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Wyre Forest u3a member Sue pictured at Kidderminster Station with representatives from Network Rail,
West Midlands Trains and Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership and Community Rail Network.

Members of Wyre Forest u3a were shortlisted at the Community Rail Partnership Awards for their work on Kidderminster Station.

This year was the 20th anniversary of the awards, which celebrate the volunteers, groups and partnerships working on behalf of communities and rail stations across the UK. Wyre Forest u3a were shortlisted in the 'It's Your Station' category and were presented with a certificate of Excellence.

Wyre Forest u3a member Sue first proposed that Wyre Forest u3a adopt Kidderminster Station and has been involved in the project from the start. She says, “We were amazed and exceedingly proud to see that we had been shortlisted and especially placed in the GOLD category of Its Your Station. It certainly made all of our efforts worthwhile that we had been recognised after a very long road to get our projects underway.”

Kidderminster Station was first adopted by Wyre Forest u3a in 2022 with the intention of showcasing the town’s history and communities. A ‘Kidderminster Station Adoption’ group was started within Wyre Forest u3a for the volunteers involved in the project.

Together, the team have created a ‘bug hotel’ to attract wildlife, planted a herb garden from which commuters can pick herbs for dinner, transformed a long bank at the station into a well-cared for woodland and refurbished an old boat into a planter with a sign highlighting Kidderminster's connection with it's twin town, Husum. Other projects celebrate Kidderminster's history with a new display showcasing Kidderminster’s heritage of carpet making and plaques around the station highlighting historical places of note. In addition, a new noticeboard shares information and updates about Wyre Forest u3a. The project is a prime example of how u3as contribute to their local communities.

Wyre Forest u3a members Teresa and Roy planting the refurbished boat at Kidderminster Station.

The project has enabled Wyre Forest u3a members to use their skills in new ways. Sue has been able to use her skills from a career as a Project Mananger, while former engineers John and Gilbert put their talents to use when refurbishing a boat into a planter. Member Mike has used his skills of computer-assisted design to convey installation ideas to the train companies and suppliers of display boards. The u3a gardening group have used their greenfingers to transform the green areas of the station while another member named Sue, who leads the u3a Industrial History group, was responsible for working with the Museum of Carpet to securing the gifting of boards displaying Carpet History. For member Tony, a passion for photography has resulted in him capturing photographs of the ongoing work to be shared on the Wyre Forest u3a website and in the station display.  

Sue explains , “u3a members have a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills, far too good to waste. In Wyre Forest & District u3a, we set about bringing together some of those ‘gifts of life’ to create a little cheer and interest to Kidderminster Mainline Railway station; a community service that will be visited by so many people, from all over the country, during the coming years. Our involvement has brought communities together and we hope to continue doing this.”

The changes to the station have changed the experience of visitors travelling through the station. Sue says, "When we work on the gardens many people come and talk to us and ask who we are and why we are doing it. We get many ‘thanks’ from passersby who appreciate what we are doing for the community. One commuter also sent us an email thanking us for making her regular trips to the station more pleasant. People are learning all about Kidderminster and its rich heritage."

Find out more about the project on the Wyre Forest u3a website.

Wyre Forest u3a member Julia has reflected on some of the travellers she has seen pass through the station whilst working on the garden. You can read that on our u3a blog, Sources.