Charity secures grant to help kids overcome travel-related anxieties

Bridge the Gap has secured a five-figure grant from East Midlands Railway to help children overcome travel-related anxieties.

The charity, which supports children with early intervention and emotional education, has secured a £10,000 grant from the rail operator’s community fund to help young people overcome their fears of travelling on a train.

The new early intervention programme called On Track Together: Building Confidence in Travel, will identify and target children who have a fear of trains and travel, and will provide bespoke sessions to help them feel less overwhelmed at a train station, waiting on the platform and boarding a train.

Bridge the Gap will deliver travel confidence workshops, one-to-one support work and offer online webinars for parents and carers as part of EMR’s Community Fund.

Nikki Webster, clinical director at Bridge the Gap, said the programme will build real-world travel confidence.

She said: “For many young people train travel can feel very overwhelming.

“Loud noises, busy platforms, and unfamiliar routine can increase travel-related anxiety, but we want to increase confidence using East Midlands Railway for everyday journeys.

“Participants will develop practical coping strategies to help them manage their fears and increase independence.

“Our one-to-one support will work with children who struggle to communicate or regulate emotions in busy environments.

“As part of our work, we will plan trips to the train station and thanks to EMR, we will be accompanying our young people on short practice trips.

“At the end of the programme, we want to see a more confident, independent traveller who is able to access opportunities without anxiety limiting their movement or participation.”

Kaye Robinson, community engagement manager at East Midlands Railway, said: “Our services are vital in connecting people to education, widening their employment opportunities and leisure.

“Indeed, connecting communities is at the heart of what we do, but we recognise that train travel can cause real anxiety for some.

“We are delighted to support Bridge the Gap through our community fund to help break down those barriers, reduce social isolation and build the confidence young people need to travel with us.”