LAST WEEK marked the fifth anniversary of a special team of people welcoming those who visit Reading.
Reading Welcome Ambassadors and REDA celebrated five years of the scheme with tea and cake with the Mayor of Reading, Councillor Paul Gittings, in the Mayor’s Parlour on on Thursday, July 16.
Reading Welcome Ambassadors is the volunteer team that provide a welcome to visitors to Reading, based at Reading Station.
They were set up in July 2021 by REDA to greet visitors, provide a warm welcome, directions and maps, information on things to do and generally help visitors with their onward journeys in Reading.
Until 2021, Reading had not had a visitor information service for many years.
The team of 15 volunteers provide a visitor welcome Monday – Friday mornings (and occasional Saturdays).
They are managed by REDA, Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency.
Visitors coming down the main escalators at Reading Station can’t help but see the branded Visit Reading information booth and the volunteer Ambassadors in their bright red t-shirts.
The Ambassadors get lots of great feedback from the public as a visitor information service is very unusual at stations these days.
They have helped reunite people, provide itineraries for people stepping off the Elizabeth Line, are someone to talk to while people wait for trains and a smiling great first impression of Reading, as well as providing lots of information about the station and trains, helping out GWR station staff.
To mark the 5th year anniversary of the scheme, REDA produced a special 5-year commemorative pin badge for each volunteer, which the Mayor of Reading presented to them on 16 July, along with a celebratory birthday cake to mark the occasion.
Each member of the team volunteers for one three-hour shift a week in teams of two and is provided with a uniform and support.
Alex Brannen, REDA, said: “Our volunteer Ambassadors are an amazing team of people, giving up their time to make sure visitors to Reading gain a fantastic first impression of the town and its people.
“We set up the scheme in 2021 and many of our volunteers have been with us since the beginning, providing a warm welcome at Reading Station, all year round in all weathers.
“The Reading Ambassadors are the proudest and most positive people about Reading you will ever meet.
“They share their enthusiasm and considerable knowledge of the town with everyone who approaches the visitor information point and make a real difference to many travellers’ journeys.”
Anyone interested in joining the Ambassador team can get in touch with Alex Brannen via: alex.brannen@reading.gov.uk
