Community Rail Lancashire (CRL) is pleased to report that they have been successful in a bid to the Community Rail Development Fund for a project working with Broadfield Specialist School in Accrington.
The garden at Accrington station – Simon Clarke
The project called On Track to Accrington will see CRL working in partnership with Broadfield Specialist School to achieve the following;
+ The improvement of Accrington Railway station through the development and maintenance of the garden areas at the station;
+ The creation of a wildlife garden and seating area;
+ The development of an art project for display at various locations around the station and in the booking hall and bunker.
+ To enable the students to take part in the activities required for the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Volunteering Award; and
+ To enable the pupils to take part in Community Rail Lancashire’s (CRL) ‘On Track to Train’ programme which is part of its Railway Confidence Programme and also to learn about how to use and travel on the railway safely.
Broadfield Specialist School is located in Accrington and has already developed a relationship with CRL and the ELCRP. The school currently has 143 pupils aged 11 to 19 all of whom have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Some classes have a more specialised and highly structured environment to meet the needs of students with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). The latter students benefit from the development of the Blackburn to Manchester via Todmorden service as the first ‘Autism Friendly Line’.
Some of the students will take part in the project at Accrington station and will greatly benefit from outdoor work and developing practical skills such as gardening, woodworking as well as creative skills for the art project.
Richard Watts Chair CRL commented: “CRL is delighted to have developed a partnership with Broadfield Specialist School who have adopted the station. Over the coming months outdoor lessons will take place at the station as well as students who are looking to be achieve the DofE volunteering award. The Community Rail Development Fund award means the project can really get underway.”
The Community Rail Development Fund is a pot of money provided by the Department of Transport and managed by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships and helps by providing funding for projects on community rail lines across the country.
