About Us

WHY WE EXIST

Public transport connects people to opportunities, strengthens communities, and supports economic, social, and environmental wellbeing. But too many people face barriers - cost, confidence, accessibility, or simply what's available - that limit how and whether they can travel. Decisions about transport are often made without the voices of those most affected.

OUR VISION

An inclusive, positive, and sustainable public transport system that empowers and connects communities.

OUR MISSION

We shape public transport by connecting community voices with decision-makers and build people's confidence to travel in the way that works for them.

Here at Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership, we have 6 Key Aims:

Our cross cutting aim is to promote equality, inclusion and diversity across all we do as a CRP
To provide community insight to shape future proposals for rail investment and services in the County
To improve accessibility to public transport and make it more inclusive for all
To contribute positively to the visitor experience and the long-term economic sustainability of Gloucestershire
To increase community involvement at all Gloucestershire's railway stations
To improve connectivity through the integration of sustainable and active modes of transport

OUR TEAM

Meet the team behind the Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership

Hannah McDonnell
Executive Director

Responsible for strategy, business development, stakeholder management and team leadership

Nicole Archer
Event Management

Building relationships, local insight & meaningful connections through community events and outreach

Our Non-Executive Directors

Kevin Harris
Chair and Non-Executive Director

Business growth strategist specialising in leadership development and organisational development

Odis Palmer
Non-Executive Director

Specialised in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Industry Inclusion & Belonging Lead at the Great British Railway Transition Team

Faatimah Bham
Community Rail Development Manager

Connecting communities to their local railways and the carbon agenda through inclusive and engaging community rail programmes

Samyutha Balasubramaniam
Chair of GCRP Steering Group

Specialised in customer centric strategic transport and building collaborative, high performing teams

Polly Gannaway-Pitts
Non-Executive Director

Specialised in youth advocacy, inclusion, LGBTQIA+ advocate

Rachel Geliamassi
Non-Executive Director

Customer Service Director championing diversity and operational excellence in transport

Madison Moon
Youth Engagement
& Insight Lead

Leading on our commitment to youth engagement and representation through travel confidence and campaign development

Bee Clark
Access and Inclusion Program Lead

Creating specialised resources and facilitating public transport experiences for disabled communities through All Aboard

Neil Bradbury
Non-Executive Director

Experienced business leader and growth strategist advancing rail safety technology solutions

Olubukunmi Olukoya
Non-Executive Director

Strategic advisor specialising in infrastructure programme set up, optimisation and transformation

WHAT WE DO

We work alongside communities. We listen first, build trust, and bring lived experience into every conversation about transport. We use the following activities to bring about change:

Community. We connect community voices with decision makers, through forums, panels, and place-based partnerships and other mechanisms - making sure those most affected by transport decisions are heard involved and represented.

Insight. We listen, research, and gather evidence to understand how public transport is experienced, and turn lived experience into intelligence that shapes policy, practice, and investment.

Resources. We create clear, accessible resources - information, toolkits, training, and guidance - that help people and organisations use public transport with confidence.

Experience. We build travel confidence through hands-on support and work with partners to make stations and transport spaces feel safe, welcoming, and owned by their communities.

THE CHANGE WE CREATE

For people: More people travel sustainably, with confidence. Barriers – practical and social - are reduced or removed.

For communities: Local voices shape decisions about transport. Stations and transport spaces feel welcoming and owned by the communities they serve.

For the system: Decision makers have grounded, community-informed insight. Policy, practice, and investment better reflect the needs of those who use, or could use, public transport.

OUR VALUES

Community-centred: Placing community voices at the heart of our work, ensuring local perspectives drive change, with a compassionate and understanding approach to engagement.

Equitable: Focus is on those communities who face most significant barriers to public transport, listening to them and breaking down barriers.

Integrity: Professional, always led by research, insight, and community voice - trusted, open, and transparent.

Bold and brave: Curious, trying out new things, determined to break down barriers, forward thinking, and innovative.

Our objectives align with the Department for Transport's four key pillars for community rail:

Providing a voice for the community.
Promoting sustainable and healthy travel (including getting to the station).
Bringing communities together and supporting diversity and inclusion.
Supporting social and economic development.

Our Aims

Aim 1 — Community engagement: increase the number of communities and people reached across Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, and deepen engagement through the ladder of participation
Aim 2 — Stations as places: create an improved sense of safety, belonging, and ownership at stations in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire
Aim 3 — Insight and influence: ensure youth and community voices effectively influence decision makers to make transport more accessible, supported by high quality research
Aim 4 - Visibility & Reach: Increase awareness of community rail and strengthen recognition and engagement with communities, partners and decision-makers.

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

All Community Interest Company (CIC) activities are underpinned by a primary economic, social and wellbeing focus to benefit communities and visitors served by railway stations in Gloucestershire. The Community Rail Partnership plays a bridging role by linking communities and transport decision-makers together.