​Southern shortlisted for community awards

Southern, and partner Sussex Community Rail Partnership (SCRP), have been shortlisted for a number of categories in the Association of Community Rail (ACORP) Awards. The awards celebrate unsung heroes and heroines of the community rail world, alongside the hard work and dedication of community projects.

Southern has been shortlisted as finalists in the following categories:

Involving Young People
Both Southern and SCRP are committed to encouraging use of the railway, especially in young people. Working together, we have now created and delivered our Go-Learn material, on safe and independent travel, to over 6,000 youngsters, in less than 12 months. This includes Southern’s Rail Neighbourhood Officers attending intense safety events, SCRP’s Education Officer delivering hour long sessions at schools and hosting station visits with local teams, alongside short train journeys.

Passengers Matter
Since last August, Southern, working with SCRP, has revamped and reinvigorated the process for adopting stations across our wide network, to form station partnerships. From new promotional material, to events to bring partners together and help them to share ideas, we are having a huge impact on our communities. In total 17 additional stations have been adopted, with at least 10 more in discussions/being planned. Alongside this 11 existing station partners were inspired to extend the work they do, supported by funds from Southern and the efforts of SCRP. As a result our stations are more appealing and further reflect the communities they serve.

The Eridge Station Partnership team proudly shows off one of its planters at the station

Southern’s Community Investment and CSR Manager, Andy Harrowell, said: "At Southern, we are focused on putting our stations at the heart of the communities they serve. Together with SCRP, we have really been able to make a difference to local communities, in the last twelve months, whether it be inspiring youngsters and those with disabilities about safe and independent train travel, or working with volunteer groups to help tailor our stations in a way which further reflects the local area.”

Involving Diverse Groups
As part of both organisations’ joint commitments to encouraging more and more people to travel by train, especially helping to make the railway as accessible as possible, we joined together at the start of the year to provide seven Try the Train events. These were provided over the course of six weeks, to a range of diverse groups, helping to dispel the myths and reservations about train travel. We received some wonderful feedback from these events and there have been many positive outcomes for the groups and our teams too.

Members of the County Care Group try the train for the first time at London Bridge

Antony Merlyn, Accessibility Manager, added: “We have been running Try the Train events for a number of years, however this is the first time we have undertaken so many in such a short space of time. This would not have been possible without the excellent support of SCRP, as well as our Accessibility Ambassadors, station and on-board teams. This shortlisting is a great recognition of everyone’s efforts.”

The winners of each category will be announced on 29 September 2016, at a ceremony in Southport.

Ends

Editor's notes

Southern and SCRP also worked with other partners, to nominate SCRP’s Director Tim Sparrow, for the Outstanding Volunteer Contribution category to recognise all of his many efforts to build and develop the SCRP from its grass roots to now cover six lines across the Southern network.

In addition, Thameslink’s Cricklewood and Elstree and Borehamwood stations were shortlisted in the It’s Your Station category, recognising the wonderful stand out work the new station partners have undertaken at these locations.

SCRP was also recognised for projects undertaken with Southern, including Amberley Station Mural, a joint effort between Community Rail Development Officer, Veronica Payne, Aldingbourne Trust Creative Arts Group and Southern. Veronica’s work with the community on the 170th celebrations for Goring, Angmering and Ford was also shortlisted. Sharon Gray, Community Rail Development Officer, also had a nomination shortlisted based on the community art project undertaken at Edenbridge station, working with West Kent Extra, Edenbridge Town Youth Club, Edenbridge Churches Youth Group and Graham Upton.