Trustees’ Annual Report
For the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Objectives and Activities
Purposes of the charity
The objects of the CIO are to advance public education by the restoration, preservation, maintenance, operation and development of the Downs Light Railway as a heritage asset for the provision of practical education to young people between the ages of 7 to 18, in particular but not exclusively by: (a) educating young people in engineering disciplines, including civil, mechanical, electrical, design, and workshop practice; and (b) promoting science, technology and engineering focused activities and careers.
Summary of the Main Activities in relation to those purpose for the public benefit, in particular the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts
Provision of practical activities on the Downs Light Railway to further the education of young people aged from 7 years and upwards in practical engineering mediums and railway operation.
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During 2022-23, 22 students aged between 7 and 13 years from the adjacent school benefited from the provision of extra-curricular activities in railway engineering on Saturday mornings at the railway during term time. Five additional full day sessions open to all were provided for young people in school holidays. These open sessions consisted of instruction in general railway maintenance activities and dedicated locomotive driver training.
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The young people who are involved in the educational activities on the Downs Light Railway also benefit from the opportunity to demonstrate and enhance their skills by running and demonstrating the operation of the railway for visitors. To this end, the young people participated in running the railway for a school Open Day on 02/05/22. On 14/05/22 the Downs Light Railway hosted a special open afternoon for all members’ families with the young people demonstrating their practical skills by taking part in a shunting competition.
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All young people participating in railway activities were given the opportunity to operate the railway for train rides at the school’s “Summer Celebration” on 25/06/22.
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The charity has also worked with a UK supplier of personal protective equipment to design, develop and test the first fire-retardant coveralls (boilersuit) available in children’s sizes. The first full order of these new coveralls has been delivered and they have since been worn by the young people at the Downs Light Railway.
Promotion of youth engagement and career opportunities for young people in heritage and national railways, and other STEM related industries.
Downs Light Railway Trust, Colwall, Malvern, Worcs. WR13 6EY – Registered Charity 1195660
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01/07/22 a small group of Downs Light Railway volunteers and young people with their parents visited Lakeshore Railway in South Shields to participate in their 50th Anniversary celebrations. This enabled the young people to experience another commercially run railway of the same miniature gauge and engage with their staff.
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On 03/09/22 all young people were invited to exhibit the railway and demonstrate their engineering and driving skills to the attending Narrow Gauge Railway Society members on their visit to the Downs Light Railway. This gave the young people the opportunity to discuss engineering, heritage and associated railway opportunities and careers with a wide range of railway professionals and enthusiasts.
Protection and preservation of the Downs Light Railway and its heritage, as the world’s oldest private miniature railway, and the only railway directly operated for, and by, young people.
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Completion of a new boiler for the Downs Light Railway locomotive BROCK to enable it to be used for the education of young people. This historic tank plus tender locomotive was built in 1973. The DLRT worked in partnership with Lakeshore Railroad, another rare 9.5-inch gauge miniature railway, who have kindly assisted with the running in of the new boiler at their location in South Shields, to support us with preparing BROCK for resuming educational activities at the Downs Light Railway post restoration.
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Ongoing maintenance to steam locomotives GEORGE (built in 1939 and on loan to the Downs Light Railway, returned Oct-2022) and JAMES BOYD (built in 1991). Ongoing maintenance to the petrol hydraulic locomotive TIM CADBURY (built in 1984). Maintenance activities involve the young people where possible, with support and instruction from our specialist volunteers.
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Maintaining and enhancing the heritage of the DLRT with the addition of past correspondence and photographs to the physical and digital archives.
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On site track works to preserve and maintain the railway at its location in Colwall, Herefordshire.
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Groundworks for new workshop and storage facilities were completed during 2021-22 and during 2022-23 were monitored and allowed to settle given the topography and hydrology of the site. These represent the initial phase of our Centenary Development Programme to enhance the heritage preservation and educational delivery at the Downs Light Railway as we head towards our Centenary in 2025, via the development of improved workshop and locomotive storage facilities.
Charity Governance
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The transfer of assets and operations of the former Charitable Trust (513882) was completed early in the reporting period and the old charity was dissolved on 14/04/2022.
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Due to an offsite incident away from the railway involving a member of the board of trustees, educational activities on site in Colwall were suspended by the landlord on 16/09/22. This serious incident was reported to the Charity Commission. During the period of suspension, as well as dealing with the incident follow-up, the trustees also carried out a governance and policy review, developed plans for enhancing future educational activities, continued to preserve the onsite heritage and engaged with external railways and professional bodies.
