Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership and Refugee, Asylum seeker & Migrant Action (RAMA) are working together in order to support Ukranian refugees getting used to life in the county of Essex.
The collaboration saw 20 hosted Ukrainians living in Essex take part in a ‘Try a Train' trip in order to build confidence using the public transport network and hopefully inspire them to visit further afield in the future.
Tuesday the 14th of February saw the trip take place onboard a Greater Anglia train travelling from Colchester to Wrabness to visit the fantastic Grayson Perry's House for Essex and also to enjoy a woodland walk adjacent to the Stour estuary ahead of travelling to Harwich for some delicious fish and chips.
The trip was partially funded by Essex Path to Prosperity project which is supported by the Coastal Community Fund which aims to get more people out and about on the England Coast Path.
The day out also provided Community Rail Officers with a chance to offer guidance regarding rail safety.
Natalia Uzumlu, RAMA's translator and caseworker who assisted on the trip, said: “I have received plenty of thankful messages from our Ukrainians, expressing their gratitude to those who organised and funded this great trip.”
Terri Ryland of the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership, said: “We were delighted that everyone on the trip had a great day. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to flee your country and start again in an unknown place and I hope that our ongoing work with RAMA will help refugees and asylum seekers to feel more integrated and confident about exploring their new surroundings.”
Greater Anglia's Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said: “We were pleased to support this vital work by the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership which is helping people to use public transport safely and with confidence and connecting them to new opportunities.”
Very nice 👍