Burghfield & Mortimer Handybus
(Registered Charity Number 1170252)
Annual Report 2023/24
REMIT
We are a long-established local organisation run entirely by volunteers. We provide community transport for elderly and less able residents from several villages in West Berkshire, many who have no access to, or are unable to manage, public transport. We operate two 12-seater minibuses that have been specially adapted for easy access and wheelchair use. We operate regular weekly trips to local supermarkets providing a door-to-door service with volunteer escorts to assist passengers on and off the minibuses and with their shopping. In addition, we provide transport for our elderly residents to a number of local Social Clubs and also to Hospital or Health Care appointments.
OPERATION
Operating as a volunteer run, not for profit Charity, we ask our passengers nothing more than a notional fee per trip to cover our operating overheads. Other funding comes from Grants (West Berkshire Council, local Parish Councils, Dept. of Transport) and donations from other local supporters.
By providing our transport services we give many elderly members of the community access to shopping for themselves which gives them a level of independence, often providing respite for their families and neighbours. Transporting them to local Social Clubs enables them to be part of a wider social community and without doubt improves their social welfare. For a few passengers we are providing specialist (wheelchair) transport to regular Hospital and Health Care appointments.
THE YEAR
This past year saw the Handybus service continue to operate at pre Covid pandemic levels with over 3,100 passenger journeys spread over 470+ individual trips. Some of the highlights included day trips to the seaside, trips to local musical concerts, garden centre visits as well as visits to local attraction like the Whitchurch Silk Mill. These trips were all in addition to our regular five weekly shopping trips.
Being a not-for-profit charity we are dependent on local volunteers providing all the services to keep us going. Recruiting volunteers proved to be successful again this year as we were able to bring on board an additional 2 volunteers to help us out. This maintains the total number of active volunteers to around the 20 mark all who freely offer their time and efforts to ensure the service can continue.
FINANCE
See accounts.
The Charity is dependent on its funding from grants, donations and contributions from the passengers we carry. Once again West Berkshire Council provided us with a generous Community Transport Grant, and we were able to claim the Department of Transport Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG). These grants plus donations from a number of local Social Clubs and individuals and the notional fares we collected from passengers ensured a sound income stream for this year. Whilst overall revenue was down on last year, so to were the corresponding expenses, primarily due to lower minibus running costs and diesel costs. The net overall financial result mean that we were still able to achieve a surplus for the year which goes towards our Bus Replacement Savings Fund. In conclusion, 2023/24 was another successful year financially.
FUTURE
With the continued financial support from West Berkshire Council in the form of a Community Transport Grant and with passenger services now operating back at pre-pandemic levels, the outlook, both financial and operationally, is encouraging for the future. One of our minibuses is nearing its viable operating level and will need to be replaced in the near future. A challenge for the next year.
Burghfield and Mortimer Handybus are extremely grateful to all its funders, supporters and volunteers without whom we would not be able to continue with providing this service. We thank you all and hope that you will continue this valuable support into the coming year.
P.I. CHURCH Chairman of Trustees October 2024
BURGHFIELD & MORTIMER HANDYBUS
(Charity Number 1170252)
RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 2024
| 2023 | Receipts | 2024 | 2023 | Payments | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £9,485.00 | Passengers Fares | £9,547.00 | £4,949.49 | Bus Expenses | £3,983.12 |
| £9,365.56 | Grants | £10,443.64 | £4,228.77 | Fuel | £3,220.61 |
| £4,181.90 | Donations | £1,442.50 | £2,624.94 | Insurance | £2,597.30 |
| £82.06 | Deposit a/c interest | £394.40 | £710.98 | Operational Expenses | £842.44 |
| £1,026.77 | Volunteer Expenses | £785.61 | |||
| £6,460.00 | Minibus Depreciation | £6,800.00 | |||
| £23,114.52 | £21,827.54 | £20,000.95 | £18,229.08 | ||
| £3,113.57 | Deficit/Surplus for year | £3,598.46 | |||
| £23,114.52 | £21,827.54 | £23,114.52 | £21,827.54 | ||
| £59,564.69 | Accumulated surplus 01/04/2023 | £62,876.26 | |||
| Add surplus for the year | £8,619.11 | Current Account Balance at 31/03/24 | £8,930.77 | ||
| £3,113.57 | ending 31/03/2024 | £3,598.46 | £36,452.23 | Savings A/c (towards Bus replacement) | £46,846.63 |
| £20.00 | Invoices not yet paid | £36.00 | |||
| £198.00 | Advance Payment of Fares | £0.00 | £114.92 | Cash Float | £541.32 |
| £750.00 | Fuel Genie Deposit | £0.00 | |||
| £13,180.00 | Minibus Asset DK67 CVN | £8,180.00 | |||
| £3,740.00 | Minibus Asset YF59 YVA | £1,940.00 | |||
| £62,876.26 | £66,474.72 | £62,876.26 | £66,474.72 | ||