REPORT AND FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
For Year Ended 31" May 2024
RAILWAY
ch_ldrèn
Railway Children is registered Charty No. 1058991 a
Registered Private Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3265496
No child lost to the streets

## **Contents** 

|**Contents**||
|---|---|
|Reference & Administrative Information|2|
|Introduction by Malcolm Brown, Chair|3|
|Aims, Public Benefit and Principal Activities|5|
|Achievements 2023-24|5|
|Objectives for 2024-25|10|
|Fundraising Statement|12|
|Financial Results|12|
|Structure, Governance & Management|13|
|Statement of Responsibilities of the Trustees|16|
|Independent Auditor’s Report|17|
|Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities|21|
|Balance Sheet|22|
|Cash Flow|23|
|Notes forming part of the Financial Statements|24|



1 



## **Reference and Administrative Information** 

|**Registered Office**|1 The Commons, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 1EG|
|---|---|
|**Directors and Trustees**||
|Malcolm Brown|Chairman|
|Richard Allan|Appointed 9thOctober 2024|
|Emily Bild||
|Joanne Bird||
|Mo Bulbrook||
|Jamie Burles|Appointed 9thOctober 2024|
|Valerie Floy|Appointed 12thOctober 2023|
|Jacqueline Galinetti|Appointed 12thOctober 2023|
|Bharti Mepani|Appointed 12thOctober 2023|
|Andrea Minton-Beddoes|Retired 31stJanuary 2024|
|Dr Donald Mlewa||
|Ria Ntabejane|Appointed 3rdJuly 2024|
|Fraser Simpson||
|Christine Taylor|Retired 31stJanuary 2024|
|Helena Vega-Lozano|Appointed 31stJanuary 2024; retired 3rdJuly 2024|
|Tricia Wright||
|**Group Chief Executive**|Robert Capener|
|**Company Secretary**|Ashurst LLP, London Fruit & Wool Exchange, 1 Duval Square,|
||London, E1 6PW|
|**Auditors**|Sayer Vincent LLP, 110 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0TG|
|**Bank**|Royal Bank of Scotland, Drummond House, 1 Redheughs Ave,|
||Edinburgh, EH12 9JN|
|**Solicitors**|Ashurst LLP, London Fruit & Wool Exchange, 1 Duval Square|
||London, E1 6PW|
|**Other Office**|India Office, Flat No.8/A, 2nd Floor, Arihant CHS,Gopal Krishna Gokhale Road,|
||Mulund Est, Mumbai, 400 081, India|
|**Railway Children India**|CIN: U85100DL2013NPL260371|
|Regd. Office:|B-107, First Floor, Panchsheel Vihar, Khirki, New Delhi 110017, India|
|Directors:|Yazmin Riaz|
||Sanjay Kumar Gupta|
||Priya Varadarajan|
||Megha Jain|
||Harbhajan Singh|
||Navin Sellaraju, RCI CEO|
||Rob Capener (Official Observer & Group CEO)|
|**Railway Children Trading Ltd**|Company Number: 6533182|
|Directors:|Rupert Brennan Brown|
||James Sinclair Bain|
||Mirco Danesi|
||Andrea Minton-Beddoes|
||Robert Capener|
||Jack Miller|
||David Brookes – Secretary|
|**Railway Children Africa Ltd**|NGO Compliance No: 1563|
|Directors:|Lulu Ng’wanakilala (Chair)|
||John Kalage|
||Charles Mgoya|
||Robert Capener|
||Michael Holden|
||Judy Lister|
||Jeanne Ndyetabula (Co-opted)|
||Sunday Kapesi|





## **Introduction by Malcolm Brown, Chair** 

## **Welcome to our Annual Report for 2024** 

It would be fair to say that this year has been a period of significant change for Railway Children, and I am delighted by how well we have navigated the challenges we have faced. Our new CEO, Rob Capener, has brought continuity and stability, whilst breathing new life and vigour into the organisation. 

When Rob took over in May 2023, we were navigating a delicate financial period, but we were also just beginning to comprehend the extent to which new child protection policies in India would disrupt the delivery of our strategy, sending the management team back to the drawing board with a challenge to innovate and diversify our programme portfolio. I’m sure it wasn’t quite the smooth leadership transition period the team might have hoped for, but our trustees have been impressed by the way they have led through this uncertainty and brought us to a position of relative strength. 

Having introduced our first ever employee engagement survey during the year, it was rewarding to see incredible engagement figures with 100% completion across the group. 99% of our people say they feel proud to tell people they work for Railway Children and 95% believe the charity is a great place to work. 

At the end of another highly challenging financial year, it is outstanding and rewarding to see our yearend results, particularly with the ongoing economic volatility. To achieve a result of £4.48m in this environment with prolonged team capacity issues really is something to celebrate. 

This year, our UK voluntary income has risen by 15% to over £3.5m - another impressive year of sustained growth which represents a 57% increase in income over the last five years. With expenditure of £2.51m, our unrestricted reserve closed at £821k, which is up by £144k on the previous May and represents approximately 3 months of planned FY24-25 unrestricted spend. 

Having written our strategy in 2021 and launched it in 2022, the world is now a very different place. Whilst the aftereffects of Covid have subsided, the cost of living, high interest rates and political uncertainty in all three of our territories have all had a collective impact on the world we are now operating in. Consequently, many of the strategic plans we made in 2021 have been significantly disrupted. Therefore, as we embark on the third year of our current strategy, we have taken the decision to review and refine our plans with a view to realigning the route map that will guide us to 2030. 

Amid the constant changes and challenges we have faced this year, I remain inspired by the work of our programme teams around the world. Their direct work with vulnerable children and families combined with their influence to create systemic change for the future is simply remarkable. 

In the UK, we opened our new project in Glasgow, building new relationships with British Transport Police (BTP) and Police Scotland. We developed our Safeguarding Action Groups across the UK, building communities of safeguarding champions and delivering training to 4,295 BTP and rail staff across the network. 

In India, the Government’s Mission Vatsalya scheme has transformed the child protection landscape. This, and the resulting requirement to hand over some of our work in railway stations to local authorities has required us to rethink our entire programme in India. We have successfully diversified our programme portfolio, providing deeper support and engagement to the informal communities surrounding our station projects that we began to work with during the pandemic. We are helping to address the vulnerabilities of individual children, including school enrolment and we are helping families to access existing government support schemes. The emphasis of our work in and around transport terminals has pivoted towards greater collaboration with government bodies, especially the District Child Protection Units, with an aspiration to strengthen their skills and capacity – as well as other rail and transport organisations – to protect vulnerable children separated from their families. During the year, we reached 3,308 children and 829 families across four transport terminals and 7 communities. 

3 



Within these communities, our seven child activity centres have developed into hubs of safety, skills and school enrolment with 3,442 children accessing school and education. 

In addition to the 1,665 children we have supported to move away from the streets in Tanzania this year, I have been most impressed by the work our teams are developing in collaborative contextual safeguarding – training and empowering others to be guardians of safety for vulnerable young people. This is a clear feature in our approach across the group and I have observed this at its best in Mwanza, where the new Child Support Desk at the Nyegezi bus terminal has proved so impactful, bringing together a network of collaborators all coordinating safeguarding together. The impact has been so great that our contacts at local government asked us to assist in establishing another support desk at the cities second busiest bus terminal and a hot spot for street connected children. Funded and resourced entirely by the government, this is a wonderful example of the influence our work is having at a national level. 

Whilst the current climate continues to challenge us constantly, I have complete confidence that our teams will continue to make a significant impact directly and indirectly on the lives of thousands of children, and their families. On behalf of the trustees and the charity, I thank our supporters for your continued loyalty and generosity which makes our work achievable. 

4 



## **Aims, Public Benefit and Principal Activities** 

## **Aims** 

Railway Children was founded in 1996, and its objective is: 

‘The relief of children and young persons under 25 years of age who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress, anywhere in the world and in particular those who are living on the streets’. 

