buzzer Buses this year goes to the incredible management and staff at Initivo . Their generosity, flexibility, and unwavering support have made an enormous difference during a time of great uncertainty. Without them, the future of our charity would have been far less certain, and we are deeply grateful for everything they have done to help us continue serving the community.

Page 3

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES / DIRECTORS (continued) for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Small company provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Reserves Policy

A formal policy on general reserves was agreed at the September 2008 meeting of the executive committee and was reviewed and amended by the executive committee on 28th November 2018. It was agreed that it will be reviewed at each AGM and this will be done again at our AGM in October 2025 and unanimously accepted by the committee. It states:

A general reserves policy is desirable to identify that part of the assets of the company which must be set aside to cover adverse financial contingencies. The reserve fund for Buzzer Buses is intended to cover the following contingencies:

  1. Orderly closure of the business if continuation is no longer possible.

  2. The continuation of the business in periods of adverse cash flow.

  3. The acquisition of new office premises and associated moving costs.

  4. The replacement of secure parking facilities for our buses.

  5. Emergency Hire of a vehicle should the need arise to maintain service.

  6. Orderly closure of the business implies the cessation of operations, the redundancy of staff and any contracted obligations to suppliers. This requires sufficient funds to cover three months funding of salaries and salary related payments.

  7. Continued operation in the face of delays to funding grants requires funds to operate the business for a period of up to two months.

It is therefore the policy of the company to designate a general reserve to cover all these contingencies and to ensure that an appropriate proportion of the assets be protected for that purpose. This is separate from the sum represented by the tangible assets (i.e. buses) and the funds for their normal replacements.

This policy document shall be appended to the annual accounts, and where necessary amended, for approval by the trustees at each AGM.

Forthcoming Year

The Trustees are entirely comfortable with the financial security of the company for the coming year. With the grants that are already set in place and the income from services we provide there is no concerns whatsoever.

We have received our second payment from Central Bedfordshire Council for the grant funding (Supported by a formal SLA). This grant is for a five-year period. We are extremely busy with a huge demand for our service, and we are still maintaining a very pro-active fundraising programme.

There are adequate levels of reserves within the company held to cover our reserve policy.

Page 4

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES / DIRECTORS (continued) for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

New Trustees

New Management Committee members may be elected individually at the Annual General Meeting. The Management Committee may in addition co-opt no more than five other persons to serve as full voting members of the Management Committee until the next Annual General Meeting. Existing Trustees agree what skills, experience and knowledge are needed in new trustees and a job specification is then drawn up. Successful candidates are interviewed and invited to join subject to references, formal vetting and approval by the full trustee board. They are provided with copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the charity and literature pertaining to our activities, together with a copy of the essential trustee guide (CC3) as issued by the Charity Commission. Officers serve for one year, after which they are eligible for reappointment provided that no person serves for more than ten consecutive years in the same post.

Approved by the Board on ____2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Mrs P O’Toole (Hon. Chairperson)

Page 5

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 7 to 15.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in England and Wales.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Zubair Arshad FCCA Ad Valorem Accountancy Services Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants & Statutory Auditors 2 Manor Farm Court Old Wolverton Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire MK12 5NN

Date:

Page 6

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes
Income and endowments from
Donations & Legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
Investments
5
Total income and endowments
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
7
Other
8
Total expenditure
Net Income/(Expenditure) for the Year
Transfers Between Funds
14
Net Movements in Funds
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward from 1 April 2024
Total funds carried forward at
31 March 2025
Unrestricted Funds
General
Designated
reserve
reserves
£
£
2,554
227,536
1,432
1,399
232,921
-
258,914
2,900
261,814
-
( 28,893)
-
40,754
( 20,754)
11,861
( 20,754)
124,390
109,085
136,250
88,331
Restricted
Funds
Capital
assets
£
52,040
52,040
32,040
32,040
20,000
( 20,000)
-
-
-
Total Funds
2025
£
54,594
227,536
1,432
1,399
284,961
-
290,954
2,900
293,854
( 8,893)
-
( 8,893)
233,475
224,581
Total Funds
2024
£
54,316
205,104
3,189
2,068
264,677
-
267,258
2,625
269,883
( 5,206)
-
( 5,206)
238,681
233,475

