REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 01515143 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1105202

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025

FOR

BEXHILL COMMUNITY BUS LIMITED

(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

3

Independent Examiner's Report

4

Statement of Financial Activities

5

Balance Sheet

6

to

7

Notes to the Financial Statements

8

to

14

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 31st December 2025. 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 a community transport service for such inhabitants of Bexhill and its neighbourhood who are in need of such a service because of age, sickness or disability (mental or physical) or poverty or because of a lack of availability of adequate and safe public passenger services.

Public benefit

The Trustees have had due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission, and in their opinion the report on the achievements and performance demonstrates that they have complied therewith.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

2025 was another good year for the Bexhill Community Bus with further increases in both income and in passenger numbers.

Overall passenger numbers were up again - although the number of fare-paying passengers decreased by 9.45% this was more than offset by a 4.46% increase in those with concessionary cards. Our total passenger numbers of 37,770 were slightly under the 2019 total of 39,005, but still very good. The East Sussex County Council fare cap finishes at the end of January 2026 and it will be interesting to see whether this impacts on 2026's passenger numbers.

Total income for 2025 was up with increases in cash fares and in reimbursement for concessionary cards. Hastings Direct renewed their sponsorship of the 2024 bus.

Adult single fares remain at £1.50 for 2026 and we hope to maintain these through 2027.

We conducted our second passenger survey in June 2025 and the overall satisfaction rating of 9.79 was up on the 9.70 score from our January 2023 survey. Nearly 100 passengers completed the survey and there were many lovely compliments about the friendliness and helpfulness of the crews as well as numerous comments about how reliable and punctual our services are.

Volunteer numbers were fairly static with leavers being replaced by new recruits.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

Fare receipts have increased by 27% this year, this was due to an increase in passenger numbers and the January 2025 raise in the price of fares. Other sources of income remained similar to the previous year, although the rebate of business rates was much less this year as the 2024 rebate covered multiple years.

The costs of running and maintaining the vehicles increased this year. Other overheads remained at a similar level as last year.

There was a deficit overall, before the change in the value of the investments, of £3,794. The investments showed a gain for the year of £18,156 so there was a net increase in funds of £14,362.

Surplus funds enabled us to invest a further £22,500 in our investment portfolio and the unrealised gains has resulted in our investments going up by over £40,000 in the year.

The surplus for the year has been added to the total funds which now stand at £330,171 to carry forward to next year.

Investment policy and objectives

Spare capital has been invested to produce investment income in a safe environment and the portfolio is managed by Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management, the Charity's investment managers. Income generated is currently being added to the capital in order to provide Capital growth towards the cost of new buses in the future.

Reserves policy

The Charity will retain sufficient reserves to enable it to deal with the timely replacement of buses and other working assets in line with its regular replacement policy. Reserves are invested with investment managers.

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

In 2026, the company:

- will look to further increase passenger numbers,

- aims to introduce a corporate 'uniform',

- will continue to recruit and train more volunteers,

- may again review the use of debit cards for fare paying passengers and

- will aim to consolidate our finances in preparation for a replacement bus in either 2027 or 2028.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

The Company was incorporated on 1st September 1980, subsequently it was agreed in that any taxable profits made would be covenanted to Bexhill Council of Voluntary Services. Due to the winding up of this organisation, the Company sought Charity Commission approval for registration as a Charity in its own right. The application was approved and the Company was registered as a Charity on 29th July 2004. The Charity/Company is controlled by its Memorandum and Articles of Association as amended by Special Resolutions dated 13th May, 9th July 2004 and 8th March 2022.

Structure and management

The power of appointing new or additional Trustees/Directors is vested in the Trustees/Directors.

Any policy decisions are taken by the Trustees/Directors. There were no changes in policy during the year.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

01515143 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1105202

Registered office

Unit 2

Beeching Close

Bexhill-on-Sea

East Sussex

TN39 3YF

Trustees

A L Hymans

S Hardie

J Pacitti

B Drayson (resigned 25/8/2025)

Mrs L Langlands

D Everiss

Mrs E White (resigned 2/4/2025)

A Smale

S A Warcup

A R Loftus

Mrs J Seares (appointed 8/7/2025)

Independent Examiner

David Ashby FCCA ACA

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP

Chartered Accountants

20 Eversley Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

East Sussex

TN40 1HE

Bankers

Lloyds Bank

17 Wellington Place

Hastings

East Sussex

TN34 1NX

Solicitors

Gaby Hardwicke

34 Wellington Square

Hastings,

East Sussex

TN34 1PN

Investment Managers

Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management

No 1 Kingsway,

London

WC2B 6AN

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 22nd April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

A Smale - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bexhill Community Bus Limited ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31st December 2025.

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.

David Ashby FCCA ACA

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP

Chartered Accountants

20 Eversley Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

East Sussex

TN40 1HE

15th May 2026

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

2

2,660

-

2,660

3,076

Charitable activities

Fare receipts

46,514

-

46,514

36,425

Bus hire charges

40

-

40

-

Fuel duty rebates

5,136

-

5,136

6,019

Garage rents

2,100

-

2,100

2,100

Other trading activities

3

963

-

963

1,667

Investment income

4

71

-

71

236

Other income

5

259

-

259

4,241

Total

57,743

-

57,743

53,764

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

6

Community buses

49,737

-

49,737

23,562

Office and other costs

9,674

-

9,674

10,755

Garage costs

2,126

-

2,126

2,066

Total

61,537

-

61,537

36,383

Net gains on investments

18,156

-

18,156

8,456

NET INCOME

14,362

-

14,362

25,837

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

315,809

-

315,809

289,972

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

330,171

-

330,171

315,809

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

12

81,936

-

81,936

109,682

Investments

13

233,623

-

233,623

192,967

315,559

-

315,559

302,649

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

14

3,659

-

3,659

2,554

Cash at bank and in hand

15,753

-

15,753

11,807

19,412

-

19,412

14,361

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

15

(4,800

)

-

(4,800

)

(1,201

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

14,612

-

14,612

13,160

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

330,171

-

330,171

315,809

NET ASSETS

330,171

-

330,171

315,809

FUNDS

17

Unrestricted funds

330,171

315,809

TOTAL FUNDS

330,171

315,809

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31st December 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2025 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.