Since then, Railway Children’s work has benefitted thousands of children and young people living alone and at risk on the streets. 

Our work aims to create and enable sustainable change in the lives of individual children, communities and in the wider policy and practice that affects all children living alone on the streets. 

## **Public Benefit** 

The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. This report is produced for the benefit of the public and contains an explanation of the significant activities undertaken during the year in order to carry out the charity’s aims and also measure achievements against the objectives set by the Trustees. 

## **Principal Activities** 

In achieving our aims, we work at three levels for long term change. We recognise that to create, enable and sustain change we need to balance activities, and therefore; 

1. We aim to make meaningful interventions in the lives of vulnerable children. We make early interventions whilst they are on the streets or the transport network, before they come to serious harm and we work with them and their families so that they can grow-up within a nurturing family. 

2. We change the perceptions of local communities and the transport sector and equip them to safeguard vulnerable children. 

3. We use research, expertise and strong relationships with key individuals and departments to influence policy makers and leverage government support. 

By working at all three levels, we ensure positive sustainable change, both in the lives of children currently surviving on the streets and those currently at home but living with neglect, violence, abuse or exploitation. 

## **Achievements 2023-24** 

The following outlines the wider strategy goals (2022-2027), alongside the objectives we set ourselves for this year and the progress we made. 

- **Goal 1 – Children will be safe, at home and in a nurturing environment** 

## **India:** 

## **2000 unaccompanied children at risk across 6 transport terminals will be sustainably reintegrated with family-based care by May 2024** 

1321 children were safeguarded in the year and 1068 (81%) of them have been reunified with family. 253 children were still in short term residential childcare institutions and we will be working with them in the coming year to reintegrate them into family-based care. 

Our work in transport terminals was affected through the year by the implementation of the government’s Mission Vatsalya scheme. This meant that we started the year working at 5 transport terminals but had to exit from Salem in November 2023. We could not secure permissions to expand 

5 



into new transport terminals whilst the transition to the new child protection system was in progress. We do now have permission to operate at Patna in Bihar and plan to begin work in summer 2024. 

With the support of Dora foundation, we launched the family reintegration programme early in 2024 with the Standard Operating Procudure and design informed by a learning visit to Railway Children Africa. Our case workers began working with the families of 53 children identified with high and moderate vulnerabilities. Out of these our staff are working directly with 25 families, ensuring that the children receive the intensive support needed to address their complex needs and circumstances. The other 28 children and their families live more than 3 hours travel time beyond Delhi & NCR and we are building networks of other actors local to them who can ensure that they receive the right support for sustainable reintegration. 

## **Tanzania:** 

## **We will support 2,200 Children and Youth Living and Working on the streets (CYLWS) and their siblings. 250 CLWS will be reintegrated into safe and protective families.** 

In total, we supported 1,665 children and young people, a 75% achievement of the annual target. This included 610 children contacted through the outreach programme, 626 siblings of contact children and 156 children under the ACT parenting programme. We also supported 273 youth living and working on the streets with life skills and income generating activities. 

Of the children enrolled through the outreach programme, 380 were provided with a safe place to stay (residential centre 227, fit persons 153) and 333 were reintegrated into protective families which is 133% achievement of the annual target. 

We provided educational support to 520 children, including enrolment back to school, provision of school materials and payment of school levies. In addition, 105 caregivers were supported through business skill training and business grants as part of the family strengthening support package. 

## **UK:** 

## **We will provide interventions for 255 young people through welfare visits and full programmes of support prioritising needs such as healthy relationships, mental health and safety planning** 

We have directly supported a total of 186 young people and their families through a combination of one-off welfare visits, brief interventions, and longer-term direct support this year, 73% of the annual target. For various reasons we had vacancies within our Youth Practice team totalling 22 person months across the year, equivalent to 22% of our capacity to work with young people. 

Of the young people who we have supported longer-term, the most common indicators of risk we have seen this year are: 

- 73% were experiencing poor mental health when they started to work with us, 

- 68% were either not in education, had poor attendance or had been repeatedly excluded, 

- 58% were frequently missing when they were referred to us, 

- 52% were at risk of experiencing a breakdown in the relationship with their parent or carer, 

- and 

- 50% had a learning disability or difficulty, either formally assessed or queried. 

These risk factors are used to inform individual support plans, that are developed jointly with each young person to ensure they are receiving the support that is right for them and their needs. The most common priority areas of intervention to support young people with were: 

- Mental health and/or emotional wellbeing 

- Safety, including online safety, personal safety, and safety on and around the railway 

- Healthy relationships, whether that be within the family or amongst peers 

6 



## **Goal 2 – Communities are able to identify and protect vulnerable children** 

## **India:** 

## **Quality of life of 1500 children within 10 high risk slum communities improves.** 

RCI’s community engagement was initiated with the purpose of preventing vulnerable children still living with their family from slipping into street life and preventing unnecessary family separation. Over nine months, we have built rapport with seven communities through group formation, linking both the children and their families with various services including government schemes and entitlements and engaging with the district level child protection functionaries to make them accountable and responsible towards protecting children. 

We established 21 children's groups – one for adolescent boys, one for adolescent girls and one for younger children in each community. Additionally, seven parents' groups were formed. 1712 children benefitted through linkages with various services across the seven communities and 600 parents have been linked with services, schemes, and entitlements 

## **Tanzania:** 

## **Two child support desks (CSD) at main bus stands in Mwanza and Dar es salaam will support the identification and protection of 400 children** 

Over the project year, 386 children have been contacted, and of these 85% of the children were successfully removed from the streets upon contact. The table below shows the various referral pathways. 

A second child support desk in Mwanza as established in partnership with the local government at their request within the second busiest bus terminal in Mwanza. This CSD was set-up by Railway Children but is being funded, staffed and operated by local government Social Welfare Officers – testament to the replicability and scalability of this intervention. Alongside each CSD intervention, we have established committees made up of various stakeholders working in and around the bus terminals to promote child safeguarding. 

## **UK:** 

## **6,000 transport staff will be provided with a greater awareness and understanding of vulnerable children through our training programmes, ensuring they know how to respond to young people in need and where to refer them** 

We have provided safeguarding training to 4,295 staff from the British Transport Police (BTP) and train operating companies (TOCs). This work serves to highlight the vulnerabilities that young people 

7 



may face and gives transport staff the tools with which to engage with them. The annual milestone to train 6,000 BTP officers and TOC staff was missed 28%. This was in part due to training sessions being cancelled due to industrial action and staff absences. Through the second half of the year, we have also held off on distributing e-Learning to prospective TOCs with work under way to create new training which is launching in June. 

We created two new Safeguarding Action Groups (SAGs), bringing the total number of SAGs operating to 10. One of the SAGs created this year uses a new line of route approach, looking contextually at issues along an entire rail route, rather than focussing on issues at a specific train station. The SAGs are made up of various stakeholders from within the station and rail community, including station retailers, TOC staff, and station cleaners, and seek to raise awareness of vulnerability in children and young people. Additionally, the SAGs focus on practical changes which can be made to the station environment to make the spaces safer for young people. 

## **Goal 3 - Public sector policies and budgets safeguard vulnerable and at risk children** 

## **India:** 

## **5000 children are protected by the trained and sensitised railway and district child protection officials across the Delhi Howrah railway network by May 2024** 

3864 personnel, including officers of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) officers, Station Managers, Chief Ticket Inspectors, Train Ticket Examiners, Vendors, porters and the Child Welfare Police Officers were trained. Trained and sensitised railway officials protected 1843 children across the Delhi Howrah network that we know of, including 189 children (91 girls) protected in moving trains. There is likely to be significant under-reporting here. 