The notes on pages 9 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Page 7

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 05338802)

BALANCE SHEET 31 March 2025

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
9
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
11
NET CURRENT ASSETS
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Unrestricted funds:
General fund
14
Designated funds
14
Restricted funds
Capital assets
14
£
£
125,560
23,363
85,401
108,764
( 9,743)
99,021
224,581
136,250
88,331
-
224,581
2025
£
£
128,681
14,126
101,497
115,623
( 10,829)
104,794
233,475
124,390
109,085
-
233,475
2024

For the year ending 31 March 2025, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on _______ 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

Mrs P O'Toole

Page 8

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard (SORP- FRS 102) (effective January 2016), the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities (revised 2015), the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.

The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£).

Company status

The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of members is limited to £1 in the event of a winding up.

Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis since the Trustees are confident that the Company is able to continue to meet its liabilities as they fall due for the next year after the accounts have been signed.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Restricted funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. Further details of each fund are disclosed in note 14.

Incoming resources

Voluntary income including donations and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis.

Resources expended

Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

Support costs

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £250 or more are initially recorded at cost.

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Office and computer equipment - 20% - 33.3% on cost Motor vehicles - 12.5%-33.3% on cost

Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price.

Government grants

Government grants are recognised in the Income Statement so as to match them with the expenditure towards which they are intended to contribute.

Page 9

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

2 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR

The Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging:

The Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging:
Depreciation - owned assets
Accountants - independent examination
Accountants - operators grants
(Profit)/ loss on disposal of fixed assets
Directors' emoluments and other benefits etc
DONATIONS & LEGACIES - GRANTS AND DONATIONS
GRANTS
Leighton Linslade Council
Community Fund
Connolly Foundation
Percy Bilton
Masonic Charitable Foundation
Beds & Luton Community Foundation Grant
National Lottery
Wixam Tree
2025
£
33,848
2,300
600
1,981
-
2025
£
5,000
-
-
-
-
-
42,040
5,000
52,040
2024
£
27,587
2,250
375
( 640)
-
2024
£
4,896
13,520
10,000
6,400
5,000
10,000
-
-
49,816

The Leighton Linslade Council grant was restricted, provided specifically for bus operating costs (10 week vehicle checks). The Wixam Tree Trust grant was restricted, provided specifically for bus replacement. Both National Lottery grants were restricted. One was provided specifically towards a bus replacement. The other National Lottery grant was provided to support Drivers Core Funding Costs.

DONATIONS

DONATIONS
Donations Received 2025
£
2,328
2024
£
4,202
Gift Aid 226 298
2,554 4,500
In
addition
to
general
donations, there were the following significant donations in year:
£Nil
(2024: A Hill £1,000.)
Total Grants & Donations 54,594 54,316
4 INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Central Bedfordshire Council 2025
£
90,000
2024
£
90,000
Contractual income from government or public authorities 89,336 71,069
Other fares received 42,350 37,240
UK Government grants 5,176 5,693
Subscriptions 578 982
Other income 96 120
227,536 205,104

Page 10

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

5 OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

Subscriptions
Profit on sale of tangible fixed asset
INVESTMENTS
Bank interest
2025
£
1,432
-
1,432
1,399
2024
£
2,549
640
3,189
2,068

6 STAFF COSTS

The average number of persons employed by the charity during the year, analysed by category, was as follows:

Drivers
Administration
Passenger Assistants
Salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
2025
6
5
1
12
2025
£
185,812
8,519
2,966
197,297
2024
8
4
1
13
2024
£
175,694
6,111
2,197
184,002

No employee earned in excess of £60,000 per annum (2024 - none).

