Hello everyone. We hope you are all well and enjoying the beautiful weather. This edition’s intro is full of important dates for your diary – it’s going to be a busy couple of months!
Community Rail Week: 19-25 May
We are only days away from the launch of Community Rail Week! Thanks to everyone who has been sharing their inspiring events, activities and promotions with us. You can see the diverse mix of activity on our interactive map, and there’s still time to get involved – our member toolkit and partner toolkit have suggestions and resources to help. Be sure to join the conversation online using #CommunityRailWeek or #CRW25 – please share your photos, videos and stories, and let people know how your work is making a difference.
Sustainable gardening webinar
If you haven’t already, members – please do register for our upcoming webinar, ‘longer-term impact through sustainable gardening and biodiversity at stations’, which will be held on Wednesday 11 June, 2-4pm. The outline agenda and guest speakers will be available soon.
Community Rail Development Fund ‘showcase’ webinars
Following the success of last year’s Integrated Sustainable Transport Fund ‘showcase’ webinars, we’ve organised a similar series shining a spotlight on Community Rail Development-funded projects from the last two years. The programme is still being finalised, but the online sessions will take place on Thursdays 12, 19 and 26 June between 12-1pm, with four projects featured at each event. Wednesday 2 July is also pencilled in for any final projects that are put forward. Please save the dates in your diaries and visit our online calendar for booking links. These sessions will be recorded and are open to everyone, not just members.
Upcoming training sessions
We have several training sessions coming up in the next couple of months. These sessions will all be held online and are for Community Rail Network members only:
- A community in motion: creating a community of moral rebels – this session on Thursday 19 June, 10am-12pm, will look at the concept of ‘active bystandership’ and aims to provide participants with practical strategies that can be used both personally and professionally to support and challenge others in difficult situations. Register here.
- Networking for community rail officers – join this friendly and informal session on Tuesday 1 July, 10.30am-12.30pm, where you can connect with fellow officers, discuss challenges and share top tips. Register here.
- Networking for CRP chairs – chairs have the choice of an afternoon (1.30-3.30pm) or evening (6.30-8.30pm) session on Thursday 3 July to chat with fellow chairs, hear updates from us and discuss current issues and challenges with each other. Register here.
Send your stories to news@communityrail.org.uk and see our guidance on submitting stories.
Your next bulletin, a Community Rail Week special edition, is on 28 May. Keep up-to-date in between on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky and X.
Best wishes,
Jeremy and Bill
- Community rail insights feature in RSSB’s guide on multi-modal integration
- Connecting ideas, moving communities: join Wales’ first Public Transport Summit
- From grassroots action to national impact: explore The Fore’s funding and resources
- Community rail commemorates VE Day’s 80th anniversary at Haslemere Station
- Hove Station hosts musical extravaganza for Autism Appreciation Month
- Carers group creates mosaic artwork for Rye House Station
- Friends of Bentham Station celebrate station’s 175th anniversary
- Railway 200 takes centre stage in Penistone Line exhibition and poster trail
- Settle Carlisle RDC signals unique opportunity to discover local rail heritage
- Tyne Valley CRP celebrates transformation of Haltwhistle Station
- Leaflet promotes attractions accessible by public transport from Winchelsea Station
- Kent CRP showcases achievements at annual stakeholder event
- Dedicated volunteer and rail campaigner commemorated at Brierfield Station
