Optalis Supported Employment Travel Ambassador Programme Wins National Award

Optalis Supported Employment’s Travel Ambassador Programme, delivered in partnership with the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership, has won First Place in the Empowering Diverse Groups category at the 2026 Community Rail Awards.

This national award recognises initiatives that open doors, uplift underrepresented voices, inspire confidence, remove barriers, and help people feel truly welcome on the railway.

The awards judge, Clare Dowling, described the project as, “A stand‑out project, engaging directly with disabled people, empowering them to share their experience with others in an engaging and useful way."

The Travel Ambassador Programme stood out for its creative, practical approach to building confidence, independence and supporting employment for adults with disabilities. The programme supported five people to take on paid roles as Travel Ambassadors. With guidance from the Optalis Supported Employment team, the Ambassadors worked together to co‑design and plan accessible rail journeys across the Great Western Railway network. They researched routes, assessed station accessibility, tested real journeys, and created a practical “How to Guide” to support other travellers. Their insights have directly influenced conversations around access improvements with transport partners.

Jack, one of the Travel Ambassadors, reflected on the experience, “It was really fun, I gained a lot of experience from it, and I got to talk with other fellow Travel Ambassadors who were on the trip as well. The overall aim was to show disabled people that you shouldn’t be scared to go on public transport.”

 

Donna Morgans, Head of Supported Employment Services, said: "I’m incredibly proud of what the Travel Ambassadors have achieved, and of the professionalism and dedication shown by our Supported Employment Coaches to support this project. This recognition reinforces the importance of inclusive employment. When people are supported to use their strengths and lived experience, the impact extends far beyond the workplace.”