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[[File:SVR_Charitable_Trust_2022.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Charitable Trust's 10th anniversary logo]]The '''Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust Ltd ''' is one of the three main organisations which make up the Severn Valley Railway. It is a Registered Charitywhich supports the SVR by raising funds to help restoration and maintenance projects, Number 1092723, for to help arrest the purpose decline of raising funds heritage engineering skills and to support safeguard the long-term future and operational capability of the SVRRailway.  The Charitable Trust is a membership body. It Governance is commonly referred through up to on nine trustees, including ex officio the chairman (or their nominee) from each of the Railway's other main organisations, [[SVR as (H)|Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC]] ("SVR(H)") which owns the infrastructure and operates the Railway, and [[Severn Valley Railway Company Limited]] ("the Guarantee Company") which is responsible for the membership and volunteers.  There were significant changes from 2022 to save costs, with the departures of the paid executive director, Shelagh Paterson, and fundraising manager, Ian Jones. The trust became a volunteer-led organisation with the [[Head Office|Comberton Place office]] manned only one day a week<ref name=News24>[https://www.svrtrust.org.uk/newsletters 'SVR Charitable Trust"activity – an update', Trust website 14 March 2024] (Retrieved 23 May 2024)</ref>.  ==Origins and Objects===== SVR Rolling Stock Trust: 2001 to 2012 ===The Charitable Trust began as the '''SVR Rolling Stock Trust''' which, as the name implies, was originally called established to support the Railway's rolling stock. The ''SVR Rolling Stock Trust Company Limited'' was incorporated on 17 December 2001 as a private company limited by guarantee, company number 04341280. As a charitable body, its Objects were:<ref>Companies House</ref>  "''To advance education for the benefit of the public by:''*''the acquisition, restoration, preservation, operation maintenance and display of heritage railway locomotives, coaches, wagons and artefacts''*''the provision of facilities for the education, training and certification of trainees in the practicalities, techniques and methods used in the restoration, repair and operation of historic railways''" The SVR Rolling Stock Trustoperated in that form for more than 10 years. Its objectives  ===Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust: 2012 onwards===On 29 June 2012 the Charitable Trust took on a wider remit as the SVR's general charitable trust, for which purpose it adopted its present name.<ref>SVR News 178</ref> The current (2019) Articles of Association state that:<ref>[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04341280/filing-history?page=1 Companies House]</ref> "''The Charity’s Objects are specifically restricted to the following'':*''to help fund advance education for the benefit of the public by the acquisition, restoration , preservation and maintenance projectsoperation of heritage railway locomotives, carriages, wagons, station buildings, track and other associated infrastructure''*''establishing buildings to help arrest house and preserve the Charity’s rolling stock collection''*''the provision of educational and interpretive displays for the travelling public and''*''the decline provision of heritage engineering education and skills training used in the restoration, repair and operation of historic railways to ensure their long term survival''" The Charitable Trust became the SVR's 'owner of last resort', "''...ensuring that various locomotives, coaches and wagons that have been lovingly restored over many years by SVR volunteers can remain at the Railway, in perpetuity. As the members of the many preservation groups inevitably age and their numbers dwindle, items of rolling stock can be donated to the Charitable Trust, in order to safeguard be absolutely certain they will remain at the Railway for the long-term .''"<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/charitable-trust Statement from Director of Development, November 2016 on SVR Live]</ref> The Trust is a member of the Heritage Trust Network, an umbrella organisation for built heritage preservation groups and individuals formed in 2016 from the Association of Preservation Trusts (UK-APT). Members work to restore built heritage and bring historic buildings back into community use.<ref>[http://www.heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk/our-members/severn-valley-railway-charitable-trust/ www.heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk]</ref> ==Fundraising==June 2022 marked the 10th anniversary of the Charitable Trust. Over that period it had raised £8.74m for the Railway;<ref>Platform Issue 6</ref> £6.54 million directly through the Trust and £2.2 million in emergency grants directly to the Railway.<ref>[https://www.svrtrust.org.uk/News Charitable Trust news page]</ref>  The Trust receives funds from single donations and regular giving, grant making bodies, companies and groups and gifts in Wills. In its early years it appointed Compton Fundraising Consultants. It subsequently moved to a staff and volunteer-based model, before becoming a volunteer based organisation by 2024. It has sought to develop large scale fundraising, including [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|lottery]] funding.  To generate support from "influential individuals" the Trust may typically invite a small group to spend a day on the SVR using an Observation Saloon to make conducted visits to workshops to meet staff and volunteer craftsmen.<ref>2013 Annual Report</ref>*In addition to gifts it seeks pledges or future bequests. Those leaving a gift in their Will to the SVR Charitable Trust are invited to join the '''Guardians' Club'''.<ref name=CTDonation>[https://www.svrtrust.org.uk/index.php?page=Make%20a%20donation Charitable Trust Website 'Make a Donation'] (retrieved 12 August 2019)</ref>*Individuals donating over £100 or giving regular gifts by monthly contributions are invited to join the '''Patrons' Club'''.<ref name=CTDonation/>*It has the support of Corporate partners In May 2016, the Trust secured a grant of £75,000 from a [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rail-tourism-winners-announced Department for Transport competition], for a scheme to transform the Railway’s travel offering for disabled passengers. The scheme involved the restoration and conversion of [[BR 4399 Tourist Standard Open]] and [[BR 80776 Brake Gangwayed|80776]], and operational capability the purchase of lightweight, portable ramps for each of the Railway’s [[:Category:Wheelchair-accessible adapted carriages|wheelchair-accessible carriages]]. ===Fundraising events===From time to time the Charitable Trust organises special fund raising events. Past events have included:<ref>[http://svrtrust.org.uk/news.html Charitable Trust news page]</ref>*April 2014: Charity Race Day at Ludlow Races raising £62,000.<ref>2014 Annual Report</ref>*June 2015: Charity Race Day at Worcester Racecourse raising £34,500.<ref>[http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/13351423.Full_steam_ahead_as_charity_raceday_at_Worcester_Racecourse_helps_protect_our_railway_heritage/ Worcester News]</ref>*June 2016: Charity Race Day at Worcester Racecourse raising £22,000<ref>[http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/news/14576040.Charity_race_day_gets_Severn_Valley_Railway_on_right_track/ James Connell, 'Race day at Worcester supports Severn Valley Railway's Heritage Skills Training Academy', Malvern Gazette 23 June 2016] (Retrieved 5 March 2017)</ref> *September 2016: VIP Flying Scotsman Charity Day<ref>[http://svrtrust.org.uk/news/flyingscotsman.html Charitable Trust Flying Scotsman page]</ref>*The Charitable Trust took over the organisation of the annual [[Peep Behind the Scenes]] day for 2017.*14 June 2017: Charity Race Day at Worcester Racecourse raising £23,000.<ref>SVR Twitter 15 June 2017</ref>*11 June 2018: Annual Charity Race Day at Worcester Racecourse raising £13,000.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/epjuly18 'Express Points', July 2018]</ref> ===Current appeals and restricted funding===The Trust's website listed its current appeals (11 as at 2021), but no longer does so. The annual report and accounts details funds restricted by the donor to particular items or projects (19 as at 2021)<ref name=accounts21/>.

