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REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 10238058 (England and Wales)
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1172748














Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

for

Harpenden Connect

Harpenden Connect






Contents of the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 30 June 2024




Page

Report of the Trustees 1 to 2

Independent Examiner's Report 3

Statement of Financial Activities 4

Statement of Financial Position 5 to 6

Notes to the Financial Statements 7 to 10

Harpenden Connect (Registered number: 10238058)

Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 30 June 2024


The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
To provide, operate and maintain transport facilities for people in the AL5 area, including those who have special needs of such facilities because they are elderly, poor or parents or guardians of young children or those living where there are inadequate public transport facilities and for hire to other groups.

Our core goal is to address the needs of those in the community, who due to the lack of transport are isolated and lonely. Our secondary goal is to reduce traffic in the town to ease the demand on parking which in turn will reduce congestion and the associated pollution and begin to explore the total transport needs of the town.

Public benefit
The current route takes in parts of Harpenden that are not serviced by public transport and reaches those passengers who can no longer drive. The service enables passengers to use the facilities of the town without the need for expensive taxi journey which only add to the current issues of parking, congestion and pollution.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
In April 2019 the charity acquired two new buses on a long-term lease from Harpenden Town Council and obtained a Section 22 licence to expand the route to take in the Eastmoor Park and Southdown area of Harpenden. In addition, the charity has trained more volunteer drivers during the period based around the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS). We currently have 25 volunteer drivers.
The service operates from Monday to Friday from 9:30am until 4:30pm and is run entirely by community volunteers.
Whilst we are primarily a bus service, we are organically building a real community around the bus service with both drivers and passengers getting to know each other on a first name basis and asking after their wellbeing when they haven't seen them for a while! We are also becoming a key fixture in the town with increasing numbers of residents discovering what we do.
This is borne out by the increase in passenger numbers which is frequently reaching over 200 a week.
The private hire side is also growing with a wider range of organisations using the bus, these range from Harpenden Trust, the Cloverleaf choir, Probus, and a number of churches and other charities for trips for youth groups, outings to garden centres, as well transporting refugees to St Albans. We also provided transport again for Classics on the Common.
The increase in profile has also led to Harpenden Building Society donating £2,000 in January 2024.

FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
The financial results for the period are shown on pages 4-10.

During the year, the charity received income of £19,694 (2023: £13,913) and spent £13,812 (2023: £12,452). The charity had an overall surplus for the year of £5,882 (2023: surplus of £1,461). With funds brought forward from previous years, the charity will carry forward £17,677 in reserves (2023: £11,795) which all relates to its unrestricted fund.

Reserves policy
Surplus funds at the end of this financial year will be used to fund the service into 2025. Our policy is to have sufficient reserves to cover at least six months' expenditure.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing documents, Memorandum and Articles of Association, and is a company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.


Harpenden Connect (Registered number: 10238058)

Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 30 June 2024


STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Appointment of new trustees
New trustees will be recruited and appointed as necessary to expand the skill set of the team of volunteers who administer the charity.

Organisational structure
The board of trustees along with volunteer founder members of the company meet regularly to manage the business of the charity and plan the future strategy. Each trustee has responsibility for the management of specific functions of the charity.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
10238058 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number
1172748

Registered office
Vaughan Chambers
Vaughan Road
Harpenden
Hertfordshire
AL5 4EE

Trustees
Cllr R A Farmer (resigned 4.5.24)
Cllr T C Heritage
Mr G A Newman
Mr A J Buchanan - Chair
Mr P C Hart
Mr R Cooke

The directors of the charitable company are its trustees for the purposes of charity law. The above list relates to those trustees who served during the period.

Company Secretary
Mr P C Hart

Independent Examiner
Hicks and Company
Chartered Accountants
Vaughan Chambers
Vaughan Road
Harpenden
Hertfordshire
AL5 4EE

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 28 March 2025 and signed on its behalf by:





Mr G A Newman - Trustee

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of
Harpenden Connect

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Harpenden Connect ('the Company')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.








