Hello everyone.
AGM, board elections and vote on charitable status
Thank you to all those who attended our AGM last week – we had a record-breaking 101 attendees! We were delighted to publish our 2023-24 Impact Report and welcome five new members to our board: Catherine Kingdom, Chris Kimberley, Dawn McGough, Himali Patil and Shahiesta Raja. Jeremy Whitaker, Richard Burningham and Karen Hornby were re-elected to the board.
At the AGM, our members voted on two resolutions regarding Community Rail Network’s proposal to adopt charitable status. Both the ordinary resolution to seek charitable status and the special resolution to adopt the articles of association circulated passed, with 96% of votes cast in favour and 4% against on each resolution vote. We are of course very pleased with this result and will keep you updated as we progress in our work to become a charity.
Opportunities with TeamBA
TeamBA is running an online training session for Southeast Communities Rail Partnership on Wednesday 9 April, 10am-12pm, focusing on creating and editing engaging video content. There are five extra spaces available for other CRPs to join the workshop. If you are interested, email Luke Bodin with the name of the representative from your CRP who would like to attend. Please note that places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, and the session will be recorded and available afterwards on our website.
TeamBA also has some upcoming availability for supporting members with filming work. They have previously worked with Marston Vale CRP, Heart of England CRP and Worcestershire CRP on video projects to showcase rail trails, station adoption and days out by rail, and are keen to hear from other members who might be interested in doing something similar. Contact Ben Dalton if you’d like to chat about potential opportunities.
How our corporate partners support our members
As part of their relationship with Community Rail Network, our corporate partners offer a range of volunteer support to our members. If you would like assistance in areas such as gardening, station buildings, graphic design or STEM activity, find out what each of our corporate partners offer and submit your request for support.
We’re also delighted to have published a new webpage which will feature case study examples of the different ways our corporate partners support our members. The first piece focuses on CMAC’s collaborative work with Gloucestershire CRP, hosting an education engagement event to shine a spotlight on the partnership’s sustainability achievements.
Send your stories to news@communityrail.org.uk and see our guidance on submitting stories.
Your next bulletin is on 19 February. Keep up-to-date in between on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky and X.
Best wishes,
Jeremy and Bill
- Vote for your favourite artwork to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway
- Dates announced for Better Transport Week 2025
- Sustrans webinar to delve into latest research on improving access to cycling
- Apply now for Grand Central’s Community Fund
- Redeveloped community hub to open at Mytholmroyd Station after 18-year project
- CRPs in Wales & Borders join TfW’s Railway 200 launch event in Aberystwyth
- Songs and poems celebrate ‘passengers & pioneers’ from oldest passenger railway
- Submit your story of ‘Railway Pride’ to Community Rail Lancashire
- South East Lancashire CRP seeking additional part time officer
Helen Wright, CRP Officer, said: “The artworks will not only enhance the station, but highlight the local area to passengers passing through on trains, encouraging them to stop at Hope and explore the local area further.”
As the Friends of Goostrey Station join the nation in celebrating 200 years of the modern railway, they’re so grateful to learn about and honour local history, and get a glimpse into the life of someone who worked for half a century on the railway.
