Platforms for Change
Platforms for Change is a nation-wide initiative connecting local Scout Groups with Community Rail.
Through the project Scout groups can adopt their local station, improving the local environment and learning about nature.
Scouts can also learn how to travel safely when using the rail network.
4th Milton Regis (St Mary's) Cubs
Give the Train a Try Travel Training Experience, September 2024
On the evening of Monday 23rd September, the 4th Milton Regis Cubs visited Sittingbourne train station to learn about rail safety and have an adventure travelling to Faversham and back. Led by Antonia Boorman (Head Scout Leader), twenty-two cubs, along with six Scout Leaders, arrived at Sittingbourne station at 5.30pm.
The travel training was led collaboratively by Linda Brinklow (Chair of Swale Rail Line), Vicky Wright (Kent CRP Project Officer) and John Ponter (Southeastern). The Cubs learnt about the train station, where to buy tickets, important safety rules when on the platform, and that it takes the length of 20 football pitches for a train to brake to a stand still!
As a group, we boarded the train and the Cubs enjoyed starting their voyage, watching the scenery go by, passing through Teynham Station and on to Faversham. Playing a quick Train Quiz led by Linda in the underpass at Faversham, we headed up to Platform 2 to find our train home. As an additional highlight and lucky timing, we were able to see in live-action the train carriages join together as John guided us through the process.
Jumping on the train to return to Sittingbourne, we were able to watch the beautiful sunset as we journeyed home, and each Cub was given a goodie bag of treats from Southeastern as they left.
All in all it was a fantastic evening.
Thanks go to Linda and John for sharing their knowledge and support, and to all the Scout Leaders for looking after their teams of Cubs.
Station adoption at Sittingbourne
The 4th Milton Regis Cub Pack are now planning to become Station Adopters for Sittingbourne, beginning with tidying up the existing platform planters. These were installed by students from Sheppey College in 2021 and after the heat of Summer they were looking in need of some tender loving care.
As the Swale Rail line was closed for engineering works at Kingsferry bridge during the half-term school holidays, Vicky Wright, Project Officer for the Swale Rail Line arranged for the Cub leaders to meet with Matt Fraser to complete their safety briefing for the adoption of Sittingbourne station.
In true “be prepared” spirit they arrived with some of their Cub Scouts and a host of new flowers, plants and bulbs. With Matt’s safety briefing completed, Vicky quizzed the Cubs about the rail safety lessons they had learned the month before. Everyone knew to stay behind the yellow lines on the platforms and to always keep off the tracks.
The Cubs worked hard to remove litter, dig out the unwanted grass and weeds, and then refresh the planters with a mix of flowers and bulbs. Vicky made sure that the organic materials were saved for composting.
The Cubs work was rewarded with appreciative “toots” from the train drivers, bringing smiles all round.
Our new station adopters return regularly to care for the planters, it’s so nice to have their help brightening the platforms.
Our thanks go to the Southeastern team at Sittingbourne station for making us welcome.
Birthday celebrations for Railway 200
On Saturday 25th January, Kent Community Rail Partnership and Southeastern celebrated the 167th birthday of Sittingbourne Train Station.
Gathering at 11am, with our station adopters, the 4th Milton Regis Cub Pack, and volunteers, we got the party started, with a happy birthday announcement over the Tanoy, followed by birthday cake in the foyer. Southeastern staff, in particular Supervisor on Duty Mitchell Jukes, were incredibly helpful in making the whole event run very smoothly.
Passengers and passers by joined the celebrations, enjoying the cake and learning about the 167 years of Sittingbourne station’s history.
Bird Boxes For Teynham Station
In the depths of winter, the 4th Milton Cub Pack were hard at work preparing for spring.
As part of the Platforms for Change initiative, the Cubs were learning how to saw and nail, earning their DIY badge by making from scratch 4 bird boxes. They then added a touch of colour painting them daffodil yellow.
With the help of the Southeastern staff, notably station manager Ben Donnelly and the SE maintenance team headed by Steve Watson, the 4 bird boxes were installed on the trees in Teynham Station Car Park.
On Saturday 8th march, a group of 14 cubs and 5 scout leaders took the train from Sittingbourne to Teynham station to see the bird boxes up and installed, and to bring the birds some bird feed, putting up 4 bird feeders on the branches nearby.
