The Bluebell Railway Trust
Analysis
The Bluebell Railway Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Uckfield. It was registered in August 1985, 41 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending December 2024, The Bluebell Railway Trust reported income of £1.5m and spending of £1.1m, leaving 22% of income unspent that year. Across the 4 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2024, income fell from £1.8m to £1.5m (-18%), an average of -6.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 82%. Over the whole period it spent 110% 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, The Bluebell Railway Trust sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum (£1.5m), The North of England Horticultural Society (£1.5m) and Hounslow Music Service (£1.5m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 92% and investments 6.0%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £959k. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.5%. Reserves of £1.1m would cover about 12 months of spending at that rate.
Data notes from the register: The regulator lists this charity's latest annual return or accounts as overdue.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 27%
- Legacies 65%
- Investments 6.0%
- Other 1.5%
In the charity's own words
Encouragement of research into railway equipment and safety, preservation of heritage railway items including rolling stock, maintenance and support of museums for the preservation of railway equipment, provision of recreational facilities connected with railways and assistance for persons in need connected with railway personnel, especially charitable purposes connected with the Bluebell Railway.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum | Bournemouth | £1.5m |
| The North of England Horticultural Society | Ripon | £1.5m |
| Hounslow Music Service | Hounslow | £1.5m |
| Chineke Foundation | London | £1.5m |