Rebeccca Timperley

Said the following about Ciara Thorn:

“Ciara Thorn leads the passenger experience programme team at Network Rail southern stations. The team have a number of priorities to improve customer experience in stations and one of their key priorities is to provide welcoming and accessible stations for older and disabled customers where they can travel through independently and seamlessly.

As part of the stations accessibility strategy Ciara and the team created a full event to recognise and celebrate international day of disabled persons on 03 December 2021. The team worked with local station teams, internal stakeholders and external suppliers to provide a number of activities / events throughout the day on 3rd December as listed below.

The day was focused on 'not all disabilities are visible' so the teams branding, and activity was focused around promoting the sunflower lanyard to customers. To do this the team used ambassadors to hand out sunflower seeds to customers.

As the day focused on invisible disabilities there was a neuro-diversity thread throughout the day with a flashmob in our three largest stations and the launch of the umbrella project at London Bridge in partnership with the ADHD Foundation and sponsored and installed by MACE. A beautiful display of coloured umbrellas symbolising diversity.

The passenger experience team led all projects and activity as the custodians of the accessibility and diversity and inclusion strategy in stations. It was a day full of joy, celebration and fun and a great example of working as a team to drive diversity and inclusion.

This nomination is to recognise the significant contribution Ciara and her team have made on D&I and passenger experience in our stations. Leading the way to provide welcoming and accessible stations for all.“