Dean Forest Railway Society
Analysis
Dean Forest Railway Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Gloucestershire. It was registered in May 2019, 7 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Dean Forest Railway Society reported income of £143k and spending of £78k, leaving 45% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £139k to £143k (+3.0%), an average of +0.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income rose by 21%. Over the whole period it spent 53% 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, Dean Forest Railway Society sits at the 82nd percentile: it is larger than about 82% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 76th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Burnley Civic Trust (£143k), The Steyning Museum Trust (£143k) and Aston Manor Road Transport Museum Limited (£143k).
Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
We are concerned with the preservation, development and restoration of the Dean Forest Railway, together with the education of the public in the history of the railways in the Forest of Dean, and education in skills pertinent to the maintenance and operation of a heritage railway. We raise funds, recruit volunteers and undertake projects for the railway's development.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Burnley Civic Trust | Lancashire | £143k |
| The Steyning Museum Trust | Steyning | £143k |
| Aston Manor Road Transport Museum Limited | Birmingham | £143k |
| Opera Prelude | Henley-on-Thames | £143k |