CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, annual report for the period From: 6 April 2024 To: 5 April 2025 Charity name: Devon General Omnibus Trust Charity registration number: 1153451 Company number: NIA Objectives and activities SORP referen Para 1.17 Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document To advance the education of the public in the history of public road passenger transport and in particular the history of the Devon General Omnibus & Touring Company and its successors through: a) establishing and presetving for posterity a representative collection of passenger seniice vehicles formerly operated by the Company and its successors in the county of Devon and the wider area covered by the South West of England. b) facilitating public access to the collection by providing opportunities to view and travel on the vehicles and thereby experience an earlier era of public transport in the county of Devon. c) providing a focus for retention. development and training for students of all ages in the traditional crafts and specialist skills required for the restoration and maintenance of the vehicles and associated relics, and d) enabling the raising of funds for the above purposes. In doing so, the charity must not raise any substantial ermanent tradin activi Two of our buses took part in the Taunton Vintage Bus Day on Sunday 2nd June 2024. running between Taunton's old bus station and Wellington. calling en route at Sheppy's Cider Fann and - on the return trip - Rumwell Fann Shop. Some 700 passenger joumeys were made on our buses- all free of charge. The buses that took part were our 1952 AEC Regent111 NTh 661 and our 1957 AEC Regent V VDV 817. they also provided a feeder service to and from Exeter for members of the Devon General Society. Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. Para 1.17 and 1.19
We were delighted to be invited to display one of our buses at the Tiverton Pannier Market on Saturday 6th July 2024, during the Famiers, Market Summer Festival. Our 1957 AEC Regent V VDV 817 attracted much interest and our team were happy to answer questions about the vehicle's history and the work of the Trust. For the fourth year in a row we displayed buses from our collection at the Mid Devon Show at Tiverton on Saturday 27th July 2024. This year it was the turn of our 193711953 AEC 'Light Six, 995 and our 1957 AEC Regent V, VDV 817. The organisers reported a record attendance at this year's event. We took our 1957 AEC Regent V VDV 817 along to the North Devon Festival of Transport on Sunday 11th August 2024. It was the second year for this event, held at Victoria Park in Bideford. We had great interaction with the visitors to our bus, answering questions about the work of the Trust and the history of the bus itself. On Sunday 18th August 2024 our 1957 AEC Reliance VDV 798 attended a bus rally held to complement World Helicopter Day at the Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-mare. The event was organised by our friends at the West Country Historic Omnibus & Transport Trust (WHO). VDV 798 was on display at the rally site for much of the day but also ran four trips on the free shuttle bus service WHOTh had laid on between the railway station and the museum, and the seafront and the museum. Five buses from our collection took part in the 'Devon General Remembered. running day held in Tiverton on Sunday 1 st September 2024. The event was organised by the Devon General Society and was based at Tiverton bus station. The DGOT buses were 995. our 193711953 AEC 'Light Six 661, our 1952 AEC Regent 111- VDV 798. our 1957 AEC Reliance. VDV 817, our 1957 AEC Regent V" and 503 RUO, our 1964 AEC Regent V. In total, 684 passenger joumeys were made on our buses. running free services on Tiverton town routes and out to Bampton, Thorverton and Tiverton Parkway. We are very grateful to all our volunteers for helping to make the day a success.
We finished the 2024 season by taking our 1965 AEC Regent V CTT 513C to Torquay on Saturday 21st September 2024 to give a talk about Devon General to the Friends of the London Transport Museum. The next day we transported the party to Tiverton for the final leg of their Devon tour. Communicating via social media with our supporters and the general public continues to be a key activity. Our Facebook page now has over 1,140 followers, and our XITwitter feed over 250 followers. These enable us to reach out to our audien even if they are unable to make it to see our buses at events. We are also committed to presenting a professional and infonnative face to the world via our website. This was viewed by around 1,700 users in the last 12 months. We are grateful for the continued generosity of our trustees and other interested parties who support our work. including the Devon General Society. We remain indebted to one of our trustees who has placed his ovm vehicle on loan to the Trust. The trustees are fully aware of the obligations imposed upon them by way of the Charities Act and Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the extent to which the trust is fulfilling its charitable objectives is reviewed at each trustees. meeting. These obligations remain paramount when planning activities for the forthcoming period and considering means by which the trust's other central objectives can be met. Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Para 1.18 Additional information (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference NIA Policy on grant making Para 1.38 NIA Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 The trustees readily acknowledge the huge contribution made by our volunteers. Contribution made by volunteers Para 1.38
This manifests in a variety of ways. such as undertaking the physical work in preparing and restoring our historic vehicles. assisting us when we attend events and assisting us with govemance. During 2024125 our volunteers and trustees contributed 1,585 hours of their time to the work of the Trust. Skills retention continues to rest with a relativel small rou of volunteers. Achievements and performance Summary of the main achievements of the challty. identifying the difference the charity s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. Para 1.20 The trustees believe that the main achievements of the Trust during the year may be summarised as". We were able to display our vehicles at public events and achieve good engagement with visitors. This is the main way for us to deliver our charitable objective of educating the public about the history of road passenger transport. Some 1,384 passenger journeys were made on our buses at public running days, rekindling memories and offering new experiences. We continued to receive a steady flow of donations from our supporters and claimed Grft Aid thereon. We continued to maintain links with other groups where relationships can be of mutual benefit. We continued our good relationship with the Devon General Society, ensuring that they remain fully supportive of the trust's activities (the DGS has 200+ members, all of whom share a common interest in the Devon General company and its activities}. The work of the Trust is independent of the Society. but it is important that good relations are maintained. The Society is supportive of the Trust's objectives and assists on a regular basis by keeping members informed of our activities and publicising forthcoming events. We continued to make use of our social media presence on Facebook and Twitter to inform followers (and the wider community) of progress on oLJr restoration activities, upcoming events, etc. We continued our good relationship with key personnel within Stagecoach South West (the modern-day successors of Devon General) who are fully supportive of our aims and objectives.
