Down Armagh Rural Transport Partnership IA company Ilmlted by guarantee, not having a share capital) TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 The trustees present their Trustees, Annual Report. combining the Directors, Report and Trustees, Report, and the audited financial statements for the financial year ended 31 March 2024. The financial ststemen15 are prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their finanaal slalemenls in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republie of Ireland IFRS 1021. The Trustees. Report contains the infomation required to be provided in the Trustees, Annual Report under the Statement of Recommended Practice {SORPI guidelines. The trustees of the company are also charity trustees for the purpose of charity law and under the company's constitution are known as members of the board of Iruslees. In this report the trustees of Down Amagh Rural Transport Partnership present 8 summary of ils purpose, govemance. aclivilies. achievements and fInanS for the financial year 31 Mar¢h 2024. The company is a registered charity and hen the report and results are presented in a fom which cornplies with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, although not obliged to comply with the Slalemenl of Recommended Practi (Charities SORP effective January 20151, the organisation has implemented ts recommendations where relevant in these financial statements. Mission. Objectives and Strategy Alms & Objectives Down Armagh Rural Transport IDARTI provtdes affordable, accessible. eommunity transport services in response to the needs of people living in the Craigavon and Banbridge area. DART secures grants and donations to support provision of subsidized transport for beneficiar$. DART deliver services using community minibuses and volunteerfs cars. DART provides infornalion and advice lo enable people to avail of various means of travel to enable access to local servtces. DART works in partnership with other transport providers lo ensure alternatives and linkages lo other transport serVIS are available for individuals and community organisations. Structure, Governance and Managgment Structure Governin Document Down Armagh Rural Transport Partnership is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. In the event of the charity being wound up. the liability in the respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The company is under the control of the directors who are, therefore, acting trustees for the charity. ointment of actin Trustees l Directors As described in the Articles ofAssociation a new director may be eligible for appointment if 21 days before the annual general meeting. written noti is deposited with the registered office of the intended proposal, signed by a member and signed by the person being proposed, so as lo indicate hisl her willingness to be elected. Trustee Induction and Trainin New trustees are brtefed on their legal obligation under charity and company law. the eontent of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. the Board and decision-making processes and recent financial performance of the charity. Trustees are encouraged lo vvèw the Charities Commission website so as lo gain a full understanding of Iruslee roles and sPOnsIbl11t1e5. Roviow of Activities. Achlevements and Performance The accounting year has On again been marked by ongoing uncertainty surrounding the stability of public finances, leading to a precarious 511ualion that has pul the continuance of publicly fvnded community transport at risk across Northern Ireland. This environment of short-temi and discretionary publie funding cycles continues lo negatively impact community transport services for vulnerable users through a policy of managed decline. charaeterized by a discretionary approach lo services and the perpetual salami slicing of budgets. Since 2018. DART has experienced 8 35% real-tem reduction in fvnding. Despite this ¢Jedine, there has been an increase in demand, accompanied by significant rises in business and operational costs for providing services lo users of Dial-A-Lift {DAL} and Disability Action Transport SeNice {DATSI. In response to these pressures, DART has focused on cost reduction and accelerating the digilalization of services to reduee back-offi¢e expenses. During the last accounting period, DART Mpleted approximately 25,000 trips, despite significant OFeralional reductions in
Down Armagh Rural Transport Partnership IA company Ilmltèd by guarnnteÈ. not having a share capltal) TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 seNiees due to annual DFI cuts. In the 202312024 pericxj, DART has priorilized non-DFI services as a strategic imperative to de-risk the organizalion and transition towards a community development hub model for future sustsinability. The Motability-funded Aece$s Plus project had a successful first year, delivering 1.288 highly spectalized individual trips for disabled children, enabling greater partieipalion in school extracurricular activities and broader access lo health and social events for disabled individuals. The accounting year has also seen significant planning for future projeels, with major applications and partnerships in the pipeline for 2025. A preview of the direelion of