As a result of our continuous engagement, Railway Stakeholders are displaying a strong enthusiasm for safeguarding. We have activated Child Help Groups (CHG) which are now meeting regularly in Patna and Ghaziabad bringing together a variety of Railway stakeholders. Station Managers of some of the railway stations have started taking lead role in organising CHG meetings in Patna. 

## **Tanzania:** 

## **We will engage with national government and three district councils in selected cities to advocate for allocation of substantial budgetary resource to ensure child protection laws and regulations are effectively enforced to realise children’s rights, in particular the rights of vulnerable and at-risk children and youth** 

As mentioned above, a child support desk was established in Mwanza at the request of the local government within the second busiest bus terminal in Mwanza. This CSD was set-up by Railway Children but is being funded, staffed and operated by local government Social Welfare Officers – testament to the replicability and scalability of this intervention. Alongside this, RCA have supported the local District officials to launch an awareness campaign at the Nyamhongolo bus stand. 

RCA assisted in advocating for and setting up the new Government Gender and Children Desk at Mwanza Central Police. The organization this desk, located away from the central police station, is designed to provide a safe space for children to voice their concerns. 

The Deputy Minister of Community Development visited the RCA Kivuko project in Mwanza. During her visit, directed the Commissioner of Social Welfare to resolve the challenges faced by streetconnected youth in accessing national identification documents. 

## **UK:** 

## **We will work in partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP) and industry bodies to ensure that safeguarding continues to be included in the strategic vision for the rail industry** 

8 



The UK political situation, and industrial relations within the rail sector, have required work in this area to be deferred. However, work to articulate advocacy goals progressed across Q3 and Q4, with support from an external consultant and input from the UK Programme team, Senior Management team, Fundraising team and Marketing team. 

## **Fundraising** 

## • **We will secure over £4.5m in income across the Railway Children group, raising voluntary income to £3.7m and support the growth of in-country fundraising in India and Tanzania, securing over £500,000 in-country between the two affiliates.** 

Group income reached £4.49m, up by 16% from the previous year with UK voluntary income over £3.5m for the first time, an increase of over 15%. Affiliate income was £882k, increasing gross and net income to each country. 

## • **We will engage with a new supporter audience through a campaigning and advocacy approach and investing in supporter recruitment, increasing our regular giving income by 5% and our public fundraising securing over £1m in unrestricted income and support our core programme.** 

Public fundraising secured £840k this year, with a further £200k secured but not received until Q1 of FY24/25. Our regular giving income reduced by net 5%, following national trends but activity and campaigns are in place for FY24/25 to use lead generation and advocacy content to engage with a new audience. Unrestricted income overall increased by 8% to £2.65m. 

## • **We will expand our programme delivery by being successful with one institutional partner through our work with USAID and expand our restricted income with two new multi-year six figure funders** 

We have secured two institutional partnerships that will be received in FY24/25, from USAID and FCDO. Restricted income during the year increased by 33% on the back of substantial six figure funders including The National Lottery and Dora Foundation, amongst others. 

## **Brand** 

## • **We will refresh the design and content of the entire Railway Children website to provide an improved user experience, whilst ensuring that our brand, mission and vision are clearly represented to all users and aligned to organisational strategy.** 

The Railway Children group website was re-launched in November 2023; both the visual elements and the content were updated in line with the new brand identity that launched in June 2023. All programme content was replaced to ensure it accurately represented the activities across the UK, Tanzania and India as well as aligning to the messaging in our organisational strategy and mission story. The design of the website was also updated to provide an enhanced user experience and align to more modern technological expectations. 

In addition to the group website, the Railway Children India website was re-launched in October 2023 and a new independent website for Railway Children Africa launched in April 2024. 

## • **We will deliver an advocacy strategy, focussing on editorial and digital content communications that will amplify our voice and those of vulnerable street-connected children, enabling us to attract new audiences and convert them to action.** 

We have delivered immediate communications through digital methods, including posts, blogs and web content to deliver our intention with regards to advocacy. This has included communications regarding 

9 



the UK general election. National advocacy strategies are being developed with key objectives and ambitions delivered with a full RCA strategy delivered and corresponding action plan in place. 

## • **We will employ a digital-first approach to build a strong online profile as pioneers and thought leaders for street connected children.** 

We have begun to communicate to our digital audiences using messaging that educates about our programme activities, vision and mission based on recommendations from our digital mobilisation review in 2022. This is in addition to, and complements, our fundraising communications and is informative without asking for support financially. We have shared regular social media posts that focus on telling the stories of the children, young people and families that we have supported. 

To provide an enhanced user journey and supporter experience, we have developed the News and Blogs content on our website to increase the amount of informative and substantive content on our website. 

## • **We will work with UK Train Operating Companies and the wider rail community to raise awareness and understanding of safeguarding through our campaigning and advocacy communications.** 

We have worked increased our direct engagement with Train Operating Companies and Safeguarding Action Groups to engage with the wider rail community. This has enabled us to identify opportunities to communicate directly with rail staff and develop useful communication tools. 

We have developed a variety of print and digital content using our At Risk Right Here Right Now campaign that has been adopted by TOCs including Greater Anglia, EMR and SouthWestern Rail. The campaign aims to make the rail community aware of vulnerability on the rail network, how to spot vulnerable young people and how to report it. 

Our relationship with First Group (Rail) has enabled us to also share our ARRHRN campaign on advertising platforms at stations across the UK, focussing on the locations where our project teams are based. 

## **Objectives for 2024-25** 

In 2022 we launched our new five-year strategy that aims to leave no child behind, wherever we work. 

To achieve this aim, we will be strengthening: 

1. Programmes and services, before, during after a child is separated from their family or vulnerable on the streets, to ensure children are safe, at home and in a nurturing environment 

2. Community responses, to enable local people to identify and protect vulnerable children 

3. Child protection systems and policies, to ensure public sector policies and budgets safeguard vulnerable and at-risk children 

4. Evidence, to demonstrate need and proven models of achieving impact 

The objectives for 2024-25 represent the milestones we intend to achieve in year three of our 5-year strategy. 

## **Goal 1 – Children will be safe, at home and in a nurturing environment** 

India: 2,500 children arriving unattended at 6 transport terminals are reached before they become victims of abuse and exploitation and 90% of the children are reintegrated into safe and supportive families. 

10 



Tanzania: 364 street connected children reintegrated successfully into safe and supportive families. 

UK: We will provide interventions for 240 young people through programmes of support prioritising needs such as healthy relationships, mental health, education, and safety planning 

## **Goal 2 – Communities are able to identify and protect vulnerable children** 

India: 1800 children protected from becoming victims of abuse and exploitation within 8 slum communities. 

Tanzania: Establish five new Child support desks in Dar, Mbeya, Dodoma and Arusha 

UK: 6,000 transport staff will be provided with a greater awareness and understanding of vulnerable children through our training programmes, with contextual safeguarding approaches being implemented on the rail network 

## **Goal 3 Public sector policies and budgets safeguard vulnerable and at-risk children** 

India: 16 transport terminals, across Delhi Howrah railway network, have implemented relevant SoPs for child protection. 

Tanzania: Increase in the child protection budget in two target Districts. 

UK: We will work in partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP) and industry bodies to ensure that safeguarding continues to be included in the strategic vision for the rail industry 

## **Fundraising** 

- We will secure over £5m in income across the Railway Children group, raising voluntary income to £3.7m and support the growth of in-country fundraising in India and Tanzania, securing over £1.3m in-country between the two affiliates. 

- We will secure and deliver two new institutional funding programmes, ensuring the sustainability of our core work while increase the amount of restricted income secured across the Railway Children group to over £1.5m. 

- We will enhance our supporter care programme, developing more data analysis on what our supporters want and need, ensuring we increase our supporter base by 5% and increasing our supporter satisfaction score. 

- We will increase the opportunities for supporters to engage with the charity and raise over £1m from individual giving and expand our events programme with two new events. 

