A COMMUNITY Rail Partnership (CRP) in Berkshire was among those commended at a national awards ceremony this week.
Partnerships across the Great Western Railway network were celebrated at the 2024 Community Rail Awards in Swansea.
They recognised the dedication and commitment of those involved in regional projects and their contributions to their communities.
The Reading to Basingstoke CRP took the Small Projects Award following its work to bring warm clothing to the homeless and needy.
The RBCRP used spare space at Reading station and Petersfield station to collect and donate coats, scarves, gloves, and winter clothing for those in need.
The Winter Warmer initiative saw them collaborate with Reading Borough Council’s Safer Streets Council, Network Rail, and Great Western Railway in January last year.
The initiative returned earlier this year, when it provided more than 900 items of clothing to the needy, around 145 bags’ worth, in a two-day collection.
Items were also donated to Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Dress for Dignity Room, and three boxes of jumpers, hats, and children’s gloves were donated to The Cowshed.
The Reading to Basingstoke Community Rail Partnership is a not for profit organisation which aims to promote the rail services and stations covering Reading, Reading West, Green Park, Mortimer, Bramley, and Basingstoke, as well as link communities with their local railway.
Lucy Lomax, Reading to Basingstoke Community Rail Officer said: “This is an example of what the word Community means–the support was overwhelming.
“Seeing the pleasure that the volunteers get in helping tirelessly; people arriving with their donations of such high quality, and the people turning up and taking away what they use.
“We hope that this becomes an annual event as we are asked when the next one is happening.”
Other winners at the event included the Gloucestershire CRP, which was jointly awarded Outstanding Contribution to Community Rail with Coӧperatie Stationspark Deurne, a station volunteer group in the Netherlands.
Platform, a rail education scheme, took the top prize in the Empowering Diverse Groups category for its work creating bespoke packages to help remove barriers to travel for those with disabilities.
Severnside CRP won in the Best Community Engagement category.
Great Western Railway’s managing director Mark Hopwood said: “GWR has 11 Community Rail Partnerships on our network and we are incredibly proud of the work they do.
“They have great local knowledge and work incredibly hard, as volunteers, inspiring sustainable improvements to their community and adding value to the local economy.
“It is especially pleasing that Gloucester CRP, and separately Heather Cullimore from Severnside CRP, have been recognised their outstanding contributions; the awards are so well deserved.”
Community Rail Network chief executive Jools Townsend said: “Our Community Rail Awards give deserved recognition to community rail partnerships, groups and volunteers across Britain and now beyond.
“This year’s ceremony in Swansea saw 430 guests from across the community rail movement and transport sector celebrating community rail’s role building stronger, fairer, greener communities, served and connected by their railways and wider sustainable transport network.
“It was fantastic to have our first winners from outside Britain this year.
He added: “Our congratulations go to all our winners, and thanks to everyone who supports and champions community rail across the rail and transport field, helping the movement to go from strength to strength.”
