Lner (GC) Heritage Trust

The Trust funds heritage preservation and educational initiatives. This includes restoration of historic locomotives and rolling stock, small-scale capital works such as accessible toilets and visitor amenities, interpretative displays, educational resources, and community outreach. Grants support project-based enhancements to visitor experiences at sites linked to the Great Central Railway or NTHC. All funded work must be within Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire and directly connected to the region’s railway heritage. The Trust supports both capital and project-based revenue costs for these initiatives.

Support is restricted to UK-registered charities based in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. The Trust prioritises small to medium-sized, volunteer-led organisations that are tied to the Great Central Railway or Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre. Beneficiaries include the public, school groups, youth interested in industrial history, and volunteer communities. The Trust looks for organisations with local roots and a clear connection to the region’s railway heritage. It funds organisations, not individuals or communities directly.

The Trust does not support people or communities directly. It also excludes core costs, unrestricted funding, and any projects that lack a direct link to the Great Central Railway or Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre. Work outside Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire is not funded.

The Trust operates a relationship-based model, emphasising long-term stewardship of East Midlands railway heritage. It works by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are project-based, supporting specific initiatives rather than ongoing costs. The Trust collaborates closely with partners such as the East Midlands Railway Trust and Great Central Railway Nottingham.