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 2026

for

Harpenden Connect

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

2

Independent Examiner's Report

3

Statement of Financial Activities

4

Statement of Financial Position

5

Notes to the Financial Statements

6

to

10

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 2026. 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.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

We celebrated our 10th Anniversary of running the service this year and a highlight was In April 2026 the Town Council were able to allocate funds for us to replace one of the 2019 buses, with the trade in value of the bus and a donation from Harpenden Connect, the bus will be available to use by September 2026.

We haven't altered the route in this financial year but we are now regularly getting 260 + passenger journeys per week, and we have a definite "passenger community" with some of the passengers who met on the bus organising their own social outings together. We have also arranged separate day trips to garden centres for passengers as well.

The drivers are also interacting together and we regularly have driver get togethers which has linked people who didn't previously know each other. This has contributed to a very small level of attrition and a constant driver waiting list.

One of the highlights and honours is that Harpenden Connect has been nominated for a King's Award for Voluntary Service, the result of which we will know later in the year.

The private hire side has continued to grow, with a wider range of organisations using the bus, these range from Harpenden Trust, the Cloverleaf choir, KWS School, and 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 trustees would like to thank Harpenden Lions and Harpenden Building Society for its continued support for the service.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

The financial results for the period are shown on pages 4-10.

During the year, the charity received income of £43,397 (2025: £19,492) and spent £32,676 (2025: £18,540). The charity had an overall surplus for the year of £10,721 (2025: surplus of £952). With funds brought forward from previous years, the charity will carry forward £29,350 in reserves (2025: £18,629).

Reserves policy

Surplus funds at the end of this financial year will be used to fund the service into 2027. 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.

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 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 26 October 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

Mr G A Newman - Trustee

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 2026.

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

Hertfordshire

AL5 4EE

26 October 2026

30.6.26

30.6.25

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

2

18,581

8,000

26,581

6,340

Charitable activities

3

Community Bus Service 'Harpenden Hopper'

16,816

-

16,816

13,152

Total

35,397

8,000

43,397

19,492

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Community Bus Service 'Harpenden Hopper'

32,676

-

32,676

18,540

NET INCOME

2,721

8,000

10,721

952

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

18,629

-

18,629

17,677

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

21,350

8,000

29,350

18,629

30.6.26

30.6.25

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

7

3,103

-

3,103

4,257

Cash at bank

18,247

8,000

26,247

14,372

21,350

8,000

29,350

18,629

NET CURRENT ASSETS

21,350

8,000

29,350

18,629

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

21,350

8,000

29,350

18,629

NET ASSETS

21,350

8,000

29,350

18,629

FUNDS

8

Unrestricted funds

21,350

18,629

Restricted funds

8,000

-

TOTAL FUNDS

29,350

18,629

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 30 June 2026.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2026 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 26 October 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

Mr G A Newman - 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.

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.

Donated services and facilities

During the year ended 31 March 2026, Harpenden Connect leased two minibuses from Harpenden Town Council for a total charge of £2,500. The Trustees estimate that the market value of Harpenden Town Council supplying the two minibuses is approximately £12,000 and therefore £9,500 is included in the statement of financial activities as a donation to Harpenden Connect from Harpenden Town Council.

The equivalent value of the donation received from Harpenden Town Council is also recognised as an expense in the statement of financial activities as hire of plant and machinery.

2.	DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

30.6.26

30.6.25

£

£

Donations

14,581

2,340

Grants

12,000

4,000

26,581

6,340

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

30.6.26

30.6.25

£

£

Other grants

12,000

4,000

3.	INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

30.6.26

30.6.25

Activity

£

£

Bus fares and concessions

Community Bus Service 'Harpenden Hopper'

16,816

13,152

4.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

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

30.6.26

30.6.25

£

£

Hire of plant and machinery

12,000

1,250

Other operating leases

330

445

5.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 June 2026 nor for the year ended 30 June 2025.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 June 2026 nor for the year ended 30 June 2025.

6.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

fund

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

6,340

Charitable activities

Community Bus Service 'Harpenden Hopper'

13,152

Total

19,492

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Community Bus Service 'Harpenden Hopper'

18,540

NET INCOME

952

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

17,677

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

18,629

7.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

30.6.26

30.6.25

£

£

VAT

392

375

Prepayments

2,711

3,882

3,103

4,257

8.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1.7.25

in funds

30.6.26

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

18,629

2,721

21,350

Restricted funds

New Bus Fund

-

8,000

8,000

TOTAL FUNDS

18,629

10,721

29,350

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

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

35,397

(32,676

)

2,721

Restricted funds

New Bus Fund

8,000

-

8,000

TOTAL FUNDS

43,397

(32,676

)

10,721

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1.7.24

in funds

30.6.25

£

£

£

Unrestricted fund

17,677

952

18,629

TOTAL FUNDS

17,677

952

18,629

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

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted fund

19,492

(18,540

)

952

TOTAL FUNDS

19,492

(18,540

)

952

9.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30 June 2026.

10.	ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY

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

11.	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.

12.	STAFF COSTS

The average number of employees during the year was nil (2025: nil).

The average number of directors during the year was 5 (2025: 5)