## **Brand** 

- We will Implement and deliver a new approach to Ethical Communications that ensures we are committed to taking an ethical approach to all elements of our communications, empowering those we work with and promoting their strengths 

- We will provide robust digital reporting and analysis, providing insight and recommendations to the Fundraising Team to ensure we have a consistent and effective approach to raising income, participation and engagement through digital marketing. 

- We will develop a new section of our website specifically for young people, by young people: providing engaging, informative and supportive user-generated content. 

- We will deliver an advocacy communications strategy, focussing on editorial and digital content that will amplify our voice and those of vulnerable street-connected children, enabling us to attract new audiences and convert them to action. 

11 



## **Fundraising Statement** 

Railway Children carries out a variety of fundraising activities, approaching individuals and companies for support and sponsorship as well as Trusts and Foundations. We occasionally employ a professional fundraising agency to undertake telephone and face-to-face fundraising activity on our behalf. Our policies and approach to fundraising are as follows. 

- We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator and comply with the Codes of Fundraising Practice. We are regularly updated with changes in practice and enforce change where necessary 

- We adhere to our policy set up to protect vulnerable people, ensuring that the policy is enforced throughout all fundraising activities and with all parties 

- Before the appointment of a third-party fundraising supplier, we make checks with other charity clients including financial checks and ensure that their practices meet our ethical criteria. Once appointed strict stewardship of the relationship is applied through daily discussions on any issues and regularly listening to calls 

- We reviewed our data protection policy and procedures in preparation for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the fundraising code of practice and regularly monitor the implementation of this throughout the organisation 

- We give our supporters clear opportunities to opt out of any further contact as part of every approach 

- Our supporter promises and privacy policy is clearly displayed on our website and regularly communicated to our supporters 

- We do not share or sell data with any other organisations 

Supporters and our beneficiaries are at the heart of what we do.  We strive to achieve high standards in our fundraising and communication with supporters. We stand by the principles set out in our supporter promise. We received two complaints in the year both of which were resolved. 

## **Financial Results** 

The charity’s income for the year ended 31[st] May 2024 was £4.5m (FY22-23 £3.9m) an increase of 16% compared to the prior year. The split between unrestricted and restricted income was £2.7m of unrestricted income (FY22-23 £2.5m) and restricted income of £1.8m (FY22-23 £1.4m). 

Income from donations and legacies increased by 5% to £2.3m (FY22-23 £2.2m). Donations from corporate partners and donated services increased this year by 21%. Corporate partners generously donated  £1.2m (FY22-23 £0.9m) including income from the annual Railway Ball and associated Rail Aid fundraising. Legacy income was £0.1m (FY22-23 £0.2m) a fall of 29% and general donation remained at the same level as the prior year at £1.0m (FY22-23 £1.0m). 

Income from charitable activities, funds raised from grants and foundations, totalled £1.52m (FY22-23 £1.01m) an increase of 51%. These funds were raised through Railway Children UK £1.02m FY22-23 £0.68m), Railway Children Africa £0.25m (FY22-23 £0.28m) and Railway Children India £0.25m FY2223 £0.05m). 

Other trading activities raised £0.64m (FY22-23 £0.65m) and these consisted of fundraising events run by Railway Children UK and sale of Xmas cards. 

The cost of the UK fundraising team including support costs was £1.40m (FY22-23 £1.32m). For every £ spent on fundraising the income generated was £3.20 (FY22-23 £2.92). 

Total charitable expenditure for the year was £2.95m (FY22-23 £2.91m) split between India £0.70m (FY22-23 £0.79m), Tanzania £1.26m (FY22-23 £1.28m) and the UK £0.99m (FY22-23 £0.85m). 

Total unrestricted reserve for the group was £0.80m (FY22-23 £0.68m) with restricted funds at £0.97m (FY22-23 £0.96m). 

12 



## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

Railway Children is a charitable company limited by guarantee 3265496, Registered Charity No. 1058991, incorporated on 18th October 1996 and registered as a charity on 5th November 1996. 

The Company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. Under those Articles, the Trustees, who form the Board of Trustees, are elected at the Annual General Meeting to serve a period of three years, with one third of their number retiring at each AGM. 

The Memorandum and Articles of Railway Children express its objects as ’the relief of children and young persons under 25 years of age who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress, anywhere in the world and in particular those who are living on the streets’. 

Railway Children Trading Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary company (number 6533182) limited by shares. The company is registered for VAT and is used by Railway Children to conduct its trading activities. All profits are gift aided to the parent charity. 

Railway Children Africa (RCA) is registered in Tanzania as an NGO, with NGO compliance (1563) under the Non-Governmental Organisations Act. The board consists of Railway Children representatives and Tanzanian nationals. The company manages our operations in Tanzania. The results for this company are consolidated into the accounts. 

Railway Children India (RCI) is a Section 8 company registered in India that commenced operations in FY2015-16. 

RCA and RCI operate as independent organisations governed by their own boards. These boards have been granted use of the Railway Children mark under licence in return for operating in accordance with group policies and quality standards in so far as is legally permissible in their jurisdiction. The results of RCA and RCI are consolidated into the group in view of the choice of these organisations to work to the current group strategy using group systems. 

The governance of the charity has been reviewed in the context of the Charity Commission’s Governance Code which has resulted in a strengthening of the quality standards the group uses to ensure integrity and inclusivity in the charity’s operations. 

## **Vision and Beliefs** 

As an organisation, Railway Children recognises that the environment in which we operate in is one of uncertainty and constant change. The resources we rely on in order to meet our charitable aims are both competitive and subject to ever-changing trends, whilst our beneficiary environment is one that varies frequently. In response to this we construct our organisation so we can be as flexible and as innovative as possible. We nurture a culture that is both informal, inclusive and open without compromising on accountability or professionalism. This culture reflects a commitment to making a lasting change in the lives of children at risk on the streets and is informed by our stated values which work together to underpin all that we do: 

‘Our vision is a world where no child ever has to live on the streets’ 

## **Values** 

## **THESE FIVE VALUES GUIDE OUR WORK** 

**NEVER GIVE UP** - Face challenges head on 

**HAVE COURAGE** - Push boundaries. Think Big 

**EARN TRUST** - Be Honest. Always act with Integrity 

**SHOW COMPASSION** - Respect and Dignity for all 

**NURTURE TALENT** - Encourage growth. Enable others 

13 



## **Governance - Trustee Responsibilities** 

As a charity accountable to all our donors, our resources must be carefully managed, and our legal responsibilities met. 

Since its incorporation, the Railway Children Trustees have been the organisation’s governing body. Trustees hold ultimate legal responsibility for the charity and collectively ensure delivery of our objectives, set our strategic direction and uphold our values as an organisation. 

The key responsibilities of the Trustees are: 

- Development and annual review of the charity’s performance from definition of concepts to approval of the strategic direction 

- Setting objectives for the development and review of our strategic plan, including approval on annual budgets and plans 

- Approval of the Annual Report and Audited Accounts 

- Identification and management of risks 

- Appointment of Sub-Committees and delegation of powers 

- Appointment, terms and conditions and delegation of powers to the Group Chief Executive 

- Monitoring compliance with both company and charity law 

- The stewardship of assets 

Railway Children as a group operates under the guidance of a Board of Trustees. The implementation of the Trustees’ plans and policies, and the responsibility for performance is vested in the Group Chief Executive. 

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total amount of such guarantees on 31 May 2024 was £320 (2023 - £270). The Trustees are members of the charity, but this entitles them only to voting rights. The Trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity. 

## **Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees** 

Under the requirements of the Articles of Association, all members of the charity are permitted to stand for election as Trustees at the Annual General Meeting. The Trustee body has the necessary powers to appoint a new Trustee at any time. Any such appointed Trustee can hold office until the next Annual General Meeting, when they can stand for election. 

One third of all, being the longest standing Trustees, retires in rotation and is eligible for re-appointment at the Annual General Meeting. The minimum number of Trustees is set at three and currently there are thirteen. There is no set maximum number. 

