Barnstaple cubs earn railway safety badge in station clean-up

Barnstaple railway station is known for its high passenger usage, with many services to Exeter leaving full. 

However, early in the evening on 25 February, the station had some special visitors who were not there to catch a train.

The 5th North Devon Cub Pack, normally based in Bishops Tawton, visited the station to earn the new Platforms for Change badge – a nationally recognised award that promotes safe use of railway stations and services for Cubs and Scouts.

Initially organised by Cub Scout Akela Leon Morey and Friends of Barnstaple Railway Station chair Tim Steer, they soon realised that to achieve this badge for the Cubs, permission had to be granted by Great Western Railway.

On the night, Great Western Railway’s regional station manager Melanie Harvey visited Barnstaple to deliver a safety briefing to the Cubs and hand out GWR goody bags. 

Friends of Barnstaple Railway Station volunteers, who normally meet every Tuesday morning to enhance the station’s environment and are well known for their award-winning work, were also there to help the Cubs earn their badge.

After learning about station safety, the Cubs donated a box of bespoke bug houses, made from tins, sticks, and other bug-friendly materials, which will be placed around the station to encourage insect habitats. 

They then carried out a litter pick across the entire station and forecourt. 

Once their rubbish bags were full, the Cubs learned how to separate waste into recyclables and refuse using the bins on the station platform.

Friends of Barnstaple Railway Station chair Tim Steer said: “Our group was delighted to invite the Cubs to Barnstaple railway station and be involved in aiding them earn their Platforms for Change badge. We are so lucky to have a railway station at Barnstaple, it has many advantages to those who live close by, community rail network projects are so rewarding. This is a first for our Northern Devon region and we are very lucky to have Great Western Railway supporting this community rail project. I was honoured to give each Cub a handshake and badge at the end of the night.”

Akela Leon Morey said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to the volunteers from Friends of Barnstaple Railway Station and Mel from GWR for making the Cubs feel so welcome. They have worked towards their personal safety badge by learning about railway safety and they were all awarded their Platforms for Change badge by Tim.”

The Friends of Barnstaple Railway Station volunteers returned on Tuesday 4 March to place the Cubs’ bug houses in new locations hidden within the redundant track bed behind the island platform.

Other Cub and Scout groups in the local area can also earn the Platforms for Change badge and can find out more information by contacting the 5th North Devon Cub Pack.