At this year’s Community Rail Awards, East Midlands Railway (EMR) and its community partners achieved success in multiple categories.

The awards, held annually to honour the dedication of community railway staff and volunteers, highlight how grassroots initiatives can promote social inclusion, heritage, and sustainability within the rail industry.

First place in the Involving Children & Young People category went to the Robin Hood Line Community Rail Partnership for its Fusion Learning project.

Judges were impressed how the scheme led to participants pursuing a career in engineering.

Twelve young people collaborated with Engineered Learning to create a Woolly Mammoth sculpture for Creswell Station.

The participants were previously not in education, but several of them went on to secure engineering apprenticeships. East Midlands Railway also won this award in 2022.

The Outstanding Volunteer Contribution Award went to Jaymii Claxton for how she has improved the environment as a station adopter at Bulwell Station.

Since becoming an adopter, Jaymii’s confidence has improved, she has developed new skills and has fostered a sense of community pride.

Station adopters play a key role in enhancing their adopted station’s surroundings. This varies from looking out for unusual activity and reporting faults and issues to maintaining station gardens and ensuring the station is presentable.

“I feel privileged to be taking home the trophy for Outstanding Volunteer Contribution. When I started my station adoption journey, I never imagined standing on stage accepting an award it truly is an honour.”

Jaymii Claxton

East Midlands Railway projects were nominated for five awards, and other winners included:

• North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership with 2nd Place, Photo Competition for Our Railway-Themed Poems Are In These Booklets.
• Friends of Bedford St Johns for its Youth Inspired Mosaic Artwork which gained 2nd Place in the Small Projects Award (Under 500).
• Habrough Station Adopters for Lead Bronze, It’s Your Station.

Bill Freeman, Interim Chief Executive of the Community Rail Network, commenting on the significance of the awards, noted that they recognise the incredible work of community rail partnerships, groups, and volunteers across Britain.

“We are thrilled to see so many of our community projects and partners acknowledged in this year s Community Rail Awards. Each of these nominations reflects the passion, creativity, and hard work of the incredible individuals and groups we work with. From the young people on the Fusion Learning project gaining valuable engineering skills to the volunteers transforming stations and providing vital community services, these initiatives truly demonstrate the power of collaboration. We are incredibly proud to support these projects through our Community Fund and to celebrate their achievements.”

Kaye Robinson, Community Engagement Manager at East Midlands Railway