01 Identity
Registration and reporting
- Registration status
- Registered
- Reporting status
- Submission Received
- Charity type
- Charitable company
- Registered
- 1 February 1977
- Removed
- Not supplied
- Company number supplied
- 00899248
- Financial period
- 1 February 2024 – 31 January 2025
- Latest income
- £3,853,845
- Latest expenditure
- £2,145,263
- Gift Aid
- Yes
- Owns or uses land
- Yes
- In administration
- No
- Insolvent
- No
- CIO
- No
Public contact address: Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 7NJ
Website recorded by the regulator: www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk (displayed as text)
02 Activities
What the charity does
1) To preserve, restore and operate as a permanent public exhibition and museum, steam and other railway locomotives, rolling stock and equipment, both for historical and educational purposes, and2) To make available for public reference the history, equipment and operation all with reference to both the former Great Western Railway and its successors since nationalisation on 1 January 1948
03 Official extract
Charity Annual Return History
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2024
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2025
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR25
- Reporting Due Date
- 30 November 2025
- Date Annual Return Received
- 23 November 2025
- Date Accounts Received
- 23 November 2025
- Total Gross Income
- £3,853,845
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £2,145,263
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2023
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2024
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR24
- Reporting Due Date
- 30 November 2024
- Date Annual Return Received
- 2 November 2024
- Date Accounts Received
- 2 November 2024
- Total Gross Income
- £2,232,098
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £1,785,937
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2022
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2023
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR23
- Reporting Due Date
- 30 November 2023
- Date Annual Return Received
- 4 November 2023
- Date Accounts Received
- 4 November 2023
- Total Gross Income
- £1,696,734
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £2,355,117
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2021
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2022
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR22
- Reporting Due Date
- 30 November 2022
- Date Annual Return Received
- 21 October 2022
- Date Accounts Received
- 21 October 2022
- Total Gross Income
- £1,465,300
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £1,455,638
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2020
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2021
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR21
- Reporting Due Date
- 30 November 2021
- Date Annual Return Received
- 18 October 2021
- Date Accounts Received
- 18 October 2021
- Total Gross Income
- £1,317,020
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £1,390,936
04 Official extract
Charity Annual Return Parta
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- Yes
- Fin Period Order Number
- 1
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR25
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2024
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2025
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2025
- Ar Received Date
- 23 November 2025
- Total Gross Income
- £3,853,845
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £2,145,263
- Grant Making Is Main Activity
- No
- Count Govt Contracts
- 0
- Count Govt Grants
- £1
- Income From Government Grants
- £3,500
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- Yes
- Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
- Yes
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- No
- Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
- No
- Trustee Receives Payments Services
- No
- Trustee Receives Other Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- No
- Count Volunteers
- 200
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 2
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR24
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2023
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2024
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2024
- Ar Received Date
- 2 November 2024
- Total Gross Income
- £2,232,098
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £1,785,937
- Grant Making Is Main Activity
- No
- Count Govt Contracts
- 0
- Count Govt Grants
- £1
- Income From Government Grants
- £3,069
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- Yes
- Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
- Yes
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- No
- Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
- No
- Trustee Receives Payments Services
- No
- Trustee Receives Other Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- No
- Count Volunteers
- 200
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 3
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR23
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2022
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2023
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2023
- Ar Received Date
- 4 November 2023
- Total Gross Income
- £1,696,734
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £2,355,117
- Grant Making Is Main Activity
- No
- Count Govt Contracts
- 0
- Count Govt Grants
- £1
- Income From Government Grants
- £10,234
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- Yes
- Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
- Yes
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- No
- Trustee Payments Acting As Trustee
- No
- Trustee Receives Payments Services
- No
- Trustee Receives Other Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- No
- Count Volunteers
- 300
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 4
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR22
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2021
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2022
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2022
- Ar Received Date
- 21 October 2022
- Total Gross Income
- £1,465,300
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £1,455,638
- Charity Raises Funds From Public
- Yes
- Charity Professional Fundraiser
- No
- Charity Commercial Participator
- No
- Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts
- No
- Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants
- Yes
- Count Govt Grants
- £3
- Income From Government Grants
- £144,328
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- Yes
- Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
- Yes
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- No
- Count Volunteers
- 300
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 5
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR21
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2020
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2021
