The Kent and East Sussex Railway Company Limited

Analysis

The Kent and East Sussex Railway Company Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Tenterden. It was registered in May 1971, 55 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01007871). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending October 2025, The Kent and East Sussex Railway Company Limited reported income of £2.7m and spending of £2.6m, spending 97% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from October 2021 to October 2025, income grew from £1.6m to £2.7m (+67%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to October 2022, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 104% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Kent and East Sussex Railway Company Limited sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Concordia (UK) (£2.6m), Heritage Concern Foundation (£2.7m) and The Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood Charity (£2.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 59%, charitable activities 32% and donations and legacies 8.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £187k. Charitable activities took 84% of spending and raising funds 16%. Reserves of £1.5m would cover about 7 months of spending at that rate. It employed 25 people.