A special train trip for Bangladeshi women and their children to visit the Essex coast was organised by the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (CRP), supported by Greater Anglia.

On Thursday 29 May, 35 women and children from the Bangladeshi Women’s Association in Essex enjoyed a trip by train from Colchester Town to Walton on the Naze, and then a walk along the coast to Frinton on Sea with play time on the beach before returning to Colchester via Frinton.

The Bangladeshi Women’s Association Essex aims to improve the quality of life for Bangladeshi women and their families living in Colchester and surrounding areas, who can sometimes feel very isolated due to language barriers and cultural differences.

Jane Stewart, Essex & South Suffolk CRP community rail officer, said: “All through lockdown, these women worked together to provide meals at Firstsite in Colchester for kids in poverty going to school without food, and they work tirelessly in the community, so to offer them a day out at the beach with their children was such a lovely thing to do.

“Community rail is all about connecting communities, and this event really brought everyone together in a fun way, whilst encouraging them to explore further afield and discover the amazing places on their doorstep that are so easy to reach by rail.”

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from Essex & South Suffolk CRP via their website.

Learn more about Greater Anglia’s work in the community here.