“Like a train on a track, social value runs through our veins”

Avanti West Coast’s Social Value and Accessibility Manager Dr Theresa Robberts passionately talks about the importance of social value in the rail industry, and reflects on the positive impact it has on customers and communities.

24 February 2025

Our Social Value Report is a celebration of our determination to look after our people, planet, communities and customers. I am passionate about engaging people and understanding the positive impact we can have on them, and their lives. Rail plays such an important role in our communities, and like a train on a track, social value runs through our veins.

For us at Avanti West Coast, it is part of our DNA. Last year we have created £345 million in social value, almost a two-thirds increase on the previous year, as we work towards our target of hitting £1 billion by 2031.

Through work with industry experts like the Rail Safety and Standards Board we can make cleaner, more sustainable rail travel a reality, and measure the impact this has on society.

The report was produced in partnership with Purpose Coalition who have supported us in ensuring we are working towards concrete, measurable improvements with a focus on removing barriers within in our communities.

I am so proud of the successes we have achieved, including enriching the lives of more than 8,000 children, through our schools engagement programme, Feel Good Field Trips (above) and numerous station-led events. We have also hosted more than twice the number of community events and programmes at our stations compared to the year before, and supporting 76,633 customers through our Passenger Assist channel.

The rail industry gives independence to its customers with disabilities and special needs.

I am visually impaired myself, which means I have experience of the impact removing barriers in areas such as education, health and employment can have. I am pleased that in the past year our teams have supported thousands of customers, providing information and assistance to ensure hassle-free journeys and making their lives easier. We have also taken an innovative approach, ensuring our new trains have improved wheelchair spaces, better accessible toilets, and Braille and large print labels on seats, and with Good Maps, a wayfinding indoor GPS, helping customers find their way around our stations.

The rail industry gives independence to its customers with disabilities and special needs. I am incredibly proud to work at an organisation committed to making such a positive change and privileged to work with colleagues who I know are as driven as I am to deliver on this commitment. We hope to be able to continue to work with stakeholders to build on all that is set out in our report, so together we can deliver even more social value.

Read our Social Value Report here

Pictures:

Main picture - Theresa Robberts speaking at the parliamentary reception to launch the Social Value Report.

Top image in text - David Savage, from Community Rail Lancashire, with pupils from Beechwood Primary School in Crewe marking 2,500 children taking the train as part of Feel Good Field Trips.

Bottom image in text - Unique art pieces at Crewe station have been created as part of a project by Central Cheshire Buddies Scheme – a charity that supports children and young people with disabilities, as well as sibling young carers.