CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, annual report for the period From: 6 April 2025 To: 5 April 2026 Charity name: Devon General Omnibus Trust Charlty reglstration number: 1153451 Company number: NIA Objectives and activities SORP ferenC 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 preserving for posterity a representative collection of passenger service vehicles formedy 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 PLbblic access to the collection by providing opportuntties to view and travel on the vehicles and thereby experience an earlier era of public transFK)rt 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 Maintenan of the vehicles and associated relics, and dl enabling the raising of funds for the above purposes. In doing so, the charity must not raise any substantial ermanent tradin activi Two buses from our collection look part in the Taunton Wintage Bus Day on 1s1 June 2025. AEC Reliance VDV 798 ran on rural services 208 to Churchinford. 224 to 8uckland St Mary and 277 to Bradford-on- Tone, vthilst AEC Regent V CTh 513C had trips on SeN1 203 to Wellington and service 218 to Bishops Lydeard. Our buses were kept busy. with some 400 passenger joumeys made - all free of charge. 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. Pard 1.17 arml 1.19 On 15th June our AEC Reliance VDV 798 conveyed 30 members of the Devon General Socie their famil and fr¢ends on their
summer outing touring old Devon General routes around Dartmoor. We Yre delighted to be invited to display one of our bus85 at the Tiverton Pannier Market on 5th July 2025, during the Foc* and Craft Market. Our AEC 'Light Six. Rebuild ETT 995 attracted much interest and our team were happy to answer questions about the vehide's hkstory and the work of the Trust. Two of our buses were displayed at the Mid Devon Show in fiverton on 26th July 2025.. AEC 'Light Six. Rebuild ETT 995 and AEC Regent111 NTT 661. This was our fifth year at the show and, as usual, our buses proved to be of great interest to visitors. especially families. Our volunteers were kepl busy answering questions about the vehicles. On 10th August 2025 we took our AEC 'Light Srx. Rebuild ETh 995 to the North Devon Festival of Transport at Wictoria Park in Btdeford. We were pleased to support this event again, which is now in its third year. 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. Six buses from our collection took part in the Devon General Society's 'Devon General Remembered. running day at Exmouth on 31st August 2025. The buses involved were ETT 995, our AEC 'Light Six, rebuild", N 661. our AEC Regent111,' VDV 798, our AEC Reliance. and our AEC Regent Vs VDV 817, 503 RUO, and CTh 513C. Our buses provided free services to Budleigh Salterton, LittEeham Village. LFttlemead and the Sea Front, LyTnpstone and Woodbury, along with a feeder service fromlto Exeter. In all, 1,075 passenger joumeys were made on our buses, helping us fulfil our charitable aim of educating the public about the history of public road passenger transport. Communicating via social media with our supporters and the general public continues to be a key activty. Our Facebook page now has over 1.500 followers, and our X feed over 280 followers. These enable us to reach out to our audience even if they are unable to make Fi to see our buses at events. We are also committed to presenting a rofessional and infomiative far£ to tha
Yrfd wa our website. This was viewed by around 3.000 users in the last 12 months. We are grateful for the continued generosty of our supporiers. including the Devon General Society. We remain indebted to (*)e of our trustees who has placed his own vehicle on loan to the Trust. The trustees are fvlly 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 ntral objectives can be met. Statement confiming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Para 1.18 Addltlonal Infomiatlon (optlonal) You ma choose to include further statemenls where relevant about: SORP referer NIA Policy on grant making Para 1.38 NIA Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 The trustees readity ad(nowledge the huge contribution made by our volunteers. 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. t)uring 2025126 our volunteers and trustees contributed 1,574 hours of their time to the work of the Trust. Skills retention continues to rest with a relativel small rou of volunteers. Contribution made by volunteers Para 1.38
Achievements and performance Summary of the main achievements of the charity, 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 truslees 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 wtlh 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 1.475 passenger journeys were made on our buses at public running days. rekindling memories and offering new experiences. We continued to receivè 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 Trusl 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 infomied of our activtbes and publicising forlhcoming events. We continued to make use of our social media presence on Facebook and X to infom) followers (and the wider communty) of progress on our restoration activities. UPCA)ming events, etc. We continued our good relationship with key personnel wtlhin Slagecoach South West (the modem-day successors of Devon General) who are fully supportive of our aims and objectives. Additional information {optional) YOLA ma choose to include further statements vthere relevant abouL NIA Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41
NIA Perfomiance of fundraising activities against objectives Para 1.41 NIA Investment perfomiance against objectives Para 1.41 NIA Other Financial review Review of the charty's financial position at the end of the period Para 1.21 The oui-tum for the year was a surplus of £98.734. This was largely due to the receipt of a legacy of £100.000. We remain conscious of the need lo increase our regular income to cover our overheads and we are looking to attract new funding 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. rna1ntenan and standing costs le.g. rent, insurance). In the event that surplus funds become available wtih Itttle or no prospect of these being required for a period of at least 12 months. the trustees wll consider whether longer term investment would produce more favourable retums than a simple deposit account. We anticipate that the legacies received in 2021122 and 2025126 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 searth. In the meantime, we are holdin
these legacy funds in reserve on the Flagstone platfomi in FSCS-protected, higher interest. notice acLounts. Amount of reserves held Reasons for holding zero reserves Details of fund materially In deficit Pard 1.22 Para 1.22 £327,579 as al 5° NIA ri12026 Para 1.24 NIA Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concem Para 1.23 NIA Additional infomiation (optional) You ma ch¢Jose to include further statements where rdevant 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 tem)s and takes a risk-averse approach to malching them with investments in interest-bearing accounts. Inveslment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted P8ra 1.46 NIA A description of the principal risks facing the charwty Para 1.46 NIA Other Structure, governance and management Description of charity's trusts: Type of goveming document for example. trust deed, memorandum and arts'cles of association etc. How is the char5ty constituted? for example limFted company. unincorporated association, cio Para 1.25 Constitution dated 6 April 2013. Para 1.25 cio.
