Merseyrail Community Involvement Manager awarded British Empire Medal

Sally Ralston, Community involvement Manager at Merseyrail has been recognised in the inaugural King’s Birthday Honours list, receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to the community of the Liverpool City Region.

She was nominated for her work leading the community engagement programme at Merseyrail, which over the years has raised close to £1m for local charities and community organisations.

The programme, which aims to engage with a broad range of railway stakeholders across the Liverpool City Region, has several aspects from co-ordinating the work of local community rail partnerships, engaging with schools and colleges to educate young people about the opportunities and risks the railway presents, to the Charity of the Year Programme which has raised close to £1million for 16 local Charities across our City Region. The programme was recognised by the British Quality Foundation as the winner of their Sustainability and Society Award in 2019.

Sally has had a long and distinguished career working for the City Region’s rail operator in a number of roles for the last 32 years and leading Merseyrail’s community involvement efforts since 2008.

Sally Ralston BEM said:

“I am delighted and slightly overwhelmed to receive the British Empire Medal. I’ve come to work every day for the last 32 years because I enjoy what I do, I’m passionate about Merseyrail and our communities and it’s been a lovely surprise to be recognised in this way.

To be even nominated for an honour is a slightly surreal experience and I’m left with an overwhelming sense of pride that all the efforts we have put in over the years are being recognised. Merseyrail is a great team, and this award reflects the work we have all done to engage our communities in the railway that serves them”.

Jane English, Acting Managing Director at Merseyrail said:

“We are so proud that Sally has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours, receiving the British Empire Medal.

“For 32 years, Sally has dedicated herself to ensuring Merseyrail is at the heart of our community, raising close to £1million for local charities through her work championing our Charity of the Year programme and other initiatives. Her drive, commitment and passion for our communities is infectious and has played a significant part in building Merseyrail’s reputation as the best rail operator in the UK.

“Merseyrail exists to deliver a railway that the people of the communities we serve can be proud of and it’s down to the efforts of colleagues like Sally, that we are able to consistently deliver this aim.”

Sally will receive her award from the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside in a ceremony later in the year and will be invited to attend a Royal Garden party at Buckingham Palace