WiCR South’s AGM and First Birthday Celebration We began with an invitation to use the Jam board for any comments, ideas, or questions we’d like to send to the committee, as well as using the Chat function during the meeting.
Then, after the official business of the AGM was completed (including a warm welcome to Ben Walsh, a new steering group member) it was time for the WiCR South First Birthday Celebration.
Achievements in the first year Breathing Space events These are online monthly lunch-hour sessions covering issues of interest or concern to any member of the Community Rail family.
Topics so far:
1) Working in isolation: an open forum discussion on working from home.
2) Mental Health Awareness: how to care for our own and others’ mental health.
3) New to Community Rail? A chat over a cup of Equalitea.
4) The Impossible Dream? Maintaining a healthy work/life balance.
Training slides and handouts from these sessions are on the WiCR website under ‘Events and Training’
Edna spoke about Sprout Pencils
Q. What are they?
A. Pencils with a small packet of seeds attached instead of the usual rubber. So, you use the pencil as normal then plant the seeds. What a good idea!
A fitting metaphor for WiCR’s aims of growth and nurturing, they will be customised, and used to promote the work of the group.
And, now that Edna has challenged us all to recruit new members, we can say they will, of course, be rewarded for joining with the gift of a sprout pencil!
Jo Bridger from Women’s Aid explained the ‘Rail to Refuge’ scheme
Originally an initiative by Southeastern Rail, all TOCs now offer free train travel to ensure women and their children can leave a violent or abusive situation and get themselves to a Refuge.
This has been even more vitally important during lockdown, as abuse is known to have increased, and the scheme has helped hundreds of families in the last year.
Sadly, 60% of abused women can’t leave home as there isn’t enough refuge accommodation but, if they do manage to secure a place, this scheme enables them to escape
See the Rail to Refuge website for more on this, including information on how to access help and support.
Looking forward to next year.
More Breathing Space sessions are planned as these have proved popular with members.
Future topics:
1) Risk assessments for events
2) Events management
3) Hosting hybrid events
Future Aims To become ‘the voice of Community Rail:
Increase membership
Focus on networking and mentoring
Work towards Improving inclusivity
Encourage more young people to join Community Rail
Edna closed the meeting with a wish for us to all meet in person soon.
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