Page 11

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

7 EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Payroll
Charitable Activities
Employment costs
197,297
Other direct costs
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Establishment costs
Office expenses
Printing, posting and stationery
Subscriptions and donations
Sundry and other costs
Travel and subsistence
Accountancy fees
Training
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
(Profit)/ loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets
197,297
Other Costs
Audit & Independent examination fees
-
197,297
Bus
Operating
Costs
38,431
32,902
71,333
-
71,333
Support
Costs
7,304
5,390
1,475
56
3,068
1,356
598
150
946
1,981
22,324
-
22,324
Governance
-
2,900
2,900
2,900
2025
£
197,297
38,431
32,902
7,304
5,390
1,475
56
3,068
1,356
598
150
946
1,981
290,954
2,900
2,900
293,854
2024
£
184,002
34,879
25,513
9,204
5,953
837
217
2,909
687
790
193
2,074
-
267,258
2,625
2,625
269,883

8 GOVERNANCE COSTS

These costs relate to the audit fees for the Bus Service Operators Grant and the charge for the Independent Examination of the accounts.

Page 12

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

9 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Motor
vehicles
£
COST
At 1 April 2024
208,973
Additions
33,000
Disposals
( 16,265)
At 31 March 2025
225,708
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2024
82,524
Charge for year
32,902
Disposals
( 13,284)
At 31 March 2025
102,142
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2025
123,566
At 31 March 2024
126,449
10
DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Trade Debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
11
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Accruals and deferred income
Office &
computer
equipment
£
12,746
708
-
13,454
10,514
946
-
11,460
1,994
2,232
2025
£
17,319
1,437
4,607
23,363
2025
£
1,007
3,195
5,541
9,743
Totals
£
221,719
33,708
( 16,265)
239,162
93,038
33,848
( 13,284)
113,602
125,560
128,681
2024
£
8,281
1,192
4,653
14,126
2024
£
2,874
3,339
4,616
10,829

12 TAXATION

The company is a registered charity and is exempt from corporation tax.

13 PENSIONS

Employees of the charity are entitled to join a defined contribution pension scheme. The charity contribution is restricted to the contributions disclosed in note 7 as 'Pension costs'. The outstanding contributions at the year end are £nil (2024: £nil).

Page 13

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

14 STATEMENT OF FUNDS
General funds
General reserve
Designated funds
General contingency reserve
Bus replacement reserve
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds:
Capital assets
Total restricted funds
Total funds
At
1 April
2024
£
124,390
65,000
44,085
233,475
-
-
233,475
Incoming
resources
£
232,921
-
-
232,921
52,040
52,040
284,961
Resources
expended
£
261,814
-
-
261,814
32,040
32,040
293,854
Transfers
£
40,754
( 7,754)
( 13,000)
20,000
( 20,000)
( 20,000)
-
At
31 March
2025
£
136,250
57,246
31,085
224,581
-
-
224,581

The General reserve represents the free funds of the charity which are not designated for particular purposes.

The general contingency reserve is the amount deemed prudent by the trustees to be set aside under the terms of the reserves policy. This year an amount of £7,754 was used to cover costs of the office move.

The bus replacement reserve represents funds set aside for the replacement of the fleet. A new bus was purchased in the year which was partly funded by restricted income. The remaining balance will be carried forward for the replacement of the fleet in due course.

The capital assets fund represents income that has been restricted. See note 3 for more information. The grants received relating to the purchase of a new bus have been used alongside designated funds to purchase a new bus in the year.

15 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Fund balances at 31 March 2025
are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Net assets
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
Designated
funds
£
-
88,331
88,331
General
funds
£
125,560
10,690
136,250
2025
Total
£
125,560
99,021
224,581
2024
Total
£
128,681
104,794
233,475

16 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There were no related party transactions, other than those disclosed below.

Trustees received expenses totalling £395 during the year (2024 - £379).

Trustees received remuneration totalling £2,896 during the year. (2024 - £NIL).

Cost of remuneration for key management personnel amounted to £55,563 (2024 - £48,218).

Page 14

BUZZER BUSES (DIAL A RIDE) LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

17 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

As at 31 March 2025 the company had contracted to purchase motor vehicles of £Nil (2024: £62,400).

Page 15