Downs Light Railway Trust, Colwall, Malvern, Worcs. WR13 6EY – Registered Charity 1195660
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Statement of Public Benefit
The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of education and heritage protection.
Contribution made by volunteers
The Downs Light Railway Trust is a volunteer led organisation, with no paid staff. In addition to the five trustees, there are several other regular and occasional volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to the running of the Downs Light Railway. These include instruction in miniature railway operation, contributing track maintenance expertise, help with fundraising and at events, and contributing time, expertise and equipment for special projects such as infrastructure or engineering works.
In 2022 – 2023, our non-trustee volunteers carried out instruction for educational activities, assisted with track maintenance, helped at events and assisted with locomotive maintenance and engineering works.
Achievements and Performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole
The Downs Light Railway Trust has made a difference to the lives and educational experience of the young people who engage in our activities, through the development of their practical STEM skills. Our feedback from parents and carers demonstrates that our activities are extremely beneficial to those young people who take part, through enhancing their skills, confidence and teamwork, and raising their awareness of STEM and heritage related careers.
Heritage rail is a vital component of our cultural heritage and tourism industry and currently heritage railways are finding it challenging to attract young people. Our activities through education and engagement of young people represent the delivery of wider benefits to society by raising the awareness of heritage rail as a career or volunteering opportunity, to support the ongoing operation and preservation of our industrial and cultural heritage.
Unfortunately, due to the suspension of our educational activities on site by our landlord less than halfway through the reporting year, several of our educational, community engagement and onsite heritage preservation plans were postponed and have therefore been carried over to the 2023-24 reporting year and beyond. This includes working in partnership with Colwall Orchard Group to run an apple harvest event at the railway celebrating Colwall’s local cultural and natural heritage.
Financial Review
The charity’s accounts are set out below. The accounts are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis and were subjected to an independent examination.
Downs Light Railway Trust, Colwall, Malvern, Worcs. WR13 6EY – Registered Charity 1195660
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The suspension of activities on the Downs Light Railway site from 16/09/22 had a significant negative impact on the charity’s income due to cancelled activities and events. The trustees placed the highest priority on resolution of the underlying issue and resumption of activities (in the following reporting period) so as to minimise the financial and reputational impact. The trustees are of the opinion that the charity remains a going concern, with plans underway to recruit new expertise on a volunteer basis to secure our educational offering.
Policy for Holding Reserves
The Charity holds two specific reserve funds, identified as the Locomotive Maintenance Fund (LMF) and the Centenary Development Fund (CDF). Funds raised in anticipation of development or acquisition costs are also held on reserve until the time of such expenditure.
The LMF provides a sinking fund of unrestricted monies for the purpose of planned preventive maintenance costs on the assets.
The CDF is a restricted fund whose use is restricted to expenditure incurred towards achieving the Centenary Development Programme.
Statement of Financial Activity
| Downs Light Railway Trust | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts & Payments Account | 31/03/2023 | 31/03/2023 | 31/03/202 | 31/03/2022 | |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | Notes | |
| Receipts | |||||
| Donations | £452 | £600 | £1,052 | £0 | |
| Grants/Funding | £2,010 | £0 | £2,010 | £0 | |
| Sales | £455 | £0 | £455 | £0 | |
| Other | £10 | £125 | £135 | £0 | |
| £2,927 | £725 | £3,652 | £0 | ||
| Payments | |||||
| Administration | -£2,456 | £0 | -£2,456 | £0 | |
| Operations | -£2,572 | -£498 | -£3,070 | £0 | |
| Publicity | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | |
| -£5,028 | -£498 | -£5,526 | £0 | ||
| Extraordinary Items | |||||
| Transfer from DLRT 513882 | £6,072 | £54,011 | £60,083 | £8,555 | 2 |
| Transfers of Funds | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | |
| Net movement of funds | £3,971 | £54,238 | £58,209 | £8,555 | |
| Total Funds b/f | £4,555 | £4,000 | £8,555 | £0 | |
| **Total Funds c/f ** | £8,526 | £58,238 | £66,764 | £8,555 |
