GWR launches short-story competition as families are encouraged to stay at home this bank holiday weekend
Children are being encouraged to let their imaginations run wild as Great Western Railway launches a competition to promote staying at home this bank holiday weekend.
Children are being encouraged to let their imaginations run wild as Great Western Railway launches a competition to promote staying at home this bank holiday weekend.
With Government advice remaining to avoid travel by train wherever possible, GWR is running a short-story competition to help parents keep their children #EnterTrained at home instead.Children’s TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson has agreed to judge the competition and is urging families to help keep trains clear for those key workers who really need them.
Judge: Children’s TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson Naomi, a regular face on CBBC and a former presenter of Milkshake! on Channel 5, encouraged children to let their imaginations travel as they write about a favourite journey with GWR.
Entrants must use the following sentence as the start to their story:
“It was as the GWR train was pulling out of the station that it first caught my eye. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing…”
The competition will be split into two age categories. Children in Key Stage 1 (5-7 year olds) should write no more than 250 words; children in Key Stage 2 (7-11 year olds) no more than 500 words.
You could be heading to a secret destination, travelling in the company of Royalty or taking a journey back in time – in fact, anything you care to imagine.
Picture taken by Rebecca Daw
Storytime: Let your imagination run wild
Bristol-born Naomi, who currently presents Marrying Mum and Dad on CBBC, will pick three winners in each age category. They will each receive a #GWREnterTrainment pack including a jigsaw and set of GWR Top Trumps.Naomi said:
“I’m really excited to be judging GWR’s short-story competition. It’s a great way of keeping children busy while they’re at home. So let your imaginations run wild and I look forward to joining you on your incredible make-believe journey.”
GWR’s Head of Communications Dan Panes urged customers to resist the temptation to take a day trip by train this bank holiday weekend.
Dan said:
“We’ve no doubt children will rise to the challenge of this short-story competition and by staying at home with their mums and dads they’ll be helping us to keep trains clear for those who really need them.
“The message is clear – please do not travel on our services for leisure or as part of your daily exercises and avoid taking bikes on to our trains wherever possible.”
Full details on how to enter GWR’s short-story competition can be found on our EnterTrainment page.
Notes to editors
Great Western Railway (GWR) provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services. We help over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year - across South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, and large parts of Southern England.
We’re currently seeing the biggest investment in the network since Brunel so we can offer more trains, more seats, and shorter, more frequent journeys and continue the network’s heritage of helping connect more businesses to new and prosperous markets. Through a series of initiatives we aim to be a good neighbour to the communities we serve and are committed to making a positive social impact in those regions. Learn how we're Building a Greater West at GWR.com. GWR is a FirstGroup company.