This category recognises community rail's important role in innovating and driving change locally, to help create a more sustainable and inclusive future. We're especially keen to see great partnership working where community rail partnerships and groups have encouraged more future-focused, climate-aware and inclusive thinking and approaches, even if the results have not yet fully materialised. This is about supporting sustainable forms of development (as per the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals), adopting greater care for local and global environments, more resilient and cohesive communities, and leaving a legacy for future generations.

Any current (paid/subscribed) Community Rail Network member, which may be a community rail partnership (CRP), station adoption / friends’ group or a community station group.

Non-member community groups, or rail industry partners can also submit entries, but only where a project was undertaken in partnership with a Community Rail Network member CRP or station group. The entry must clearly demonstrate this partnership working, showing how the project has fulfilled the judging criteria below. The entry must also be approved by the member group as the primary entry for the joint project and the group’s contact details must be provided.

• Clearly demonstrate, through evidence, the impact of the project - How did it contribute to creating social value? How did it strengthen the community? How did it improve inclusion and accessibility?
• Community influence – we can see how the community rail partnership, station group and/or community members worked with the rail industry, local authorities, or others to support positive change and sustainable development
• Great partnership working – there is evidence of engaging successfully with relevant partners and working inclusively to build momentum towards future-focused change
• Evidence basis – there is an evidence basis for this initiative and expected (or achieved) outcomes to do with sustainable development, inclusion, biodiversity, decarbonisation, modal shift or integration
• Innovation and/or lessons learnt – an innovative or collaborative approach was used to overcome challenges or consider future needs, and/or the lessons are recognised and being shared

The 'Influencing Positive Change and Sustainability Award' is sponsored by Hitachi Rail.

2026 1st Place Winner – Community Rail Lancashire and Lancashire Archives for 'The English Queen'

Community Rail Lancashire (CRL) identified an opportunity to harness two landmark railway anniversaries – 50 years since Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the electrification of the West Coast Main Line to Glasgow in 1974 at Preston Station, and the Railway 200 celebrations, marking two centuries since the birth of the modern passenger railway – to inspire learning and illustrate how rail education can both honour the past and shape a sustainable future, inspiring climate action and environmental responsibility among young people.

Partnerships with Lancashire Archives and Preston Station were key to providing authentic learning experiences that embedded railway heritage into education on climate action and sustainable travel. Key Stage 2 pupils from four schools experienced guided tours of Preston Station, before walking to Lancashire Archives for immersive workshops featuring role-play, period costumes and storytelling that traced railway evolution from steam to electrification and beyond.

Supporting resources were produced for long-term and future use. The Preston Station ‘I-Spy’ booklet was designed to reinforce safety and environmental messaging, while portable exhibition materials and school resource packs (including ‘Steam to Green’ posters, Railway 200 commemorative materials, and Northern Heritage publications) ensured lessons extended beyond the workshops.

The project successfully reached more than 100 pupils from diverse backgrounds, with the content proving suitable for use across the whole of Key Stage 2 – enabling broader engagement than first anticipated. Evidence of behavioural change is also emerging, with schools requesting follow-up sustainability sessions, and the workshops have been permanently embedded into Lancashire Archives’ education programme.

2025 1st Place Winner - Gloucestershire CRP for 'Youth Travel Toolkit'

Gloucestershire CRP sought to understand and address barriers to sustainable travel among young people, developing a practical toolkit empowering businesses to engage young people and consider their aspirations for greener travel.

Through workshops, surveys and research, the partnership brought together over 600 young people, five businesses and multiple rail industry partners to address sustainable travel challenges collaboratively, but with a youth-led approach. Gloucestershire CRP supported the young people to synthesise their research and findings into a comprehensive toolkit, as well as creating marketing assets to promote the toolkit more widely.

The project has positioned Gloucestershire CRP as a leader in youth-focused sustainable travel initiatives. Early indicators suggest increased interest from businesses in sustainable travel promotion and greater awareness among young people about their travel options. Cotswold Plus, a Local Visitor Economy Partnership, has incorporated the toolkit into its sustainability strategy, amplifying impact on sustainable travel among visitors and supporting destinations, and 15 of the young people involved in the project expressed an interest in ongoing involvement through a dedicated youth transport forum.

This initiative demonstrates how community rail partnerships can drive positive change through inclusive cross-sector partnerships, leveraging youth perspectives, and creating practical solutions. By aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals and focusing on long-term sustainability, the Youth Travel Toolkit project is building a legacy of sustainable transport for future generations in Gloucestershire.

Check out previous 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of this category from 2017-2022.

Entries for our 2027 Awards open at 9am on Tuesday 1 September and close at 5pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026.

Check back then to submit your entry!