Additional information (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: NIA Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41 NIA Performan of fundraising activities against objectives set Para 1.41 NIA Investment performance against objectives Para 1.41 NIA Other Financial review Review of the charity's financial position at the end of the period Para 1.21 The out-tum for the year was a surplus of £29.135. In part this was due to the receipt of a legacy of £25.647. We remain conscious of the need to increase our regular income to cover our overheads and we are looking to attract new fijnding streams such as by giving talks. Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held Para 1.22 The trustees maintain reserves in order to maintain financial security for future needs, opportunities. commitments. or risks. The level of reserves and their use is reviewed at each trustees, meeting. Use of reserves may include asset purchase and improvement to premises. The trustees may retain up to £10,000 in readily accessible accounts to cover two years, maintenance and standing costs {e.g. rent, insurance). In the event that surplus funds become available with little or no prospect of these being required for a period of at least 12 months. the trustees will consider whether lon er tenn investment would roduce more
favourable retums than a simple deposit account. We anticipate that the 2021122 legacy will be utilised mainly to secure improved premises to house our collection, and to this end we have drawn up an accommodation policy to guide our search. In the meantime. we are holding the legacy funds in reserve. Amount of reserves held Reasons for holding zero reserves Details of fund materially in deficit Para 1.22 Para 1.22 £228.844 as at 5th A NIA ri12025 Para 1.24 NIA Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern Para 1.23 NIA Additional Information {optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: NIA The charity's principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) Para 1.47 Our investment policy sets out the likely calls on our funds over the short, medium, and long temis and takes a risk-averse approach to matching thern with investments in interest-bearing accounts. Para 1.46 Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted NIA A description of the principal risks facing the charity Para 1.46 NIA Other
Structure, governance and management Description of charity's trusts.. Type of goveming document: for example, trust deed, memorandum and articles of association etc. How is the charity constituted? for example limited company, unincorporated association, cio Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees Para 1.25 Constitution dated 6 April 2013. Para 1.25 cio. Para 1.25 Potential new trustees are identified by the existing trustees in accordance with Charity Commission guidance. Additional information (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about. NIA Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees Para 1.51 NIA The charity's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works Para 1.51 Relations wtth the Devon General Society and with other bus-related groups remain active and strong. Para 1.51 Relationship with any related parties NIA Other
Reference and administrative details Chari name Other name the chari uses Re istered charit number Chari rinci al address Devon General Omnibus Trust NIA 1153451 22 Sandstone Road, Swindon SN25 2FE Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Trustee name Office (if any} Dates aded rf not for whole year Name of person (or body} entitled to oint trustee ifan Graham Bailey Paul Jenkins Chairman Treasurer Martin White Cor orate trustees - names of the directors at the date the re ortwasa roved DirectOT name None Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity Trustee name None Datos acted rf not for whole ear Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets NIA held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian chari 's ob'ects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charit 's own assets NIA NIA Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (optional infonnation) Type of Name Address adviser NIA Name of chief executive or narnes of senior staff members (optional inforniation) NIA
Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disclosure of ke ersonnel details NIA Other o tional information None Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report (including directors, report) above. Signed on behalf of the charity's truste¢S Signature(s) Full name{s) Position (for example Secretary. Chair. etc.) Graham Bailey Martin White Chairnian Trustee Date 12 ts10cli2 202S
1153451 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted fun(ts RestsiGted Endowment funds Totsl funds Lasty•ar A1 Recolpls qo Banklntere51 9917 9907 38 Sub total(Gross In ft AR) table)- Sub total 13 21 95 -c51 215 1.19• 1*14 1.190 114 1.136 141 purchase8 {see talAe} 18.1 199.7r 199.709 195J52 1947 21.761 CCXX R1 aAlUnts (SS) 20107r2025
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Un$trICted fund5 Restricted funts Endowment funds Categorlos Detst19 B1 Cash fwxls 4n9 19JAWJ7 21.761 Total cash nLts 21,761 funds nds Details - •00• Dptails ¢haritys own use 8AOO 12 B5 Liabllities Date of roval lthlfotall thetn¢te¢s P RJenkin5 21kJul-25 G leY CCXX R2 a(xurts {SS)
Z| CHARITY COMMISSION | Independent examiner's report on the _ FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts rrreeninnetne:
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees Devon General Omnibus Trust On accounts for the year 5 April 2025 Charity no 1153451 ended (if any) Set out on pages | | report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 5 April 2025. Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act’). | report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130
of the Charities Act; or
e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
e the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements
concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
| 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.
{| =
Name: N T W Bennett
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body ACIB (retired)
(if any):
Address: 16 Manor Close, Bradford Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6RN
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IER
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Oct 2018
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