Volunteers needed to adopt Dorchester railway station

The Purbeck Community Rail Partnership are on the lookout for volunteers to adopt Dorchester’s main station and also form a Friends of Dorchester South station group

South Western Railway has seen great success with station adoption at Wool and Wareham with the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership now eager to organise adoption for Dorchester’s main station alongside a Friends of Dorchester South station group.

Throughout the country over 1,000 station adoption groups have been formed as part of the Community Rail Network.

Dorchester South station May 2022 — Dorchester South station // Credit: Andrew PM Wright

Local communities form the groups in order to add value to their locality by creating a welcoming and attractive station which will support rail travel alongside developing civic pride as schools, volunteer groups and businesses get involved.

Being part of a Community Rail Network provides groups with the opportunity to gain advice and resources which aid them with their own projects and schemes at their station. Grants and other financial support are also available.

Purbeck Community Rail Partnership has undertaken projects such as community gardening, artwork and the addition of signage for the local area.

Jonathan Evans, Purbeck Community Rail Partnership Volunteer Recruitment Officer, said: “As the newest addition to the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership, we are incredibly keen to find volunteers who are as passionate about Dorchester and rail travel as we are.

“Station adoption is a great opportunity to be involved in a community project – whether that’s gardening, art or any number of other projects.

“It is not necessary to start as a fully formed group as it just takes one or two people with the vision and passion for the group to grow from there,” he added.

Paula Aldridge, South Western Railway Community Rail Manager, explained: “Stations on the South Western Railway network currently benefit from the support of over 70 station adoption groups.

“The work that station adopters do is invaluable in making our stations a better place for our customers and helping to centre them within their communities.

“We would encourage anyone who is interested in helping to make Dorchester South station a focal part of the local area to get in contact with the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership,”

For anyone interested in getting involved in adopting Dorchester’s main station and setting up a Friends of Dorchester South station group, please send an email to: [email protected].