How you can help the WLA...

Become a Member!

The long term future and success of the WLA is very much dependent on a growing membership. Help us to achieve our goal of growing our Membership to 600 over the next three years!

Your WLA Membership can be placed by the following means (Standing Order and Credit Card payments by Stripe allow for auto-renewal):

• Downloading our Standing Order form by clicking here
• Downloading our Membership Form and posting a cheque by clicking here
• Payment by Credit Card (via Stripe) on line - simply select your Membership Level from our Membership Page by CLCKING HERE!

Making a Donation!

The future success of the WLA is not only reliant on its Membership but also from its many supporters. Whether or not you are a Member, making a donation through PayPal is a quick and easy way to support the WLA. A donation can be made as a "one-off" or as a monthly donation if you prefer. Simply click on the "Donate with PayPal" button at the bottom of this page.

Alternatively, if you would like to make a much needed donation to D1013's Bogie Appeal, please CLICK HERE!

Or, if you would like to make a donation towards D1048's Locomotive Appeal, please CLICK HERE!

Gift Aid!

Donating​ through Gift Aid means that the WLA, as a registered charity, can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give.

It won’t cost you a penny extra and  all you need to do is ensure that you paid income tax or capital gains tax equivalent in amount or more than the total of all your donations to charities in any one tax year. To make a Gift Aid declaration please print and complete this form and send it to:

Jon Aston, WLA Charities Officer, 44 Glovers Way, Telford, Shropshire, TF5 0NX

If you are already a WLA member then your renewal form includes a gift aid form which you can use instead. 

All donations for the last four years  are included and your donations will qualify so long as they are not more than four times what you have paid in tax in that tax year (6th April to 5th April)

You must tell the charities you support if you no longer pay enough tax.

Crowdfunder Donations with Gift Aid!

The WLA has recently signed up to provide a Crowdfunder option, where donations and Gift Aid can be made very easily. The link is at:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/western-locomotive-association-limited-1115058

A monthly donation would make an amazing difference and push us further towards D1013's completion and a start on D1048's assessment.

For 2024, the WLA is looking to raise £10k through the Crowdfunder site to help contribute towards the current overhaul of D1013 and towards initial preservation work required for D1048.

Making a bequest - become a Western Legacy!

Including the Western Locomotive Association in your Will is simple and straightforward.

A bequest to the WLA may reduce the amount of tax payable from your estate.

Inheritance Tax benefits Gifts to charity are exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT) in the UK, and the government provides a further incentive when you leave 10 per cent or more of your net estate to charity. If you leave charitable gifts in your will that amount to 10 per cent or more of your chargeable net estate, the IHT rate on the whole of your estate will be reduced from 40 per cent to 36 per cent. The saving, after your gift is made, is passed on to your remaining beneficiaries.

For further information, visit our page How to become a Western Legacy and.....

....how you can have your very own WESTERN MEMORIAL!

Become WLA Volunteer!

Looking after two former main line locomotives is a massive undertaking with limited amounts of cash and resources available. In fact, the WLA is totally reliant on support from its membership base and from its volunteers to look after not just the locomotives but also to run the WLA as a Company, not only as a registered charity but also as a business in its own right. Indeed, the success of the WLA is dependent upon support from people who have a crosssection of skills, whether it be from basic jobs such as scraping and painting metal, to understanding and dealing with complex engineering tasks relating to bogies and engines or helping out with difficult management and administrative issues.

Find out more with our from our page: How to become a WLA Working Member by CLICKING HERE

Still like to know more about the WLA?

Download our Business Plan for 2025 to 2027 here!