Get Involved

There are various ways in which individuals and organisations can get involved in our projects and activities including volunteering at a station, working on joint projects, providing funding or sponsorship.

Station Adoption

Volunteers are very active at all our local stations creating a wonderful welcome for passengers. From looking after station garden areas and platform planters or creating artwork with the local community, our Station Adopters take real pride in their station and make a real difference to the experience of passengers, using their station.

If you are looking to get involved in your community, make new friends, and take pride in your local station, then Station Adoption could be for you.

Station Adopters need to apply and register with EMR and all adopters receive an annual safety briefing from EMR’s Community Rail Ambassador.

Find out more about EMR’s Station Adoption Scheme

EMR Station Adoption Scheme

Projects and Activities

The Partnership works on a wide variety of projects, working with a range of organisations bringing benefits to the local community.

We are able to facilitate and gain funding for many projects including those delivered by other organisations. Here are a few examples of work with schools, community groups and other organisations.

Belper Station Mosaic and Art Gallery

Local schoolchildren have got involved at several of our stations, producing artwork and taking part in gardening activities.

In Belper we worked with Transition Belper, the local community and four local schools to develop a wonderful Station Mosaic and Art Gallery of colourful paintings celebrating Belper’s heritage, landscape and vibrant community.

Transition Belper co-ordinated the project with support from Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership and funding was received from Community Rail Development Fund, East Midlands Trains and Belper Town Council.

Belper Mosaic and Art

Matlock Interpretation Panels

In Matlock we have worked with Matlock Town Council and other local organisations including Matlock Civic Association and Derbyshire Dales District Council, to developed five new panels, featuring an illustrated map of the town centre and information about local area.

There are two panels near Matlock Railway station, two in Hall Leys Park and one in the sensory gardens by the footbridge into the park from Dale Road,, guiding visitors around Matlock and encouraging them to fully explore the town.

We obtained funding from Community Rail Network and provided a contribution from the Community Rail Partnership towards this project.

Matlock Interpretation Panels

Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution

At Ambergate, we worked with and obtained funding for Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution Group to create a panel promoting the significance of the Pentrich Revolution to visitors arriving by train at Ambergate Station.

The information board guides people to enjoyable self-guided walks in the local area, including one from the station, which explore local villages with connections to the people and events of the 1817 Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution.

We obtained funding from Community Rail Network’s Small Grant Fund towards this project.

Pentrich Revolution Panel

Whistlestop Cafe

We have worked on several projects with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. This includes supporting the £150,000 restoration and transformation of the Grade II listed railway station at Matlock Bath, into an eco-friendly café, vibrant visitor centre and welcoming gateway to the town. Built in 1849, the Whistlestop had been closed for over a decade and funding was needed to carry out urgent repairs, including replacing the roof.

The Community Rail Partnership obtained nearly £40,000 from Community Rail Network and CrossCountry Trains, providing match funding to Heritage Lottery and other funding obtained by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

Whistlestop Cafe

If you have any ideas for our stations, to promote sustainable travel or community projects or want to help in future projects, please get in touch.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Our stations offer great promotional opportunities for local businesses and organisations, including sponsorship of community planters or station garden areas cared for by Station Adopters.

Every year, our stations are used by thousands of people while waiting for their train and even more passengers who may view the station environment from the train carriage window.

Please get in touch to discuss possible sponsorship opportunities.