## **RAMSBURY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT C.I.O.** ## **Trustee’s Annual Report 2023-2024** ## **Objectives** The object of the CIO is to provide a community transport service for the inhabitants of Ramsbury and its neighbourhood who are in need of such services because of age, sickness, disability (mental or physical), poverty or because of a lack of availability of adequate and safe public services. ## **Activities** We provide bus services for people living in our village and the surrounding area that are designed to provide the maximum benefit to those in need of them. The main beneficiaries are people who would otherwise not be able to access shops, the Doctor’s surgery etc. Consequently, these individuals’ quality of life is enhanced by the reduction in isolation, the ability to access shops and services, and improved health monitoring, which provides, potentially, longer life expectancy. Many of our clients benefit by the alleviation of isolation together with better access to facilities. We do not anticipate that any harm will result to beneficiaries from the provision of our services. All of our drivers are qualified and receive appropriate training. Our bus services are available to all residents in the area of benefit but they are also aimed at those who have a special need for such services. No trustee or any organisation connected with any trustee will receive any benefit from our services otherwise than by virtue of living in the area of benefit and having need for public transport facilities. ## **Public Benefit** Ramsbury Community Transport provides the following local bus services:- - Twice weekly shopping trips to Hungerford from the surrounding areas. - Monthly shopping trips to Newbury - Weekly Shopping Trips to Marlborough - Twice weekly services to the Ramsbury Medical Surgery to and from Ramsbury and surrounding villages. - Transport facility for local clubs and organisations.eg Scouts etc. - Day Excursions The CIO will conduct regular health and safety risk assessments in relation to volunteers, the buses, the service routes, and the service users, some who may have impaired mobility, and plan accordingly. The CIO will use its best endeavours not to turn away anyone who needs our services. The only reason why we may have to turn anyone away is where our risk assessments indicate that our bus is unsuitable or that the risk of harm to the user or our volunteers is too high. Most services are provided free of charge, since at least ninety percent of our passengers have bus passes, as a result of age or infirmity. In these cases, we recover a proportion of the cost of the “commercial fare” from the Wiltshire or Berkshire County Councils. Those passengers who do not have bus passes pay a cash fare which is lower than that charged by the local commercial bus operator. 1 ## **Structure, governance and Management** The governing document for Ramsbury Community Transport C.I.O. is our constitution dated 26[th] February, 2014, which, is based on the foundation model issued by the Charity Commission. We are constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The constitution was amended in Jan 2023 to allow trustees to serve more than 3 terms. ## **Reference and administrative details** Name: Ramsbury Community Transport C.I.O. Charity Registration Number: 1156281 Registered Address: 8 Ashley Piece, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 2QE Charity Trustees on 31/03/2024: Christopher Morgan, Ronald Young, Graham Cherrington, Carena Dennis, Kingsley Setter, Isla Bissbolissian Committee Members **:** , Janet Hunter, Vanessa Cherryl (Secretary) & Ewan Robbie. Kingsley Setter became Chairman during 2024. Graham Cherrington, our previous Treasurer is staying on as a trustee. We would like to thank Chris Morgan and Ron Young for their long service to the CIO which was recognised by Wiltshire Community First. Although they have retired from their formal posts with the organisation both have agreed to stay on as trustees and provide occasional help. ## **Achievements and Performance** Since the last Annual Report in January 2024, the following significant achievements have been realised:- - New concession rates were agreed with both Wiltshire and West Berkshire councils. - Passenger numbers have continued to increase in all areas of our services save for clients going to the GP surgery and community hire. - We continued our commitment to MiDAS training of all drivers. ## **Financial Review** The accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis. The final accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities Statement of Recommended Practice FRSSE SORP (2015) for small charities. The reserves policy of the charity dictates our aim to maintain reserves for at least 2 years operational cost. We also seek to set aside a certain amount per annum for the replacement of our bus which we endeavour to do on a 5 year cycle. Given recent high inflation and even assuming a drop to 5% over the next few years we can expect the cost of our