## **Trustee Induction and Training** 

Members of the charity who are considering standing as a Trustee are invited to attend Trustee meetings, to allow them to get to know the charity and the roles and responsibilities of a charity Trustee. Additionally, new Trustees are encouraged to attend an induction meeting, led by the Chairman and the Group Chief Executive. The meeting covers the following aspects: 

- Background to and history of the charity and the context in which it operates. 

- The principal responsibilities of a charity trustee. 

- A summary of the charity’s governing documents. 

- The charity’s current financial position and forecasts. 

- The strategic plan and current progress against objectives. 

A Trustee handbook exists to assist both new and existing Trustees in the discharge of their responsibilities. The handbook, which was updated in April 2022, includes governance and operational policies, the Memorandum and Articles, role descriptions of officers and current delegations. Trustees are encouraged to keep themselves up to date through appropriate training. 

14 



## **Remuneration Policy** 

Railway Children commits to recruiting and paying all our staff up to the median rate, determined by an independently benchmarked scale that is reviewed every three years. 

In the UK, we use the Charity data cut of the Croner Salary Search on-line survey. In the UK we benchmark our salaries which ensures salaries are fair and competitive. The data is cut in the following categories, International Development, job ranking, job role, size of charity (Annual income), size of charity (Number of employees). 

The salaries of the Group CEO and UK Director positions must be approved by the People and Culture Committee (PCC). 

## **Risks** 

The Trustees and senior staff have produced a five-year strategy (2023-2027) setting out the major opportunities available to the charity and the risks to which it is exposed. All risks are reviewed and updated quarterly by the Finance and Audit Committee and the Board of Trustees.  As part of this process, the Trustees have developed a Risk Management Policy, which comprises: 

- A quarterly review of the risks the charity may face 

- The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the plan 

- The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should any of those risks materialise 

|•<br>The implementation of procedures designe<br>should any of those risks materialise|d to minimise any potential impact on the charity|
|---|---|
|**Key risks for 2023-24**|**Mitigations**|
|Cyberattack causes disruption to business<br>continuity and/or reputational damage from loss<br>of confidential data.|Ongoing monitoring by our IT support company,<br>staff training to increase awareness.|
|Challenging<br>regulatory<br>framework<br>in<br>the<br>countries that we work in.|Obtain and follow external advice on compliance.|
|Our current financial commitments to core<br>programme and overhead, combined with any<br>kind of shortfall in income, place pressure on low<br>reserves, leaving limited capacity to respond to<br>problems or opportunities.|Quarterly review and reforecast of income and<br>expenditure. Review pipeline of restricted<br>funding applications to give indication of income<br>and timings.|
|Safeguarding|Safeguarding teams continue to respond to<br>instances in line with policies and also build<br>implementing partner capacity|



## **Reserves** 

The Board of Trustees reviews the charity’s reserves policy annually. The basis of Railway Children’s reserve policy is: 

- To protect the continuity of our work, including specified liabilities and partner commitments 

- To provide capacity to invest in innovative programme activities that may initially be difficult to fund 

To achieve the above, a minimum reserve is defined as being three months of our core unrestricted expenditure. Our target reserve is based upon the level required to enable the following year’s programme to be funded and close at the budget reserve level. 

The unrestricted funds closed at £0.80m (FY22-23 £0.66m) an increase of £0.1m on the prior year and just above the reserves target of three months unrestricted expenditure which equates to £0.77m in the 2024-25 budget. 

15 



## **Statement of Responsibilities of the Trustees** 

The trustees (who are also directors of Railway Children for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company or group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently 

- Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 

- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent 

- State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements 

- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation 

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

In so far as the trustees are aware: 

- There is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware 

- The trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information 

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

## Auditor 

Sayer Vincent LLP was re-appointed as the charitable company's auditor during the year and has expressed its willingness to continue in that capacity. 

The directors’ annual report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime. 

The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 9 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by 

Malcolm Brown 

Chairman of the Board 

16 



## **Independent auditor’s report to the members and Trustees of Railway Children** 

## **Opinion** 

We have audited the financial statements of Railway Children (the ‘parent charitable company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 May 2024 which comprise the consolidated statement of financial activities, the group and parent charitable company balance sheets, the consolidated statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion, the financial statements: 

- Give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent charitable company’s affairs as at 31 May 2024 and of the group’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended 

- Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice 

- Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011 

## **Basis for opinion** 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the group financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## **Conclusions relating to going concern** 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on Railway Children’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

## **Other Information** 

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the group financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the group financial statements does not cover the other information, and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent 

17 



with the group financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the group financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 

## **Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006** 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

- The information given in the trustees’ annual report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements 

- The trustees’ annual report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements 

## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** 

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- Adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charitable company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

- The parent charitable company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

- Certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

- We have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or 

- The directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ annual report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report. 

## **Responsibilities of trustees** 

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the parent charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** 

We have been appointed auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and section 151 of the Charites Act 2011 and report in accordance with those Acts. 

18 



Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below. 

## **Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities** 

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following: 

- We enquired of management, which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerning the group’s policies and procedures relating to: 

   - Identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance; 

   - Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud; 

   - The internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations. 

- We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. 

- We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the group operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the group from our professional and sector experience. 

- We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. 

- We reviewed any reports made to regulators. 

- We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 

- We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud. 

- In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business. 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation.  This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. 

19 



A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

## **Use of our report** 

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

Jonathan Orchard FCA (Senior statutory auditor) 

Date: 4 February 2025 

for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor 

110 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TG 

Sayer Vincent LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006 

20 



RAILWAY CHILDREN
CONSOLIOATED STATEMENT OF FINANCL4L ACTIVITIES {inC￿p018ting kncorne & Expenditure Account)
for the
r ended 31 Ma 2024
2024
Total
2023
Total
Restrleted
Income from:
Donations and Legacies
1.961.985
356.326
2.318.311
2,204,418
Charitable Activities
64.025
1,454,064
1.518.089
1.005.713
Other trading activities
635.916
635.916
634.055
Investments
14.224
4.007
18.231
14.352
Totsl Income
2,676,150
1,814,397
4,490.547
3,858,538
Expendlture ¢)n:
Fundrai%ng
1,125.242
279.781
1,405.023
1.322.021
Charitable Activities
1.424.603
1.522.348
2.946,9S1
2.912.852
Total Expenditure
2,549,845
1,802,129
4,351,974
4,234,873
Net Income I (Expenditure)
126,305
12,268
138,573
1376,3351
Transfer between funds
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward
21
676.785
955.895
1,632,680
2,009,015
Total funds carried forward
803,090
968,163
1,7n,253
1,632,680
All of the above results ale derived fiom continuing actiwtie&
All recognised gains and losses are included in the Statement of Rnancial Activities.
Accordin9ly no statement of total recognised gains and losses are given.
All restricted funds received and expended relate to incone fuThYs.
21

RAILWAY CHILDREN
CONSOLIDATED AND PARENT 8ALAMCE SHEET
As at 31 Ma 2024
Group
2024
Charity
2024
2023
2023
xed Assets
Tangible Assets
Investment
6,610
20.776
11,023
20.776
10
20.876
20,876
Current Assets
Debtors & Prepayments
Cash at Bank & in Hand
16
211,859
1.926.219
171,523
1.740.830
175,162
1.634,654
357,164
1.270.792
2.138,078
1,912.353
1,809,816
1,627,956
Current Liabilities
Amounts Falling Due within One Year
17
(394.2111
(311.4ni
1203.4221
1204,4951
Net Current Assets
1,743,867
1.6(X),881
1,606,394
1.423,461
Net Assets
18
1.rn.253
1,632.680
1,627,270
1,444,337
Funds
Unrestricted Income Funds
General Funds
Designated Funds
Restricted Income Funds
Restricted Income Funds in Deficit
300.089
503,000
1.051.881
(83.n71
261.210
415,575
964,100
18,2051
411.728
503,000
796,259
183,n71
410.913
415,575
626.054
18,2051
T¢>tsl Funds
21
1.7n.253
1.632.680
1.627.270
1,444.337
The finanaal statement of Railway Children. regislered number 03265496. v4ere arvoved by Ihe Board of Trustees on 9
December 2024 and ygned on its behalf by
Malcolm Brown
Chairman of the Board
22

