Young people from Chippenham and Wiltshire have been given a day out by rail to remember thanks to TransWilts Community Rail Partnership (CRP).

TransWilts CRP teamed up with Great Western Railway and Barnardo’s Wiltshire Short Breaks to take 10 young people on a seaside day out to Weston-super-Mare. 

Taking advantage of the direct rail service, the visit aimed to give the young people, many of whom had rarely travelled by train before, the chance to build confidence, learn travel skills and explore somewhere new.

The young people, all aged between 7 and 13, were treated to an interactive train safety session, learning how to travel safely and confidently by rail, before enjoying the seaside activities led by a Barnardo’s specialist play leader.

Barnardo’s Wiltshire Short Breaks provides activities, outings, and support for children and young people with additional needs, giving them opportunities to develop independence and social skills in a safe and supportive environment. Funded by Wiltshire Council’s Local Offer, they run regular group sessions and youth clubs during term time and additional activities and days out in the school holidays.

Sophie Martin, TransWilts community partnership manager, said: “Introducing children to train travel is about so much more than getting from A to B – it’s about opening up opportunities, building life skills and showing that rail travel is for everyone.

“Working with great local organisations like Barnardo’s means we can offer these experiences to young people who might otherwise not have the chance and help make rail a sustainable and accessible option for all.”

Liz James, Barnardo’s Dorset and Wiltshire locality children’s services manager, said: “It was nice to be able to do something a little bit different and go a bit further. Weston-super-Mare seemed like a good place as it was easy to get to on the train and the children spent lots of the day on the beach, playing in the sand. 

“Many of the children would have found it difficult to go on a trip like this, but with the support from TransWilts CRP they felt safe and it helped build their confidence.  A train can be a scary experience, but everyone was really helpful and they really enjoyed the opportunity to be more independent, especially as they were out with their friends and not with their family.” 

Learn more about Great Western Railway’s work in the community here.

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from TransWilts CRP via their website.