Young people with social, emotional or special educational needs have unveiled a powerful new photography exhibition showcasing the human stories behind the railway network.
The exhibition, titled A Tribute to the Heart of the Tracks is on display at Hove Station and represents a year-long collaborative project between college SupaJam, Southern Railway and the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership.
The project features candid and spontaneous photographs of students interacting with railway staff at Hove, Brighton and Preston Park stations. The young people aimed to highlight the essential role rail workers play in keeping communities connected while also celebrating the diversity, professionalism and dedication of staff across the network.
Many of the SupaJam students rely on Southern and Thameslink services daily to travel to their college in Hove, making the railway a key part of their educational journey and everyday lives. The exhibition reflects these personal connections while encouraging greater appreciation of the friendly faces at every station..Throughout the year, students and teachers travelled across Brighton and Hove to capture authentic moments between young people and station staff as part of the project, funded by Southern railway. The exhibition also includes photographs of students rehearsing and performing at music venues around the city, connecting the themes of creativity, travel and community.
Patrick Ladbury, Southern and Thameslink’s Senior Community Partnerships and CSR Manager said: “Our station staff work at the heart of every community: they know the places they serve inside out, are a friendly and familiar face for our passengers and, most importantly, help you get where you need to be.
“I am delighted to see these fantastic pictures celebrating the people who keep our railway running – they tell a great story of the relationships we’ve forged with the students at SupaJam, giving them the opportunity to develop new skills and showcase them in public, which is just what our grant set out to do.”
The project was funded with a grant from Southern’s Railway 200 community grant scheme, commemorating 200 years of the modern railway and recognising the importance of rail in shaping communities and opportunity across the UK.
SupaJam’s inclusive music-industry-based curriculum supports young people who may struggle in traditional education settings, helping them engage through creativity, confidence building and real-world experiences.
Faron Woodbridge (RSL Teacher at SupaJam) said: “The SupaJam students have engaged enthusiastically in this community partnership project, celebrating creativity and exploring community connections, helping to shine a light on the vital role of the railway, in bringing people together. Our students are looking forward to performing at the launch event.”
Lynda Spain, Line Officer Sussex Coast from Southeast Communities Rail Partnership said: “This project gave students the opportunity to tell stories through photography while recognising the incredible people who support their journeys every day. Rail staff are often unseen heroes within our communities, and the students wanted to capture the human side of the railway through honest and meaningful images.”
The exhibition at Hove Station is free to view and celebrates the positive partnerships between education, transport and community organisations across Sussex.
