MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY COMPANY
To advance the education of the public with regard to a history of Suffolk and the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway in particular by maintenance of a museum and by restoring and operating a demonstration railway, operations, equipment and engineering crafts.
Objects
THE COMPANY IS ESTABLISHED TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC WITH REGARD TO A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK, AND THE MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY IN PARTICULAR BY COLLECTING, PRESERVING, INTERPRETING AND DOCUMENTING MATERIAL EVIDENCE AND ASSOCIATED INFORMATION BY THE MAINTENANCE OF A MUSEUM FOR ITEMS OF HISTORIC RAILWAY INTEREST, AND BY THE RESTORATION, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF A DEMONSTRATION RAILWAY AND THE DISPLAY AND DEMONSTRATION OF RAILWAY EQUIPMENT, OPERATIONS AND ENGINEERING CRAFTS AND IN THE FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING OBJECTIVE THE COMPANY WILL BE VESTED WITH THE POWERS OF OPERATION OF THE MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit on unrestricted funds of £14,186 for the year ended 30 September 2025, compared to a deficit of £32,062 in the previous year. Per the trustees' report, the charity remains financially secure due to prudent management and member support, although it is explicitly reliant on donations from the Middy Trading Company to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“At their meeting on 12th April 2025 the Trustees agreed that a target figure of £20,000 based on a six month winding-down period should be set and maintained.” — page 11
“The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Company is reliant upon these donations to continue as a going concern.”
“The Middy Trading Company is an incorporated company and maintains its own accounts which MSLR do not receive. However, as its purpose is to raise funds by various means including commercial activities to provide funding support for the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway the Board of Trustees thank them for their continued support and donations.” — page 9
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
Property (HM Land Registry)
Trustees
- David Michael Clayton
- IAN MEIGH
- James Debenham
- PETER SIDNEY DODD
- Paul Andrew Gedney
- Peter Andrew Connor
- WAYNE STEVEN WICKS
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/09/2025 | £138k | £170k |
| 30/09/2024 | £109k | £141k |
| 30/09/2023 | £127k | £159k |
| 30/09/2022 | £131k | £94k |
| 30/09/2021 | £131k | £94k |
Common questions
Is MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY COMPANY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit on unrestricted funds of £14,186 for the year ended 30 September 2025, compared to a deficit of £32,062 in the previous year. Per the trustees' report, the charity remains financially secure due to prudent management and member support, although it is explicitly reliant on donations from the Middy Trading Company to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 18/01/2016 | £64k | "People in the Restoration Shed: Opportunities for heritage restoration and social engagement in rural Suffolk" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 08/03/2011 | £16k | "Alston: The Middy steams to school, an educational initiative based on the restoration of a small steam engine" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 22/02/2008 | £2k | Educational Equipment |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 16/02/2006 | £957 | Exhibition facilities |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 21/01/2004 | £13k | "Mid Suffolk Light Railway Museum Enhancement" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE LILLYWHITE FAMILY TRUST | 1 | £1k |
Charities like this
- THE MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY PRESERVATION TRUST
- THE KENT AND EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED
- Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust Limited
- MID SUFFOLK CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
- SOMERSET AND DORSET RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST
- MID SUSSEX DISTRICT SCOUTS
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY COMPANY | £138k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| THE MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY PRESERVATION TRUST | £2.5m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE KENT AND EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED | £2.7m | — | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust Limited | £3.7m | £80,001 - £90,000 | — | below | — | no doubt |
| MID SUFFOLK CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU | £332k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SOMERSET AND DORSET RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST | £666k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |