Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
Period start date From 23/1/2024 To Period end date 31/03/2025
Charity name: Swindon Model Railway Club
Charity registration number: 1206661
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objectives of the club are to advance public education and foster a general interest in model railways, railways and allied pursuits, and in particular to encourage a high standard of modelling amongst the members of the club |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
During the period covered by this report, we have been able to continue our exhibition program.We ran our annual Exhibition in March, showcasing our club and other clubs from across the country. This took place in the local railway museum, we had over 600 visitors for the event. We have taken layouts to a number of local exhibitions around the area, promoting both the club and the hobby to a large number of people. The tools that have been made available to us, such as social media and our website, are used to promote the profile of the club. The club moved into new premises in the summer and this is allowing the club to set up its layouts and enable the club to start recruiting new members and to promote our club in the local community. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Swindon Model Railway Club has considered the guidance the charities commission has provided when creating activities for the public |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Grant making is not a consideration for our charity |
|---|---|---|
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Volunteers contribute to the aims of the charity in various ways. During more significant events, such as the exhibition, a core team of club members dedicated many hours to advertising, creating, organising and running. For example, volunteers have worked to increase accessibility for the public by using social media, allowing people who may otherwise not have known or been able to attend to access the event. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Para 1.20 | This year, the charity again increased the size of the annual Exhibition by incorporating a dedicated narrow gauge element, thus appealing to a different part of the model railway community. This proved to be a successful trial and it is intended to repeat this in future years. In line with our aims, this included inviting a school model railway group to come and display their layout and encouraging them to take up the hobby. The new club rooms have enabled members to set up a permanent display layout and also to work on a number of other layouts owned by the club. These layouts are taken to exhibitions across the country. There are opportunities in the coming year to create more new layouts where we believe there is a gap in exhibitions for new and modern layouts. The club is focusing its new layout on as a modern image location with a preservation line next door to encourage members to showcase both modern and historic trains. The layout will be exclusively digital control and it is hoped that this will attract junior |
members to the club. The club already have a junior membership programme for those under 18.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | We are pleased that the exhibition made a surplus on our exhibitions, both through the fees paid by the attendees and through our own second hand sales stand. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | N/A |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | We have been able to improve our base funds f and made an increased surplus for the year. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | We are holding a surplus to help cover any shortfall in our annual income and expenditure. The surpluses can also be used to support the maintenance and creation of our various exhibition layouts. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CIO trust |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO constitution |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Free Democratic election by the membership for each trustee reaching the end of their term or for newly interested Trustees. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
|
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Swindon Model Railway Club |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | N/A |
| Registered charity number | 1206661 |
| Charity’s principal address | Hafawey House Hoggs Lane Purton Swindon SN5 4BU |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Stephens | Chair of Trustees | |||
| Richard Woodbridge |
Club Secretary | |||
| Ian Burbidge | Treasurer | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity
Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) John Stephens
Position (eg Secretary, Chair of Trustees Chair, etc)
Date
SWINDON MODEL RAILWAY CLUB INCOME AND EXPENDITURE REPORT FOR THE YEAR TO 31.1.2025
| EXPENDITURE Licence fee Electricty Insurance Subscriptions Bank charges Website costs Secretarial/Stationary Legal fee Storage Club running costs General connetors for layouts O layout costs HOn3 layout costs OO layout costs N layout costs Z layout costs Layout Costs Clubroom Maintenance & Tools Clubroom Equiptment Club Maintenance Total Summary Balances as at Current Account Bond Accounts Cash in hand Represented by Balances Profit/loss for year I Burbidge Treasurer |
2025 £1,792.50 £383.48 £40.00 £420.00 749.8 £3,385.78 £613.12 £37.93 £651.05 £4,036.83 |
2024 £91.96 £372.92 £33.00 61.98 1120.58 £1,680.44 £1,680.44 31/01/2025 £33,853.69 £33,853.69 £33,258.33 £595.36 £33,853.69 |
INCOME Subscriptions Interest received Compensation Donations Insurance Clubroom keys Club running income Exhibition Profit Total Less expenditure Profit/Loss for year |
2025 2024 £1,780.00 £1,420.00 £1,000.00 £720.00 £1,060.00 £2,500.00 £3,480.00 £2,132.19 £4,632.19 £3,480.00 £4,036.83 £1,680.44 £595.36 £1,799.56 31/01/2024 £33,258.33 £33,258.33 £31,458.77 £1,799.56 £33,258.33 |
2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EXHIBITION ACCOUNT - MODRAIL 2024
| INCOME Admissions Trade Stands Club Stand LESS:EXPENDITURE Advertising Hire of Hall Insurance Posters & Handbills Visiting Layouts Catering & Buffet Gift Van Hire Stationery Set-up Costs Banner Surplus |
2024 2023 £3,584.00 £2,919.00 £435.00 £216.50 £320.00 £678.50 £4,339.00 £3,814.00 £1,515.00 £1,375.00 £238.86 £230.79 £72.00 £175.00 £90.00 £128.98 £63.66 £9.99 £76.97 £15.99 £2,206.81 £1,785.43 £2,132.19 £2,028.57 |
|---|---|