Community Rail Lancashire and Avanti West Coast have marked the final stop for the groundbreaking Feel Good Field Trips initiative with a celebration at Parliament after connecting 5,000 pupils to unique days out.

The scheme was launched in April 2022 and has provided 215 trips for 5,250 pupils aged 4-18 to 60 destinations along the West Coast Main Line.

Over the course of three years, the intercity operator partnered with organisations local to its west coast route to offer unique and varied learning experiences, which included:

• Art workshops at The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry.
• A trip to Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke-on-Trent.
• Outdoor adventuring in the Lake District.
• A news and media workshop delivered by The Guardian Foundation.
• A behind-the-scenes tour and matinee performance of Murder on the Orient Express.

To celebrate the achievements of Feel Good Field Trips, Avanti West Coast brought together colleagues, stakeholders, pupils, teachers, and Community Rail Partnerships local to its route with a special event at the House of Commons on 13 January.

Dave Savage, community rail officer at Community Rail Lancashire, said: “I’ve always believed that field trips are a vital part of a child’s education, offering invaluable opportunities to broaden their horizons and experience places beyond their everyday surroundings.

“Being a part of the Feel Good Field Trips initiative has truly been a pleasure and a privilege. This program has enabled pupils to discover new things, often for the very first time, and to expand their understanding of the world. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing the excitement and joy on children’s faces. Each journey reminds me of the lasting, positive impact that these trips have on young lives.”

Andy Mellors, managing director of Avanti West Coast, said: “We’re immensely proud of the unique experiences and learning opportunities our Feel Good Field Trips have offered young people local to our route.

“This amazing achievement is credit to Dave Savage and the support of everyone at Community Rail Lancashire, as well as colleagues at Avanti West Coast. Their dedication and enthusiasm to this initiative has enabled children to learn outside the classroom, visit new places and have fun.

“For many of these children it was the first time they had attended such trips or even been on a train. I was fortunate to see the excitement on their faces when they discovered something new. The impact these days out have had on learning and development has been profound. I hope the trips are something that will stay with the pupils for a long time, as it has certainly provided many memorable experiences for us here at Avanti West Coast.”

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from Community Rail Lancashire via their website.