Watbus
Also known as: Wansbeck Accessible Transport
WATBus has been established since 1998 and continues to provide minibus transport to community groups & individuals within Northumberland and throughout the North East of England. WATBike, our other organisation focuses on getting adults back onto bikes for their own health & wellbeing. Both parts of our charity, WATBus & WATBus work together to benefit people who use our service.
Activities & Mission
WATBus has been established since 1998 and continues to provide minibus transport to community groups & individuals within Northumberland and throughout the North East of England. WATBike, our other organisation focuses on getting adults back onto bikes for their own health & wellbeing. Both parts of our charity, WATBus & WATBus work together to benefit people who use our service.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
Local Authority
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 47% of UK Social welfare charities with income £100K to £1M (sample: 1815). How is this calculated?
Higher than 46% of UK Social welfare charities with income £100K to £1M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 11% of UK Social welfare charities with income £100K to £1M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2024.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | £958,109 | £847,652 | £834,496 | £551,589 | £551,589 | 19 / 30 |
| 2023 | £812,272 | £727,986 | £727,986 | £441,132 | £415,002 | 15 / 30 |
| 2022 | £703,179 | £609,894 | £607,794 | £356,846 | £330,716 | 10 / 30 |
| 2021 | £410,394 | £404,334 | 0 / 20 | |||
| 2020 | £430,677 | £349,388 | 0 / 15 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about Watbus
What does Watbus do?
WATBus has been established since 1998 and continues to provide minibus transport to community groups & individuals within Northumberland and throughout the North East of England. WATBike, our other organisation focuses on getting adults back onto bikes for their own health & wellbeing. Both parts of our charity, WATBus & WATBus work together to benefit people who use our service.
How much income did Watbus report in 2024?
Watbus reported total income of £958k and reported expenditure of £848k for the financial year ending 2024, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is Watbus?
Watbus has a program ratio of 87.1%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 47% of UK Social welfare charities with income £100K to £1M (sample of 1815 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was Watbus registered as a charity?
Watbus was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 26 July 1999 as charity number 1076729. It has been registered for 27 years.
Who runs Watbus?
Watbus is governed by a board of 5 trustees. The chair of trustees is Alistair Robert Wade. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does Watbus operate?
Watbus operates across 5 areas, including Gateshead, Newcastle Upon Tyne City, North Tyneside and 2 others. The full list is shown on its profile.
Is Watbus a registered charity?
Yes — Watbus is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1076729.
Details
Wansbeck Business Park
Ashington
Northumberland
NE63 8QZ
Registry Information
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Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 1 other charity
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- Wansbeck Accessible Transport
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated