CRAVEN scouts have been working with the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company to earn a badge and help improve stations along the line.

Operations Manager, Susie Payne is working with cubs at Skipton Station as part of the Community Rail Network and rail industry’s Platforms for Change project.

Susie said: “It has been great fun working with the local Scouts group. The young people have been so enthusiastic and been so busy planting up planters and creating inspirational spaces along the platform.

“My little group of cubs painted the planters and wrote inspirational words on peddles to place in the planters. The response from passengers and people working at the station has been amazing.

“So many people commenting how good it looks and how amazing that little people care about how the station looks. Northern Rail customers at the station have commented to staff how good the platforms are looking."

Scouts groups from the youngest, Squirrels, to Explorers, up to 18 year old, are invited to get involved with local station friends groups and community rail partnerships, through activities such as painting, gardening DIY, making bug/bird boxes, fundraising, promoting the group, recruiting volunteers, rail confidence trips and travel awareness.

As well as a ‘Platforms for Change’ badge specially designed for the programme, the groups can work towards other badges including gardening, volunteering, nature, photography and writing.

The host station group or community rail partnership provide a location for the groups’ activities, liaising with rail industry partners, and running sessions and activities jointly with Scout group leaders.

This group came from 1st Embsay and Eastby Cubs.