A new partnership between London Northwestern Railway (LNR) and learning disability charity Mencap will boost the community feel of a busy East Midlands train station.
Northampton station has been adopted by the charity through its ‘training academy’ programme, which delivers supported internships to people aged 16-24 with learning disabilities or autism.
Mencap – a charity that campaigns for the rights of the 1.5 million people across the UK with a learning disability- supports nine interns who will play a key role in maintaining the station and making it a more welcoming, friendly place for residents and railway users. The Mencap adopters plan to breathe new life into the station through planting and artwork.
Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at LNR, said: “We are really pleased that Mencap is adopting Northampton. As one of our busiest stations with nearly 2.9million passengers travelling through each year, this partnership offers Mencap a fantastic opportunity to engage with a wide range of people and showcase the work they do. We know Mencap’s interns will do a remarkable job of caring for the station, and we look forward to seeing their plans come to fruition.”
Jason Hardman, Head of Mencap Training Academy, said: “We know that currently, only 27% of the 1.5 million people with a learning disability across the UK are employed – despite 86% of people with a learning disability saying they want a paid job. This initiative is just one of the fantastic ways that our Supported Internships can help learners develop vital skills for their future career. Well done to the team – we look forward to seeing the station transform throughout the year!”
London Northwestern Railway and sister brand, West Midlands Railway (WMR), support station adopters across its rail network, with 67 stations adopted. On the WMR side of the network, Mencap is also adopting Selly Oak station in Birmingham.
To find out more about station adoption, visit Station Adoption | LNR | London Northwestern Railway.
Image credit: London Northwestern & West Midlands Railway
