How to get younger people interested in volunteering on Railways

In light of the often open hostility to Muslims in particular, and non-straight-White-males in general, that is hardly surprising. Maybe if organisations put a bit of effort into reaching out to different communities, you'd see demographics change.

From reading your post you could be forgiven for thinking the Uk is the only country in the world to have discovered trains.

Simon

 

First of all, can I make a plea to dial some of this back so we don't lose sight of what we are supposed to be discussing in the first place.

Second: anacdotedly, I accept, this lack of interest in younger age groups is not confined to just heritage railways. I hear tales that other more traditional hobbies/crafts etc are facing similar issues. Can anyone else verify?

 

I terms of other organisations who have suffered a lack of interest from the younger generation I've personal experience of this in the Scout & in the marching band worlds.

I believe that the younger generation have so much at their finger tips these days that having to put a lot of time & effort into an activity, whatever that is, just isn't as attractive as it was pre mobile phone/internet/facebook etc etc.

 

Fair comment.

I'm not personally involved in volunteering on railways, but do volunteer in a different sector. For me, the important thing with young people is less as a current voluntary workforce per se, but as a future source of volunteers… the challenge is to excite them about railways, steam, engineering, etc. to fuel lifelong interest. That way, once the lost years of drink, drugs, girls/boys/both, parties, etc. have passed, and people have settled, have some income, some spare time, they're likely to look for interests beyond DIY and their jobs, and the opportunity to do something a bit different. If they have fond memories of smut, grease, coal and steam, they'll be more open to volunteering in the future.

I'd be interested to know what partnerships railways are building with local schools and colleges, and whether there are examples of bringing groups of children in as part of their formal education – there's a ton of stuff in a preserved railway, from tourism, to catering, to social media/web publishing, on top of the more obvious engineering/science stuff, that could all provide useful real-world examples of educational principles.

Those railways nearer major conurbations would have more access to more schools and are likely to have a more diverse range of kids to talk to – might go someway to firing a bit of interest in kids from different backgrounds whose parents probably weren't trainspotting in the 60s/70s…

It's likely that a lot of the more professional railways are already on this type of thing…?

Simon

 

You do make some valid points. However, I think the ethnic make up of the catchment area is important. If you travel on the GCR the passengers do seem to reflect more of the ethnic mix of the area. I would guess the same applies to other lines, although I have no evidence to support that supposition.

It would also be interesting to know whether volunteers have had an interest in railways at some point in their lives, or whether many discover it later in life and then volunteer.

 

I think the this is a very valid point. As a 22-year-old railway volunteer who has just moved here from Australia, I've noticed that some of our heritage railways back home have been successful in the late twenties to forties age bracket, particularly with people who have rail of mechanical interests or jobs. I think fathers and sons (or even grandsons) is a great source of attracting volunteers. Perhaps heritage railways should encourage their volunteers to 'bring a family member'.

Attracting young volunteers is very difficult, I've been asked about this many times by the organisation I've volunteered with. My reasons for volunteering when I am still young are that I've grown up in a family with a couple of railway workers in its history and where there is a keen interest in trains, it has been half my life. I would add though that providing opportunities for younger people to volunteer in groups will be much more encouraging for them than feeling like the only non-retiree in the group. I get on very well with older people, always have, but most young people will relate better to people closer to their own age. They will still be keen to learn from older people with skills as I am.

Providing a structure to volunteering and goals to achieve is also very important.

Having said all that though we in Australia envy the scale, success and professionalism of the UK rail heritage scene, you have had a lot more success here with younger volunteers and apprenticeships, and I do hope it will continue thriving well into the future.

 

As a 40-something father of 2 primary age kids, I can assure you that there are plenty of factors that limit my ability to attend, let alone volunteer at, preserved railways. Off the top of my head, factors that come to mind are:

• 
  
• kids' weekend activities
  
• family time
  
• church attendance
  
• other interests
  
• volunteering for church
  
• a busy professional job
  
• my daughter's lack of interest in railways

All true, all relevant factors. The stuff I'm talking about is in addition to those.

 

In light of the often open hostility to Muslims in particular, and non-straight-White-males in general, that is hardly surprising. Maybe if organisations put a bit of effort into reaching out to different communities, you'd see demographics change.

Maybe.

