ACoRP rebranding to the "Community Rail Network"

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From my inbox this morning.  As there are around 1,000 station groups and around 60 CRPs^▸ (Community Rail Partnership) that are members of ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships), and I'm pretty sure all of them got the email, I'm pretty sure there's [not/no longer] any secret to the new name. However, I am staring the thread in a private / members area and will move it to a public area once the new name is indeed more generally known.   

Following our announcement in November that ACoRP would be rebranding, we have moved forward apace to explore different options. Working with an experienced brand agency, David Carroll & Co, the board and team have been considering what will put us in the best position to champion community rail.
 
Last year, David Carroll & Co carried out a thorough review of our brand, and the community rail image, as it stood. They visited a range of community rail partnerships and stations, and spoke to a wide range of our members and partners. Their findings, alongside the team’s experiences engaging with members year-round, and the board’s perspectives as members themselves, formed the basis for our deliberations.
 
With this in mind, we have made a clear decision: from April, we will become the Community Rail Network. This fits exactly with what we and the movement needs, as it:
* Puts community rail – what we’re all about – at the forefront
* Says clearly and succinctly who we are and what we do
* Shows we are a rich and diverse community of communities
* Sounds dynamic and forward-looking
* Enables our members to proudly say that they are part of a movement, ‘we are part of the Community Rail Network’

[bradshaw]

Announced on Twitter just now

Very excited to announce our new name - from April, @ACoRPOffice will become the Community Rail Network, reflecting our commitment to supporting the #communityrail movement to go from strength to strength 

https://twitter.com/julie_townsend_/status/1223196597468778496?s=21

[grahame]

Moving out of the "Rumour Mill" then

[grahame]

From a circular email from ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships) / The Community Rail Network

Following our announcement earlier this month that ACoRP will be changing it's name in April to the Community Rail Network, we are already putting in place elements of the new name in our social media handles. As of 10am Monday 17 February, our social media handles across all platforms will change to...
Twitter: @CommunityRail (from @ACoRPOffice)
Facebook: @CommunityRail (from @ACoRP.UK^▸ (United Kingdom))
LinkedIn: /communityrail

Our instagram account, @community_rail will remain the same. Don't worry, you won't have to do anything to keep following and receiving social media update for us. Just keep an eye out for the community rail handle. If you're wishing to include us in a tweet or Facebook post, use the new handle and we'll see and share your content! Don't forget to use the #CommunityRail hashtag in your tweets.

If you are experiencing any issues with the new handles, get in touch with our comms & marketing manager Nik, who will assist you in solving any problems.

[grahame]

By email from ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships).

What we’re asking of our members

We’re simply asking that you use the new brand from now on, and change any logos or mentions of us online. The more you can champion the new brand from now on, the better, and proudly state: we are part of the Community Rail Network. However, we don’t want to cause you any disruption or expense, so there’s no need to reprint materials or re-do signs for the sake of it.

The Melksham Rail User Group is a Station Friends member, and as such the circular email in which that is included has come to me. Noting it says from now on ... and on that basis I've changed logos on the MRUG^» (Melksham Rail User Group - site) web site - each at http://www.mrug.org.uk has an "other sites to visit" set of icons and links, which now says "Community Rail Network - formerly ACoRP".   For the benefit of others on the forum who look after reference to ACoRP the Community Rail Network, I have mirrored their guideline document at http://www.mrug.org.uk/crn_guide_20200227.pdf .

Readers may have wondered whether the rebrand would proceed in the current Coronavirus situation.  That has been reviewed and a decision reached to go ahead, reasons given:

Despite the huge challenges posed at the moment by Covid-19, we have decided to continue with our rebrand, to keep up a sense of togetherness and look forward to positive things ahead. We also wanted to avoid the potential confusion of turning back at such a late stage.

Further post(s) to follow; not much space "above the fold" on a busy news day today, and it's better for us to look at this topic at some time other than from the volcano of news that 30th March has turned into!

[grahame]

Official today - a warm welcome to the Community Rail Network

From https://communityrail.org.uk

About Community Rail Network

Community Rail Network is the membership body for nearly 70 community rail partnerships and represents over 1000 station adoption groups. We support our members to be effective in benefiting their communities and railways, socially, environmentally and economically.

The Melksham Rail User Group (of which I am vice chair) is proud to be the station adoption group member of the Community Rail Network for Melksham Station.

This Coffee Shop forum fully supports (and indeed includes in its constitution as its objectives) the four pillars of the community rail strategy as set out by the Community Rail Network.


Nik Schofield, Communications & Marketing Manager at the Community Rail Network, writes

As of 6 April 2020, ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships) will become the Community Rail Network. While the way we work and our activities will continue, we hope that this new name and more inclusive identity will help us all to move the community rail movement forward with even greater passion and success.
 