Trustee s8lection 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 7.25 Potential new trustees are identified by the existing trustees in accordance with CharFty Commission guidan. Additional infomiation {optional) You ma choose lo include further statements where relevant about: NIA Policies and prOdreS adopted for the induction and training of trustees Para 1.51 NIA The charity's organisational structure and any wider neOrk with which the charity works Para 1.51 Relations with the Devon General Society and wtth other bus-related groups remain active and strong. Relationship with any related parties P8f8 1.51 NIA Other Reference and administrative details Chari name other name the chari uses Re istered chari 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 Name of person lor body) entitled to oint trustee Trustee name Office {rf any) Dates acted rf not forwhole yr rfan Graham Bailey Paul Jenkins Chaim)an Treasurer Martin White Cor orate trustees- names of the directors at the date the re roved Oir8Ctor name None
Nam8 of tnjstees holding titlè to property belonging to the charity Trustee name None Datss acted rf not for wholè ear Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets NIA held in this capacty Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charit 's ob'ects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the chari 's own assets NIA NIA Additional Inf0rn7ation (optlonal) Names and addresses of advisers (optional inforniation) Type of Name Address adviser NIA Name of Chief executive or names of senlor stsff members (optional infomiation) NIA Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non4lisclosure of ke rsonnel details NIA Other o None tional infonnation
Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustoes, report (including dlrectors, report} above. Slgned on behalf of the charlty's trustyè Si9naturn(s) Full name(s) Posltlon (for example Secretary. Chair, etc.) Graham Balley Martin White Chalrnian Trustee Date 202
1153461 Recei tsand nts accounts CC16a from To Section A Receipts and payments Unr¢strici4d funds fund¥ lunds Totsl lurrtl• LaAty•Ar A1 Rewpts 0¢na ltrvsteesi 2.231 IQT.529 z,zJi ?5.847 IA18 R4und ol Rts E¥éiNs 8ankl1rtP5I Lrfllem$ SiDIè)èIAX)111g 6.8J6 415 415 Sub tOtal(G iixy)n ARJ 123 124956 .565 A2 A888t and Inwstmgrrtsales. 1¥8otsbl•l. Sub total 123. 50.$65 A3Pa 2,574 CunL sso 353 27 1,7 ¥104 14 5.104 14 65Y 2.987 3.623 l?D1 50J4LM) - CTF513¢ Ewvkn. VDV798 VeE e. EA•r.NTT 749 749 497 1.IZ7 1.127 1.$45 l.JJ4 Vebth FWthi¥e. 872hTA EywdliMe.VDV137S $75 9TS Vohth 2V 5.494 fTIJ 240 le t46Q7 10.979 urcha5es, tab nditute 1.625 45D 25232 28.232 21.429 Netof recelpW(payrnentsJ 98,134 29.136 1.251) 21.761 A6 Cash fund8 lastyear end Cash lumY$ yearend 207,084 JOT. 228,84S 327,579 199.7 228,84S CCXX R1 8CC(wiÈ ISSI 18107r4026
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period EThdowmont funds funds fiEnd5 B1 Cash funds 297.891 li 3Q7.068 UtWWtriGtod Rtrtetod End¢xvmert lunds funds lunds J noirwl£ %o.ooo charity's own 6WO ¥¥1.D¥817 t2.000 Vc. ETF 995 28.000 ¥•i¥ri•. B72ATA T.¥•0 7.$00 T.500 T.SOD 86 Lialts WA hlL*&the D8te of ov P R Jgnkin% 18Jul.26 G BAiI&y 18Jul.26 CCM R2 8(uwr#s ISSI 18107r2026
| SectionA l |
ndependent Examiner'sReport |
|---|---|
| Reporttothetrustees | DevonGeneralOmnibusTrust |
| Onaccounts fortheyear ended |
5April 2026 Charityno (ifany) 1153451 |
| Setout onpages | |
| Ireport to the trustees onmyexaminationofthe accountsofthe above | |
| charity("theTrust")forthe year ended5April2025. | |
| Responsibilitiesand | As the charity's trustees, you are responsibleforthepreparationofthe |
| basis of report | accountsinaccordance withtherequirementsoftheCharities Act2011 |
| ("the Act"). |