Community Rail Awards. Wednesday 5th October Manchester Convention Centre Section:
Section 9, Influencing Positive Change & Sustainability
Timetable and Event Guide, Bempton, Hunmanby, Filey & Scarborough, Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station
Summary
The 2022 Timetable and Event Guide is proving even more popular than its predecessor. This had been produced in May 2019 by Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station to promote the new hourly train service, and the simple format A4 leaflet was a success with visitors and locals alike. It had helped increase passenger numbers pre-pandemic at Hunmanby station by 43% in the year ending 31st March 2020. In 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic few events had been organised; 2022 seemed the ideal year for a new edition, being the 175th anniversary of the opening of the Hull to Scarborough railway line, which created the seaside resorts of Scarborough, Filey and Bridlington. Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station were aware of the impact the pandemic had had both on venues and event organisers, and knew that a timetable and events guide could be part of the 2022 New Year rail promotion ‘get the country back on track’. Local councillors were keen to help support the project through their locality budget, and additional funding was obtained from Friends of the White Swan and Northern for the production and distribution of 23,000 leaflets.
Photo above: Outside cover of Filey Timetable & Event Guide May 2022
Concept & Aims
It is estimated that 1.5 million homes in the UK do not have the Internet, and many travellers still prefer a printed timetable in the form of a concise leaflet, especially the elderly and those on low incomes. The leaflet design is simple: one-colour A4, neatly folded, showing an attractive photograph of the local station. It promotes both positive change and sustainability by using public transport (including highlighting the Plusbus ticket.) Interspersed within the listing for concerts and music events are easy-to-access community activities to protect the environment, like beach clean-ups and litter picks, also family friendly library opening times and facilities available. It raises awareness of the direct train service every hour that Scarborough, Filey, Hunmanby and Bempton have with Hull and onward to South Yorkshire, showing how a train trip is a great way to have a short break without the car. It aims to make the public transport journey easy, with a brief description of the stations, the way community involvement is encouraged, sample ticket prices and taxi information. To make it relevant to the local community, the diary listing of events ensures leaflets are retained for future reference.
Photo above, Scarborough Timetable & Event Guide outside cover
What Happened
Over the winter funding was arranged through two Scarborough Borough Councillors’ locality budgets, Friends of the White Swan and Northern to produce separate guides for Bempton, Hunmanby, Filey and Scarborough, for January 2022 and for May 2022. Community groups and tourist venues were contacted to compile an events list. A draft was circulated so that information could be checked, this in turn generated interest in the project, promoted networking between groups and raised awareness of matters covered in the leaflet. In total over 23,000 leaflets have been produced, separate editions for each village/town identified by a different colour on the front and delivered door to door by a network of 25 volunteers; and Filey Town Council included the leaflet with their Town Cryer newsletter. Volunteers also called at over 300 accommodation providers, local shops, hair salons, public houses, health centres, schools, and further education establishments to personally deliver the timetables and speak with staff and owners. All without exception were happy to display the leaflet, appreciating the work put in and how it was promoting their community.
Caption: Filey Timetable & Event Guide Inside cover May 2022
Results
The resort towns of Scarborough and Filey, as well as the villages, lack formal Tourist Information offices, so local shops, pubs and community venues are often asked tourism questions. Staff have found the leaflet very useful, with its range of events, taxi numbers and the website of Discover Yorkshire Coast all listed. The Scarborough event guide managed to list over 100 activities taking place between Mid-May and Mid December. The leaflet often assists in answering tourism questions and helps venues give a positive welcoming image to visitors. Feedback confirms that people like the combined listing of both professional and local community events; especially after two years of pandemic restrictions they appreciate the wide range of activities at the coast. The reprint in May 2022 was funded by Friends of the White Swan, who have given over £7,000 in 6 years to local good causes. The Hunmanby Guide both listed the groups that have benefited, and helped to re-launch the weekly bingo sessions that contribute to these funds. In December 2022, a new edition is planned, and already voluntary groups have already indicated they would like to help sponsor its production, a positive outcome for the whole area.
Photo above, The 'Active Hunmanby' Insert of the Hunmanby Timetable & Event Guide
Testimonials
‘The Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station are a real force for good in their local community. Their timetable and event guide is a simple and effective way of promoting all the communities in Scarborough, Filey, Bempton and Hunmanby while at the same time encouraging people to reduce their carbon footprint by using the train. The hard work and commitment of the Friends are a valuable asset for all of us who live, work and holiday on the Yorkshire Coast. Good luck!’
David Stone, Coast and Vale Community Action (Social Enterprise, Scarborough)
‘The leaflet has really done wonders for community engagement. Not only does it give you train times, it also helps signpost tourist and local people to local and community events and spaces. A fantastic piece of volunteer-led work that should bring immense pride to the people who are involved in its creation and delivery’
Scarborough Borough Councillor Alex Bailey, Castle Ward in Scarborough Town Centre
‘As a local music promoter (Filey Folk Festival / Old Parcels Office) I have found the railway timetable & events listing very useful when promoting events and have a rail/concert link up and running. Thanks.’
Chris Lee (Filey)
‘Friends of the White Swan formed in 2016 and mainly through a weekly bingo have raised over £7000 in funds for the village organisations and charities, The insert leaflet is well appreciated by all the organisations listed in it and it was great to be able to sponsor it this Spring. It has really helped raise awareness of the fund-raising bingo nights and encouraged more local residents to come along. Being able to promote the groups who have benefited to a wider audience has also been great.’
John Wragg, Friends of the White Swan, Hunmanby