THE FRIENDS OF THE STOCKTON & DARLINGTON RAILWAY
Registered charity 1177252 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE FRIENDS OF THE S&DR
We work to preserve the 1825 Stockton and Darlington Railway a site of international importance and start of the modern railway. Working with partners on promotion, access, interpretation, research and conservation of our heritage, we aim to raise profile and awareness locally, nationally and internationally and apply how this can be used for education, community and economic regeneration.
Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Economic/community Development/employment · Other Charitable Purposes · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity performed strongly during the period, entering the new financial year in a strong position with significant grants and donations. The trustees consider a zero-reserves position appropriate, noting that all staff and contractor commitments are fully funded for the next period. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £6,273 against a stated policy target of zero.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: zero-reserves position (held: £6k)
“The trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on reserves and are satisfied that a zero-reserves position is appropriate for the scale and nature of our work.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: Niall Hammond & Caroline Hardie received £6,435 via Archaeoenvironment Ltd for guided walk booklets; £201 via The Stockton & Darlington Railway company for products.
“In the period the charity has paid trustees remuneration and benefits. Please give the amount of, and legal authority for, any remuneration or other benefits paid to a trustee by the charity or any institution or company connected with it.” — page 100
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Archaeoenvironment Ltd, a company owned by trustees Niall Hammond and Caroline Hardie, was paid £6,435 for the research, design and development of guided walk booklets.
“Archaeoenvironment Ltd. a company owned by Niall Hammond & Caroline Hardie were paid £6435 for the research, design and development of guided walk booklets.” — page 100
“The Stockton & Darlington Railway company owned by Niall Hammond & Caroline Hardie were paid £201.08 for products for sale to raise funds.” — page 100
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Stockton & Darlington Railway company, owned by trustees Niall Hammond and Caroline Hardie, was paid £201 for products for sale to raise funds.
“Archaeoenvironment Ltd. a company owned by Niall Hammond & Caroline Hardie were paid £6435 for the research, design and development of guided walk booklets.” — page 100
“The Stockton & Darlington Railway company owned by Niall Hammond & Caroline Hardie were paid £201.08 for products for sale to raise funds.” — page 100
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.
Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (matched by registered charity number).
Property (HM Land Registry)
2 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (2 freehold); recorded price paid £285k. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
- Neil HARDIE-HAMMONDchair
- ALAN ROBSON TOWNSEND
- CAROLINE HARDIE
- James Barry Thompson
- Kerrin Wilson · trustee of 2 other charities
- Margaret Fenwick
- Yvonne Richardson
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Darlington · Durham · Middlesbrough · Redcar And Cleveland · Stockton-on-tees
Income and spending
Common questions
Is THE FRIENDS OF THE STOCKTON & DARLINGTON RAILWAY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity performed strongly during the period, entering the new financial year in a strong position with significant grants and donations. The trustees consider a zero-reserves position appropriate, noting that all staff and contractor commitments are fully funded for the next period. The charity holds unrestricted reserves of £6,273 against a stated policy target of zero. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds THE FRIENDS OF THE STOCKTON & DARLINGTON RAILWAY?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE FRIENDS OF THE STOCKTON & DARLINGTON RAILWAY as a grant recipient include THE HEADLEY TRUST.
Known funders
Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.
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 FFESTINIOG RAILWAY SOCIETY.
Side by side with its peers
Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.