East Midlands Railway and community partners win at Community Rail Awards
- EMR, working with local partners and communities, win 4 awards
- Community Rail Awards celebrate the work of staff and volunteers to support local communities
East Midlands Railway (EMR) has won four awards at the prestigious Community Rail Awards, which recognise the outstanding work carried out by volunteers and Community Rail Partnerships across the country.
The awards were, for the first time, held virtually on the evening of Wednesday 9th December. EMR scooped the following:
- 1st Place - Photo Competition - Best ‘Community Rail in Action’ Image - Kaye Robinson & Poacher Line Community Rail Partnership - 'Age is just a number'
- 3rd Place - Community Art Schemes: Renewable and Smaller Projects - Poacher Line CRP and South Nottinghamshire Academy: Fine Art at Radcliffe-on-Trent
- 2nd Place - Outstanding Volunteer Contribution Category - Michael Willmot, Chair of the North Staffs Community Rail Partnership
- 3rd place - Outstanding Volunteer Contribution category - Sarah Hampton, Friends of Beeston Station Adoption Group
‘Age is just a number’ was taken by Kaye Robinson, EMR's Community Rail Ambassador at the Skegness Vintage Festival in September 2019, which was organised by the Poacher Line Community Rail Partnership.
Kaye Robinson, Community Rail Ambassador for EMR said:
"It is lovely to be recognised at the awards, especially when you see so many amazing projects from across the country.
“Bringing people together within their communities is what Community Rail does best so I’m delighted for the Poacher Line and the people involved in the projects that were placed and won. A true testament to the hard work that happens on the lines year after year.”
In the Renewable and Smaller Projects category, the Poacher Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP) and South Nottinghamshire Academy picked up third place for their fine art project, a great example of how community rail can bring different groups of people together.
The fine art project at Radcliffe-on-Trent station came about thanks to the hard work the station adopters had put in to raise awareness of their group in the community.
Due to a previous art project of theirs appearing on the local news, the head of art at South Nottinghamshire Academy got in touch to see if they could work together on something. Joining forces with the Poacher Line CRP, who helped coordinate the project, it was decided an art project would incorporate community cohesion at its best, as well as enhance the bare walls on platform two of Radcliffe station.
Three Year 12 fine art students were assigned to the project and Manor House, a local residential home, hosted the students to deliver art lessons to their residents based on the style of art each student had chosen to adorn the walls of the station.
The project took eight weeks to complete, from researching the local area and the train network to lessons being prepared for the residents of the home. The result was three stunning pieces of unique art for the passengers and the local community to enjoy whilst passing through or waiting for a train.
Jo Andrews, Community Rail Partnership Officer for the Poacher Line said: “I am delighted that the Poacher Line has been recognised at the awards for their hard work this year and huge congratulations to all of our shortlisted and winning entries.
“I am proud to be part of the growing Community Rail movement which continues to engage with, and bring together communities to improve things, and these awards are our chance to celebrate all of their amazing achievements”.
Michael Willmot, Chair of the North Staffs Community Rail Partnership, was delighted to receive his runner up award:
“It was a great surprise to be nominated for this award and an even greater one to end up as runner up. It has been hugely rewarding to have been involved with the North Staffs Community Rail Partnership, as with other community rail initiatives, over the past 15 years but the real achievements during that time have been due to our community rail partnership officers and many station volunteers, backed by financial and in-kind support from EMR, other train operators and local authorities.
"At a time when Covid and other factors have put community-strengthening activities under some stress, I feel the work of the community rail movement is now more important than ever."
Sarah Hampton, from Friends of Beeston Station Adoption Group, group said: "I am thrilled to have been awarded third place in the category for "Outstanding Volunteer Contribution".
“It is a tribute to the hard work, support and friendship of the Friends of Beeston Station, who nominated me. No one ever does anything alone."
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