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2021
- Ar Received Date
- 18 October 2021
- Total Gross Income
- £1,317,020
- Total Gross Expenditure
- £1,390,936
- Charity Raises Funds From Public
- Yes
- Charity Professional Fundraiser
- No
- Charity Commercial Participator
- No
- Charity Receives Govt Funding Contracts
- No
- Charity Receives Govt Funding Grants
- Yes
- Count Govt Grants
- £1
- Income From Government Grants
- £62,097
- Charity Has Trading Subsidiary
- Yes
- Trustee Also Director Of Subsidiary
- Yes
- Does Trustee Receive Any Benefit
- No
- Trustee Resigned Employment
- No
- Employees Salary Over 60k
- No
- Count Volunteers
- 300
05 Official extract
Charity Annual Return Partb
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- Yes
- Fin Period Order Number
- 1
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR25
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2024
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2025
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2025
- Ar Received Date
- 23 November 2025
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 2502282
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 536567
- Income Charitable Activities
- 775855
- Income Investments
- 39141
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 3853845
- Income Legacies
- 2196337
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £288,094
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £1,857,169
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 2145263
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 1531
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 22042
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 474792
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 68238
- Gain Loss Investment
- 7009
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £1,528,878
- Assets Total Fixed
- 2311519
- Assets Own Use
- 2311519
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 0
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £2,602,404
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £249,729
- Assets Current Investment
- 1079881
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £4,664,194
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 220329
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 29400
- Assets Cash
- £1,308,012
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 751815
- Funds Restricted
- 3912379
- Funds Total
- 4664194
- Count Employees
- 31
- Consolidated Accounts
- Yes
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 2
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR24
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2023
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2024
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2024
- Ar Received Date
- 2 November 2024
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 1106763
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 408248
- Income Charitable Activities
- 685885
- Income Investments
- 31202
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 2232098
- Income Legacies
- 768449
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £249,781
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £1,536,156
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 1785937
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 0
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 19029
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 384184
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 56031
- Gain Loss Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £404,582
- Assets Total Fixed
- 1827353
- Assets Own Use
- 1827353
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 0
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £1,369,579
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £248,329
- Assets Current Investment
- 0
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £2,948,603
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 248329
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 0
- Assets Cash
- £1,208,796
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 2231935
- Funds Restricted
- 716668
- Funds Total
- 2948603
- Count Employees
- 33
- Consolidated Accounts
- Yes
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 3
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR23
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2022
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2023
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2023
- Ar Received Date
- 4 November 2023
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 673624
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 414449
- Income Charitable Activities
- 595083
- Income Investments
- 13578
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 1696734
- Income Legacies
- 201982
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £214,987
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £2,140,130
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 2355117
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 0
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 23754
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 330386
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 48845
- Gain Loss Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £802,512
- Assets Total Fixed
- 1021311
- Assets Own Use
- 1021311
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 0
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £1,751,843
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £270,712
- Assets Current Investment
- 507247
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £2,502,442
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 270712
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 0
- Assets Cash
- £1,065,316
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 1895805
- Funds Restricted
- 606637
- Funds Total
- 2502442
- Count Employees
- 26
- Consolidated Accounts
- Yes
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 4
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR22
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2021
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2022
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2022
- Ar Received Date
- 21 October 2022
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 561811
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 331112
- Income Charitable Activities
- 570312
- Income Investments
- 2065
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 1465300
- Income Legacies
- 94160
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £170,723
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £1,284,915
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 1455638
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 189
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 17840
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 318689
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 43929
- Gain Loss Investment
- -1823
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £248,057
- Assets Total Fixed