Registered Charity no. 1195660 HMRC reference ZD17159
Downs Light Railway Trust, Colwall, Malvern, Worcs. WR13 6EY – Registered Charity 1195660
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Downs Light Railway Trust Statement of Assets & Liabilities
| Downs Light Railway Trust Statement of Assets & Liabilities |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at y/e | 31/03/2023 | 31/03/2022 | |||||||||
| Assets | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | Notes | ||||||
| Cash Resources | |||||||||||
| Petty Cash | £0 | £0 | £0 | £54 | |||||||
| Bank – General | £3,880 | £0 | £3,880 | £501 | |||||||
| Bank – LMF | £4,646 | £0 | £4,646 | £4,000 | |||||||
| Bank – CDF | £0 | £58,238 | £58,238 | £4,000 | |||||||
| £8,526 | £58,238 | £66,764 | £8,555 | 1 | |||||||
| Other Monetary Assets | |||||||||||
| - Receivables | £40 | £0 | £40 | £60 | |||||||
| £8,566 | £58,238 | £66,804 | £8,615 | ||||||||
| Significant Assets | Cost(opt) | Value(opt) | 2 | ||||||||
| - Petrol-hydraulic locomotive TIM | |||||||||||
| - Steam locomotive JAMES BOYD | |||||||||||
| - Steam locomotive BROCK | |||||||||||
| - 4No. passenger carriages | |||||||||||
| - 5No. works carriages | |||||||||||
| - Laid trackwork (approx. 650m) | |||||||||||
| - Tools and Equipment | |||||||||||
| at y/e | 31/03/2023 | 31/03/2022 | |||||||||
| Liabilities | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |||||||
| Short-term Liabilities | |||||||||||
| - Uncleared payments (payables) | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | |||||||
| Other Liabilities | re Fund | Timing (opt) | Amount (opt) |
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| - [None] | |||||||||||
| Notes | |||||||||||
| Note 1 | |||||||||||
| Cash Resources represent | Fund ID | **Type ** | 31/03/2023 | 31/03/2022 | |||||||
| - General Administration Fund | General | Unrestricted | £3,880 | £555 | |||||||
| - Locomotive Maintenance Fund | LMF | Unrestricted | £4,646 | £4,000 | |||||||
| - CentenaryDevelopment Fund | CDF | Restricted | £58,238 | £4,000 | |||||||
| £66,764 | £8,555 | ||||||||||
| Note 2 | |||||||||||
| Transfer of assets from charity no. 513882 | was completed in the period. | ||||||||||
| Non-monetary assets transferred had an estimated replacement value of £134,044. | |||||||||||
| Cash-equivalent assets transferred were: | |||||||||||
| Fund ID Type 31/03/2023 |
31/03/2022 | ||||||||||
| - General Administration Fund General Unrestricted £4,544 |
£555 | ||||||||||
| - Locomotive Maintenance Fund LMF Unrestricted £1,528 |
£4,000 | ||||||||||
| - CentenaryDevelopment Fund CDF Restricted £54,011 |
£4,000 | ||||||||||
| £60,083 | £8,555 | ||||||||||
| Registered Charity no. 1195660 | |||||||||||
| HMRC reference ZD17159 |
Downs Light Railway Trust, Colwall, Malvern, Worcs. WR13 6EY – Registered Charity 1195660
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Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
Constitution dated 31 August 2021. (An amended Constitution was adopted on 21 April 2023, shortly after the reporting period).
Constitution
The charity is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods
New Trustees are appointed by Resolution of a meeting of the Trustees. Selection is based on required skills, experience, and needs of the Trust. There is no provision in the Constitution for nominated or ex officio trusteeships.
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name
Downs Light Railway Trust
Registered Charity Number
1195660
Charity’s Principal Address
Downs Light Railway Trust The Downs Malvern Brockhill Road Colwall Worcestershire WR13 6EY
Trustees
Mr Timothy Edward Pennock Chairman (suspended from 16-Sep-2022) Dr Henry Fletcher Winstanley Treasurer Dr Eleanor Jane Brown Mr Nick Dodson Acting Chair (from 15-Oct-2022) Mr Trevor Stanley Nall
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved this report. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Mr Nicholas Dodson Dr Henry Fletcher Winstanley Position(s) Acting Chairman Treasurer Date
Downs Light Railway Trust, Colwall, Malvern, Worcs. WR13 6EY – Registered Charity 1195660
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Downs Light Railway Trust On accounts for the year 31/03/2023 Charity no 1159660 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2023.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination using checklist CC32 which is the examiner's statement guidance for examiners as stated by the Charities Commission.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
| Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: |
31/10/2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy Kenneth Bone | ||
| Chartered Institute of Management Accountants ACMA ID: 1-JNDL |
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| 16 John Williams Close | ||
| Priorslee | ||
| Telford | ||
| TF2 5AA |
Section B Disclosure
No concerns to report.
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