A group of station adopters from Llanishen are calling for more people volunteer at their local railway station as part of National Volunteers Week.

The group in Llanishen are part of the group of volunteers who look after unstaffed stations across Arriva Trains Wales’ network.

The ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme was launched in 2004 by Arriva and since then over 130 stations have been adopted by volunteers across Wales.

However, 84 stations are still waiting to be adopted by volunteers to take them on and help benefit the community.

What did the officials say?

Tony Fundell, the station adopter at Llanishen station in Cardiff, said:

“In conjunction with Llanishen Rotary Club, I’ve been a station adopter at Llanishen for two years and it’s a great way to socialise, keep active and make new friends.

“We’re responsible for maintaining the station grounds and planting flowers to brighten up the appearance of the station. We also provide feedback on any litter or vandalism that appears, so this can be addressed as soon as possible. My group has thoroughly enjoyed taking part in Arriva’s ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme so far and hope to continue the good work that brings so much joy to those passing through the station every day.

“I would definitely encourage others looking to give something back to their community to consider becoming a station adopter — it’s hard work but great fun and the feedback we’ve received from passengers definitely makes it worthwhile!”.

Geraint Morgan, Community Relations Manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said:

“Our ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme encourages both individuals and groups to keep active and make new friends, while doing something pro-active for their local community.

“A key task for the role involves submitting two reports a month regarding the appearance of the station and facilities, such as highlighting any issues or problems with lights, timetables and vandalism. Any issues or concerns emphasized by the volunteers can then be resolved quickly and effectively by Arriva Trains Wales and the selected station managers.

He continued; “Some of our stations also have wonderful gardens and floral displays which are cared for by our station adopters, and many have won national awards for their efforts — providing a pleasant environment for both customers and staff.”

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