next bus to be in excess of £90k. We would therefore need to set aside a£18k per annum. This may be unachievable in the current economic environment and we may have to delay the next replacement accordingly. At this date, because of our reserves policy, there are no immediate concerns over the financial viability of the charity. The charity’s 7 year plan includes sums being 2 accrued by the Ramsbury and Axford Parish Council, who have committed to continue this arrangement, which is very much appreciated. Our Wiltshire Council grant however does not reflect inflation and therefore continues to fall in real terms. Other revenues are now rising again and overall income is, for now, stable but with reducing grant income and costs rising, we continue to be vigilant. The trustees remain confident that sufficient funds can be obtained to maintain the operation of our services but new sources of funds will be required over the next few years, particularly to fund the purchase of our next bus in 5 to 7 years’ time. The charity has no subsidiary or associated undertakings. ## **Acknowledgements** In conclusion, I would take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved in the running of the Ramsbury Community Transport for the contribution they make to the organisation and operation of an important service to our community I would particularly mention the following individuals and organisations: - Volunteer Drivers - Trustees & Committee Members - Staff at the Ramsbury Post Office - Midway Stores - Steve Sherman – External Auditor - Ramsbury and Axford Parish Council - Wiltshire Council - Community First - Scapa Healthcare for providing a parking space - Trevor Hunter This Report was prepared on behalf of the Trustees of Ramsbury Community Transport C.I.O. Kingsley Setter Chairman & Trustee 5[th] January, 2025 3 Dat• Tangiblè Fixèd Assèts Fixed Assets Assets- Cost at 1st Aw'l 2￿3 Addrtions Depreciation charg8d in the year arrying 31M312024 31m312023 .926 2265 mount Currgnt Amets Sales Invoices Not Paid Santander Current knnt Lloyds Current Acownt Santandef Saviros Account Cash In Hand 1.375 8,1C6 6,637 62.137 263 17,270 51 S24 32 ota urrent sets Lialxliti Current Liabilit Purchas8 Invoices Not Paid Accurals VAT VAT on purc4w¢s Val on sales 25 75 ota urr*nt ota uture ia Fund and R•Mr4•8 UnTOStrictad Dosignalad FU￿ Unrestricted General Funds 103.652 16442 107,771 18 562 Trn•8uf•f Nam?: Isla Bi95boli55ian Slgnatur•: Indepenthnt Examinof Nam•.. Staphen She Sbgnatur•: Date: I Ib Ramsi￿ry Community TrnMPOrt Cfl. SOFA Communty Hire Surgery PaD"ent Trwrrfl 102 1270 104 1514 Private Hir• Day Trps West Beths Witt$h4re Bv$ Pass 1.542 2.959 ncome Otlxf In¢om• Community Trans￿ Gr¥A)t Intere* Re￿1¥￿ Donations Grant- Coffi￿￿nty First Froxfield se￿￿e Al￿ar￿ RCT01 Income from Charitsble Activities ota 2.744 613 270 159 2,1( 255 er ncome Dir•ct Expvrtstrs Insurance Bus Fuel 8us Repair 8u$ Maintenar On"v*r Training -735 407 -246 -27 -570 Parking -18 nses p￿¢1*bon ross us oss Phones Chanty & Administrabon Refunds Chantable ActpV￿S Other Ex nditure -275 Q57 417 -1rt Tr••sur•r N•m•: Isla Bi51Missian . 10.2* Indgpend•nt Examlner Nam•'. steph￿ She Sign*tUF•: Dat•: ,[,, |2f4 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlnerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to the trustee members of Ramsbury Communty TrdnstKfft CIO On accounts for the ygar 3110312024 Charlty no Ilf anyl 1156281 S8t out on pages I retK)rt to the trustees on my examinat￿ ¢31 Ihe x(x)unts ofthe a￿ve tharity lllhe Trusf} fLY the year ended Responslbllltles and As the charity trustees of the Trus( you are reSp(￿Sible fDr the preparat￿￿ basls of report of the accounts in acc(Kdanc8 Ihe requirements of the Charities Ad 2011 (Yie Arf). I ret*Kt in respect of my examinalion of the Trust's ac£ounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinab'on. I have followed the apr￿￿ble DIr￿li0nS given by the Chanty Ccffimiss under Secti(￿ 14515Xb) of the ACL I have comF4eled my examination. I confirm that no material matter5 have corr* lo my attention in C￿necti￿ wth Ihe examination whith gives me cause to believe that in. any material resped: accounting rec(Yds were not kept in acc(xdance wilh se¢t¥￿ 130 of the Act ¢y the accounts do not aLx£rd with acwjnting r8cords Indopfrndent oxaminerfs statement +• I have no (xmcems aThJ have C(￿ ac¥oss no olher rnatte￿ in rJ)nnectic with the examinatM)n lo wthich attenti￿ should b8 drav4n in cyder to gnat4e a proper underslanding of Ihe accounts to be reathed. 2111012024 S￿ngd. Name: Stephen Paul Shemian .Relevant professlonal quallficatlon(81 or body (If any): Fellow of the Institute of AeL￿ntants in England and Wales Addrnss: 10. Burdett Street, Ramsbjry. Wiltshire. SN8 2QX IER October 2018 Section B Oisclosure Only complete sf the examiner needs Lo highlight ￿atterS ol concern Ise6 CC32, Independent examination of charity accwnts.. direth.ons and guidance for examiners). Glve here brlef detslls of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclosè. Nothing to disckEe. IER October 2018