MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY COMPANY

Registered charity 1063635 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as MID SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY MUSEUM

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.

Causes: Education/training · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£138k
Latest spending
£170k
Registered
1997
Accounts read
FY2025

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.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: six month winding-down period (held: £64k)
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
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Company is reliant upon these donations to continue as a going concern.
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Middy Trading Company Limited
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
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Company (matched by registered charity number).

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Suffolk

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
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

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund18/01/2016£64k"People in the Restoration Shed: Opportunities for heritage restoration and social engagement in rural Suffolk"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund08/03/2011£16k"Alston: The Middy steams to school, an educational initiative based on the restoration of a small steam engine"
The National Lottery Community Fund16/02/2006£957Exhibition facilities
The National Lottery Heritage Fund21/01/2004£13k"Mid Suffolk Light Railway Museum Enhancement"

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
THE LILLYWHITE FAMILY TRUST1£1k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY PRESERVATION TRUST.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY COMPANY£138k0unclearnoted
THE MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY PRESERVATION TRUST FY2024£2.5m0unclearno doubt
THE KENT AND EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED FY2024£2.7m1unclearno doubt
Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust Limited FY2025£3.7m£80,001 - £90,000belowno doubt
MID SUFFOLK CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU FY2025£332k0unclearno doubt
SOMERSET AND DORSET RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST FY2025£666k0unclearnoted

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.