Scouts, cubs and beavers in Essex and Suffolk are excited to be working towards the new ‘Platforms for Change’ badge.
The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership and Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership work with Greater Anglia to keep the rail branch lines in the region and their communities thriving. The two community rail partnerships are working with scout, cub and beaver groups in the county, as part of Community Rail Network’s ‘Platforms for Change’ initiative.
The groups will undertake different community-based activities such as painting, gardening, making bug/bird boxes and fundraising which will enhance their local station.
Each group is given a rail safety talk in preparation for a trip on a train to help build travel confidence and awareness.
As well as a ‘Platforms for Change’ badge specially designed for the programme, the groups can work towards other badges including gardening, volunteering, nature, photography, and writing.
East Suffolk Lines CRP officer, Thalia Woodgate, said: “We are delighted to be involved with the Platforms for Change initiative, helping young people to build travel confidence, learn new skills and help to improve their community facilities.”
Essex and South Suffolk CRP Rail Engagement Manager, Jayne Sumner, said: “We are really excited about the ‘Platforms for Change’ initiative.
“We look forward to seeing the ideas of our groups of scouts and beavers come to fruition at rail stations in Essex over the next few months as they work towards earning the new badge.”
Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said: “This is a wonderful initiative, and we are very grateful to both the East Suffolk Lines and Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnerships for the great work they are doing to put railways at the heart of the communities they serve, provide fun educational opportunities and create a sense of pride in young people for their local railway station.”
Karen Bennett, Community Rail Network’s education and youth engagement advisor, said: “We are delighted that the community rail partnerships in Essex and Suffolk are taking part in the ‘Platforms for Change’ initiative.
“The programme aims to engage and empower Scout groups across Britain through community rail activity, station projects and rail confidence trips and we look forward to seeing what the young people can achieve!”
Find out more about the Platforms for Change initiative and how you can get involved here.
