Help us raise some funds

External financial support is essential for the future health of a non-profit organisation such as ours.

While the revenue from our customers pays the day-to-day bills, and even allows us to put some money aside for regular expenditure such as locomotive overhauls, it cannot stretch to the major capital investment that is needed over the next few years.

Projects likely to require funding in the next few years include:

• Rebuilding of the engine/carriage shed at Page's Park
• Rebuilding of Platform 2 at Page's Park
• Platform extension and new passenger and quarry museum facilities at Stonehenge Works
• Refurbishment of stables building at Stonehenge Works
• Renewal of track foundations
• Renewal of level crossings
• Construction of new coaches

The total cost will be in the millions of pounds, and while we hope that external grants will cover much of this, we will also need help from individuals and organisations. The first priority has been to replace the life-expired station building at Page's Park, as the Museum Gateway project, and that has now been accomplished.

Gifts of money

Whether one-off or on a regular basis, whether general donations to railway funds or specific to a particular project, financial contributions are very much appreciated, from either individuals or organisations. And Gift Aid will increase their value, at the government's expense.

You can donate in a number of ways:

• by sending a cheque payable to the 'Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society' to Page's Park Station, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 4TG. Don't forget, if you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase the value of your donation at no cost to yourself by completing the gift aid form which allows us to reclaim tax from the Government
• by cash, card or cheque in person at our Page's Park station booking office, open on operating days only.

Gifts in kind

We are fortunate in having suppliers who sometimes donate all or part of the cost of their goods or services, and we look forward to this generosity continuing into the future. These gestures may be in support of a particular project, or simply to help the overall finances.

We are also offered items from time to time which may form a useful part of our museum collection, may be for sale for fundraising, or may be used in the operation of the railway. While we cannot accept everything, we do like to be asked.

Legacies

Leaving something to the railway in your will is an increasingly common way of helping out. While much appreciated, it should be done with the help of a professional adviser.