Philip Dean FCA

Hicks and Company
Chartered Accountants
Vaughan Chambers
Vaughan Road
Harpenden
AL5 4EE

28 March 2025

Harpenden Connect

Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

30.6.24 30.6.23
Unrestricted Total
fund funds
Notes £    £   
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 2 6,995 4,179

Charitable activities 3
Community Bus Service 'Harpenden Hopper' 12,699 9,734
Total 19,694 13,913

EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Community Bus Service 'Harpenden Hopper' 13,812 12,452

NET INCOME 5,882 1,461


RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 11,795 10,334

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 17,677 11,795

Harpenden Connect (Registered number: 10238058)

Statement of Financial Position
30 June 2024

30.6.24 30.6.23
Unrestricted Total
fund funds
Notes £    £   
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 7 3,008 3,291
Cash at bank 15,919 11,004
18,927 14,295

CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year 8 (1,250 ) (1,250 )

NET CURRENT ASSETS 17,677 13,045

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES

17,677

13,045

CREDITORS
Amounts falling due after more than one year 9 - (1,250 )

NET ASSETS 17,677 11,795
FUNDS 11
Unrestricted funds 17,677 11,795
TOTAL FUNDS 17,677 11,795

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 30 June 2024.


The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.


The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
(a)ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
(b)preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.


Harpenden Connect (Registered number: 10238058)

Statement of Financial Position - continued
30 June 2024

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.


The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 28 March 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:





Mr G A Newman - Trustee

Harpenden Connect

Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. The charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 25 April 2017.

Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Hire purchase and leasing commitments
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
30.6.24 30.6.23
£    £   
Donations 995 1,179
Grants 6,000 3,000
6,995 4,179

Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:

30.6.24 30.6.23
£    £   
St Albans Community Fund - 3,000
Other grants 6,000 -
6,000 3,000

Harpenden Connect

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
30.6.24 30.6.23
Activity £    £   

Bus fares and concessions

Community Bus Service 'Harpenden
Hopper'

12,699

9,734

4. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

30.6.24 30.6.23
£    £   
Hire of plant and machinery 1,250 1,250
Other operating leases 360 360

5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 June 2024 nor for the year ended 30 June 2023.


Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 June 2024 nor for the year ended 30 June 2023.


6. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted
fund
£   
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 4,179

Charitable activities
Community Bus Service 'Harpenden Hopper'
9,734
Total 13,913

EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Community Bus Service 'Harpenden Hopper'
12,452

NET INCOME 1,461


RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 10,334

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 11,795

Harpenden Connect

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

7. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
30.6.24 30.6.23
£    £   
Trade debtors 583 641
VAT 83 246
Prepayments 2,342 2,404
3,008 3,291

8. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
30.6.24 30.6.23
£    £   
Other creditors 1,250 1,250

9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR
30.6.24 30.6.23
£    £   
Other creditors - 1,250

10. LEASING AGREEMENTS

Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:

30.6.24 30.6.23
£    £   
Within one year 2,500 2,500
Between one and five years - 2,500
2,500 5,000

11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Net
movement At
At 1.7.23 in funds 30.6.24
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 11,795 5,882 17,677

TOTAL FUNDS 11,795 5,882 17,677

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 19,694 (13,812 ) 5,882

TOTAL FUNDS 19,694 (13,812 ) 5,882


Harpenden Connect

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net
movement At
At 1.7.22 in funds 30.6.23
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 10,334 1,461 11,795

TOTAL FUNDS 10,334 1,461 11,795

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 13,913 (12,452 ) 1,461

TOTAL FUNDS 13,913 (12,452 ) 1,461

12. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30 June 2024.

13. ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY

In the opinion of the trustees, there was no controlling party during the period.

14. GENERAL INFORMATION

The company is a private company registered in England and Wales. It is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of a winding up, every member has undertaken to contribute a sum not exceeding £10. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found in the Report of the Trustees.

15. STAFF COSTS

The average number of employees during the year was nil (2023: nil).
The average number of directors during the year was 6 (2023: 6)