From Travel Training to Paid Employment

Introduction from Faatimah, GCRP Development Manager

Anna was introduced to Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership through our Travelling with Confidence programme. This programme supports people to build confidence using public transport, helping them to develop independence, skills and positive experiences around rail travel.

After speaking with staff at National Star College, Anna join us for work experience at GCRP between February – June 2026. It felt like a strong fit because of Anna’s interest in rail, her enthusiasm for travel and the opportunity for her to contribute to meaningful community rail projects. We’re delighted to share Anna’s experience in her own words, as she reflects on her work experience with GCRP, her passion for trains and the skills she has developed along the way.

Anna’s reflections on work experience with GCRP

“My name is Anna I am currently on work experience at the GCRP. I am very passionate about trains as a whole and in general. I am a student at the National Star College on the Skills for work programme. This helps prepare me for the workplace by gaining employability skills and accessing multiple work placements. I was introduced to the GCRP through travel training with Bee and then researched into GCRP and found a placement at the railway house and that is what I am doing currently.”

How Anna supported our Mission Discovery work

Anna joins us in our office, working on the Mission Discovery project.

As part of her work experience, Anna has been supporting us with data entry linked to our Mission Discovery booklet design. This booklet has become an important resource within our youth access to nature programmes, helping young people explore rail journeys, local places and outdoor opportunities in an engaging and accessible way.

“At GCRP I have been uploading feedback from journeys around the country and taking photos of people’s work for the upcoming booklet.

Trains are one of my main interests and I love them because of the amazing scenery that you come across on your travels such as the mountains within the lake district or the coastal views around Berwick. I also love trains as they are all different and have different rolling stock such as the Class 800 trains on GWR that run to London from the Cotswolds and the Southwest regions of the UK. Or on local railway lines such as those up in the Northwest like the Buxton Line for example which runs Class 150/156 Sprinter trains on Northern Rail through Middlewood. Another reason trains are stunning is that you can sit back and relax on your journeys, especially when you are on a 2+ hour long journey from one end of the country to another for a holiday for example.

Anna immerses herself in skill development at the office, readying herself for paid employment.

Being able to use trains has given me so much independence as I feel as I have more freedom than I would have otherwise. Also being able to go out on day trips independently feel amazing.

Three words to describe my work experience at GRCP is productive, investing and digitalisation.

I have learnt more about how GRCP works, for example they upload photos from different railway trips that will go onto a booklet for people to see as this can inspire them to show that trains can be fun when you look into the right places and finding activities that everyone will love doing as this can make the day more enjoyable for the people organising the train trips and for the passengers working with GCRP.”

From Travel Training to Paid Employment

We were also delighted that, following her work experience, Anna joined us for paid work to help distribute resources connected to our projects. Anna’s contribution has been valuable, and we would like to say a huge thank you to Anna for the time, care and enthusiasm she has brought to working with GCRP.

Anna with Job Coach Maia, working to pack resources as part of paid employment with GCRP.

We would also like to thank National Star College for their continued partnership and support. As station adopters at Cheltenham and Stroud train stations, they are already making a positive contribution to community rail, and we look forward to continuing to work with them on future projects.

"Anna has done really well in her work placement at GCRP. It’s lovely to see her working for a company that she’s so passionate about, demonstrating her love for train travel and taking ownership in her work. Faatimah and the rest of the team have been so welcoming to her and made her feel part of the team" - Maia, National Star Job Coach

Read about our Travelling with Confidence programme here: TRAVEL PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE | Glos CRP or get in touch info@gcrp.org.uk to find out more.