The yearly contribution by Community Rail to the societies it serves in the South East has been revealed as more than half a million pounds.
The Annual Review from Southeast Communities Rail Partnership estimates volunteers at railway stations have contributed more than 29,000 hours over the last year to support their local communities and help improve train travel. This is worth £572,000 in social value.
SCRP works to connect people, places and opportunities on railway lines. It raised £182,000 in grants to station partners and for projects in the year to 31 March 2025 plus a further £28,000 in donations. Its education team delivered in-person workshops, station visits and train trips to thousands of youngsters and other groups.
Tim Barkley, chair of Southeast Communities Rail Partnership Community Interest Company, said: “The Annual Review provides excellent examples of successful projects that SCRP was able to deliver in collaboration with community groups and partners. The interest in our education work continues to grow and the demand from schools is increasing.
“There is a greater emphasis now on the social value that we bring and there are some impressive numbers generated from our line officers and education officers.”
He added: “Our main focus this year is on the Railway 200 celebrations for railways past, present and future since the Stockton & Darlington Railway heralded the start of modern railways in 1825. We have held a number of events already and there are lots more activities planned on all our lines as well as our ‘blue plaque’ project to mark 200 people with links to the railways. We are also looking ahead and promoting the railway careers of the future.”
The full report is available to read and download here.