- 965672
- Assets Own Use
- 965672
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 0
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £2,439,447
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £244,294
- Assets Current Investment
- 765868
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £3,160,825
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 244294
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 0
- Assets Cash
- £1,541,946
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 2473742
- Funds Restricted
- 687083
- Funds Total
- 3160825
- Count Employees
- 17
- Consolidated Accounts
- Yes
- Latest Fin Period Submitted Ind
- No
- Fin Period Order Number
- 5
- Ar Cycle Reference
- AR21
- Fin Period Start Date
- 1 February 2020
- Fin Period End Date
- 31 January 2021
- Ar Due Date
- 30 November 2021
- Ar Received Date
- 18 October 2021
- Income Donations And Legacies
- 730983
- Income Other Trading Activities
- 201406
- Income Charitable Activities
- 361844
- Income Investments
- 22787
- Income Other
- 0
- Income Total Income And Endowments
- 1317020
- Income Legacies
- 108426
- Income Endowments
- 0
- Expenditure Raising Funds
- £140,734
- Expenditure Charitable Expenditure
- £1,250,202
- Expenditure Other
- 0
- Expenditure Total
- 1390936
- Expenditure Investment Management
- 3261
- Expenditure Grants Institution
- 0
- Expenditure Governance
- 16852
- Expenditure Support Costs
- 311285
- Expenditure Depreciation
- 36700
- Gain Loss Investment
- -39947
- Gain Loss Pension Fund
- 0
- Gain Loss Revaluation Fixed Investment
- 0
- Gain Loss Other
- 0
- Reserves
- £202,307
- Assets Total Fixed
- 923737
- Assets Own Use
- 923737
- Assets Long Term Investment
- 0
- Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
- 0
- Assets Other Assets
- £2,448,839
- Assets Total Liabilities
- £219,590
- Assets Current Investment
- 707998
- Assets Total Assets And Liabilities
- £3,152,986
- Creditors One Year Total Current
- 219590
- Creditors Falling Due After One Year
- 0
- Assets Cash
- £1,609,994
- Funds Endowment
- 0
- Funds Unrestricted
- 2458612
- Funds Restricted
- 694374
- Funds Total
- 3152986
- Count Employees
- 15
- Consolidated Accounts
- Yes
06 Official extract
Charity Area Of Operation
- Geographic Area Type
- Local Authority
- Geographic Area Description
- Windsor And Maidenhead
- Welsh Ind
- No
- Geographic Area Type
- Local Authority
- Geographic Area Description
- Somerset
- Welsh Ind
- No
- Geographic Area Type
- Local Authority
- Geographic Area Description
- West Berkshire
- Welsh Ind
- No
- Geographic Area Type
- Local Authority
- Geographic Area Description
- Oxfordshire
- Welsh Ind
- No
- Geographic Area Type
- Local Authority
- Geographic Area Description
- Devon
- Welsh Ind
- No
- Geographic Area Type
- Local Authority
- Geographic Area Description
- Bristol City
- Welsh Ind
- No
- Geographic Area Type
- Local Authority
- Geographic Area Description
- Slough
- Welsh Ind
- No
- Geographic Area Type
- Local Authority
- Geographic Area Description
- Wiltshire
- Welsh Ind
- No
07 Official extract
Charity Classification
- Classification Code
- 310
- Classification Type
- How
- Classification Description
- Other Charitable Activities
- Classification Code
- 102
- Classification Type
- What
- Classification Description
- Education/training
- Classification Code
- 207
- Classification Type
- Who
- Classification Description
- The General Public/mankind
- Classification Code
- 112
- Classification Type
- What
- Classification Description
- Environment/conservation/heritage
- Classification Code
- 109
- Classification Type
- What
- Classification Description
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
08 Official extract
Charity Event History
- Charity Name
- GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY LIMITED
- Charity Event Order
- 2
- Event Type
- Asset transfer in
- Date Of Event
- 2026-08-03T00:00:00
- Assoc Organisation Number
- 5046812
- Assoc Registered Charity Number
- 1159646
- Assoc Charity Name
- SWINDON PANEL SOCIETY
- Charity Name
- GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY LIMITED
- Charity Event Order
- 1
- Event Type
- Standard registration
- Date Of Event
- 1977-02-01T00:00:00
09 Official extract
Charity Governing Document
- Governing Document Description
- MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION PASSED ON 4TH DECEMBER 1976, 2ND. SEPTEMBER 1995AS AMENDED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION REGISTERED AT COMPANIES HOUSE ON 21 NOV 2015 as amended on 07 Jun 2025
- Charitable Objects
- (A) TO PRESERVE, RESTORE AND OPERATE AS A PERMANENT PUBLIC EXHIBITION AND MUSEUM FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNICAL HISTORICAL AND GENERAL EDUCATION AND FOR PERMANENT PRESERVATION DISPLAY AND DEMONSTRATION STEAM AND OTHER RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES ROLLING STOCK EQUIPMENT MACHINERY AND RELICS OF HISTORICAL OPERATIONAL AND GENERAL INTEREST AND EDUCATIONAL VALUE WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE FORMER GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.(B) TO COLLECT, COLLATE, EXCHANGE, MAKE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REFERENCE AND PUBLISH INFORMATION CONCERNING THE HISTORY, EQUIPMENT AND OPERATION OF THE FORMER GREAT WESTERN AND OTHER RAILWAYS.(C) TO UNDERTAKE SUCH OTHER ACTIVITIES OF AN EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE NATURE AS MAY IN THE OPINION OF THE ASSOCIATION BE CONVENIENTLY OR ADVANTAGEOUSLY UNDERTAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOREGOING OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION.(D)(I) TO UNDERTAKE THE PURCHASE OF AND TO PRESERVE AND OPERATE ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT LOCOMOTIVES ( OF ANY POWER SOURCE) AND ROLLING STOCK PRODUCED AND USED BY BRITISH RAILWAYS WESTERN REGION AND ITS SUCCESSORS SINCE THE NATIONALISATION OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY ON THE 1ST JANUARY 1948.(D)(II) THE ASSOCIATION IS AUTHORISED TO PRESERVE, RESTORE, AND OPERATE ANY SUCH EQUIPMENT ACQUIRED BY THE ASSOCIATION UNDER 3(D)(I) OR BY AGREEMENT WITH ANY OTHER ASSOCIATION OR SOCIETY OWNING AND WISHING TO RESTORE PRESERVE OR OPERATE THE SAID EQUIPMENT ON THE PREMISES OF THE GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY LTD. WITH THE COMPANY'S PRIOR AGREEMENT.
- Area Of Benefit
- NOT DEFINED
10 Official extract
Charity Other Names
- Charity Name Id
- 45651
- Charity Name Type
- Working name
- Charity Name
- DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE
11 Official extract
Charity Policy
- Policy Name
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Conflicting interests
- Policy Name
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Risk management
- Policy Name
- Social media policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Investment
- Policy Name
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Volunteer management
- Policy Name
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Policy Name
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Policy Name
- Complaints handling
- Policy Name
- Paying staff