*The Charitable Trust funds most of the costs of the SVR’s Heritage Skills Training Academy and team of apprentices.*Income from its endowment Future Fund will allow sustainable investment on the Railway in the years to come. Donations to the Future Fund are being matched, pound for pound, by supports a Heritage Lottery Fund grant variety of up to £500projects including rolling stock,000 until June 2017. {{As of|2017|2}} donations have reached £425infrastructure,000permanent way,<ref>SVRLive Charitable Trust pagediesel, 23 February 2017</ref>*A rolling stock fundraising and restoration project for [[GWR 17410 'Toad' 20T Goods Brake Van Bridgnorth#Bridgnorth_Development_Project| GWR Toad van 17410Bridgnorth development]] is now underway, in collaboration with the [[The LNER Carriage Group | LNER Carriage Group]]education and access. {{As of|2017|2}} donations have reached £4,000,<ref>SVRLive 'GWR Toad van 17410' page, 23 February 2017</ref>*In May 2016, the Trust secured a grant of £75Its annual report and accounts,000 available online from the Department for Transport towards a project which will transform the Railway’s facilities for disabled visitors by adapting a carriage to wheelchair use to complete the SVR’s fleet of accessible carriagesCompanies House, and rebuilding a second carriage to provide wheelchair-accessible dining facilities.*The Charitable Trust is supporting lists the SVR’s ambitious Bridgnorth Development Project. {{As of|2017|2}} donations have reached £28,000,<ref>SVRLive 'Bridgnorth development' page, 23 February 2017</ref>*The Trust supports the diesel groups' appeal seeking to improve facilities at the [[Diesel Depot |Kidderminster Diesel Depot]] which opened in June 2016.<ref>[http://svrtrust.org.uk/download/get/diesel-appeal-leaflet/107.html Diesel Leaflet]</ref>*It works with supporters to ensure their wishes are kept when they decide to leave a final legacy to the Railway in their Will. Previous support included:*It secured an HLF grant of £95,000 towards the restoration of [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall | 4930 Hagley Hall]] .*The Trust projects it has worked closely with volunteers from the [[The LNER Carriage Group | LNER Carriage Group]] to raise funds for and supported in conjunction with Carriage & Wagon to complete the final restoration work on three Gresley teak carriages (7960, 24506 previous year and 52255.) These were splendidly showcased when Flying Scotsman visited the SVR in September 2016.*It contributed to the annual track re-laying work that took place in 2016 between Eardington and Bridgnorthamounts committed.Major projects include:

