Poacher Line wins at annual Community Rail Awards!

  • Partnership scoops 3 awards
  • Glittering ceremony held in Southampton

Poacher Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has won three awards at the prestigious Community Rail Awards, which recognises the outstanding work carried out by volunteers and CRPs across the country. 

The 17th annual Community Rail awards, which was held in Southampton at the O2 Guildhall on the 9th December, saw a return to a physical event after it was streamed online last year due to Covid-19.

The partnership was shortlisted in five categories and was thrilled to be announced successful in the following:

1st Place – Photo Competition – Best ‘Community Rail in Action’ Image:Roll out the Barrows!” This picture was taken by Community Rail Officer Jo Andrews and depicts the Friends of Radcliffe station at a community action day last March

2nd Place – Small Project Award: Poacher Line & Voluntary Centre Services (VCS) at Sleaford station. Working with the VCS MOVE clients the partnership transformed a piece of overgrown garden.

3rd Place – Involving Diverse Groups: Poacher Line & My Little Allotment for Poacher’s Patch. An area of disused land on Platform 1 at Sleaford station was developed into a community allotment to help alleviate mental and physical health difficulties.

Jo Andrews, Community Rail Officer for the Poacher Line, said: “I am thrilled the partnership has again been recognised at the annual Community Rail Awards. The success of the partnership is testament to all the hard work we have done within our communities and by our volunteers. I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved this year and a huge thank you to all those involved in our shortlisted and winning entries. It was wonderful to be able to come together and celebrate all of Community Rail’s achievements with our friends and colleagues, and I am looking forward to next year and continuing our good work”

Donna Adams, Community Rail Manager for East Midlands Railway, said: “Community Rail Network’s Awards are the highlight of the year for our community rail partners, where their great work and dedication is celebrated and recognised.”

It’s fantastic to have won3awards involving our community rail partners and station adoption groups on The Poacher Line. They are all deserving winners and I would like to pass on my thanks and appreciation for all those that have been involved. 

 “At EMR, we have long been strong supporters of community rail and the improvements that it delivers to customers and communities. These awards are a well-deserved endorsement of all the fantastic work that goes on across our community rail lines every day to help us improve our railway and to attract more people onto our train services.”