It will be easier for heritage railways and tramways to welcome young volunteers following new guidance released by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This guidance provides greater clarity around opportunities for 14 to 16 year olds to gain valuable experience in the sector.<\/p>\n
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The guidance has been developed following a successful campaign led by the Heritage Railway Association (HRA) to address legislation that had unintentionally restricted volunteering opportunities for young people. For the first time, both heritage railways and tramways now have clear guidance on the types of activities that young volunteers can safely undertake, helping to remove uncertainty that has prevented many organisations from offering placements in recent years.<\/p>\n
Appropriate tasks outlined in the guidance include supporting the presentation and cleaning of steam locomotives, assisting on station platforms and learning about the restoration and maintenance of rolling stock, all supported by suitable risk assessments.<\/p>\n
The Heritage Railway Association had found that around half of the UK\u2019s heritage railways and tramways had been unable to offer volunteering opportunities to under-16s because of the uncertainty over historic legislation. As a result its been estimated that 1,500 young people may have missed the opportunity to begin their railway journey as a result.<\/p>\n
Dan Hill, Knowledge Manager at UKTram, said: \u201cVolunteering has inspired generations of railway professionals so it\u2019s great to see guidance that will help more young people take those first steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guidance comes after changes to employment legislation introduced in late 2025, which required the ORR and HSE to produce practical advice for organisations supporting young volunteers. The Heritage Railway Association has welcomed the publication, describing it as a significant milestone for the sector that will help inspire and develop the next generation of volunteers and railway professionals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It will be easier for heritage railways and tramways to welcome young volunteers following new guidance released by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This guidance provides greater clarity around opportunities for … Continue reading