MIDLAND AND GREAT NORTHERN JOINT RAILWAY SOCIETY
Registered charity 1063676 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as M&GN SOCIETY, THE POPPY LINE TRUST
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the Society reported a net expenditure of £193,534 for the year, primarily due to significant expenditure on locomotive and carriage overhauls and an apprenticeship grant, which exceeded incoming resources of £304,536. Despite this deficit, the Society holds total net assets of £3,094,183, including approximately £503,000 in free reserves, which the trustees consider adequate to meet ongoing costs and complete current projects.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: at least 12 months (held: £503k)
“The Board of Trustees is aware of the need to maintain as a minimum sufficient unrestricted free reserves to meet ongoing direct and administrative expenditure for a period of at least 12 months.” — page 7
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Midland & Great Northern Heritage Limited
“The Society also owns 100% of the issued capital in Midland & Great Northern Heritage Ltd, which was set up as a wholly owned subsidiary for non-charitable trading activities.” — page 9
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts audited by Peters Elworthy & Moore.
Corporate structure
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/01/2024)
Cost of raising funds
£12k
Reported reserves equal ~21.6 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 7.0 months; benchmarks).
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (13/05/2025) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Trustees
- Martin Robert Blee BFP ACAchair
- David James Ballard
- KEITH ROLAND ASHFORD
- NIGEL ANTHONY SCARLETT
- Stephen Brian Squires
- Stephen Robert Allen
- TONY DEWEY
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Scotland · Throughout England And Wales
Income and spending
Common questions
Is MIDLAND AND GREAT NORTHERN JOINT RAILWAY SOCIETY financially healthy?
The accounts state that the Society reported a net expenditure of £193,534 for the year, primarily due to significant expenditure on locomotive and carriage overhauls and an apprenticeship grant, which exceeded incoming resources of £304,536. Despite this deficit, the Society holds total net assets of £3,094,183, including approximately £503,000 in free reserves, which the trustees consider adequate to meet ongoing costs and complete current projects. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Peters Elworthy & Moore.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
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.
Charities like this
Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY TRUST.