Southeastern has unveiled an on-the-job training and mentorship programme aimed at helping low-income families in Dartford and Gravesend.
Working with the charity Refocus, the initiative will offer school workshops for around 2,000 pupils, practical training for 25 young adults, and holiday clubs for 90 children from marginalised backgrounds. A £49,930 grant from Southeastern’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund (CCIF) underpins the scheme.
Refocus, which supports young people vulnerable to exploitation or crime, said the partnership allows it to expand its early-intervention work. The programme is one of eleven projects to receive CCIF funding this year, alongside schemes supporting disabled travellers, domestic-abuse survivors and other at-risk groups.
This initiative builds on Southeastern’s previous collaboration with Canterbury Christ Church University to promote career development across the rail industry.
Wider railway training and job opportunities
Young people inspired by this programme can look to a range of UK railway pathways, including:
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Network Rail apprenticeships in engineering, track maintenance, and signalling.
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The Railway Engineering Technician apprenticeship, offering hands-on technical training across the country.
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Train driver trainee schemes run by operators such as Great Western Railway and Northern.
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Graduate programmes from organisations like Transport for London (TfL) and the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), covering operations, planning and sustainability.
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Community rail partnerships and station-adoption schemes that provide volunteering and entry-level experience.
Together, these opportunities demonstrate how the rail sector can offer sustainable careers while supporting social mobility and local communities.