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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1