Bala Lake Railway Trust
Analysis
Bala Lake Railway Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Shepton Mallet. It was registered in April 2013, 13 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it makes grants to organisations and acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending April 2026, Bala Lake Railway Trust reported income of £115k and spending of £82k, leaving 29% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from April 2022 to April 2026, income grew from £84k to £115k (+36%), an average of +8.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to April 2026, when income rose by 60%. Over the whole period it spent 120% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Bala Lake Railway Trust sits at the 80th percentile: it is larger than about 80% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 73rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Sterts Arts and Environmental Centre (£115k), The Cobbe Collection Trust (£115k) and The Samuel Courtauld Trust (£115k).
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
To advance enjoyment, education and learning and to promote regional public benefit through the restoration, maintenance and exhibition by operation steam locomotives, rolling stock and other railway artefacts directly associated with the slate industry of north Wales and in particular those regions of Dinorwic and Penrhyn.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Sterts Arts and Environmental Centre | Cornwall | £115k |
| The Cobbe Collection Trust | Bramley | £115k |
| The Samuel Courtauld Trust | London | £115k |
| The Brass in Concert Championship | South Yorkshire | £115k |