RAILWORLD

Registered charity 291515 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as MUSEUM OF WORLD RAILWAYS

Railworld operates as a visitor attraction - Our aim to Entertain and Educate about Sustainable Transport,Co2 Emissions.Volunteers of all ages and creeds have built Model and Garden Railways, and the habitat creative Wildlife Haven - Helping to emphasise the important links between Our Man-Made World and Our Natural World. Our Education Centre shows informative, entertaining films.

Objects

3.1 ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN ALL ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT AS PART OF THE UNITED NATIONS RANGE OF MEASURES TO COMBAT HUMAN INDUCED CLIMATE CHANGE;3.2 ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN AIL ASPECTS OF RAILWAY TRAVEL AS A WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED FORM OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT, AND3.3 TO CREATE AN ECO-TRANSPORT CENTRE TO BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE AFORESAIDPURPOSES; AND3.4 TO PROMOTE THE RESEARCH AND STUDY OF MAN'S MOBILITY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE WORLD AND TO PUBLISH THE USEFUL RESULTS OF SUCH RESEARCH; AND3.5 TO EMPHASISE THE ROLE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION CENTRES IN CONTRIBUTING TO MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · Recreation · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£71k

Latest spending

£106k

Registered

1985

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £34,788 for the year ended 31 March 2025, compared to a surplus in the prior year. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £1,288,438, significantly exceeding the stated policy target of £45,000 to £50,000, and the trustees confirmed adequate resources to meet liabilities for the foreseeable future.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: £45,000 to £50,000 (held: £1.3m)

“On the basis of current expenditure, the charity seeks to maintain the general reserve at a balance of £45,000 to £50,000, representing six months operating costs.”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment 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
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Corporate structure

Registered company of the charity Companies House 01891491 · Financial health read from its filings

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

TURNER, Emma Louise — director, appointed 15/12/2025on trustee list
BOTTOMLEY, Matthew Stephen — director, appointed 15/12/2025on trustee list
KELSALL, Simon John — director, appointed 15/12/2025on trustee list
HALMSHAW, Philip Andrew — director, appointed 27/11/2024on trustee list
TYSON, Bernard Wilfred — director, appointed 02/11/2022on trustee list
MARSHALL, Philip — director, appointed 11/09/2016on trustee list
PENNILL, Barry Edward — director, appointed 21/05/2014on trustee list
BALL, Dorothy, Dr — director, appointed 22/07/2010on trustee list
JOHNSON, Dean — director, appointed 24/01/2008on trustee list
PEARCE, Brian Thomas — director, appointed 06/01/1992not on trustee list

Official officers record.

Trustees · trustee networks

BRIAN PEARCE MBEchair
Barry Pennill
Bernard Wilfred Tyson
DEAN JOHNSON
Dr DOROTHY BALL · trustee of 2 other charities
Emma Louise Turner
Matthew Stephen Bottomley
Philip Halmshaw
Philip Marshall · trustee of 1 other charity
Simon Kelsall

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

Operates in: Peterborough City

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£71k	£106k
31/03/2024	£94k	£68k
31/03/2023	£81k	£67k
31/03/2022	£104k	£62k
31/03/2021	£69k	£60k

Common questions

Is RAILWORLD financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £34,788 for the year ended 31 March 2025, compared to a surplus in the prior year. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £1,288,438, significantly exceeding the stated policy target of £45,000 to £50,000, and the trustees confirmed adequate resources to meet liabilities for the foreseeable future. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Government & lottery funding

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

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Community Fund	06/03/2020	£10k	Railworld Wildlife Haven - Safe Access
The National Lottery Community Fund	19/08/2015	£10k	Community Pedestrian and Cycle Ramp
The National Lottery Community Fund	18/01/2006	£5k	Peterborough Environmental Project
The National Lottery Community Fund	14/09/2004	£5k	Extending Environmental project