==Fundraising events==*The Charitable Trust funds most of the costs of the SVR’s [[Heritage Skills Training Academy]] and team of apprentices. It costs £21,000 to fund an apprentice for one year, and the Trust funded £98,457 in 2019.*It secured an HLF grant of £95,000 and contributed over £500,000 to the overhaul of [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall | 4930 Hagley Hall]]*At [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] it raised £1.25m for major repairs, completed in 2021.Recent events organised by *Applications for the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|Fight Back Fund]] for which the SVR received £250,000 grant from The [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|National Lottery Heritage Emergency Fund]] and £906,000 and £1,012,900 in the first and third rounds from the Charitable Trust have includedCulture Recovery Fund.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/attractions/2020/07/15/severn-valley-railway-receives-250000-funding-boost-ahead-of-reopening/ Smith, R., 'Severn Valley Railway receives £250,000 funding boost ahead of reopening', Shropshire Star, 15 July 2020] (Retrieved 15 July 2020)</ref><ref>[httphttps://svrtrustwww.orggov.uk/government/news.html Charitable Trust news page/445-heritage-organisations-saved-by-103-million-investment-from-government Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport](Retrieved 9 October 2020)</ref>*April 2014: Charity Race Day at Ludlow Races*June 2015: Charity Race Day at Worcester Racecourse*June 2016: Charity Race Day at Worcester Racecourse<ref>[httphttps://www.malverngazettebbc.co.uk/news/14576040.Charity_race_day_gets_Severn_Valley_Railway_on_right_track/ James Connell, uk-england-hereford-worcester-59690403 'Race day at Worcester supports Covid-19: Severn Valley Railway's Heritage Skills Training Academy'gets £1m recovery grant, BBC, Malvern Gazette 23 June 201617 December 2021] (Retrieved 5 March 201717 December 2021)</ref> *September 2016: VIP Flying Scotsman Charity Day<ref>It raised £475,000 to provide a new roof and overhead crane for [[Bridgnorth MPD|Bridgnorth Locomotive Works]].*In May 2022 it launched an appeal to help raise £500,000 to restore [[Bridgnorth MPD|Bridgnorth Locomotive Yard]].*In 2023 it launched a Survival appeal, raising £500,000 of its £1,500,000 target before it closed in 2024. The subsequent 'Resilience Appeal' was launched by the Guarantee Company.  The Trust established an [[The Engine House#Commemorative_Garden|In Memory Garden]] for SVR supporters, close to [[The Engine House]]. ===Charitable expenditure===The report and accounts and [httphttps://svrtrustregister-of-charities.charitycommission.orggov.uk/newscharity-search/-/charity-details/3988604/financial-history Charity Commission website] record expenditure on charitable activities by year. An incomplete record follows: {| class="wikitable"| <b> Financial year ending</b> || style="text-align:right;" | <b>Amount</b> || <b>Notes</flyingscotsmanb>|-| 2016|| style="text-align:right;" | £166,770 || |-| 2017 || style="text-align:right;" | £436,890 || |-| 2018 || style="text-align:right;" | £382,580 || |-| 2019 || style="text-align:right;" | £695,990 || |-| 2020 || style="text-align:right;" | £2,141,254 || Includes £691k Falling Sands Viaduct renovation and £503k bequest allocated to 4930 Hagley Hall.html Charitable Trust Flying Scotsman page]<ref name=accounts20>Report and Financial Statements to 30 June 2020, via Companies House</ref>|-| 2021 || style="text-align:right;" | £690,171 |||-| 2022 || style="text-align:right;" | £1,224,345 || Includes £483k Roof and Crane appeal|}

===Endowment Future Fund===The Trust set up an endowment Future Fund, the income from which is intended to allow sustainable investment on the Railway in years to come. It has aspirations to grow the Fund eventually to £10 million.<ref>SVRLive Charitable Trust has taken over page, 26 April 2017</ref> It appointed professional investment managers, Brewin Dolphin, to manage the organisation of investment. Donations to the annual Future Fund were matched, pound for pound, by a [[Peep Behind the Scenes:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|Heritage Lottery Fund]] day with effect from Catalyst programme grant of up to £500,000 which was awarded in 2013 and reached on 26 May 2017, giving a total fund value of over £1 million. {{As of|2022|07}} it had grown to £1.83 million<ref name=accounts21/>.

