Abbeydale Miniature Railway raises record £4,321 for St Luke's, eyes £20,000

Abbeydale Miniature Railway, the volunteer-run attraction in Sheffield, reported its best fundraising year on record in 2025 after raising £4,321 for St Luke’s Hospice (Sheffield). That 2025 haul pushes the railway’s lifetime fundraising to £15,800, the group and the hospice confirmed in joint statements this week.

The single largest contributor to the 2025 total was the railway’s annual festive lights event, with all ticket sales and refreshment income donated to St Luke’s. St Luke’s volunteers were on site collecting donations on the night, and the hospice credited the evening’s takings with helping deliver the highest single-year total the railway has ever achieved.

The much-loved Sheffield attraction is run entirely by a dedicated team of volunteers who keep the miniature railway open to families across the city and stage community events and regular on-site collections. Using the published totals, a simple calculation shows Abbeydale had raised £11,479 before 2025, raising that figure to £15,800 after last year’s record performance.

Looking ahead to 2026, Abbeydale Miniature Railway has set an ambitious lifetime target of £20,000, aligning the push with St Luke’s 55th anniversary year. Plans published by the hospice and echoed in regional coverage include hosting more collection opportunities and enhancing the popular Christmas event with additional fundraising elements such as a book sale and a raffle. An Instagram post from the partnership reiterated the £20,000 goal for 2026.

St Luke’s Community & Events Fundraising Manager, Katie Fielding, thanked the railway and its supporters directly: “We are so grateful for the continued support and commitment from Abbeydale Miniature Railway.” Fielding added the partnership’s wider significance in her longer comment: “As we mark our 55th anniversary year in 2026, it’s fantastic to see this long-standing partnership grow as the team sets its sights on a remarkable milestone. Their hard work, community spirit and dedication play a vital role in helping us continue providing specialist care for families across Sheffield.”

Practical information for anyone wanting to contact St Luke’s: the hospice lists Reception for patient care enquiries on 0114 236 9911, and its Little Common site is open 8.00am to 7.30pm all week. Abbeydale’s volunteers will next be focusing on the 2026 fundraising calendar as they try to close the gap to their £20,000 lifetime milestone.