We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for not one BUT two projects in the Community Rail Awards 2024.
The Community Rail Awards, now in its 19th year, recognises the important work carried out by an army, often of volunteers, who work across Britain’s rail network to make stations welcoming spaces for passengers and visitors alike. Alongside this, many of the groups carry out vital community engagement work with schools, colleges, and other local groups to help educate and secure passengers of the future, which is critical to ensuring our railways are an inclusive, sustainable, healthy way to travel.
The winners will be announced at a high-profile Awards Ceremony in Swansea on Monday 18 March 2023. The event is jointly sponsored by Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales.
The Conwy Valley and North Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership have been shortlisted in the following category awards:
1. Influencing Positive Change and Sustainability sponsored by RSSB
Confidence to Travel Project
The Confidence to Travel Project aims to provide help and encourage those with hidden disabilities to use public transport. Working in partnership with Transport for Wales, Tape Music and Film, Creating Enterprise and the Department for Work and Pensions two short films were created by a group of individuals with hidden disabilities. The films give a realistic experience of what someone with a hidden disability may go through when trying to use a bus or train, and show what help and support is available.
2. Involving Children and Young People sponsored by LNER
Conwy Railway Station Artwork Project
The Art at Stations Project was designed to connect young people to their railway, educating them on the dangers of trespassing on the railway, encouraging them to share rail safety messages through graffiti art and reduce antisocial behaviour. Conwy Railway Station had been identified as a hotspot for trespass and anti social behaviour. Working in partnership with British Transport Police, Transport for Wales and local graffiti artist Andy Birch, we worked with the students from Ysgol Aberconwy to design and create two new art pieces, bringing the dull and lifeless shelters into a vibrant and inspiring space. The project was developed to encourage a sense of ownership and aimed to engage children in expressing their artistic abilities while fostering a sense of civic pride and community involvement while reinforcing the importance of rail safety.