RAILWAY CHILDREN
CONSOUDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
for the
r ended 31 M 2024
2024
2023
Note
Cash flthys frml operatlng actlvltles
Net cash prtylded by ¢per•tlng •¢ti¥ltles
140,795
1416,4021
Cash trom investing actrvitiw:
Puichase of fixed assÉ%ts
Dividends and interest from investments
10
11.2501
18.231
07,3121
14.352
Purchase of investmenls
Net cash prcr4ided by I (used in) investing adivities
16,981
12,9601
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the y￿r
157.776
1419.3621
Cash and cash equivalents at the bes¥nniThJ of the year
1.740,830
2,127,964
Change in cash and cash equivalents due to exchange rate movements
27.613
32,228
Cash and cash equi¥alents at the end of the y￿r
1.926,219
1.740.830
Recanciliation of net income l {expenditure) to net cash from t)pÈrnting activit￿$
2024
2023
Net incame l (èxpenditure) for thè repc*ting peri¢)d
las per the statement of financial artivities)
DeFxeciation charges
Exchange IGainsVLosses
Ilncreaseydecrease in debtors
Increasèlldecreasel in creditors
Dividends and intefest from investments
138.573
(376335)
5.663
6,615
P7.6131
140.3361
82.739
2.2281
153.5211
53,419
118.2311
4.3521
Net cash prv4ided by I lused in) operating activit
140.795
416.402
Anatysls of cash and cash equ•valents
At 1 ￿n•1023 C•th flows
At 31 May 2024
Cash at bank and in hand
1.740.830
157.776
27.613
1.926.219
Total cash and cash equivalents
1,740.830
157.T16
27.613
1.926.219
23

Notss forming part of the Financial Statemnts
1ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The financial statements are prepared under the historic cost convention. The financial statements have
been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities- Statement of Recommended
Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting
Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 {effective 1 January 20151- (Charities
SORP FRS 1021, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS102}
(August 20141 and the Companies Act 2006.
As explained in the Trustees, Report, after making enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation
and no material uncertainties that Railway Children has adequate financial resources to continue in
operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern
basis in preparing the financial statements.
Reconciliation with previously Generalty Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP)
In preparing the accounts, the trustees have considered whether in applying the accounting policies
required by FRS 102 and the Charities SORP FRS 102 a restatement of comparative items was required.
The transition date was1 June 2014. No transitional adjustments were required.
Basis of Consolidation
The Group financial statements consolidate the financial statements of Railway Children and its wholly
owned subsidiary undertakings drawn up to 315t May each year. The results of the charitable company
and its wholly owned subsidiaries Railway Children Trading Limited, Railway Children Africa Limited and
the overseas entity over which the charity has control through membership, Railway Children India, are
consolidated on a lin&by-line basis. Transactions and balances between the charitable company and its
subsidiary have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. Balances between the two
companies are disclosed in the notes of the charitable company's balance sheet. A separate statement
of financial activities, or income and expenditure account. for the charitable company itself is not
presented because the charitable company has taken advantage of the exemptions afforded by section
408 of the Companies Act 2006.
Public benefrt entity
The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.
Incoming Resources
All income is recognised in the statement of financial activities when the conditions for receipt have been
met, it is probable that the income will be received and thatthe amount can be measured reliably. Where
a claim for Income Tax has or will be made, such income is grossed up for tax recoverable. Deferred
income represents amounts received for future periods and is released to incoming resources in the
period for which it has been received. The following accounting policies are applied to income..
Gifts in Kind and donated goods & facilities
Assets given for use by the charity are recognised as incoming resources at their estimated market value
when receivable. If they form part of the fixed assets at the yearend, they are included in the balance
sheet at the value at which the gift was included in incoming resources. Donated facilities are included
at their estimated value and the corresponding expenditure included under the appropriate heading. All
estimates of value of gifts are estimated as the value to the charity of the seNice or facility received;
being the price the charity estimates it would pay in the open market for a service 01 facility of equivalent
utility to the charity.
Donations
Donations and all other receipts from fundraising are reported gross and the related fundraising costs
are reported in other expenditure.
24

Legacies
For legacies that can be estimated, and receipt is reasonably assured, entitlement is taken as the earlier
of the date on which either- the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been
finalised and notification has been made by the executorlsl to the charity that a distribution will be made,
or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only
considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably, and the charity has been notified of
the executor's intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the
charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met,
then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.
Grants received
Grants are recognised when the conditions of entitlement are met.
Charitable expenditure
Charitable expenditure includes expenditure directly related to the objects of the charity and comprises
grants payable, accounted for when the trustees have approved such grant and instruction is given to
the charity's bankers. In addition, costs incurred in transmitting project grants to those projects, and the
cost of visits by trustees and staff to assess, monitor and develop the work ofthese projects is accounted
for on an accruals basis. Salary costs for c(xoordinators in India, Programme Development Manager,
National Policy and Strategy Officer, National Research & Strategy Manager and a proportion of the CEO
salary are included as this work is concerned with the developmwt of the management of and
enhancement of capacity of the projects supported are also accounted for on an accruals basis.
Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in inducing third parties to
make voluntary contributions to IL as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose.
Allocation of operating costs
The charity's operating costs are accounted for on an accruals basis and are allocated between costs of
generating funds, charitable expenditure and governance. Wherever possible the costs are positively
identified and specific to the activity, in other cases such as office provision and some staff costs a
percentage allocation of total cost is made based upon an estimate of staff time attributable to each
actlvlty. The allocations for the year were:
Percenta
es
UKSU
ort staff
CEO
Marketing &
Comms
60%
40%
Finance &
Admin
55%
31%
14%
100%
Other Costs Depreciation
Charitable
CORF
Governance
58%
25%
17%
100%
40%
58%
44%
50%
100%
100%
100%
Tangible fixed assets
The fixed assets are limited to equipment, furniture and fittings and are capitslised where the purchase
cost exceeds £1,000. Depreciation is provided on these assets in equal annual instalments over the
estimated lives ofthe assets as follows-
Office Equipment
Display Equipment
Furniture & fixtures
- 4 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
Fund Structures
Unrestricted funds are where funds have been received without any conditions from donors. Some
unrestricted funds have subsequently been set aside by Railway Children as designated funds where
they have been ear-marked to fund a specific partner from unrestricted funds.
25

Where funds have been received from donors for particular purposes these are represented as restricted
funds. Transfers are made between restricted funds to represent changes agreed with the donor of the
funds.
Foreign Currency
Transactions in foreign currencies are converted at rates prevailing at the date of the transaction.
Balances denominated in foreign currencies are converted at the rate of exchange prevailing at the
balance sheet date. Exchange rate differences are taken into account in arriving at net incoming
resources for the year.
Investments
In the charity balance sheet, investments in the subsidiary are shown at cost less provision for
impairments.
Pensions
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are
held separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund. The
pension cost charge represents contributions payable under the scheme by the charitable company to
the fund. The charitable company has no liability under the scheme other than for the payment of those
contributions.
Operating leases
Rental charges are charged on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
Investments in subsidiaries
Investments in subsidiaries are at cosL
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered.
Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short
maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Cash balances exclude any funds held on behalf of service users.
Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past
event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the
obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at
their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial
instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently
measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured
at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
26