travel for DART'S future seNices was evident in the successful launch of DART'S 'Drive to Thrive, project. an innovative employability and volunteering scheme providing professional D1 training in exchange for 100 hours of volunteering lime. Volunteers drive a social car for individuals with limited access lo essential services. DART'S commitrnent lo innovation is further demonstrated through ils ongoing investment in digital infraslruclure. By embracing modem technology, DART aims to streamline operations. enhance service delivery. and improve user experience. This digitsl transformation is not only about reducing costs but also about making services more accessible and user-friendly, thereby meeting the evolving needs of the community. Moreover. DART has been activety seeking collaborations with local stakeholders in health and education and other non-profit organizations to diversify funding sources and expand service offerings. These partnerships are crucial for creating a resilient operational model that can withstand financial uneertainb'es and continue to provide essential Services lo those in need. As DART refleels on another successful year of project delivery, il is elear that innovation, flexibility, and change will remain constants moving into 202412025. The organizalion's ability lo adapt and evolve in response to challenges is a leslament lo its resilience and dedication to serving the community. After all. the best way to predict the future is to create it. Financial Rgview The results for the financial year are sel out on page 1 and additional notes are provided showing income and expenditure in greater detail. Financial Results At the end of the financial year the company has assets of £652.371 {2023 £779,923) and liabilities of £18.268 12023- £245,590). The net assets of the company have increased by £99.770. Reservès Policy The Reserves policy was updated in the prior year and has been kept the same in the current year by the trustees. A new free reserves largel of £232,000. equivalent lo six months running costs. has been agreed. The capital replacement reserve target is still £280,000. which the trustees feel would be sufficient for the replacement of fleet vehicles and aceessible equipment as they reach the end of their natUTal life cycle. The eontingency reserve was increased lo £70,000. which trustees feel would be sufficient to cover their regular expenditure in the event of an unexpected event. The Trustees feel that these kvels of reserves are essential lo enable the Charity to continue lo provide its activities for the foreseeable fvre. The Reserves Policy is an Integral part of the charity's planning, budget and forecasts. Tru$teo$ The trustees who served throughout the ffnancial year. except as noted. were as follows: John Spiers John Magenni$ Robert John Verner John Kane Alan Gilmore In accordan with the Articles of Association, the directors retire by rotation and being eligible. offer themselves for reelection.
Down Armagh Rural Transport Partnership IA company Ilmlted by guarantee, nol having a share pIts1) TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 Compliance with Sector-wide Legislation and Standards The company engages pro-actively with legislation. standards and codes which are developed for the sector. Down Amagh Rural Transport Partnership subscribes to and is compliant with the following.. The Companies Act 2006 The Charities SORP {FRS 102) Public Benefit In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northem Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped achieve the charity purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries. Down Arnagh Rural Transport (DART) Partnership exists to develop. deliver and maintain not-for-profit a¢sSIble community transport options for the public benefit of our members. Our public benefft provided through our transport seNices reduces social isolation and social exclusion by reaching the hard to reach and providing access to essential services and connections to the wider community. Our services improve the quality of lrfe and health and well-being for our users by enabling access to health and medical facilities. DARTS services also target social need by facilitating access to training and employment opportunities for our members. Our organisation is committed to community development principles and we work in close partnership wrth other organisations and charities engaged in promoting the relief of persons who are in need through the provision of appropriate services. Other direct benefits include the promotion of volunteering and training which provides public benefit to groups and communities and the provision of accredited driver training which nhanS the skills and personal development of community volunteers. Certification Statement We confimi that the DFI grant has been used solely for the purposes intended and in accordance with the temis and conditions of the grant The Auditors The auditors. Daly Park & Company Ltd, (Chartered Accountants) have indicated their willingness to continue in office in accordance with the provision5 of Section 485 of the Companies Act 2006. Approved by the Board of Trustses on 26th June 2024 and signed on its behalf by". John Spiers Director hn Magen Director is