Grand Central's Youth Ambassadors Visit Wakefield Kirkgate

On Sunday 18 January, we were delighted to welcome a group of new Grand Central Ambassadors to Wakefield Kirkgate Railway Station, giving them a real insight into the rail industry, community rail partnerships, and the role volunteering plays in making stations safer, more welcoming places for everyone.

Chris, Emily and David from LonGBoaT Wakefield were joined by Karen Bennett from the Community Rail Network, Gloria Heilbron from the University of Bradford, and Catherine Kingdom from Community Rail Lancashire. Together, we spent the day introducing young ambassadors and group leaders to what happens behind the scenes on a Sunday at a busy community-led station.

Chris also brought a unique perspective to the day as a Grand Central Driver, offering first-hand insight into railway operations, safety, and the many different roles that keep the network moving.

The aim of the visit

The visit was designed to show youth ambassadors and leaders what station life looks like with 4 active volunteers on duty, and how a station adoption group can shape a space that feels welcoming, inclusive and well cared for. For LGBT+ people in particular, visible community presence and inclusive volunteering schemes help make public spaces feel safer and more accessible.

Starting the journey

The day began at Bradford Interchange, where the group met. We were welcomed by Richard Isaac, who provided a safety introduction and a guided look around the station. The group also had the opportunity to meet British Transport Police, learning more about their role in the rail industry and how they support passengers and staff alike.

At 11:43, we boarded a Grand Central service to Wakefield Kirkgate, meeting Conductor Elaine and travelling in first class. The journey gave everyone a chance to relax, chat and enjoy complementary hot drinks and snacks while hearing more about how onboard services operate.

Welcome to Wakefield Kirkgate

We arrived at Wakefield Kirkgate at 12:26 and headed straight to the café for refreshments. The brilliant team at David Evo Café opened especially for us, creating an exclusive, safe and welcoming space for the group. This kind of community support is vital in helping stations become places where everyone, including LGBT+ people, feels comfortable spending time.

We then heard from the Grand Central Ambassador Group, led by John to learn about the role that the group will be taking on. Then alongside it was LonGBoaT Wakefield as the station adoption group. Chris spoke about what it means to be an ambassador, the impact volunteers can have, and the wide range of achievements already delivered at Wakefield Kirkgate. The group also had time to look through handbooks and training materials, highlighting the structured support available to volunteers entering the rail sector.

Seeing volunteers in action

For the next part of the day, we headed out onto the station to observe operations in action, with services heading to London and Bradford. We also shared more about the creative, environmental and community-focused contributions LonGBoaT Wakefield is making at the station — all aimed at improving visibility, safety and inclusion.

The return journey took us via Leeds, arriving back at Bradford Interchange at 3:48pm. We ended the day with a quick stop at the Grand Central signing-on point, giving young volunteers a chance to see a quiet area they could study, relax or reflect between duties.

Looking ahead

We’re incredibly proud to be part of initiatives like this, which open doors for young people and show that the rail industry has space for everyone. Inclusive volunteering programmes help build confidence, skills and belonging — especially for LGBT+ people who may not always see themselves represented in traditional industries.

Our thanks go to everyone involved for making the day such a success!