On Wednesday April 6^th, the Platform team had the pleasure of attending the launch of a new art exhibition at Patchway station…. and they brought along some very special guests!

Severnside Community Rail Partnership worked in collaboration with Bath Spa University student Katie Hanning and Photography student George Dawes to create an art exhibition which captured the hands of residents of South Gloucestershire using British Sign Language.

Recognising the importance of involving young people in the event, Heather Cullimore – manager of Severnside Community Rail Partnership and a member of Platform’s steering group – reached out to two local schools to invite them to attend. Woodlands Primary Academy and Yate Academy have a shared hearing resource base which allows students with a degree of deafness to both have a sense of belonging as part of their class and the wider school community, to feel pride in their deaf identity as well as to foster a sense of belonging amongst their friends in the resource base.

All Aboard

Emilie and Imogen, from Platform, met the young people at Yate station; it was a wet, drizzly morning but the enthusiasm and excitement of the students seemed to drive away the grey clouds.

At the station, the Platform team delivered some rail safety education, alerting the students to key information, and soon it was time to board the first train of the day.

The students then changed trains at Filton Abbey Wood, where Imogen conducted a knowledge-check quiz – she was really impressed by the amount of information they had retained. The team were pleased to see the students paying excellent attention to safety considerations whilst waiting for the next train, and even reminding adults when they stepped over the yellow line.

On arrival at Patchway station, the Platform team and staff and students joined the launch event. The students were encouraged to go and look at the artwork and they enjoyed getting close to it and looking at the different hands using sign language.

Whilst the day itself was an incredible opportunity for the Platform team to work with a local school, it was also an important day to the students and the wider community.

The Future is in Our Hands

Heather Cullimore, Manager of the Severnside Community Rail Partnership, said, “One in five adults in the UK is deaf or has hearing loss, and it is hugely important the deaf or hard-of-hearing community feel confident using the rail network.

Communication challenges can lead to a reluctance to travel, which in turn may result in loneliness. We chose British Sign Language artwork to highlight the railway being welcoming and accessible to anyone with hearing loss.

People registered as deaf are eligible for a Disabled Person’s Railcard and with stations sometimes being busy, noisy places, support to make journeys by rail can be accessed through Passenger Assist.

Facilitating this art scheme has provided the Severnside Community Rail Partnership with a springboard to build relationships with the deaf community through local community groups, schools and the GWR staff network.”

The most poignant part of the day was certainly the point at which all participants, including the school students, came together to sign the two sentences being spoken in the pictures:

“Together we are Stronger.”

“The future is in our hands.”

Emilie Dawson, Platform’s Learning Development Manager told us, “We were all sent a video in advance of the launch from the students’ teacher, Josephine Mitchell, teaching us the two sentences in British Sign Language. When we then came together to sign the sentences at the launch, it was very emotional. The idea to invite the school students along was so special – I think seeing them signing the two sentences was an incredible moment.”

Josephine Mitchell of the Woodlands Primary and Yate Academy Hearing Resource Base stated, “The artwork launch was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to be part of an event which celebrates difference; and to really understand the key message that communities are stronger when everybody is included. This message reflects the philosophy at Woodlands Primary School and Yate Academy, where all pupils are fully included in every aspect of school life – including, of course, the pupils in the two Hearing Resource Bases.”

After the launch, and the group signing, it was time for the return journey home. Rail-safety and familiarisation complete on the outwards journey, the staff and students were able to relax and chat on the way back.

Emilie reported that, “The students were fantastic. Excellent behaviour and – most importantly – they adhered to all the guidance and safety procedures on the day. They were enthusiastic and excited to be getting the train (4 trains in fact!) and they were a credit to their schools.”

Get Involved

If you’re a teacher who would like to benefit from the complimentary work the Platform team can do with schools, please get in touch by emailing: info@raileducation.org.uk or look at the website for more information: www.platformrail.org.