Friends of Helsby Station
Bringing Community Pride to Helsby Station
North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership
About Friends of Helsby Station
Friends of Helsby Station is a volunteer-led community group working to make Helsby Station a welcoming, attractive and valued part of village life.
Supported by North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership, the group brings together local residents, rail partners and community organisations who share a common ambition to improve the station environment, strengthen community connections and encourage greater pride in our local railway.
The group forms part of the growing national community rail movement, which helps stations become vibrant community assets while supporting sustainable travel, social inclusion, local identity and economic wellbeing. Across Britain, thousands of volunteers help transform railway stations into places that communities can be proud of.
At North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership, everything we do is guided by our vision: Everyone Proud of Our Railways.
Friends of Helsby Station plays an important role in helping us achieve that vision locally.
Supporting the Future of Helsby Station
Helsby Station is more than a transport hub. It serves as an important gateway to the village and provides connections to employment, education, leisure opportunities and surrounding communities.
The Friends group has been established to help strengthen the relationship between the station and the people it serves. Through practical volunteering, community engagement and partnership working, volunteers can help create a station environment that reflects local character while making visitors and passengers feel welcome.
The group is currently working with Transport for Wales, Network Rail and North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership to establish volunteer activities, provide training and ensure safe access arrangements for future projects.
As the group develops, volunteers will have opportunities to contribute ideas, support improvement projects and help shape the station’s future.
Supporting Our Stations in Their Place Theme
One of North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership’s four strategic themes is Stations in Their Place.
This theme focuses on ensuring stations become welcoming, safe and vibrant places that connect people with their local communities. It also promotes stronger links between rail travel, walking, cycling, public transport and local destinations.
- A cleaner, greener and more welcoming station environment
- Stronger connections between the railway and the village
- Greater community involvement in station improvements
- Better awareness of sustainable travel options
- A station that reflects local pride and identity
What Volunteers Can Get Involved In
The Friends of Helsby Station group will help develop and support a variety of projects that improve both the station environment and the wider visitor experience.
Potential activities may include:
- Gardening and seasonal planting
- Biodiversity and wildlife projects
- Community artwork and interpretation displays
- Heritage and local history initiatives
- Station enhancement projects
- Community engagement activities
- Sustainable travel promotion
- Supporting local events and campaigns
Many of these activities align with the wider community rail movement, where volunteers help create welcoming railway environments, encourage sustainable travel and strengthen community wellbeing.
Whether you enjoy practical outdoor projects, community engagement, research, creativity or helping organise events, there will be opportunities to contribute.
Bringing Empty Station Buildings Back to Life
Bringing Empty Station Buildings Back to Life
Alongside improvements to the station environment, there is growing interest in exploring the future potential of Helsby’s former station buildings.
Working with ArchCo and railway partners, North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership is seeking opportunities to understand how the three vacant station units could be brought back into active use.
The long-term ambition is to see these spaces restored and occupied by commercial, community or social enterprises that contribute positively to the station environment and local area.
Bringing empty buildings back into use could:
- Create a more welcoming first impression for visitors
- Increase activity and vibrancy around the station
- Support local businesses and community organisations
- Encourage greater footfall and sustainable travel
Strengthen - community pride in the railway environment
While this work remains at an early stage, Friends of Helsby Station will have an important voice in helping shape future aspirations and ensuring that local community interests remain at the heart of any future developments.
Health, Wellbeing and Community Connections
Community rail is about much more than trains.
Volunteering creates opportunities for people to meet others, learn new skills and contribute positively to their local area. It can also support physical activity, mental wellbeing and stronger community connections. These benefits form an important part of North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership’s wider strategy.
Friends of Helsby Station welcomes people from all backgrounds and levels of experience. Whether you can volunteer regularly or occasionally, every contribution helps make a difference.
The group aims to create an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Working Together Through Community Rail
North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that works with railway organisations, local authorities, educational institutions, voluntary groups and community partners to maximise the social, economic and environmental benefits that railways can bring to local communities.
Friends of Helsby Station contributes directly to this mission by helping to:
- Give communities a voice in local rail development
- Promote sustainable and accessible travel
- Support social inclusion and community participation
- Enhance local places and public spaces
- Celebrate local heritage and identity
Through partnership working and local volunteering, the group helps ensure that community priorities remain at the centre of future station improvements.
Join Friends of Helsby Station
We welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels who would like to support Helsby Station and the wider community.
Whether you enjoy gardening, community projects, heritage activities, events or simply meeting new people while making a positive difference, there is a place for you within Friends of Helsby Station.
Complete the volunteer enquiry form to register your interest and we will be in touch to discuss how you can get involved.
You can also contact us directly at enquiries@northcheshirecrp.org
Join us and help make Helsby Station a place the whole community can be proud of.