23 September 2025
A £20,000 donation from the Clifton Rocks Railway Trust has been awarded to City of Bristol College’s Advanced Engineering Centre to help inspire and educate the next generation of engineers.
As one of the West of England Institute of Technology’s partners, City of Bristol College plays a key role in developing technical education across the region. This donation will not only support students at the Advanced Engineering Centre but also strengthens the wider mission of the WEIoT to provide innovative training, skills development and opportunities for future engineers in our priority sectors.
Formed over 20 years ago by a passionate group of local historians and engineers, the Clifton Rocks Railway Trust initially set out to restore the iconic Victorian funicular railway in the Avon Gorge. Despite raising £80,000, plans to fully restore the site were halted as the funds weren’t enough to acquire or restore it.
Now unable to utilise the funds, the trust has made the decision to donate the money to four local organisations, one of which is City of Bristol College.
Chair of Trustees James Tonkin explained: “The overwhelming answer was something Bristol-based, something engineering-focused, and something educational. The college ticked every box; it was a unanimous decision.”
The £20,000 donation will go directly towards enriching students’ experiences through educational trips, competitions and hands-on projects. These initiatives aim to unite historical engineering achievements with modern innovation.
“It’s not just a long-term benefit, students will feel the impact of this donation from as early as September,” said a college spokesperson. “This is about giving young people real opportunities to explore and excel in engineering.”
👉 Read the full story on the City of Bristol College news page HERE.
