THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
Latest income
£4.5m
Latest spending
£4.3m
Registered
1996
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net income of £170,240 for the ten-month period ended March 2025, with total income of £4.47m. The trustees note that rising inflation and the end of major grants present a challenging environment, but the going concern basis remains appropriate with adequate financial resources.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy
“The unrestricted funds closed at £0.82m (FY23-24 £0.8m) an increase of £0.02m on the prior year and just above the reserves of £0.77m based on the 2024-25 budget and below the reserves target of £0.93m based on the 2025-26 budget.” — page 19
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Railway Children Africa Limited is a related party. Rob Capener (CEO of Railway Children) sits on the board of RCA.
“Railway Children Africa Limited is registered as a company in Tanzania and manages the delivery of the Tanzania programme with some funding from Railway Children. Rob Capener CEO of Railway Children sits on the board of RCA.” — page 35
“Railway Children India is a section 8 (Previously section 25) company registered in India. The results of Railway Children India are consolidated into the group as they have chosen to enter into an affiliation agreement with Railway Children under which they are committed to the current group strategy using group systems.” — page 34
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Railway Children India is a related party. The results are consolidated into the group.
“Railway Children Africa Limited is registered as a company in Tanzania and manages the delivery of the Tanzania programme with some funding from Railway Children. Rob Capener CEO of Railway Children sits on the board of RCA.” — page 35
“Railway Children India is a section 8 (Previously section 25) company registered in India. The results of Railway Children India are consolidated into the group as they have chosen to enter into an affiliation agreement with Railway Children under which they are committed to the current group strategy using group systems.” — page 34
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Railway Children Trading Limited
“Railway Children Trading Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary company (number 6533182) limited by shares. The company is registered for VAT and is used by Railway Children to conduct its trading activities. All profits are gift aided to the parent charity.” — page 16
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Year-over-year changes
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "above" (FY2024) to "below" (FY2025).
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Total income
£4.5m
Total spending
£4.3m
Cost of raising funds
£1.2m
Reserves (reported)
£819k
Employees
129
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (12/08/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (12/08/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (01/05/2024)
Trustees
- Malcolm Brownchair
- Annalingam Kumararajan
- Bharti Mepani
- Craig Joseph Forster
- Dr Jacqueline Gallinetti
- Emily Jane Bild
- Fraser Ross Simpson
- Jamie Neil Peter Burles
- Joanne Bird
- Mohini Bulbrook
- Ria Diana Ntabejane
- Richard Graham Allan
- Tricia Wright
- Valerie Floy
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £4.5m | £4.3m |
| 31/05/2024 | £4.5m | £4.4m |
| 31/05/2023 | £3.9m | £4.2m |
| 31/05/2022 | £4.1m | £4.4m |
| 31/05/2021 | £4.9m | £4.5m |
Common questions
Is THE RAILWAY CHILDREN financially healthy?
The accounts state that the charity reported a net income of £170,240 for the ten-month period ended March 2025, with total income of £4.47m. The trustees note that rising inflation and the end of major grants present a challenging environment, but the going concern basis remains appropriate with adequate financial resources. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
Who funds THE RAILWAY CHILDREN?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE RAILWAY CHILDREN as a grant recipient include GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION, THE THALES CHARITABLE TRUST, THE EQUITIX FOUNDATION, THE PETER STEBBINGS MEMORIAL CHARITY, THE MICHAEL MARSH CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £200k |
| THE THALES CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £156k |
| THE EQUITIX FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £34k |
| THE PETER STEBBINGS MEMORIAL CHARITY | FY2024 | £5k |
| THE MICHAEL MARSH CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £5k |
| THE PETER STEBBINGS MEMORIAL CHARITY | FY2023 | £5k |
| THE EVAN CORNISH FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £5k |
| BAIN CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £5k |
| WSH FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £4k |
| THE CARMELA & RONNIE PIGNATELLI FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £3k |
| MILLS AND REEVE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £3k |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST EDWARD THE CONFESSOR, DRINGHOUSES, YORK | FY2024 | £2k |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS, WILMINGTON | FY2021 | £660 |