GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY LIMITED
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted funds increased to £3,912,379, with free reserves of £276,442 meeting the policy target of three to six months' expenditure. The charity received a significant seven-figure legacy, resulting in a large surplus, though the Directors note that future multi-million pound projects require diligent financial management.
What the accounts disclose
“This compares with actual three to six months expenditure of approximately £300,000 based on the current year’s expenditure.”
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/01/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (03/08/2026)
Trustees
- Richard John Varleychair
- Hayley Fisher
- John Bertram Crouch
- John Plant
- Laura Suzanne Donaldson
- Marita Ann Middleton
- Mokbul Khan
- RICHARD ALAN PRESTON
- Robert Heron
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/01/2025 | £3.9m | £2.1m |
| 31/01/2024 | £2.2m | £1.8m |
| 31/01/2023 | £1.7m | £2.4m |
| 31/01/2022 | £1.5m | £1.5m |
| 31/01/2021 | £1.3m | £1.4m |
Common questions
Is GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY LIMITED financially healthy?
The accounts state that unrestricted funds increased to £3,912,379, with free reserves of £276,442 meeting the policy target of three to six months' expenditure. The charity received a significant seven-figure legacy, resulting in a large surplus, though the Directors note that future multi-million pound projects require diligent financial management. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Wellers.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 11/03/2025 | £245k | "Didcot's Historic Engine Shed" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 08/06/2022 | £6k | "An Introduction to Engineering - Reading GirlsÂ’ School STEM Project" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 26/05/2020 | £17k | "COVID19 Great Western Society" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 17/07/2017 | £9k | "Rails on the Western Front" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 14/06/2007 | £1.1m | "GWR Steam Railmotor & Auto Trailer Restoration" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 22/04/2005 | £1k | "The Club Will Expand Its Selection Of Hands On Educational Equipment By Providing Three Model Bridges. The Bridges Will Be Used To Demonstra" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 03/09/2003 | £710 | "This Charity Operates A Public Exhibition And Museum For Historical Education Of Steam And Other Railway Locomotives, With Particular Refere" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 27/06/2002 | £1k | "This Charity Operates A Public Exhibition And Museum For Historical Education Of Steam And Other Railway Locomotives With Particular Referen" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 15/03/2000 | £37k | "Steam Locomotive Pendennis Castle" |