The concept was to work in partnership with the Culture Shift team on their “Time Travel” project to take a group of learning disabled adults by train to visit heritage attractions in Sussex. The aim was to increase the confidence of the group in travelling by train to attractions and to provide the venues with new tools to make the visiting experience more geared towards that cohort. SCRP was asked to provide the link between the group and the train operating companies with travel advice and to capture feedback during the events.
Phase one – five visits were arranged in January and February for the group to travel independently by train to stations and then be escorted to the attractions: Amberley Museum, Bexhill Museum, Fishbourne Roman Palace, Anne of Cleves House and Marlipins Museum. Two further visits were arranged to each to build on the experience and increase the confidence of those concerned. Staff from the University of Brighton’s Community 21 team developed resources including a ‘passport’ for the learning disabled adults to use and for the venues to recognise. These were tested and amended during the second visits between April and June. Disability awareness training was also given for the staff to help build understanding.
The sessions were met with great enthusiasm by the attendees but also the Museums. It provided the attractions with useful outputs to use with future visitors and organisations. Those consultants from the learning disabled community gained a greater understanding and confidence for rail travel. The pilot events involved 34 participants and 8 support staff.
The phase two, open events, saw attendees from multiple organisations, across the 5 attractions there were a total 213 learning disabled adults and 75 support staff.
I love train travel, it was especially nice to see the museums. As a result of this project I have now joined Andy’s steering group.
This project has definitely helped me feel more confident on the trains, I wouldn't be able to use them without it
I travel by bus but they aren’t reliable and they go all over the place, the trains are more direct and easier to understand