A WINCHESTER learning disabilities charity has teamed up with a community rail group to help people with hidden disabilities.
Hampshire Community Rail Partnership launched the project with the support of Winchester Go LD and funding from South Western Railway (SWR) and Hampshire County Council.
The partnership has produced a booklet of resources on how to “travel with confidence”, outlining tips on planning a journey, buying a ticket and how to ask for help.
Meanwhile, Winchester Go LD is offering in person training on travelling and providing group visits and journeys under its peer mentoring programme.
Many of the learning disabilities charity’s members rely on public transport to get around but find the chaos of train stations overwhelming.
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One member said: “I ended up in Manchester when I was meant to be going to college in Wales. It was scary and I was very late. I don’t want to travel by train again."
Another added: “I sometimes find it difficult getting to my sister’s in Ashurst as I forget to count the stops and I end up at Brockenhurst.”
To combat the difficulties, the group has practiced using the Help Point and the passenger assistance app which the charity said has “revolutionised” the way its members can travel.
CEO of Winchester Go LD, Betty Chadwick, said: “Our members are experts in learning disabilities through lived experience – the work we’ve done with Hampshire CRP has really built our independence and our confidence in train travel.
“We are thrilled to be part of this project and we are keen to share our travel experiences and tips with peers.”
Community rail officer Lucy Lomax said: “It is heart-warming to see this project grow from a Zoom call a couple of years ago to seeing individuals and groups travelling together and sharing their knowledge and confidence.”
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Winchester Go LD is delivering travel training to the wider Hampshire area and have planned trips with learning disability groups such as the Grow Project, James Place Eastleigh, Parkside Aldershot, Windward Day Services, Minstead Trust and Reach Out Caring.
The charity feeding back on what makes travel difficult to SWR. Findings include that most people with learning difficulties prefer buying their ticket in person and manage well with routine. However, delayed trains and cancellations can be difficult to cope with and people with learning difficulties often struggle to ask for help at these times.
As well as training, the charity is creating informational videos that people can refer to at any time.
For more information contact trains@winchestergold.org.uk. Hampshire Community Rail Partnership’s “Travel With Confidence” booklet can be accessed at communityrail.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Travel-with-confidence-A4-Booklet.pdf.
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