On Wednesday 21st May, ESRA hosted their outreach event ‘Connection and Care in the Community’ at Etchingham station. The event was held in the bistro area, where we set up a small table to create a welcoming space. The informal setup allowed people to approach us at their own pace and comfort, without any pressure, whilst providing a gentle introduction of ESRA’s services.

To help start conversations and offer something relaxing, A Touch of Gentleness provided free hand massages to station users. These were very well received, and Jo and Stacy offered calm, friendly sessions to both passengers and bistro customers alike. 

Our main goal was to introduce ourselves and begin raising awareness of ESRA’s presence and the support we offer in rural communities.

We were pleased to be joined by Jackie Saull-Hunt, Community Developement Worker from RVA, as well as Sarah Jacques from Sussex Outreach Support, who organised the event, and Kanna Inglson, Community Line Development Officer for the Hastings to Tonbridge Network Rail Line. Together, we spoke with several local residents about some of the difficulties faced in rural areas and encouraged open, honest
conversation about their experiences.

The event proved to be a very postive first step and ESRA has future plans to build familiarity and visibility in the rural communities to provide a clear point of contact for anyone who might need their support.