The Conwy Valley and North Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership has been shortlisted in the National Community Rail Awards 2025 in the category of Best Community Engagement Project.
The shortlist announcement for the Community Rail Partnership is particularly special as it falls in a double-anniversary year. The Awards are celebrating 20 years of showcasing inspiring initiatives from across the community rail as the wider railway industry celebrates 200 years since the birth of modern railways.
The Conwy Valley and North Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership’s project focused on offering free electric bike sessions to communities in and around Conwy with the aim of bringing people together to experience the benefits of cycling without the strain associated with a normal push bike.
Funded by Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales, the project partnered with Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) Ffit team to deliver 30 riding sessions over 12 weeks for groups of mixed abilities, making it accessible to all. More than 60 local people, including 14 young people who were not in mainstream education, participated in the project and saw great benefits including making new and lasting connections, increase in confidence and improved concentration and behaviour.
The winners will be announced at a high-profile Awards Ceremony in Newcastle on Thursday 13 March 2025, headline partnered by Lumo.
The Awards, organised by Community Rail Network, recognise a diverse array of projects supporting social inclusion, sustainable travel, empowered communities, and economic development. The evening demonstrates how the community rail movement builds links, positivity and awareness between local people and their railways, benefitting communities and often changing lives.
Karen Williams, Community Rail Officer for the Conwy Valley and North Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership, said: “It was a great opportunity to work with CCBC Ffit team, offering local people a chance to sample E bike riding in some stunning locations, situated on their doorstep. The instructors offered great advice to riders on safety as well as an immense knowledge of the local area.
“It was great to hear that friendship groups formed, and as a result, more people are now accessing the great outdoors and improving both their physical and mental health with new friends.”
Sarah Chilton, director of communications and policy at Community Rail Network, said: “2025 is a very special year for community rail and the wider railway industry, and we’re delighted to see so many inspiring award entries showcasing amazing people, projects and initiatives from across our growing, grassroots movement.
“Huge congratulations to Conwy Valley and North Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership for being shortlisted. We’re looking forward to joining them and our community rail colleagues and industry partners to celebrate their hard work, positivity, and dedication at our Awards evening in March.”
Melanie Lawton, Community Rail Strategic Lead at Transport for Wales, said: ” to be shortlisted for this award is testament to the Community Rail Partnership and their dedication to connecting communities to their railways whilst promoting health and wellbeing activities. Congratulations.”
Lorna Crawshaw, Head of Community Programmes & Partnerships at the Community Rail Partnership’s host organisation Groundwork North Wales, said: “It’s an incredible honour for the CRP to have been nominated for the Community Engagement Award. This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of the CRP in fostering community connections and driving positive change.”
