Shahiesta Raja – Stations of Welcome

Shahiesta describes her job as the best job in the world. She is the education development officer for Community Rail Lancashire. Her passion is supporting south Asian Muslim women living in Lancashire feel a sense of belonging and connection with the local rail network. By supporting and encouraging women to travel by train she gets huge satisfaction from seeing the impact that the freedom of independent rail travel has on these women’s lives. Stations of Welcome, the support group she set up, is now growing both in numbers and value as the women take ownership and pride of their railway station which has become a central hub for both the women and the community.