Despite the huge challenges posed at the moment by Covid-19, we have decided to continue with our rebrand, to keep up a sense of togetherness and look forward to positive things ahead. We also wanted to avoid the potential confusion of turning back at such a late stage.
 
As we have already said, we will be keeping in more regular contact with our members during these very difficult times, and hope that this news will provide a boost to everyone. We know that community rail, and the wider community and voluntary sector, is so crucial in building resilience, positivity and collaboration. Even with many of our normal activities paused or being reshaped, without a doubt there is a heightened role for us to play over the coming weeks and months, helping our communities to cope, think ahead, and rebuild. Community rail is all about communities, and people, and connectedness, and these are the things that really matter right now.
 
We think our rebrand will help us play this part to even greater effect in the future. Here’s a reminder of why we’re doing it, and how you can help get the message out…
 
What we’re asking of our members

We’re simply asking that you use the new brand from now on, and change any logos or mentions of us online. The more you can champion the new brand from now on, the better, and proudly state: we are part of the Community Rail Network. However, we don’t want to cause you any disruption or expense, so there’s no need to reprint materials or re-do signs for the sake of it.
 
See the sections below for more information on how to use the logo, website and email changes, and how to share on social media. Contact nikolas@acorp.uk.com for queries.
 
Why we’ve rebranded

Last year, brand agency David Carroll & Co carried out a thorough review of our brand, and the community rail image, as it stood. They visited a range of community rail partnerships and stations and spoke to a wide range of our members and partners. Their findings, alongside the team’s experiences engaging with members year-round, and the board’s perspectives as members themselves, formed the basis for our deliberations. They found that:
* ACoRP is difficult and slow to convey who we are and what we do;
* Our current name has corporate connotations;
* Suggests a narrower focus than our actual remit;
We have grown rapidly over the last three years and widen our scope of work. The new brand aims to reflect this.
 
Why Community Rail Network?

* Puts community rail – what we’re all about – at the forefront;
* Says clearly and succinctly who we are and what we do;
* Shows we are a rich and diverse community of communities;
* Sounds dynamic and forward-looking;
* Enables our members to proudly say that they are part of a movement, ‘we are part of the Community Rail Network’.
 
Our vision & mission remain the same
Our vision: A flourishing community rail movement connecting people and their railways, contributing to inclusive, empowered, sustainable and healthy communities.
 
Our mission:  To empower, support and champion the community rail movement, helping community rail partnerships and groups to:
* Enhance the railways’ contribution to social inclusion, sustainable development and health and wellbeing, including by maximising access to and use of the railways;
* Ensure the community has a voice and plays a part in the development and improvement of our railways, so this meets community needs and aspirations and delivers maximum social value;
* Communicate the development and importance of railways to local communities, enhancing understanding and pride, and promoting rail as a key part of sustainable, healthy travel.
 
New logo and brand identity

The new logo has four distinct circles encapsulated in the large C. These show that we and our members connect communities, and reflect the four pillars of the community rail strategy:
* providing a voice for the community;
* promoting sustainable, healthy and accessible travel;
* bringing communities together and supporting diversity and inclusion;
* supporting social and economic development.
 
We’re asking all our members, partners and stakeholders to replace and update ACoRP logos and references on their websites and future reports, resources and communications to our new name and logo. Existing printed reports, resources and communications with the current ACoRP logo need not change. All weblinks should remain pointed to communityrail.org.uk.
 
[snip]
 
Emails and website

As of Monday 6 April, we will also be changing our email addresses. All emails addresses will change to <staffname>@communityrail.org.uk. Please ask you contacts to update their address books and CRM systems accordingly. Please note that the <staffname>@acorp.uk.com emails will be redirected to your new email address for 12 months. If you’re unsure of a staff email address, make sure to visit our meet the team webpage.
 
Our website will also be undergoing a refresh to reflect our new brand identity and we’ll be adding new content, reports and resources for members and stakeholders throughout the year. Remember to pay a visit to communityrail.org.uk on Monday 6 April. All current resources on the reports, resources and tools page will still be available to download as usual.
 
Social media

Our social media handles across all platforms have changed to reflect our new name:
• Twitter: @CommunityRail
• Facebook: @CommunityRail
• LinkedIn: /communityrail
 
Our instagram account, @community_rail will remain the same.  Followers of our accounts won’t have to do anything to keep following and receiving social media updates. If you’re wishing to include us in a tweet or Facebook post, use the new handles and we’ll see and share content! Don’t forget to use the #CommunityRail hashtag in your tweets.


Community Rail Network members will have received (as an attachment to this email) their new logo pack and brand guidelines for members.

[RichardB]

Thanks Graham.  As you might expect, we already have the new logo on our website https://dcrp.org.uk/ .  Looks good.