Jonathan Glass

Said the following about Susan Temple:

“What can I say about Susan?

Susan has the biggest heart - she always puts others first and if she can help other people, she always will. Susan over her years of charity fundraising has built up a huge network of contacts - she always knows someone who knows someone who will help. That could be the local pound shop, it could be the local Provost of Renfrewshire Council, it could be local celebrities and musicians. Susan always knows someone who can support one of the many causes she fundraises for.

Susan has built so many successful relationships with the wider community, that often the stock room at the station is full of charitable donations, awaiting collection by local good causes. Even within ScotRail, if we are ever organising anything for charity, Susan is the first point of call - as you know Susan will know someone who can help, will have an idea about how you can raise extra money. or will have prizes or something to donate to the cause.

I won't repeat all of the things that have been covered by my colleagues beforehand, but Susan is widely known within ScotRail as a community hero. It would be amazing for Susan to be recognised - we are all crossing our fingers in Team ScotRail that she wins.“

Sophie Nightingale

Said the following about Susan Temple:

“Susan Temple has been working for ScotRail for 18 years, currently working as a Station Grade B, at Johnstone station. She prides herself on knowing her job and her customers inside out. In fact, Susan is the go-to woman in her area to train the new recruits, not just because of her knowledge and experience, but because she knows how to bring out the best in people.

Beyond the job description, there is something very special about Susan; her passion for putting the station at the heart of the local community is infectious. Always encouraging others to get involved and providing support for her colleagues. She has developed long-standing partnerships with local charities, businesses, and supermarkets, linking them to the station to deliver community good:

Johnstone station have raised an incredible £10,325 in aid of the train operator’s official charity partner, MND Scotland. The largest donation from a single station.

When the food banks could not take donations, a local supermarket contacted the station asking if they could find homes for trollies worth of food items. Susan roped in the Provost of Renfrewshire, personally collecting and distributing food parcels in her own time.

In Autumn, Susan was asked if the station could support the ‘give a kid a pair of PJs’ initiative. Customers handed in hundreds of pairs of PJs which was no surprise to Susan, in her words “everything I ask for at the station comes back”.

This year, the stations’ annual Christmas collection saw her customers donate over 200 items for Turning Point Scotland. This provided the service users with a Christmas box to open containing toiletries, PJs, underwear, and clothing.

Susan first approach the local Poundland store to ask for a donation and has since built this relationship to the point where the store now call the station when they have excess stock they want to donate rather than sending it to landfill. Susan always finds the stock a home, no matter what is offered. Recently, art supplies were distributed to local schools, the boys brigade, and via the Lord Provost.

October saw the launch of the ScotRail Santa Express services to raise funds for the Railway Children’s charity. The organising committee immediately roped in Susan, who secured five pallet loads of goodies including wrapping paper, Christmas crackers and hats for free, allowing more money to go direct to the charity. She called on her contacts in the ScotRail facilities team to collect the items, filling two vans. The Santa Express went on to raise £15,000 for charity.

Susan knows her customers and encourages the children to participate, knowing that one day they will be using the trains on their own. Additionally, her neurodiverse customers are encouraged (and given time) to ask for their own tickets rather than relying on their carers, giving them the independence they deserve.

Susan also runs a book lending service from the station which provided a lifeline during lockdown as council buildings and library services had to close. For most people who used it, they walked to the station providing them with their daily exercise and for many of these, the station staff were the only people they spoke to that day.

Susan is always available for the people travelling through her station and has developed relationships with several schools. She especially enjoys arranging trips for children with additional support needs. Susan uses her spare time to facilitate the trips because “It makes the world of difference to them. I’ll work on my days off or when I am on back shift to engage people in the community who otherwise wouldn’t engage with us. People who aren’t confident or are new to the country, need a bit of extra time”.

We hope the judges recognise, as we do, that it is people like Susan who make the railway a family.“

Janet McCrystal

Said the following about Susan Temple:

“Susan helped me to raise money for special education school in the local area to help build their funds up. We managed to raise an amazing amount of money all thanks to her. There are so many charities in the Johnstone area that benefit from Susan as she does appeals for charities all year round, especially Christmas to make sure children and there families don’t miss out. There are no words to describe this amazing woman and the impact she has in Johnstone xx“

Deborah Carmichael

Said the following about Susan Temple:

“Outstanding service to the rail travelling community. Offering cheerful assistance both with information or help boarding and exiting vehicles. The staff keep the station pristine and work tirelessly to bring aid to the local community and beyond, collecting for charities locally but also to such groups as MND nationally. Nothing is too much trouble if you are in need of directions, places of interest, local businesses that might help their customers or queries about linked up travel they will supply the best information and always with a positive attitude. The amount of items clothing and donations to charities is outstanding, the knock on effect brings people into contact with each other for great common causes. I love visiting Johnstone I always feel welcome and valued by Susan and her team.“

Ryan Fergusson

Said the following about Susan Temple:

“Susan has always been a charity superstar. I did my training not long after joining the railway at Johnstone station and the first day of walking into the booking office, I was amazed at the amount of thank you cards and letters from local charities and good causes that she has supported over the years.

Even on her days off work, it has not been unknown for Susan to go to stations where big events are being held and do bucket collections for MND Scotland or go into the station and support young people with additional needs and show them how to use the train in order to boost their confidence.

Well done Susan.“

Angela Deans

Said the following about Susan Temple:

“Susan is totally dedicated to her job and will go that extra mile to help and assist all her customers. Her fun and outgoing personality shows in all the projects she is involved in. Whether that is dressing up in aid of charity, bucket collection or appealing to customers for donations for all the charities that she is involved in. Her dedication to Johnstone station , its customers and the charity’s she is involved in ,is done with a heart of gold.“