The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 January 2026.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers's Memorandum, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)”
The principal activity of the company continued to be that of providing facilities for the construction and operation of models of railway locomotives of all kinds.
The company's objective is to educate the public, from school age to adult, in the history and development of railway locomotion by the use of working model steam railway locomotives and demonstration of other engines and vehicles of the steam era.
The aim of the company is to provide the public with an insight into the development of railway travel and achievements of our fore fathers by the use of working models of the steam era incorporating learning with enjoyment and to provide an environment within which miniature locomotives can be constructed, maintained and operated by the public.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers should undertake.
A late Easter Monday 21st April 2025 started the year’s summer season as usual, with a normal season setting out a further 11No dates set and then the usual 2No Santa Specials in December. The summer season all went well with weather influencing enjoyment at times. Santa Specials were cold as usual but for those who braved the weather, everyone enjoyed themselves with a train ride and then arriving at Santa’s Halt to go on a visit to the Grotto and receive a present from Santa himself and a drink of non- alcoholic mulled wine for the older visitors.
Numbers attending throughout the year were slightly up on other past years, resulting in a successful year for the railway.
The usual school groups and communities’ groups visited at the start of the season and all concerned enjoyed their visit.
Another TV group visited us for a day to make a light entertainment quiz programme about knowing facts about areas and places around the UK. This will feature the railway with other attractions as part of the quiz and is scheduled for transmission early 2026. We will get some publicity from this and every little helps.
Maintenance items were dealt with throughout the season with track maintenance, replacement of sleepers and track re-alignment, being the large part and in the closed winter months dealing with fallen trees and branches due to the exceptionally stormy weather which seems to happening more frequently every winter.
Members continue to operate OO gauge layouts located in the rear building, external track layouts, the bubble train and with the snow machine at Xmas especially popular with the younger visitor. On our Open Days we continue to be able to operate 2No steam locos with 2No diesels being held in standby and for animal setup and tidy up at the end of each open day. Our adult members continue to enjoy being involved in the railway and operating locomotives on the track. Likewise junior members, those with or without running locos continue to be instructed on the operation of the railway and locomotives.
As a club and operating miniature railway, this year we celebrated 50 years since our formation and 35 years of operating the railway at Damhead. To celebrate this we held two events at the track, inviting past members and anyone who has helped the club and railway along the way to mark the occasion. All enjoyed themselves and here’s to the next 50 years.
The financial statements show a net surplus of £3,191 in the current year.
The primary source of income for the company is from membership fees. The members of the company pay membership to allow the company to operate and develop. The monies received in membership fees are used to pay general operating expenses of the company and are also depended on to fund the various Open Days which the company holds.
It is the policy of the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The Trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers is a company limited by guarantee.
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
I report on the financial statements of the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers for the year ended 31 January 2026, which are set out on pages 5 to 11.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
examine the financial statements under section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;
follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008; and
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
I have examined your charity financial statements as required under section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.
The examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.
My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe that:
1. Accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; or
2. The financial statements do not accord with those accounting records; or
3. The financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102); or
4. There is further information needed for a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
I have completed my examination and I have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 74 Ballykelly Road, Tullyhoe, LIMAVADY, Co Londonderry, BT49 9DS.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". The Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources. Premises overheads have been allocated on a floor area basis and other overheads have been allocated on the basis of the head count.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
No provision is required for taxation as the company is defined as a charity for taxation purposes.
In the application of the Coleraine and District Society of Model Engineers’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Open days, exhibitions and sponsorship
None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year.
There were no employees during the year.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.