The Charitable Trust owns [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor]], together with [[BR Class 11 12099]] and a number of [[Carriages | carriages]] and [[Goods Wagons | goods wagons]]. A full list of all the rolling stock owned by the Trust can be found [[:Category: Rolling stock owned by The SVR Charitable Trust | here]]. *Some of these carriages vehicles were formerly owned donated to the Trust by a separate body[[List of preservation groups|preservation groups]], including the following.  *[[Hinton Manor Fund]] (ownership of [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor]])*[[Kidderminster Shunter Fund]] (ownership of [[BR Class 11 12099]])*[[L.M.S . & B.R. Coach Fund. The Coach Fund donated them ]] transferred ownership of its carriages to the Charitable Trust in 2007, following which it became a department within the Charitable Trust. The department maintains a [[L.M.S. & B.R. Coach Department Sales Coach | sales coach]] at [[Bridgnorth]].*Three carriages were also acquired from [[The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund | the LNER (SVR) Coach Fund]] in 2010, at which time [[The LNER Carriage Group | the LNER Carriage Group]] similarly became a department within the Charitable Trust.*In early 2016, the [[The LNER (SVR) Coach Fund|LNER (SVR) Coach Fund]] and the [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC|SVR Holdings Company]] transferred the ownership of their LNER carriages to the Charitable Trust, resulting in the Trust now owning all nine LNER carriages based on the SVR.*Les Johnson and John Hancock (ownership of [[BR 993898 'Shark' Ballast Plough Brake]])<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/bloct21 Branch Lines October 2021]</ref>

The Charitable Trust is the SVR==Publications==[[File: SVR_Charitable_Trust_Platform_Issue_6.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Platform Issue 6]]''s 'owner of last resortPlatform', "'is the Charitable Trust's magazine.Issues 1-5 were published annually between 2015 and 2019..ensuring that various locomotives, coaches and wagons that have been lovingly restored over many years by SVR volunteers can remain at Issue 6 was published in July 2022 to mark the Railway, in perpetuityTrust's 10th anniversary. As the members of the many preservation groups inevitably age and their numbers dwindle, items of rolling stock can be donated All 6 issues are available to download from the Charitable Trust, in order to be absolutely certain they will remain at the Railway for the long-term.''"<ref>s [http://wwwsvrtrust.svrliveorg.comuk/charitable-trust Statement from Director of Development, November 2016 on SVR LiveDownloads Downloads page]</ref> (external link).

A full list of all the rolling stock owned by the ===Shareholding in SVR(H)===The Trust can be found is a [[:Category:Rolling stock owned by The Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC#Notable_shareholdings|minor shareholder in SVR Charitable Trust | here(H)]]by way of donated or bequeathed shares. In the 2012 Share Offer existing shareholders with small numbers of shares who did not want to increase their holding were invited to donate their shares to the Trust. In 2021 the market value was £24,435<ref name=accounts21>Report and Financial Statements to 30 June 2021, via Companies House</ref>.

*[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation#Current Organisation | The SVR Organisation]]<br>*[[L.M.S. & B.R. Coach Fund|L.M.S. & B.R. Coach Department]] - a department of the Trust*[[:Category:Rolling stock owned by The SVR Charitable LNER Carriage Group]] - part of the Trust | List *[[Friends of rolling stock owned by 4930 Hagley Hall]] - integrated into the trust to maximise income through Gift Aid*[[Falling Sands Viaduct]]*[[The SVR Charitable TrustEngine House#Commemorative_Garden|Commemorative Garden]]*[[Heritage Skills Training Academy]]<br>*List of [[Charities associated with the SVR]]*[[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation#Chairmen|Charitable Trust Chairmen]]

*[http://svrtrust.org.uk/ Charitable Trust website]<br>*[httphttps://www.svrlive.com/charitable-trust SVRLive page]