Awards & Nominations
We work with our local communities to deliver positive outcomes from our activities.
We are delighted that many of our projects have received national recognition.
2024
Hollingbourne Station achieved third place in the category “Most Enhanced Railway Spaces” for the Community Rail Awards 2024.
The video below from the Hollingbourne Station Community Interest Company documents the beginning of an ongoing story of transformation. The nomination acknowledges the hard work of the local community in re-imagining the derelict booking office as a community hub. The venue hosts a range of volunteer led community events including fund-raising film nights and is home to the Signal Box Cafe, open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 7:00am – 4:00pm.
2023
Hollingbourne Station has received a “Highly Commended” accolade at the 2023 National Railway Heritage Awards.
On-line submissions detailed how the project has taken the station building from being a derelict shell to a thriving community hub, and judges came to the station to see the transformation that has taken place before deciding to shortlist the project.
The nomination recognises the huge dedication shown by the local community to re-imagine this space and the ongoing work to bring it into regular community use.
We would like to express our gratitude to Southeastern, the Railway Heritage Trust and the local community for all their support.
As part of Community Rail Week 2023, Rail Delivery Group teamed up with Community Rail Network to host the World Cup of Stations. This annual tournament established in 2019, celebrates the UK’s best stations by having them battle it out head-to-head in an online public vote.
Hollingbourne was one of over 100 stations nominated to feature in the 2023 competition, recognising the efforts of the local community to reimagine the former derelict booking hall as a community hub.
48 stations from around the country were shortlisted by Tim Dunn, with Hollingbourne going on to achieve 2nd place in the South East heats.
2022
Kent CRP was nominated in two categories at the national Community Rail Awards.
Winner – Small Projects Award. The Sunflower Mural developed by students from Five Acre Wood (Snodland) SEN School, to celebrate people’s individuality and raise awareness of hidden disabilities.
Third place – Involving Children and Young People. Awarded for projects engaging over 1800 young people in numerous diverse activities and projects as part of our “Youth Engagement” programmes across all three of our lines.
2021
We received nominations in two categories for the 2021 Community Rail Awards.
Best Community Engagement Project – Reaching out to involve diverse communities to become involved along our new Kent Downs Line.
Best Communications – Engaging our communities in the creation of history pages on our website and working with a Duke of Edinburgh volunteer to diversify our social media messaging to reach a wider audience.
2020
Kent CRP was nominated in three categories at the national Community Rail Awards.
Winner – Involving Children and Young People. Kent Community Rail Partnership and Sheppey College worked together to provide opportunities for students to get involved in a range of community projects. The main aim was to empower students to showcase their talents, boosting self-esteem, providing real-life experiences, and helping build portfolios to enhance employment prospects.
Some students went on to complete work experience placements with Southeastern, and their achievements were also recognised by being named Kent Young Volunteers of the Year for 2019.
Second place – Photo competition. Capturing the joy of SEN students who Kent CRP had helped to develop a new station garden.
Third place – Most Enhanced Station.
The Five Acre Wood (FAW) and Grow19 Project empowered students aged 16 to 25 with additional educational needs to feel valued in their community and develop functional skills through real-life experiences. Kent Community Rail Partnership worked with the group to transform an unsightly grassed area outside Snodland Station, plus the station’s booking hall, with all activities linked to their coursework and portfolios.
2019
Kent CRP was nominated in two categories at the national Community Rail Awards.
Third place – Involving Diverse Groups. The Five Acre Wood Project was designed to promote social inclusion for students with learning difficulties, cohesion through community working, developing new life skills through planning and implementing station improvements, and consequently improved health and wellbeing for these students. The project supports students to become independent train travellers and provides a voice for them in the community. Students designed and implemented changes to the unsightly area on the approach to Snodland station by creating a garden area.
Third place – Best Community Engagement Project. Sea Folk Sing on the Train was a community event to celebrate the Centenary Anniversary of the end of WW1 whilst promoting train travel, Community Rail engagement, reducing isolation and promoting wellbeing. The events took place during Armistice weekend on Saturday 10 November and Sunday 11 November 2018.
The project was a collaboration between many community groups to deliver an event to benefit all. An over 55’s community choir was established and sang at various stations and on a travelling train. Over 600 passengers heard the choir with over 350 passengers engaging directly with community rail officers.
2018
Kent CRP was awarded first place in the Community Art Schemes, Renewable and Smaller category at the national Community Rail Awards.
The project saw local school children develop posters to promote the 61016 text messaging service from British Transport Police.
2008 - 2017
Kent CRP has succesfully delivered many other impactful projects that benefit local communities and help community rail to flourish.
