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 fInan￿S 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 serVI￿S 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 fv￿re. 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 ￿nhan￿S 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