Rail Unites for Inclusion

We are excited to announce our first Rail Unites for Inclusion hybrid event of 2025, in support of Race Equality Week on 3rd February 2025 from 10:00 – 14:00 at Waterloo General Offices (registration from 09:30). The event is taking place during LGBT+ history month and World Interfaith harmony week so the session will cover race, LGBT+ and faith matters too. The event will feature two panel discussions, each focusing on important perspectives and actions towards race equality in the rail industry, bearing in mind the theme of #EveryActionCounts: Panel 1: Past and Current Action Featuring: Maria Xavier, daughter of Asquith Xavier Felix Ng, Platform Staff, Southeastern Matthew Page, Identity Champion Panel 2: Future Action Featuring: Anit Chandarana, Group Director, System Operator, Network Rail Ola Ogun, Chief Financial Officer, RDG Abu Siddeeq, Customer Experience Director, c2c Annum Mahmood, Youth Futures Foundation This event will give an opportunity to reflect on the progress that’s been made, highlight ongoing challenges, and discuss what further action we can take to create a more inclusive rail industry. If you want to find out more, please email [email protected] or email [email protected] if you are a member of the rail industry and would like to join the session online or in person

To celebrate Chanukah, which starts this year on Christmas day, we spoke to David Franklin at GBRTT to share his reflections on Chanukah, and some of the current challenges faced by the Jewish Community. The poster below includes David’s reflections and a photo of David. A detailed description of the poster is included in Alt+ text Apeksha Naik Co-Chair of Rail Unites for Inclusion Odis Palmer Dante Frederick Carter J Goodby Bea W. David Franklin Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT)

Muslims in Rail London members flocked to our Winter Dinner Social last week in Whitechapel, enjoying a great end of year social occasion with delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere. We were joined by members from almost a dozen different companies, in various professions within the Rail & Transport sectors, as well as other senior members of leading Muslim professional networks too (from Association of Muslim Engineers, British Islamic Medical Association, Transport for London Muslim Network), along with representation from our cherished charity partner Muslim Aid UK. The gathering was also an opportunity for the MIR Leadership team to share news of our exciting plans next year In'Sha'Allah, particularly for the Railway 200 campaign that we have begun work on. Special thanks to our London Ambassadors Shihab Biplu & Aysha Begum for helping to arrange & run the event. Our final stop for Winter Dinners will be MANCHESTER this coming Wednesday – be sure to snap up your ticket for our final social of 2024 with other members in the North! Book here: https://lnkd.in/eB4zJraa #Connecting #Growing #Inspiring #Community #HalalSocial #Railway200

As we approach Christmas, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to each and every one of you who have recently bought a copy of my first children’s book for their family, friends or as a Christmas present. I’ve been completely overwhelmed by the reviews and the number of people asking me to sign their copies. We sold out on both Amazon and Waterstones, with more copies now back in stock. Thank you for your support, it’s been amazing 🥰 https://lnkd.in/e3wKQwHQ

Putting yourself in the shoes of others - priceless experience and learning opportunity! As part of a wider reverse mentoring programme at GBRTT, Helen Dolphin MBE has been kindly reverse mentoring me in the insights and perspectives of people with disabilities. As part of this journey we spent some time out and about in the London travel network. This really brought it home to me the scale of persistent challenges disabled passengers face on public transport. Helen offered a firsthand view of issues like failed assistance, inaccessible facilities, and confusing support systems. Key takeaways: • Assistance failures at multiple stations highlight a lack of reliability. • Navigating accessible routes significantly increases travel time (a 10-minute journey took over 30 minutes). A ‘time tax’! • Small, low-cost fixes—like compliant locks and better signage—could make a big difference. This journey served as a powerful reminder for me: experiencing challenges firsthand is invaluable for driving change. Let’s prioritize inclusivity in transport for all passengers. The experience has made me even more determined to do what we can to ensure that the rail system now and into the future GBR can make proper inroads in this space and create an environment where people are empowered and inclined to make the experience better for everyone. #Accessibility #ReverseMentoring #InclusiveTransport Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT)

