THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
Community Station Partnership
Lord Digby Jones
Patron
Managed and operated by volunteers to support volunteers and their communities, we are the UK's first Community Station Partnership.
We have six trustees who volunteer their time and commitment to help look after and attract funding for over 80 volunteers (station adopters) at the 22 stations along the railway route between Stratford upon Avon and Birmingham. Our Patron is Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham.
Trustees
Howard Hemmings
Martin
Lambert
Angela
Okey
Fraser
Pithie
Neil
Williamson
Neil
Morgan
Our trustees are Howard Hemmings, Martin Lambert, Angela Okey, Fraser Pithie, Neil Williamson and Neil Morgan.
Friends of the Shakespeare Line (FoSL) is a Non-Profit Organisation.
Our object is: To support and sustain the voluntary activities of those engaged in adopting the railway stations along the railway routes between Stratford upon Avon and Birmingham, known as the Shakespeare Line.
We believe in positively contributing to the local community's wellbeing by enabling everyone to benefit from social value through a range of activities and enhancements at the railway stations along the 'Shakespeare Line' route.
The Shakespeare Line Promotion Group (SLPG) is a long-established Rail Passenger Group of over 50 years that helped save the railway line between Birmingham and Stratford upon Avon from closure in 1969 and again in 1984. You can join SLPG for £5 a year to keep up to date with what is going on along the line and play a part in what SLPG as a Rail Passenger Group says on behalf of train users and the local communities served by the railway.
For more information about SLPG and to join them go to www.shakespeareline.com
FoSL is a non-profit organisation and operates independently of the Rail Passenger Group SLPG.
Friends of the Shakespeare Line (FoSL) exists to proactively secure and support volunteers to enhance stations along the route providing social value by enabling and encouraging volunteering and wide benefit to communities.
Fay
Easton
Fay Easton, Head of Stakeholder & Community at West Midlands Railway
Fay is the officer in the Train Operating Company who works in partnership with volunteer groups and the growing number of Community Station Partnerships across the rail network.
The community rail strategy brings both the TOC and Network Rail together, working with communities to support localism, economic and social regeneration and helping to increase demand for rail travel by promoting new travel patterns and bringing new passengers to rail.
Fay can be contacted at friends@wmtrains.co.uk
Ian
Taylor
Teresa Woodward
The Line Manager for the Shakespeare Line is Ian Taylor from West Midlands Railway, Ian is very supportive and helpful to all our volunteers. He cares about and maintains high standards at all the stations and provides tremendous assistance to the Friends of the Shakespeare Line Trust.
The Line Manager for Snow Hill Lines covering Tyseley, Small Heath and Birmingham Snow Hill stations is Teresa Woodward from West Midlands Railway. Teresa is very supportive and helpful to all our volunteers. Teresa is particularly keen on encouraging the more engagement between city communities and their stations and this supports the aims of the Friends of the Shakespeare Line.
Joseph
Brown
The Network Rail Customer Account Manager for the Shakespeare Line is Joseph Brown, who acts as the main point of contact between Network Rail and the Friends of the Shakespeare Line.
Joseph supports community activity and investment across Network Rail’s midlands stations and assets. He is keen to build a strong relationship between Network Rail and Friends of the Shakespeare Line to provide the best experience and environment for all railway users.
PCSO Brendon Stewart
The Chief Constable of British Transport Police Lucy D’Orsi says that “without question the work the volunteers from the Friends of the Shakespeare Line do is a wonderful example of community spirit and determination to create a positive environment on the railway.”
PCSO Brendon Stewart from the Birmingham Neighbourhood Policing Team is the specific point of contact for the Shakespeare Line and works closely with Friends of the Shakespeare Line and railway stations along the route.
Both British Transport Police and West Midlands Police liaise with Friends of the Shakespeare Line in order to work collaboratively with train operating companies, tackling crime and the fear of crime reported by the travelling public.
Working together with our Police partners we are able to help build a better environment for all that will be safer, secure and positive for the wellbeing of passengers and station visitors.