With Jools on holiday, it is down to Richard and myself to update you on everything Community Rail Network this week. We do hope you are all safe and well. As ever it’s been a busy couple of weeks with the continuation of our Days Out by Rail Campaign, launching our latest sustainability report and planning for our upcoming Community Rail Week. We also have a reminder to complete our members survey, and a headline sponsorship opportunity for our 2022 Community Rail Awards.
As always, if you have any feedback, or to contribute stories to future editions, contact nikolas@communityrail.org.uk.
Community rail and sustainable development report
Our new report on community rail and sustainable, sponsored by Rail Delivery Group, highlights how railways and stations can stimulate sustainable development at community level, and how community rail can play a key role in that. It considers opportunities for developing collaborative working between the railways, communities, and wider partners to help rail to play a maximum role in sustainable development, especially against a backdrop of rail transformation and transport decarbonisation over the coming years. Read the report.
Do share the report with colleagues, and talk to our team about your ideas and campaigns on sustainble development.
These resources are part of our growing range available on different aspects of community rail activity. See all our resources, reports and case studies.
Community Rail Week update – Go Green by Train
We have slightly altered the tag line for Community Rail Week (18 – 24 Oct), to “Go Green by Train”. The rationale behind the change has come from Rail Delivery Group rail consumer research, which has highlighted that the travelling public identifies with the word train rather than rail when it comes to messaging and advertising around train/rail travel. We have a new webpage explaining the objectives of the week and how your group can get involved, here. We will also have a toolkit available in the next fortnight to assist you with Community Rail Week promotions, including social media images, messages and a template press release.
We’ve had a great response so far from members, with a great range of events taking place across our community rail lines. Let us know what your group is planning by getting in touch with Alice. We also have several Zoom surgeries for members to attend, if you have any questions about the week or are looking for help to develop activities. Again, get in touch with Alice for details.
Community Rail Awards 2022 sponsorship
Community Rail Network is looking for a headline sponsor for our prestigious Community Rail Awards, taking place October 2022. The Awards continue to grow in size and importance, with the last live event attracting more than 200 entries and 460 attendees from the community rail movement, rail industry, senior government figures, and third sector partners. We offer an extensive range of benefits as detailed in our headline sponsor package information. Alternatively, you can contact our events & fundraising manager, Hazel Lavery – hazel@communityrail.org.uk or 07786 190774, to discuss this opportunity more generally and express an interest.
Days Out by Rail campaign update
Our Days Out by Rail campaign continues, with this week’s theme, Days Out for Grown-Ups, highlighting great destinations for a child-free daytrip. Don’t forget to use the #DaysOutByRail hashtag on social media to highlight destinations along your lines and make use of our digital resources here.
Members’ survey reminder
The 2021 survey closes in eight days. The survey provides vital information to the Community Rail Network team, allowing us to ensure that our work continues to respond to your needs and provides the right support for the growing community rail movement. If you are yet to complete this year’s survey, we would encourage you to do so before the deadline. It should take no longer than ten minutes of your time, and your feedback is greatly appreciated. If you’ve not received your link to the survey, please get in touch with Nik.
Upcoming webinars
- Engage, communicate, connect – a half day workshop exploring frameworks, theories and techniques which support community engagement: 10am – 2:30pm, 21 Sept. Book here
- Engaging communities through storytelling and creative projects – develop creative projects as a powerful way to engage your communities: 10am-12pm, 12 Oct. Book here
Your next bulletin is on 29 September. Keep up-to-date in between on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Best wishes,
Brian & Richard
News and events from our partners
News from our members
- Mytholmroyd celebrates Blue Plaque award
- Community Rail Cumbria news round-up
- Silent soldier installed at Littlehampton Station
- Strood students inspire a brighter subway
- Glossop bumblebee safari a hive of activity
- Dronfield station enthusiasts discover hidden secrets of local line
- Friends of Handforth Station commemorate Merchant Navy Day