Gallup’s latest research on women in the workplace reveals a sobering reality: 51% of working women report high levels of daily stress, and 42% say their jobs have negatively affected their mental health. The struggle to balance work and personal responsibilities—combined with inflexible workplace structures—is driving burnout and prompting many to consider leaving their roles. Key findings: • Women juggling caregiving and work demands are 81% more likely to feel burned out. • 64% of working mothers say they are the default caregiver, significantly impacting their career progression. • One in three women experience a mismatch between their preferred flexible working style and rigid job structures. These findings are consistent with our new Three Barriers research which explores key themes faced by women in the workplace: the double burden of home and work, the double bind, discrimination and lack of development. 2024 has been a tale of two halves for flexible work practices. With some global brands - such as Amazon - choosing to drive employees back to mandated office attendance, others offer reason and hope, such as Spotify whose Chief HR Office commented on the company's 'work from anywhere policy', stating "You can’t spend a lot of time hiring grown-ups and then treat them like children". What does your 2025 flexible work policy look like? #GenderEquity #EDI #FlexibleWork https://lnkd.in/g7MpzWvr

Please join us for an exclusive virtual showcase for the cross-company Women in Rail Mentoring programme on the 30th of January 2025 at 12 pm. The Women in Rail programme has gone from strength to strength with each cohort and as we celebrate 200 years of the Railway in 2024, we would love to explore how to empower and educate leaders, create an inclusive environment as well as progress diverse talent across the railway industry. Hear from Sandeep Johal about the power of mentoring and how the Women in Rail programme can be a lever for creating impact and driving sustainable change within the rail industry. Register to attend: https://lnkd.in/eYYWiGrf Shaun Epps (He/Him/His) Eleigh Brewer Rebecca Davies Rajinder Pryor MBE ( ਰਜਿੰਦਰ ਪ੍ਰਾਇਰ ) Marie Daly

#Antiracist versus "Not Racist" ~Inspired by Ibram X Kendi, How to be Antiracist~ Antiracist -- 👁 Awareness: Being aware of your own biases, privileges, and how you benefit from white supremacy 👂 Listening: Leaning in and listening without centering your own experiences and whiteness; owning your mistakes and not getting defensive 📚 Education: Educating yourself on race, racism, and white supremacy; paying Black educators (not expecting free education) 🔊 Activism: Speaking out in your personal life, professional life, and social media, and calling people out/in as needed "Not Racist" -- 🙈 Colorblindness: Saying things such as "I don't see color" or "I don't care whether you are Black, white, or purple" 🗺 Proximity: Making comments like, "My husband/ kids/ uncle/ brother/ friend/ roommate is Black, so I can't be racist!" 🙉 Avoidance: Avoiding conversations about race and racism, and asserting that talking about racism perpetuates it 🔇 Silence: Staying silent when others make racist comments or jokes, noting that it's ok as long as you are not the one saying it #Antiracism #AntiracismEducation #AntiracistEducation POST CREDIT: Dr. Batsheva Guy ~Inspired by Ibram X Kendi, How to be Antiracist~

Wednesday's STEM Conference and Career Fair in Croydon I had the privilege of representing Network Rail at the STEM conference and career fair in Croydon on Wednesday. The event was focused on providing young people from underserved backgrounds—such as students, graduates, BAME youth, and those not in education, employment, or training—with valuable insights into career opportunities. The event was exceptionally well-organized, and it was an excellent platform to share the exciting initiatives we are working on at Network Rail. I was able to highlight opportunities for graduates, apprenticeships, and year-in-industry placements, all of which can pave the way for a successful career in the rail industry. Overall, it was a rewarding experience to engage with such a diverse group of young people and to encourage them to consider the wide range of career paths available in STEM fields. STEM Ambassadors,Network Rail,STEM Learning UK,Primary Engineer,Apeksha Naik Co-Chair of Rail Unites for Inclusion ,Donna Geoghegan,Lydia Fairman BEM FCIPD ,Nick Millington MBE FREng,Anthony Ramanathan (MICE),Anthony Doyle, STEM Women, #diversity,Rail Unites for Inclusion,Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT),#equitydiversityInclusion

On International Migrants Day, we honour the diversity that migration brings, recognising the strength it adds to our global community. Let's advocate for inclusive policies, promote empathy, and stand united in creating a world where everyone can thrive, regardless of where they call home. #WomenInRail