Redruth to Penzance - All Aboard

All Aboard

February 2025

All Aboard - A National Literacy Trust in Cornwall and Home Start Kernow Project

It is grey and drizzly but the gathering on Platform One at Redruth Station is bright and full of smiles.  We are on a day trip to Penzance!  We being about forty babies, toddlers, carers, organisers and hangers on like me.  Which also means fifteen buggies and prams which have to be emptied of children and collapsed before the train arrives.  Meanwhile, spirited storytellers Becca Hulbert and Connie Crosby (you may recognise her!) have launched into the ‘Hello’ song over the station announcement warning us to ‘mind the gap’.  The older children are immediately engaged by their familiar song, the younger ones easily distracted by anything that grabs their attention or are snuggled deep in their mother’s shoulder. As the train arrives, it is a mini military operation to get all children and buggies on to the train and then not take up all the space in the aisle.  I don’t remember buggies being so big!

This outing is the culmination of a project started back in the Autumn.  It is a partnership between The National Literacy Trust in Cornwall, Jo and Nina, and Home Start Kernow, Julia, with funding from GWR.  There have been two early years groups involved, one linked to Camborne Methodist Chapel (who had had their trip the week before) and this one that meets in Illogan.  The aim has been to encourage chatting, playing and reading through the theme of a train journey, alongside Home-Start Kernow's ethos to encourage peer support, grow child and adult group confidence and enjoy quality family time. The culmination being a day trip on the train.  The children and parents have learned songs about getting ready and then the actual journey, built trains with banana boxes and gone on imaginary journeys, listened to stories and everyone has learned some Makaton signing.  It has been enormous fun and lots of friendships have been forged.  These children know about trains and are ready for the off!

Becca and Connie were with us on the train to Penzance singing and reading stories, engaging a whole carriage of children, none of whom could see over the seats.  There was so much to look at as well and when ‘the Castle’ came into view there was a collective intake of breath.  After the shortest twenty minutes, we drew into Penzance Station where we waved goodbye to Becca and Connie.  It took even longer to leave the platform after photos, toilet stops and general milling.  I overheard one mum say ‘I’d never thought of having a day out in Penzance but I’ll do this again.’

Jo & Nina are former teachers and so know about ‘school trips’; discreetly checking everyone was still together, moving groups along pavements, crossing roads.  They launched themselves into the middle of the road, holding back traffic without hesitation. For a small boy I carried what I thought was a dinosaur packed lunch box but in fact it was a portable potty so no sandwiches there…  For the older children there was the excitement of the escalator in the Wharfside Shopping Centre and the wait at the lift for the buggy brigade. 

Together we then made our way to the fabulous Edge of the World Bookshop.  How we all squeezed in I don’t know, but Tardis like it seemed to stretch and even leave small gaps for the general book browser.  The staff were very welcoming.  Jo read some stories and each child was gifted a book of their choice to take home.  We had a wonderful time browsing and choosing.  The children introduced me to wonderful stories, books and characters.  If a single theme stood out, I think it might have been tractors!  The babies slept.

After all the excitement, we made our way up to Causewayhead where we were booked into the Smugglers café. Did they know what they had let themselves in for?  Even if they didn’t, the staff were smiling and calm, served up the food swiftly and didn’t bat an eyelid at the carnage on the floor when we left.  I had a great conversation with a very chatty three year old whose passion was ballet and her whole week was spent in anticipation of the Saturday class.  Her sausage and chips arrived and her mum cut up the sausage into four pieces. 

“If you eat one, how many will be left?” I asked

“Three” she responded without counting and proceeded to demonstrate.

Good at subtraction too!

We slowly meandered back to the station; the only bag that was left behind was Jo’s!  Chatting about train journeys and what fun they are,  one parent admitted that her older son was obsessed with trains and so all their holidays are based around train journeys.  At the station GWR had set up a stall with lots of giveaways for the families which were eagerly clutched in small hands.

On the way back the children seemed more confident, reading their new books, talking about what they could see out the window and transforming the aisle in the carriage into a river to be swum or waded across.

Here are a few quotes from some of the parents, highlighting how important these projects are which take us out of our day to day:

I enjoyed seeing the joy on my child's face.

Very grateful to have created lovely memories.

The best bit were the 2 young women who entertained us all on the way. (Connie and Becca)

I enjoyed seeing my little one become more confident with others

Given me confidence to take my little one on the train

I loved the enthusiasm from the staff and them being so kind and friendly

I learned to not be afraid to ask for help.

And from Jo’s point of view what is the value of this project?

From my and  NLT’s point of view the programme was great for increasing the confidence of parents to take their children out on the train, and we know of several families who have already tried another trip, having seen how easy it can be.  Also the generous funding from GWR allowed us to bring wonderful creatives like Connie and Becca to the sessions, as well as funding a fantastic trip at the end of the programme.

What a fabulous day out and what a great project, team and partnership.  Am proud to be a Literacy Champion volunteer for this programme.  Have to admit though, I was flattened with fatigue when I got home despite having had no responsibility for anything or anyone …but also full of joy at spending time with the children and their families.

Notes

Literacy Champion volunteers support local NLT project work in so many different ways, from providing invaluable community voice and insights to contributing to the planning and delivery of family events and early literacy activities. For more information about the programme visit: https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/cornwall/

Home-Start Kernow offers free, confidential support, friendship and practical help to parents of children under five in the county of Cornwall who are going through a difficult time. To find out more visit: https://homestartkernow.org.uk/