The Swanage Railway Trust

- Fundraising

	Fundraising is one of the SRT's two main activities and it is vital to the further development of the Swanage Railway since the SRC's commercial activities primarily cover the cost of operating and maintaining the trains and infrastructure. Virtually all the railway as seen to-day has been achieved through Trust fundraising. The Trust fundraising activities cover the spectrum from coffee mornings, sponsored walks and fetes through the Annual Draw to affinity credit cards and Internet access. The Trust is also keen to be considered for legacies and actively seeks grants where these are available. The following sections outline a number of fundraising initiatives related to some major projects as well as those to aid the general development of the railway. A link is provided for some appeals which enables you to make an immediate donation if you wish. We appreciate any help you can give us to meet the Trust's objective to preserve and extend the Swanage Railway. We would be grateful if UK tax payers would consider completing a gift aid form to enable us to reclaim an additional 28% from HM Revenue and Customs at no cost to the donor. The Swanage Railway Trust (SRT) is the registered charity (number 1087318) that controls the Swanage Railway via its trading subsidiary, the Swanage Railway Company (SRC).
	Annual Draw - £1,000 prize!
	The Annual Draw has been one of the Swanage Railway Trust's longest running and most successful appeals. Tickets are available to members and supporters with the Draw usually running from March to October. This year's first prize is £1,000 in cash with a range of attractive runner-up prizes. Full details are available on the Draw pages.
	Appeals
	The Swanage Railway Trust relies on donations to provide the finance for a wide variety of projects around the railway. However, specific appeals are occasionally launched for major, long-term or special projects. Information about current appeals including buttons to make an immediate donation by credit or debit card can be found here.
	Railway Development Fund
	The proceeds of most fundraising activities are held in the SRT general fund. However, the Trust recognises that donors generally intend their contribution to be used for the development of the Railway Project and thus aims to ensure that, as far as possible, the funds raised are used for specific project work. As such, the Trust maintains records of the projects that have benefited from this route. Initiatives that currently benefit the general Railway Project Development funds include the following. Annual Draw Sponsored Walk Annual Fete MBNA Credit Card Weather Lottery Scratch cards Coffee Mornings Bric-a-Brac
	200 Club
	The 200 Club has a long and succesful history of raising funds for major capital projects around the Swanage Railway. Thanks to these funds, recent years have seen the completion of the signal box at Swanage and the footbridge at Corfe Castle on the verge of completion. The next major project will be the reconstruction of the signal box also at Corfe Castle. The 200 Club is only open to current Members of the SRT who pay £1 per person per month to enter a draw with modest cash prizes. There are currently nearly 1000 members of the 200 Club. SRT members can find a current application form here.
	Legacies and Bequests
	Individuals may wish to leave money in their Will to help further the aims of the Swanage Railway Trust. They may do so by including a clause in their Will leaving the amount or asset to be donated to 'Swanage Railway Trust - Registered Charity No. 1087318'. Monies going directly to the Trust in this way will be potentially eligible for inheritance tax relief on that portion of the Estate, as will the value of railway memorabilia and collections left to the Trust. Leaving money or assets to charities has become particularly attractive as more individual Estates exceed the nil rate band for inheritance tax. The Trust also asks any benefactors who may have nominated the earlier 'Southern Stream Trust' to amend their Will to the 'Swanage Railway Trust - Registered Charity No. 1087318' to ensure their wishes are respected as the earlier Railway Project Trust will be wound up in due course.
	Charities Aid Foundation
	The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) is an international non-governmental foundation that exists to provide services to charities and their donors. The services offered to donors include the ability to set up and run an account to provide flexibility in making donations (including handling gift aid). A number of other specialist services are also provided including the ability to make donations internationally or anonymously as well as services to handle bequests and legacies. Donations may be made to the SRT via either the CAF donor Web site (All About Giving) or through the Give Now portal they operate in conjunction with the AOL Time Warner Foundation. All About Giving Give Now More information about CAF can be found here.
	Gift Aid
	Donations to the Swanage Railway Trust by UK taxpayers qualify for relief under the Gift Aid scheme. This scheme enables the SRT to recover an additional 28% of the value of qualifying donations without cost to the donor. Higher rate taxpayers can also benefit personally by claiming a further rebate via their tax return. We would encourage all donors to help us maximise the value of donations by completing the simple Gift Aid form available here.