Great Western Railway’s open day at their St Philips Marsh depot, Bristol, raised more than £25,000 for a local charity.
Announced at Springboard’s Autumn Ball at Cadbury House Country Club, GWR Driver Operations Manager Simon Cassidy presented a cheque for £26,000 to Springboard’s Joint CEO and a founding parent, Ann Ramsey.
Ramsey said, “This is a first for us and a truly staggering amount of money. By helping to raise funds for and promoting Springboard and the needs of disabled children, GWR are helping to break down barriers and assumptions. GWR really have pulled out all the stops to make the open day a memorable one and the money raised shows how successful it was. Springboard are proud to have been part of the open day and we are amazed and delighted by the interest shown by the public.”
Springboard is a north Somerset charity providing support for children with disabilities from birth to aged 5.
The depot opened up its doors to the general public in May in celebration of the 40th year of the Intercity 125 train, and unveiled a specially liveried locomotive in honor of the train’s designer Sir Kenneth Grange. On display was a range of both steam and diesel locomotives, including Intercity 125 High Speed Train locomotives from all over the country.
Cassidy said, “Committed to the communities we serve, we have long-supported Springboard and it is fantastic to have raised such an impressive amount. We at GWR are only too aware of the vital role rail has played and continues to play for the local and national economy. To have people queuing to enter the depot and see how it operates day-to-day, and to see such a selection of trains, is humbling.”
Members of the public were offered the opportunity to look inside the depot buildings and get a flavor of the work that is carried out 24 hours a day to help maintain, refuel and clean the GWR fleet. Tickets were made available by GWR with all proceeds from the event being donated to Springboard.
Children at Springboard may have a wide range of disabilities including: autism; cerebral palsy; complex health and medical needs; Down’s syndrome; sensory impairments; language and communication difficulties.