From reading your post you could be forgiven for thinking the Uk is the only country in the world to have discovered trains.

I'm not sure what level of irony you're aiming for here. Trains/railways were not 'discovered', they were invented and the only people to have invented them were the British.

 

I know that the Avon Valley Railway have had 'Polish Themed' events based around their Polish loco's.

Given that we have locos that were built in/worked in the USA, France, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Greece & China I am surprised that we have not done more to capitalise on this - for example we have locos that served in France in WW1 and London is, it seems the 7th largest French City so its an opportunity to invite The French Consul, French Media etc...........

 

No irony. Just highlighting that the British don't have a monopoly on specific hobbies. We do appear to have a monopoly on people prepared to stereotype entire races with statements like 'it's not their history'…

 

Personally, I've been interested in railways longer than I can remember. I have met volunteers however who have picked it up as a hobby later - but they're in the minority.

(It's always slightly embarrassing when visitors ask, as they often do, *why* I'm interested in trains enough to volunteer. "Er ... I can't remember *not* being interested!")

In my experience, new volunteers are mostly either in the 20-25 or 50+ age brackets with a drop-off in between. However those 20-25 year olds - particularly the ones who also have a job in transport, work shifts, and therefore are available weekdays - are a vital part of my railway's workforce.

Finally, all I'm going to say on the subject of "the biggest threat to all of us is out-of-control demographics" is: if you are trying to look like a reasonable person with a reasonable and not-actually-bigoted concern, then maybe "Charles Martel" is not a very subtle name to adopt, is it now? This is not the Crusades and you are no warrior, you're just someone with an irrational dislike of Muslims.

 

Finally, all I'm going to say on the subject of "the biggest threat to all of us is out-of-control demographics" is: if you are trying to look like a reasonable person with a reasonable and not-actually-bigoted concern, then maybe "Charles Martel" is not a very subtle name to adopt, is it now? This is not the Crusades and you are no warrior, you're just someone with an irrational dislike of Muslims

Its not about Muslims, they are merely a more obvious cultural group. However I see that so far no one has managed to come up with a single anecdotal example of any Muslim involved in heritage railways. A group who now number 3 million in the UK. Or indeed examples from any other non-white group.



I must say there is an irony in the name of this site - National Preservation - how can you preserve anything when you can't even preserve the people who created railways in the first place?

 

But they're all dead...

 

You've failed to provide any examples of non-white people in the UK showing any serious interest in heritage railways, you have managed to lecture me however.

What about the fate of steam locos in South Africa? Isn't that 'their' history? I'm pretty sure I've seen it mentioned on NP at some point.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_National_Railway_And_Steam_Museum

http://steam-locomotives-south-africa.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/sanrasm-chamdor-site.html

Any appeal to save these locos will be directed at us and white South Africans of course.

 

But they're all dead..

Yet the most successful heritage railway movement began in the UK and is still here, people very much like the people who created railways to start with.

(You'll notice similar demographics when it comes to classic cars, aircraft, sailing ships etc. Or rather, somehow, you won't notice.)

Your turn to list all those non-white railway volunteers you're aware of, yet you forgot to do so.

 

Well as it happens I do know a couple. I've also seen passengers of many races on our trains, although some in quite small numbers. This may be due to the demographics of the area.

I fail to see what point you're trying to make here though. There are probably more white males than there ever were in the UK purely due to natural increase.

 

Well as it happens I do know a couple. I've also seen passengers of many races on our trains, although some in quite small numbers. This may be due to the demographics of the area.

Finally we're getting somewhere!

I fail to see what point you're trying to make here though.

Really?

There are probably more white males than there ever were in the UK purely due to natural increase.

But fewer and fewer in relative terms. And fertility rates of white women are below replacement rates just about everywhere. If current trends continue white people will be an absolute minority within 30-40 years, just about everywhere in fact. Anyhow, back to the South African steam museum success story. . .

 

I think it is across the board, be it church, WI, railway societies of all ilks etc, the demographics are similar. As Giles Fraser recently put it, we in the west are less and less a society of "joiners" as liberal individualism increases.

 

Those dastardly Victorians should have done a Jeremy Bentham job on Mr Trevethick when they had the chance!

 

Who cares? Aside from the usual nasty minority obviously.

Simon