Sygnets youth group has inspired a number of people to develop skills, with some becoming Swanage Railway volunteers.
They are appealing for more additional volunteer leaders the help with their 25th anniversary celebration.
The youth group formed in 1997 and since then has seen hundreds of young people aged 13 to 18 pass through, making long-lasting friendships and enjoying a range of activities around the heritage railway.
They meet once a month on a Saturday and socialise through a number of opportunities, such as barbecues and fund raisers. The group has seven adult volunteer helpers who help to inspire young people.
The youth group has Ben Ford as a leader who joined the youth group at 11 in 2003. There is a waiting list for those wanting to get involved with the group and the Swanage Railway, due to waiting for more leaders like Ben.
Those wanting to register or apply to be a Sygnets leader can contact recruitment by email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk
Swanage Railway Trust chairman Gavin Johns said: “The Swanage Railway has depended on several generations of volunteers to develop over the past 50 years and we still depend on volunteers now and will do into the future as we give the public the chance to travel and experience Britain's steam railways as they were in the 1950s.
“Encouraging and developing a heritage railway interest in young people is a key part of ensuring the Swanage Railway's future and our Sygnets Group is a vital part in introducing young people to railways and encouraging their practical interests for the future,” added Gavin who is a volunteer signalman on the heritage railway.
The information technology engineer said: “It has been a privilege to have been part of the Sygnets for almost 20 years and even more so to now lead it. It's incredible to see how far the group has come since its inception in 1997.
“It's really gratifying that many of our Sygnets have gone on to main line railway and engineering careers as a result of having their interests nurtured from a young age.
“The Sygnets is a vibrant and enjoyable community – a place to build friendships and share a passion for the same interests – with all activities carefully risk-assessed.
“While the Sygnets support the Swanage Railway with a steady flow of future volunteers, and teach the children the skills they need to do so, the relationships built in the Sygnets are equally as important and show in the number of former Sygnets who volunteer for the Swanage Railway as adults,” explained Ben.
Sygnets adult leader Aidan Wright from Swanage – who was with the youth group as a child and is now an engineer in the electricity industry – explained: “We try to ensure that each Sygnets meeting includes an opportunity to ride on the Swanage Railway and learn about all aspects of safely operating and restoring the heritage railway.
“At the age of 16, members of the Sygnets are encouraged to move into volunteering with one of the Swanage Railway's varied departments while still being mentored and supported, through the Sygnets group, until they are 18 years old.
“With an ever-ageing volunteer workforce, the Sygnets provides the Swanage Railway with a stream of knowledgeable and enthusiastic young volunteers while the skills learned in Sygnets are often transferable to the world of work with a steady flow of ex-Sygnets enjoying successful careers on the national rail network or in the wider engineering industry,” he added.
