Platinum Skies hosts volunteering talk for train enthusiasts in Poole community

Train enthusiasts enjoyed a talk about Swanage Railway at one of our Poole independent-living communities.

Volunteering opportunities at Swanage Railway

Homeowners from Esprit, based in Poole town centre, and Vista, based in Mount Road, attended the talk from Jonathan Evans, Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Officer at Swanage Railway, in Vista’s homeowners’ lounge.

Jonathan spoke about the number of people who run the heritage railway service including 25 members of staff and 400 volunteers. In 2018, the Swanage Railway team received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, regarded as the MBE for voluntary organisations.

Jonathan explained that pre-pandemic, Swanage Railway’s trains would carry upwards of 220,000 passengers each year with 40 volunteers assisting each day. Volunteer benefits include boosting the individual’s emotional and mental wellbeing, a communal sense of achievement, learning new skills or using existing skills, and participating in social activities.

The talk was organised following a visit by two Vista social group members last autumn to have a behind-the-scenes look around the Swanage Railway service to find out more about the volunteering opportunities available.

Laura Warwick, Community Director, said: “We had a fantastic visit to Swanage Railway last year and were only pleased to invite Jonathan to come and talk to our two Poole communities about the impact they can make by volunteering. Our homeowners gain a sense of purpose by giving their time to community causes and they have so many skills between them which will prove invaluable to voluntary organisations.”

Platinum Skies communities in Poole

Each of our communities has a dedicated onsite Community Manager who helps to organise fun activities such as wine tasting workshops, yoga, coffee mornings, quizzes, and crafts, as well as providing practical and emotional support to the community’s homeowners.

Homeowners at Vista have access to a range of communal facilities including a homeowners’ lounge, activity room, treatment room, and garden with a viewing platform over Poole Harbour. Meanwhile, at Esprit, homeowners have a host of communal facilities, as well as being just a stone’s throw from the Dolphin Shopping Centre, Poole train station, Poole Quay, and Poole Park.

Prices for an apartment in Esprit start from £107,500 and apartments in Vista start from £225,000 with our flexible shared ownership option.

To book an appointment to view an apartment in Vista, call our team on 01202 040996.