Greater Anglia backs confidence-building project for refugees

Refugees new to rail travel in the UK enjoyed a special train trip funded by Greater Anglia.

The asylum seekers travelled on the West Anglia line from London to Cambridge for a sightseeing jaunt to the university city.

The trip was part of a project for refugees to learn about and explore the Greater Anglia network and to build confidence when travelling by train.

The project was delivered by the charity, Groundwork London, and consisted of six workshops.

Participants were taught how to plan journeys, find their way around stations and practise train-related vocabulary.

They also discovered activities inspired by the culture and heritage locations on the Greater Anglia network, including Cambridge, Ely, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich.

The workshops built participants’ confidence in speaking English. At the end of the project, the group was asked to decide on the destination of a final trip.

They set off from Liverpool Street for Cambridge, where they enjoyed a guided tour of the Botanical Gardens, entry to the Fitzwilliam Museum and punting along the River Cam.

Koffi, one of the participants, said: “I feel more confident about using railway transport outside of London now. The trip helped me overcome any uncertainty about travelling by train.

“The experience boosted my confidence in navigating public spaces, especially outside of London. It felt empowering to use the skills learned at the workshop in a real-world setting.

“I’d encourage anyone to take a trip like this. When I travel, I am usually alone, while on this trip, everyone shared their experiences. It was nice to learn from them.”

Scott Dolling, Greater Anglia’s partnerships manager, said: “We are always looking to enhance the role of the railway in support of the community it serves, and the new Customer and Community Improvement Fund initiative is a way of supporting further locally focused enhancements in line with community needs.”