On 16 June 2025, exactly 150 years to the day since the Newark Brake Trials, Friends of Burton Joyce and Lowdham Station brought together 40 local primary school pupils at the Air and Space Institute (ASI), a pioneering STEM training facility located next to Newark Castle Station, for a unique event aimed at engaging young people with engineering, rail safety and careers.

Supported by Primary Engineer, East Midlands Railway and local engineering students, the young people learnt all about the significance of the Newark Brake Trials and their lasting impact on railway safety today, before being given a guided tour of the cutting-edge facility and diving into a hands-on engineering workshop.

Teams were provided with materials to design and build their own model train carriage with working braking systems – costing the Friends group only £190 in total. Each team tested their creations through friendly competition and were judged on whether their carriage moved in a straight line, how far it rolled and whether it came to a safe stop, as well as creativity in team name and carriage decoration.

This event not only provided a rich, educational experience for the young people involved, offered completely for free, but it also gave the college students an opportunity to share their learning with the next generation, bringing history, science and travel to life. The event was such a success that the ASI has expressed a strong interest in making it an annual fixture, opening the opportunity up to new pupils each year.

TransWilts CRP’s ‘Wiltshire Bingo Train’ was a low-cost, high-impact project that combined rail safety, education and fun to empower new rail users – all for the minimal cost of £90 per event.

For many participants, this was their very first train journey. Students from Fairfield College in Dilton Marsh (for young adults with additional needs) and Brimble Hill School in Swindon (for children with severe learning difficulties) were able to enjoy an engaging experience whilst learning how to navigate railways and stations safely. The bingo element added familiarity and excitement, consolidating maths skills from the classroom while making the train journey itself less daunting.

Tickets for students and their carers were donated by Great Western Railway, who also provided refreshments. Volunteer time plus minimal spend on prizes and goodie bags made for a cost-effective and highly adaptable project, demonstrating exceptional value for money through partnership, creativity and resource-sharing.

The project’s impact has already extended beyond schools, having been replicated with Swindon Borough Council’s ‘Live Well’ project to introduce 15 refugees to their new local area. By combining creativity with important rail safety and confidence lessons, the project has helped to establish rail travel as accessible, welcoming and enjoyable for all, paving the way for future independent journeys.

Recognising the need for a refreshments provision at their station, the team at Kents Bank Station Library set about creating a ‘pop-up station buffet’ in an underused area of the building. Wanting to provide a welcoming facility for local people and visitors, the volunteers decided to offer a modest facility that would be open on a ‘do-it-yourself’ basis when the library and neighbouring art gallery were open.

The pop-up station buffet opened in March 2025, costing just over £70 to set up and maintain for the first three months. Initial costs included a kettle, cups, teabags, coffee, sugar and milk, and the cost of maintaining the buffet is approximately £30 per quarter. Volunteers keep the space tidy and welcoming, ensuring fresh water is provided and supplies are fully stocked each morning. When the library hosts special events, the volunteers often get donations of homemade cakes and biscuits from local residents.

The initiative has been positively received, and visitors are often impressed that the service is provided completely free of charge. Many people are generous in making donations, but it is not expected. Any cash received goes into the ‘general pot’ to support the library.

Not only has the buffet contributed to the gradual increase in visitor numbers (which now averages about 60 over the four days the library is open each week), it has further established Kents Banks Station as a destination in its own right and enhanced the space as a thriving hub where the community can come together.