CAN WE AFFORD IT?
We can’t afford not to! It is misleading to think that social value costs significant money. It can… but it doesn’t have to.
Social value can increase revenue and provide a positive return on investment. Community Rail and the Rail Delivery Group concluded that more than 250,000 hours per year were worked by around 3,200 rail volunteers across the UK. (All activities were captured via an email survey to ACoRP members, with a representative sample responding. Each volunteer typically worked between 2-2.25 hours per week, with a figure of two hours per week subsequently used for volunteers across AC​ at a cost of £13.03 an hour).
The value of community rail volunteers was estimated to be approximately £3.4 million annually. Furthermore, as highlighted by the graph (page 57), passenger numbers on lines served by community rail have disproportionally increased compared with other lines between 2008 and 2018 (42% increase compared with an average of 35%).
By doing things right first time - in design, for example, with accessible trains, platforms and stations - it will reduce costs in the long run (retrofitting) and increase rail’s attraction for those with pushchairs, luggage and disability… and, in turn, revenues.
Importantly, rail needs to be seen and valued by its passengers, customers and communities across the network, so that it keeps relevant and investable.
Conversely, failure to manage social value risks adding cost through legislative and regulatory breaches (for example, Equality Act 2010), lack of public support, complaints and subsequent delay to operations or projects (as experienced by HS2), negative media coverage and reputational harm.
GOOD PRACTICE IN RAIL SECTOR
There are many examples of good practice from which to highlight rail’s potential and opportunities when it comes to delivering social value. These include:
Promoting tourism by rail
Public engagement events showed that Lincolnshire was relatively unknown as a visitor destination for many rail users in the south of the UK.
The Poacher Line Community Rail Partnership teamed up with Visit Lincoln to create a marketing campaign promoting Lincolnshire as a destination that’s easily accessible by rail. The campaign used the national celebration of the Battle of Lincoln as leverage for the campaign, and the Poacher Line and Visit Lincoln promoted Lincolnshire with an exhibition stand at London King’s Cross station, as part of Community Rail Network’s Community Rail in the City event.
This campaign was hugely successful, generating ten hours of media coverage - including interviews and live reporting from the event by BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
Rough-sleeping pilot outreach service
Network Rail is running a 12-month rough-sleeping pilot project with the Homelessness charity partner, Shelter.
It introduced rough-sleeping outreach teams at Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street stations who look out and provide support for people who may be rough sleeping.
A help kiosk has also been established on the concourse in Birmingham. When people in possible need are identified, Shelter offers direct tailored help to find accommodation and establish with them a more settled life through obtaining personal identification, registering with a doctor, and accessing mental health support.
In collaboration with the British Transport Police, Network Rail is now providing training to staff to equip them with the skills and confidence to approach and speak with rough sleepers, and then refer them to local support services (such as the outreach teams), thereby breaking the cycle of vulnerable people simply being moved on from a station to another site in the city.
Katie is just one person who has been helped. She’s 49 years old and in ill health. In January, Shelter found Katie a bed for a first night, then brokered contact with specialist local support groups and helped Katie find a secure placement in supported living accommodation. Katie is settling well. She has a support worker and is accessing support services to help her with her complex needs.
In less than six months, 113 people have been referred to the Shelter outreach teams, with 43 supported into temporary accommodation and six into permanent accommodation. These people have ongoing support from Shelter’s peer mentors. This support is anticipated to deliver around £850,000 of social value in a year.