2 Detailed comparatives for the stalement of financial activities
2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
N￿e
Income from:
Donations and Legacles
Charitable Activities
1.790.772
413,646
2,204.418
64,743
940,970
1,005,n3
Other trading activities
Investments
633.957
98
634,055
5,026
9.326
14.352
Totsl Income
2,494,498
1,364,040
3,858,538
Expènditure on:
Fundrai￿ng
Charitable Activitles
1,057,814
264.207
1,322.021
1.n3.518
1.189.334
2,912,852
Total Expendltu
2.781.332
1.453.541
4.234.873
Net Income I (Expendlture)
1286,8341
189,5011
1376,3351
Transfer bÈt¥vèen funds
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward
963,619
1.045.396
2.009,015
Total funds carried forward
21
676.785
955.895
1,632,680
3a Income from donations and legacies
2024
Total
2023
Total
Restrirted
Individual DonatIc￿s=
General
Legacies
COr￿ale Donations
Donated services
651.231
145.819
1,094,326
70,609
344.462
995.693
145,819
1,106,190
70,609
1.023.880
206,345
934,247
39,946
11.864
1.961.985
356,326
2,318.311
2,204.418
3b Comparative Inc4)me fram donations and legacies
2023
Total
Restricted
Individual DonatIc￿s=
General
Legacies
COr￿ale Donations
Donated serwces
682.875
206.345
863.867
37.685
341.005
1.023.880
206.345
934,247
39,946
70,380
2,261
1.790.772
413,646
2.204.418
27

4a Analy515 ol Expendrlure
Charitst>le
2024
2023
Total
rnising
lunds
Totsl
Gr8nts ￿Yable
UK Statt
Overseas Stsff
Office & sup￿les
Services
Travel & Accommc4Jatic
Other
Depreciati
Glfts in Kin
31.117
848.570
792.633
127.318
278,498
3,409
32.343
5.663
24.379
31.117
1.912.941
821.569
183.876
964.521
329.335
32.343
5,663
184.879
1.871.999
808.765
235.046
2.111
293.369
64.402
6.614
37,686
470.259
28.936
6.882
562.624
9.582
594.112
49.676
109.625
15.627
774
n7
46.230
Sub total
2.443.930
.124.513
14.491
769.040
4.351.974
4.234.871
SuFPXt costs
460.753
273.050
35.237
(769.0401
Governance costs
42.268
149.n81
Total expendituie 2024
2.946.951
1.405.023
4.351.974
4.234.871
Total exFenditure 2023
2.912.850
1.322.021
4.234.8n
4b Ccffj>arath* Ana￿18 ol Expendltur•
CharitaN•
Cwt ol lkn•bK• Supwt ¢osts
rnisin9
funds
2023
Tot•1
Grants payable
UK Staff
Overseas Sthff
Office & SupF4ies
Services
Travel & Acctynmod&ii¢)n
Other
Deweciati¢YI
Gifts in Kind
184.879
792,084
770,628
183.793
158.715
265.785
64.402
184.879
1.871.999
808.765
23S.046
732.113
293.369
64.402
6.614
37.686
261.973
38.137
817.941
45.483
.705
13.105
483.695
14.162
13,998
317
518
12.468
25.218
Sub total
2.438.850
828.955
14.316
952.752
4.234.8
SuFWt costs
627.950
297,275
27.527
1952,7521
G￿rnone* ¢oys
35,566
6.277
141.8431
Total èxpenditure 2023
3.102.366
.132.507
4.234.873
28

5 Staff C￿ts
2024
2023
UK Based Staff
Wages and salaries
National Insurance
Pension costs
UK Based Sub Total
1.640.657
173.784
98,501
1,912.942
1.600,832
176.961
94,205
1.871,998
Overseas ￿aff
821,569
808.765
2.734.511
2,680,763
6 Staff Number5
The average number of employees wa
2024
2023
Project development
Fundraising
Support and administration
UK staff subtotsl
21
15
18
17
38
37
East Africa rxogramme staff
India programme staff
33
47
Total staff
knfomwtlon regardlng employees and trnstees
'One em￿oyee had emduments in the range of £100.OCQ. £109.99912023- nonel.one employee had emoluments in the
range of £90,000- £99,99912023 - none), one in the rangè £80-£89,99912023- three). one in the range £70.000- £79,999
12023- two) and two in Ihe range £60.(X)0- £69.99912023- one).
'Thè cost of em ￿0Ying key management pefsonnd induding eMI￿Oyer,S Nl and ￿nSIOn contributions weas £690,693
12023.. £535,566)
7 N•t incoming resourc￿ f*x th• y•ar
This 15 Stated after charg¥n
2024
2023
Operating lease renlals
. Propety
- Other
19.568
16,178
Depreciation
5.663
6,615
Auditors remuneration
- Grwp Audit lexd irrecoverable VAT)
10.CO)
11,2
Trustee expenses of £471 rewesents the reimbursed travel and expenses of cffie Trustee12023.' nill.
The charity had annual commitments at the year end under operating lease5 expiring as follows..
2024
2023
Less than one year
2-5 years
19.620
3.270
11,400
18.050
22.891
29.450
29

9 Tanglble ￿Xed Assets IGroup and Charlty)
Charfty
Equipment &
Fumiture
Vehicles
Total
At be9innitvJ c4 year
Additiws In yeai
Dlsrx)sals
67.589
30.650
1,250
98.239
1.250
At close ￿ ywr
67.589
31.900
99.489
D•pr•clatlo
At beginning of y￿1
Ch8rge for year
DIS￿SaI5
67.S89
19.627
87.216
5.663
At close ol year
67.589
25.290
92.879
Net Book Valu•
Gr¢up and charity ai close d year
6.610
6.610
Group an<J ¢h8rlty ai bwinNng d year
11.023
11.023
10
These consist of £100 of sh8res In R811way Chlldren Tiadlng Limited and an ernlc*Ament fvnd Invesied l¢x the benefit ol wtrk In India with a
current value of £20.676.
Railway Chihlren Trading Linwted
2024
2023
Turnover
Expenditure
Use of Railway Chlldren10g0
Us• of R8llw&y Children *all
Trading kwtsfit l Uossl
Loan intwest paid to Railway Children
Profit donated to Railway Children
Net Fyolit for the year
Net assetscarried fcryard at May 31
178.093
160.1AOI
285.700
123.n3)
.0001
111.033
254.977
1111.033)
P54.977J
Rallw8y Chlldren Tt&ding C¢)mp8ny Lin*ted is a IC*X subsidiary c* Railway Children. During the V8.756 frcAn events. £26.524
frorn Xrna5 card5 and £72.814 from UK rKogramrne activities. Net ryrfit d¢￿alet1 to the charity was £111.03312023.. £254.97n
All the Railway Children Trading Ccrfnpany Lirntted's Frfclits for the year are dc￿ated to Railway Children. PaY￿￿ts to Railway Childwen
are regarded as a reducticfi crf the charitys exFenditwe and carKel ¢>Jt the cc•5didated accwrt
11 Tax8tlon
R8llway Chllaren Llmiied Is a cttatity abx11sls exww ¢rApyatr￿ tax as all lis Incm Is ¢hJriiable and Is &Wled for
ch&rltable WfkX)ses.
12 RaIhvayChikl￿ Aftha
2024
2023
Turnover
In¢¢)me fr￿ Rallway Chlldien
Expenditur•
Nei assets c8riled f¢yward ai May 31
191.325
664.IC¥)
8n.920
257.284
755.737
1.013.021
116.495
Rallway Chlldren Africa Is regi#ered as an lrtwnaii¢ywl Th9an1$ati¢￿ in Tanzania and carries Rollway Chll¢ren's
programme ol wtyk in Taniania. The results of Railway Children Africa awe c￿$(￿•￿81ed irtothe ￿(￿lp as ty have ¢hosw) io enter Inio
an 8ffi1181ion &greement with Railway Children undw whiet) av* to the current stratety ugng 9rwp systems.
13 Ralhvay Chlldrni Indla
2024
2023
Turnover
581.826
63.720
.1201
158.5741
372.111
67.687
ffj88.770
1248.972
Income frtyn Rallway Chlldien
Expenditure
SUrplu￿10trIC[tI
Rallway Chlldren IndSa Llmlte(J Is a sertlt)n 25 c(vnp8ny regi#ere¢ in India. The results of RCI are cty)x4idated Snto the group as they have
chosen to enter Into an afflliati(x) ageemeni wilh RC under which ty are conmiiied 10 the current ty(KJp strategy uyng grwp systems.
30

