Scout groups across the North of England have been taking part in community rail activities at stations as part of the ‘Platforms for Change’ initiative.

As part of the initiative, groups from Squirrels (4-year-olds) to Explorers (up to 18-year-olds) are invited to get involved with local station friends groups and community rail partnerships. 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, the groups can work towards other badges including gardening, volunteering, nature, photography and writing.

The Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company has been busy working with a Cubs group at Skipton Station to improve the environment along the railway line and help the young people work towards their new badge.

Susie Payne, operations manager at the Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company, said: “It has been great fun working with the local Scouts group. The young people have been so enthusiastic: they’ve been busy planting up planters and creating inspirational spaces along the platform.

“So many people have commented on how good the planters look, and how amazing it is that the young people care about how their local station looks.

“The latest work the group has done has been to make herb planters. To celebrate completing the work, we took a ride on the train to Saltaire to play in Roberts Park.”

Across the network, the Yorkshire Coast CRP has also been engaging young people at stations. The partnership recently supported a group of Cubs and their leaders on a railway safety trip from Driffield to Bridlington. The young people learnt about how to navigate stations and trains safely (with the help of Arlo’s Adventures), as well as getting to try out the new Traxplorer app, which aims to make rail travel even more fun, informative and interactive.

Rachel Osbourne, community rail officer at the Yorkshire Coast CRP, said: “This was an interesting and educational experience for the children which helped them achieve their ‘Platforms for Change’ badge.

“The children and adults all enjoyed the trip and commented on how much they had learned and how welcome they were made to feel by our volunteers.

“Thanks to Northern for supporting this trip, which has made a huge difference to these children.”

Find out more about Platforms for Change and how you can get involved here.