Watbus
Analysis
Watbus is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Northumberland. It was registered in July 1999, 27 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and disability, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03620232). It says it provides services and other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Watbus reported income of £983k and spending of £960k, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £410k to £983k (+140%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 71%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Watbus sits at the 89th percentile: it is larger than about 89% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Primary Care Dermatology Society (£983k), Washington Mind CIO (£985k) and innov8 workshops (£983k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 91% and donations and legacies 8.6%. Charitable activities took 86% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £571k would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 20 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 8.6%
- Charitable activities 91%
- Investments 0.3%
- Other 0.3%
In the charity's own words
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.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Care Dermatology Society | Hayes | £983k |
| Washington Mind CIO | Washington | £985k |
| innov8 workshops | Suffolk | £983k |
| Oral Health Foundation | Warwickshire | £985k |