‘Beyond the Home’, a project led by Community Rail Cumbria and supported by the Northern Accessibility Innovation Scheme, was designed to support disabled people to overcome the challenges and barriers they encounter when travelling by train, through the process of designing a selection of bespoke resources.

Over several months a series of workshops were held, bringing together service users from three adult social care organisations within Cumberland Council: West House, Carlisle Day Services and Allerdale & Copeland Day Opportunities. The sessions provided the opportunity for service users to drive and shape the project, brainstorming, collating ideas and creating common themes on how the display panels and leaflets should look and be linked together. Research for the panels also provided the opportunity for the service users to travel along the Cumbrian Coast Line and explore the local area.  Some had never travelled by train before and the opportunities to engage with ticket office staff and conductors, use ticket machines, work with timetables and learn about rail safety built individual self-confidence and raised awareness amongst the group about the benefits of accessible public transport.

The finished interlinked panels, which use Makaton and other visual aids, are now displayed at selected stations along the line, promoting active travel for all and assisting people with disabilities to travel safely, confidently and independently. The service users involved in the project have continued to use the train to travel together, strengthening new friendships and reducing the risk of isolation.

Watch this video about the project.

‘Joy of the Journey’ is an initiative designed to make rail travel more accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of community groups, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy of travelling by train, regardless of background or ability.

Each month, South West Wales Connected takes up to three groups on a guided rail journey, offering a fun and relaxing day filled with activities, refreshments and opportunities to explore the scenic landscapes of the region. These journeys provide participants with a unique experience that goes beyond mere transportation, creating a sense of adventure and community.

The CRP has reached out to many corners of the community, including the Girls' Rights Foster Group Neath, Carmarthen Youth Group, the National Autistic Society, a Nigerian mums and toddlers group, Sadies Butterflies LGBTQIA+ group, and students from the University of Wales Trinity St David. Each group is provided with a platform to express their needs and concerns. South West Wales Connected then tailor each journey to the needs and interests of the group, ensuring that participants feel welcome, engaged and comfortable throughout the experience, particularly for those who may be anxious or unfamiliar with train travel.

The Friends of Buxton Station have worked with various local community organisations and artists on projects over the years but particularly valued their work with the More Care Design Collective, a special community arts project engaging people with learning difficulties. The volunteers came up with the idea to give participants the opportunity to produce a fun artwork to replace something they had created four years earlier.

After extensive research into local history and artistic methodology (under the guidance of a supervising lead artist), the group came up with a series of innovative animal-based characters on the theme of ‘Roman Buxton and Ancient Britons’. Participants were completely submerged in the creative process, developing close association with their characters, with many reporting that they even saw their creations as representative of themselves, as well as the town of Buxton.

The Friends of Buxton Station were pleased to be able to give a marginalised group a voice, supporting them to learn new skills and have their creative talents taken seriously, all whilst forging strong connections between the community and the station.