YOUNGSTERS with visual impairment were treated to a museum trip as part of a travel assistance initiative.
Berkshire Vision worked with Great Western Railway to help teenagers that it supports gain confidence and further independence through Try a Train.
The latest trip saw youngsters take a trip with staff to Ashmolean Museum, giving them a chance to get to grips with train travel.
They travelled to Reading Station where they were taught about how to access and use passenger assistance facilities.
The use of access ramps and navigational aids is vital for people with sight loss as they use public transport, especially in keeping them safe.
Try a Train sees support and coaching on station safety, how to find help, journey planning, ticket purchasing, and barrier usage, as well as how the station and train services work more generally with on-board help and familiarisation.
Once in Oxford, attendees took part in a touch tour of the Ashmolean Museum, including the opportunity to pick up and feel some of the exhibits.
Maleeka, one of the teenagers that attended said “Usually I find going on a train a really chaotic and busy experience, with the help of Berkshire Vision and passenger assist it was much easier and perfect, I will definitely try it again now”
Carol Barnfather, the children, young people, and families officer from Berkshire Vision, said: “The try a train programme and the day out at the Ashmolean has shown our teenagers how to use public transport and how to get assistance if they need it.
“It gave the teenagers confidence to try train travel when they found out how easy it can be and how welcoming the passenger assist team are.”
“Thank you to GWR passenger assist for making the day run smoothly.”
The Try a Train initiative is just one of the projects that Berkshire Vision works with to bring support to children and young people who experience visual impairment.
Full details about how Berkshire Vision provides that support is available by contacting 0118 987 2803 via: berkshirevision.org.uk.
More information about Great Western Railway’s Try a Train service is available via: gwr.com/travel-information/passenger-assist/try-a-train
