As an online group, the Coffee Shop forum is primarily online carrying out activities from home - however, I am sharing this message to everyone as we have many readers from "In Real Life" groups. (shouting in subject line is direct copy of shouting in the email subject line from
GWR▸ !)
Dear Station Managers and Community Rail Partnerships
I wanted to let you know that GWR have reviewed our guidance for station volunteering in light of the new lockdown and Government guidelines and we are pausing all on station volunteering activities for the time being.
Currently, this means everyone should stay at home, with community rail, station volunteering and face-to-face activities all on hold: only community rail work and activities that can be carried out from home, online, digitally or over-the-phone should be going ahead.
It?s important volunteer groups comply with this directive, align with our approach and do as much as you can to keep yourselves and others safe.
Many groups are keeping active and engaging communities through creative and online activities at home. If you?re looking for ideas of what you can do without being on the station Community Rail Network has shared some great ideas and you can find out more via the link below:
https://communityrail.org.uk/ten-things-a-station-adoption-group-can-do-from-home/If I could please ask you all to cascade this message to your Station Adoption Groups and volunteers respectively and I will be back in touch as and when our messaging alters.
If you need any additional guidance or information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Many thanks for your help with this during these testing times.
Community Manager | Great Western Railway
There is a request in the above to cascade the message, so please share as appropriate.
Although GWR's jurisdiction is limited to stations and trains, it also makes 100% sense to suspend other rail activities that would involve any form of coming together ... when out exercising in your local area, should you pause on your own to take a photograph of a passing train or other rail features taken without danger or trespass, I would see that as fine. Please label any such pictures you post in such a way that there is no element of doubt.
