A COMMUNITY group is seeking volunteers to help look after a railway station.

Following the success of similar schemes at Wool and Wareham, South Western Railway and the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership are looking for volunteers to adopt Dorchester’s main station and set up a Friends of Dorchester South station group.

Around the country, there are more than 1,000 station adoption groups under the umbrella of the Community Rail Network.

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The groups aim to add value to local communities by making the station a welcoming and attractive focal point, to encourage rail travel and to instil a sense of civic pride by involving schools, volunteer groups and businesses.

Being part of the Community Rail Network gives groups access to advice and resources to help them with projects and schemes at the station. Grants and other financial help is also available.

Other stations in the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership have completed projects based around community gardening, artwork or adding signage of the local area.

Jonathan Evans, Purbeck Community Rail Partnership Volunteer Recruitment Officer, said: “As the newest addition to the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership, we are incredibly keen to find volunteers who are as passionate about Dorchester and rail travel as we are.

“Station adoption is a great opportunity to be involved in a community project - whether that’s gardening, art or any number of other projects.

“It is not necessary to start as a fully formed group as it just takes one or two people with the vision and passion for the group to grow from there.”

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Paula Aldridge, South Western Railway Community Rail Manager, added: “Stations on the South Western Railway network currently benefit from the support of over 70 station adoption groups.

“The work that station adopters do is invaluable in making our stations a better place for our customers and helping to centre them within their communities.

“We would encourage anyone who is interested in helping to make Dorchester South station a focal part of the local area to get in contact with the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership."

Anyone interested in becoming involved in adopting Dorchester’s main station and setting up a Friends of Dorchester South station group should email volunteer@purbeckcrp.prg.uk