Our Impact
For over 160 years the Railway Benefit Fund has been here for the railway family, providing vital support to current, former and retired railway staff and their dependants across the UK.
In the past five years, demand for our services has more than tripled, and 2023 has been the busiest year to date in respect of the number of applications received and the amount of people we have supported.
We have witnessed a significant shift in the number of current workers reaching out for help; over 65% of grants awarded in 2023 were for those who currently work in rail, from sectors such as passenger, freight, infrastructure, supply chain and ancillary services. Furthermore, the average age of beneficiaries is younger than previous years, with 70% of applications being under 50 years of age. Take a look at our stats from 2023:
- Over 500 applications for financial support were received
- More than 1,000 railway people received direct financial support
- We awarded in excess of £374,000 in grants, up from £334,729 in 2022
- Nearly 40% of our grants were awarded to those facing homelessness
- Over 65% of grants awarded were to current railway workers
- 70% of applications are under the age of 50
Find out more about the work we do by reading our most recent impact report.
