The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Trust (Ymddiriedolaeth Rheilffyrdd Ffestiniog Ac Eryri)

Analysis

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Trust (Ymddiriedolaeth Rheilffyrdd Ffestiniog Ac Eryri) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Warwickshire. It was registered in March 1966, 60 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Trust (Ymddiriedolaeth Rheilffyrdd Ffestiniog Ac Eryri) reported income of £11.9m and spending of £11.9m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £6.6m to £11.9m (+80%), an average of +16% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 61%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Trust (Ymddiriedolaeth Rheilffyrdd Ffestiniog Ac Eryri) sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include B Lab (UK) (£11.7m), Synchronicity Earth (£12.0m) and The Ashridge (Bonar Law Memorial) Trust (£11.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 86% and donations and legacies 3.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £138k. Charitable activities took 6.4% of spending and raising funds 94%. Reserves of £10.2m would cover about 10 months of spending at that rate. It employed 130 people.