A busy Birmingham railway station is set for a new lease of life thanks to a partnership between West Midlands Railway (WMR) and learning disability charity Mencap, which campaign for the rights of the 1.5 million people across the UK with a learning disability.
Mencap is adopting Selly Oak station through its ‘training academy’ programme, which delivers supported internships to people aged 16-24 with learning disabilities or autism.
Mencap’s 12 interns will play a key role in maintaining the station and making it a more welcoming, friendly place for residents and railway users. Since first getting the keys in May, the Mencap adopters have already put up eye-catching posters with uplifting quotes from the interns. Next, they plan to transform the station’s green spaces through planting.
Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at WMR, said: “We are delighted to have Mencap onboard as a station adopter in Selly Oak. With its proximity to the university and neighbouring retail park, the station has a high footfall of 1.9million passengers travelling through it each year, giving Mencap the opportunity to demonstrate their young learners’ fantastic work to a range of people.”
Jason Hardman, Head of Mencap Training Academy, said: “We know that currently, only 27% of the 1.5 million people with a learning disability across the UK are employed – despite 86% of people with a learning disability saying they want a paid job. This initiative is just one of the fantastic ways that our Supported Internships can help learners develop vital skills for their future career. Well done to the team – we look forward to seeing the station transform throughout the year!”
West Midlands Railway and sister brand, London Northwestern Railway (LNR), support station adopters across its rail network, with 67 stations adopted. On the LNR side of the network, Mencap is also adopting Northampton station.
To find out more about station adoption, visit Station Adoption | West Midlands Railway.