Muntsy’s Community Based Learning Men’s group numbering 12 in total with their leaders were tasked with planning their own trip in terms of transport required and walking distances in between to connect with services. They chose Dorchester to make it easier for them to relate to distance and how to get there. The location is also familiar to some group members. It is the process of planning that is important and this can be applied to travel further afield once confidence levels are increased.

Planning the next Trip to Dorchester the group looked at bus timetables from Portland to Weymouth and train times to Dorchester printed from National Rail Enquiries. They also estimated walking times from the bus stop in Weymouth to the train station. We would then visit the County Museum (chosen by group members) before returning via the same route.

The trip started from Portland and Weymouth. When we arrived at the station we had arranged a safety briefing by the station supervisor. This involved a safety briefing by the station supervisor including standing behind the yellow line, using the ticket vending machine when the booking office is closed, using the help button for information if no staff are around. How to buy a ticket from the counter and ask for information and look at the customer information screens overhead to see the route, stops and any changes to the times of travel and where the train currently is located. We also looked at how to use the interactive totem at Dorchester South Station for train information, tourist attractions and how to get to the Dorset Museum planning following a walking route.

At the museum we were allocated a learning centre room where we completed survey forms on travel with confidence to highlight areas that cause concern and how we can reassure group members on how to remove barriers to travel and improve confidence. We had a museum guided tour organised to help the group understand what they were seeing and the many exhibits on display.

On the return journey we experienced a train transferring to the other platform for access purposes and had to quickly move across from the scheduled platform at the last minute. This was a learning curve to always be aware of the unexpected when travelling by train.