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 22nd April 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

D Everiss - Trustee

A Smale - Trustee

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, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.

Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions

The charitable company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemption in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland':

•

the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows.

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.

Government grants are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.

For legacies, entitlement is when probate is granted, the amount known, there are sufficient funds available for distribution or when a distribution is 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.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Leasehold property

-

Straight line over the life of the lease

Bus equipment

-

20% on cost

Office furniture and fittings

-

20% on cost

Community buses

-

25% on reducing balance

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

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.

Cash at bank

Cash at bank includes cash and short term highly liquid investments.

Debtors

Debtors are recognised at their recoverable amounts to which the charity is entitled.

Creditors

Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement value.

2.	DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

2025

2024

£

£

Passenger and other donations

1,522

1,892

Gift aid tax recoverable

312

358

Grants

826

826

2,660

3,076

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

2025

2024

£

£

East Sussex County Council

826

826

3.	OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

2025

2024

£

£

Profit from raffle

130

-

Adverts on community buses

833

1,667

963

1,667

4.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2025

2024

£

£

Dividends and interest

71

236

5.	OTHER INCOME

2025

2024

£

£

Business rates refund

234

4,241

Bank compensation

25

-

259

4,241

6.	CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS

Direct

Support

Costs (see

costs (see

note 7)

note 8)

Totals

£

£

£

Community buses

49,737

-

49,737

Office and other costs

8,515

1,159

9,674

Garage costs

2,126

-

2,126

60,378

1,159

61,537

7.	DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

2025

2024

£

£

Vehicle tax and insurance

5,194

3,924

Fuel and oil

8,730

8,389

Vehicles repairs and servicing

6,584

3,593

Annual ticket software

1,584

1,584

Office rent, rates, light and heat

5,496

6,376

Office repairs

517

391

Garage expenses

2,126

2,066

Stationery, postage, computer expenses and advertising

611

381

Telephone (inc. broadband)

438

408

Sundry expenses

887

839

Fuel card charges

135

162

Medicals

330

889

Training costs

-

96

Depreciation

27,746

36,760

Profit on sale of bus

-

(30,589

)

60,378

35,269

8.	SUPPORT COSTS

Governance

costs

£

Office and other costs

1,159

Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:

Governance costs

2025

2024

Office

and other

Total

costs

activities

£

£

Annual return fee

34

34

Accountancy

755

715

Independent examination fees

370

365

1,159

1,114

9.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

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

2025

2024

£

£

Depreciation - owned assets

27,746

36,760

Surplus on disposal of fixed assets

-

(30,589

)

10.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st December 2025 nor for the year ended 31st December 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31st December 2025 nor for the year ended 31st December 2024.

11.	STAFF COSTS

There were no staff costs for the year ended 31st December 2025 nor for the year ended 31st December 2024.

12.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Office

furniture

Leasehold

Bus

and

Community

property

equipment

fittings

buses

Totals

£

£

£

£

£

COST

At 1st January 2025 and 31st December 2025

58,976

3,206

1,905

204,254

268,341

DEPRECIATION

At 1st January 2025

58,976

2,008

1,604

96,071

158,659

Charge for year

-

599

101

27,046

27,746

At 31st December 2025

58,976

2,607

1,705

123,117

186,405

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31st December 2025

-

599

200

81,137

81,936

At 31st December 2024

-

1,198

301

108,183

109,682

The leasehold property consists of a garage to house community buses on land leased from Rother District Council for a period of twenty one years from 23rd October 2000 at an initial rent of one peppercorn (if demanded).

13.	FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

Listed

investment

£

MARKET VALUE

At 1st January 2025

192,967

Additions

22,500

Unrealised gain/(loss)

18,156

At 31st December 2025

233,623

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31st December 2025

233,623

At 31st December 2024

192,967

At the year end there were no investment assets outside the UK.

The historical cost of the listed investments is £184,780.

14.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Other debtors

692

43

VAT

232

361

Prepayments

2,735

2,150

3,659

2,554

15.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade creditors

156

114

Other creditors

4,641

1,084

Accrued expenses

3

3

4,800

1,201

16.	LEASING AGREEMENTS

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

2025

2024

£

£

Within one year

-

1,170

17.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1/1/25

in funds

31/12/25

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

315,809

14,362

330,171

TOTAL FUNDS

315,809

14,362

330,171

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

Incoming

Resources

Gains and

Movement

resources

expended

losses

in funds

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

57,743

(61,537

)

18,156

14,362

TOTAL FUNDS

57,743

(61,537

)

18,156

14,362

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1/1/24

in funds

31/12/24

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

289,972

25,837

315,809

TOTAL FUNDS

289,972

25,837

315,809

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

Incoming

Resources

Gains and

Movement

resources

expended

losses

in funds

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

53,764

(36,383

)

8,456

25,837

TOTAL FUNDS

53,764

(36,383

)

8,456

25,837