14 kndia Llalson Office
This legal entity employs the Railway Children staff in India and is tTÈated as a subigdiary in these accoJtK& Inccffi* f￿ India Lowas xlety
funded from the charity and amounted to £47.18612023.. É101.3621 and expwvjiturè f50.63112023.' f97.9631.
15 R•llw•y Chlldr•n p•r•ni th•rtty
The paient chaiity gr055 income for the ye•r exeludlbYJ RCTL IncrJY* is Q.547.64712023: É2.913.2941 and the net deficit for thè year Is
£59.57712023 rbet deliciL. £563.0711 including funds to sub*diariesr4 £774.983.
Charity
2024
2023
2024
2023
Debtors
Gift aid debtor
Other debtors
Prepayments and acuued incc*ne
Railway Children Africa to charity
Railway Children Tiadin9 Limited- owed tocharity
33.566
101.057
18.210
59.026
20.￿1
132.979
17.389
20.901
47.945
17.389
18.210
254
123,402
270,929
Tot&1
211.859
171.523
175.162
357.164
17 Liabilities: Amwnts Fallng ￿rth￿ One Year
cl￿501*￿ateII
2024
2023
Chartty
2024
2023
Credit¢ys
Tax nation81 Insur&rKt
Accrued Expenditure
Railway Children Africa- to charity
97.519
83.711
44.748
183.013
24.329
36.340
115.407
27.346
35.416
44.748
108.333
14.998
260.352
Total
394.211
311.472
203.422
204,495
18a Analy51$ ol 9roup net assets bet*wn lund$
Totsl
Funds 2024
Funds
Funds
Fund6
Flxed assets
NW currem assets
27.386
2n,703
27,386
1,743.867
968.164
503,(KX)
Net assets at Ihe end ￿ thè year
968.164
503.1
300.089
1.771.253
11b group n•t •SS•ts b•t¥*•n lund•
Tot•1
Funds 2023
Funds
Funds
Fund*
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
31.799
229.411
31.799
1.600.881
955.895
415.575
Net assets at Ihe end c4 the year
955,895
415.575
261.210
1.632.680
19 Related Partles
During the year there were rdated party transacticns with Railway Childrw India. Railway Children Africa and Railway Children
Ball Limited. Incthme from Railway Childien Ball Limited was £637.7￿ (2023.. £497.057J.
Rallway Chlldren was re9i#ere(l as a Ilalson c4fice In India Do March 241 and nN3na9ed the de16very c4 the Indla programme with fundlng
provlded entlrely vla Rallway Chlldien. Railway Children India is reg¥stwed as 8 secti(￿ 25 conp8ny in Indla and FCRA regi#ered.
The Rallway Chlldren Ball Lln*ted has Trust*È Ih RaihAT•y CNldvw and r￿$ an anrnjal lun¢Jralgng ball.
Railway Children Africa Lirnited is registered a5 a ccffjpany in Tanzania and manage5 the delivery ol the Tanzania F*ograrnme with
most funding prowded wa Railway Children. Railway Childien reryesentstives make up a majcrfity ca the board kwticns.
31

20 Funds held on beham of othw5
The charity Is part ol an unincorporated a$S￿latI4￿ known as the Partnershipfor Vulnerable Children. fcrfmed with with three other charities
Childhope. Get Cconected and ICT. The a$s￿l0t10n cperates a payrc41 &¥wng scheme cfi behalf cl its merthr& Raihway Children Ferfums
the financial administratiC4) the assc<iaticffi.
The sole assets of the 8ssoclJii¢)n are funds ¢cAlerted noi yet dlspersed whlch are In a sepgraie bank accwnt. The ba18nce on the
8¢¢0uni 81 M8y 31st 2024 was £5.33512023.. £1.7941. This b&nk a¢cwnt tloes not form part ol these ¢(x)sdidatetl a¢¢wnts.
21a Movement in Funds
Balance at
Trnnsfws
Balance at
OV0612023
Incoming
tgoing
3VO512024
Aestrkted Funds
Region
Tanzania
Fund•r
Funds held by RCA
Funds hdd by RC UK
DflD- UK Aid Direct
APPI
Hcffjda
Funds hdd by RCI
FuThJshdd by RC UK
162.031
59.571
6.382
9.918
9.495
45.353
257.227
384.815
250.352
441.245
1266.3161
1222.151)
146.C67
278.665
6.382
9.918
9.532
90.105
258.832
252.380
37
88.667
530.698
477.548
143.9151
1529.093)
1609.98
UK
Tothi R•*trkt•d Funds
934.792
l788.547
.671.4
1.051.881
R•st1￿•￿ ￿ndS In D•lkh
21.103
25.849
1130.6691
183.717J
955.895
1.814396
11B02.12
968.164
Unrestrlcted Funds
D•slonot•d Funds
74,453
38.910
302.212
415.575
261.210
676.785
135.939
227.924
776,598
1.140.461
1.535,689
2.676,150
(144,3921
(75.8341
832.81
11.053.036)
11.496.809)
12,549.8451
66,000
191.000
246.000
503.000
300.090
803.090
UK
East Afri¢8
Total Dey￿ated Funds
General Funds
Total unrestri￿ Funds
Total Fur*d#
1.632,680
4,490.516
4351,972
1,771,254
Purposes ol Restrirted Funds
All restricted funds are held for the rdiel CO children and young perscffls in conditions of hardship and distress who live on or are at risk of
APPI funds are for work to as￿St Stre￿ children railway statiC￿S in India
PACT.. Re#ricted the assistance ol street children and yc¥rth in Tanza￿8. deficrf as INS is In orieaf>
DflD'. These funds relate io the asystance of Slrew Childwen in TJnz8nia_
These are to cover cornrnitments rnade to partners made for the year ended May 31st 2025. details are contained in the annual rewt.
32

2•) Comparath* In Funds
Balance at
Transfws
Balance at
OV0612022
oming
I￿OIng
3V0512023
Restricted Funds
R•g
Tanzania
Fynd•r
Furbd5 held by RCA
Furbd5 hdd by RC UK
DflD- UK ￿'￿ect
APPI
29.104
56.686
188.439
125.171
6.382
(77.3241
16
436.168
153.2321
1122.2861
164.311
59.571
6.382
9.918
9.495
154.322
155.462
404,639
226.614
13.946
145.2T3
251.649
322,%0
U39.3721
14,467)
1427.1191
1173.1831
1495,0291
Hcffjda
Funds hdd by RCI
Funds hdd by RC UK
UK
576.
Tot•1 R•strkt•d Funds
1.046232
1332.556
1N14.
964.11)0
Restrfcted Funds In Delktt
18361
(38.853>
18.2051
1.045396
1364.040
0.453.54n
955.895
Unrestrlcted Funds
D￿10￿01•￿ Fund•
Indi8
UK
East Africa
Total Deygnated Funds
General Funds
Total UnwestfKted Funds
U25.1551
152.2561
849.022
671.611
1.822.887
2.494.498
(144.3921
(75.8341
1832.8101
11.053.036)
11.728.296)
12.781.332)
74.453
38.910
302.212
415.575
261.210
676.785
167,000
286,OC()
797.000
166.619
963.619
Total Funds
2.009.015
3,8M538
4234A73
1.632.680
33