I ran a very enjoyable ‘Try a Train’ trip during Community Rail Week with Senior Line Officer Andy Pope, taking young trainees from Little Gate Farm on a visit to Hastings Station. We practised buying tickets, successfully using the assistance point, reading the departure board, and talking to staff at the gateline before travelling to Rye. Prior to the trip we did a workshop at Little Gate with slides and discussion to make sure the trip would cover all the needs of the trainees.
Thank you to Kate Richards at Southern for organising the tickets for travel beforehand and to Southeastern staff at Hastings Station who were so helpful on the day. Especially the ticket office staff who printed special tickets and Alfie who let some of the trainees including Tom have a go with the train dispatch baton. Everything went smoothly including finding seats and having tickets checked by the guard on what was a busy Marshlink line train to Ashford International.
Feedback from Sam, Senior Project Leader at Little Gate, since the event is very positive and encouraging:
“On behalf of Little Gate Farm and the trainees we would like to say a big thank you for such a great morning at Hastings Station and the trip to Rye. The trainees got so much from it, and it was great as it was so hands-on. You have developed such an accessible, interactive, informative and fun workshop about train travel. Following on from the visit, trainees must have shared their experience: 2 trainees have approached me asking if there is another one and could they join in as it sounded so good – praise indeed!”
We look forward very much to visiting and working with them again. One possibility is having their involvement with gardening projects at Marshlink Stations including Rye. Please look at Little Gate Farm’s website for more information on how they help adults and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism to fulfil their work potential: https://www.littlegate.org.uk/
