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RAVENGLASS RAILWAY MUSEUM TRUST

Registered charity 505295 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE ESKDALE (CUMBRIA) TRUST

Museum Operation & Other Charitable Purposes

Objects

The income of the Trust Fund shall be applied in such manner as the Trustees in their absolute discretion from time to time think fit for the following purposes for the educational benefit of students researchers and the public namely:-(a) The foundation and maintenance of a Railway Museum at Ravenglass(b) The conservation and control of flora and fauna in Ravenglass and Eskdale and their neighbourhood(c) The advancement of educationIn furtherance of the above objects but not otherwise the power:To arrange lectures, exhibitions, shows and similar functionsTo print publish and make available to the public by sale or otherwise of literature reproductions photographs and the likeTo make grants of money for the provisions of scholarships for study and research

Area of benefit: RAVENGLASS AND ESKDALE BOTH IN CUMBRIA AND NEIGHBOURHOOD

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

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

Latest income
£41k
Latest spending
£55k
Registered
1976
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the Trust achieved an unrestricted operating surplus of £4,849 for the year, driven by increased income from Pullman camping coaches. Unrestricted reserves stood at £43,769, with free reserves of £15,069, which the Trustees note are below their stated policy target of one year's operating costs (approximately £30,000).

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Income from Pullman Coaches
“Income from Pullman Coaches 2 17,191 - - 17,191 13,814” — page 5
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £15k; policy: one year’s operating costs which amount to approximately £30,000)
“Unrestricted reserves at 31 December 2025 amounted to £43,769 and, of those, free reserves were £15,069. The Trustees have agreed that the Trust needs to hold unrestricted free reserves of at least one year’s operating costs which amount to approximately £30,000”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Rent paid to related party
“The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Company owns the freehold of the land on which the Museum stands and part of the building. The Trust pays a rent of £3500 pa to the Company.” — page 11
“Two Trustees made purchases on behalf of the Trust totalling £331 for which they were reimbursed (2024: £405).” — page 11
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee reimbursement
“The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Company owns the freehold of the land on which the Museum stands and part of the building. The Trust pays a rent of £3500 pa to the Company.” — page 11
“Two Trustees made purchases on behalf of the Trust totalling £331 for which they were reimbursed (2024: £405).” — page 11
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Surplus income from related party project
“The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Company owns the freehold of the land on which the Museum stands and part of the building. The Trust pays a rent of £3500 pa to the Company.” — page 11
“Two Trustees made purchases on behalf of the Trust totalling £331 for which they were reimbursed (2024: £405).” — page 11
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.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Ravenglass Railway Museum Trust (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Cumbria

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2025£41k£55k
31/12/2024£37k£37k
31/12/2023£33k£66k
31/12/2022£39k£61k
31/12/2021£80k£94k

Common questions

Is RAVENGLASS RAILWAY MUSEUM TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Trust achieved an unrestricted operating surplus of £4,849 for the year, driven by increased income from Pullman camping coaches. Unrestricted reserves stood at £43,769, with free reserves of £15,069, which the Trustees note are below their stated policy target of one year's operating costs (approximately £30,000). 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 Fund28/11/2019£250k"Restoration of historic Pullman Camping Coaches to create accredited holiday accommodation"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund17/06/2014£496k"Museum Renovation, Extension and Volunteer and Events programme"