VALUE YOUR VOLUNTEERS
STEVE OATES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION
“I’M KEEN to help… How can I get started?”
These are words from an email I’ve just received.
I should be pleased. In fact, I am – really pleased. But it’s tinged with an element of irritation with myself, plus just a little embarrassment, as the email is from someone with bags of experience, time on his hands and a genuine desire to lend a hand voluntarily, but he’s had to chase me to see if his offer is wanted.
When we’re focused on urgent and pressing issues, and the inbox and diary are constantly full, it can be easy to miss things like this that could add value, expand what you offer, or even lighten your own workload. And, importantly, I instinctively know we’re missing out on valuable volunteer input that will make a positive difference.
Volunteering is the lifeblood of the heritage railway sector. The HRA’s own stats indicate there are some 22,000 volunteers who, between them, readily undertake all sorts of tasks. There are the obvious ones like footplate crews, but there are also volunteers doing virtually every job imaginable needed to run a successful railway.
Major research a couple of years ago by ‘YouGov’ indicated that around 12 million people in the UK volunteer regularly, and a further 7 million volunteer at least once a year. And more recent research has indicated that many new volunteers have emerged during the past year in connection with Covid-19.
Of the respondents to the YouGov survey, 90% said volunteering gave them a feeling of satisfaction and making a difference. 77% said volunteering had improved their mental health, and 68% stated that volunteering helped combat isolation, with this figure rising to 77% among 18 to 24-yearolds. The poll also showed that physical health and confidence is often improved and new skills and experience are gained. (As a long-standing volunteer on a heritage railway and in other sectors, I know volunteering has given me all of the above.)
And yet much of the heritage rail sector struggles to find sufficient volunteers and, right now, many older volunteers are dropping back or stopping altogether due to the impact of the pandemic. For some railways, this could be critical. If they do not have the personnel to run the organisation, maintain rolling stock and the infrastructure, and to safely run trains, there may well be days when they have to remain shut or only offer fewer services. The resultant impact on their revenue and finances could be devastating and there will be fewer resources with which to keep their part of the heritage rail sector alive and flourishing.
With the 2021 season approaching, virtually every heritage railway is grappling with how to find and encourage more volunteers willing to apply their skills (or learn new ones) and offer their time and effort to help out with one of the many tasks and opportunities available. Every one of us has a part to play here – if every reader of Steam Railway found and encouraged just one new willing and capable volunteer, we’d have over 30,000 more.
It’s a genuine need and your assistance – again – could help unlock a perennial problem. Are you up for it?
P.S. Yes, I have replied to that email.
VOLUNTEERING IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE HERITAGE RAILWAY SECTOR