Changes

The SVR Apprentices was originally known as the SVR Junior Club, although it is still sometimes referred to by the earlier name. The Club enables youngsters who are interested in railways to apply to join in various activities. The railway provides the [[GWR 5804 Brake Third|Ambulance coach]] in [[Bewdley Down Yard]] as a mess coach and Club Room.<ref>SVR News 113</ref>  It should not be confused with the [[Heritage Skills Training Academy]] which offers formal Apprenticeships to the over 16s. The Junior Club has been the initial stepping-stone for many of the younger current SVR volunteers, enough in total to run the railway as was demonstrated during 'Don's Day' in August 2015. The Club supervisors are SVR members have some railway knowledge who work with the youngsters on a regular basis and in all weather conditions, and hold an enhanced DBS. As the SVR Junior Club it has a small shareholding in [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC]].

The SVR Junior Club was formed in 1990 with a launch weekend being held on the 7-8 July. The club was originally for 8-13 year olds, and the club mascot was ‘Jimmy the Jinty’.<ref>SVR News 95</ref>

In the early years, Club members were involved with the [[Coalyard Miniature Railway]] and took part in working parties involved in restoring [[Northwood Halt]]. However from From 1995, new insurance and health and safety regulations were introduced which prevented children under 14 from working on the railway. The Club was split into two sections, ‘Jinties’ aged 8 and under and ‘Apprentices’ aged 9-13. The railway provided the [[GWR 5804 Brake Third|Ambulance coach]] for use as a Club Room.<ref>SVR News 113</ref> Social activities continued, and in In 1996 the Apprentices first dressed in animal character costumes as part of that year’s [[Christmas services|Santa Special services]].<ref>SVR News 122</ref> As a thank you, traditionally the Club organised a get together early in January, with food prepared by the senior supervisors. The buffet lunch is rounded off with suitably educational railway films.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/junior-club SVRLive] (Retrieved 11 October 2018)</ref>

The Club enables youngsters aged 11 was suspended during the pandemic. In 2022 a series of appeals were made for new volunteers to 13 inclusive who are interested in railways to apply to join in various activitiestake over from the ageing committee. It is organised <ref>SVR News 219 Autumn 2022</ref> The club was relaunched in two groupslate 2022, those aged again for 11 to 12 and those aged 13. It is limited to 8 in the younger group and 6 in the older to work safely and allow the Volunteer Liaison Office to place the -14 year olds in the limited places available for senior apprentices, although this can lead to a long waiting list.<ref>SVR News 220</ref><ref>[httphttps://svr-vlowww.orgsvrlive.ukcom/junior-club.html SVR VLO website]blnov22 Branch Lines November 2022</ref> The Junior Club has been the initial stepping-stone for many of the younger current SVR volunteers, enough in total to run the railway as was demonstrated during 'Don's Day' in August 2015. It uses <ref>[[GWR 5804 Brake Third]] in [[Bewdley Down Yard]] as a mess coachhttps://www. The Club supervisors are SVR members have some railway knowledge who work with the youngsters on a regular basis and in all weather conditions, and hold an enhanced DBSsvrlive.com/bldec22 Branch Lines December 2022</ref>

As the SVR Junior Club it has a small shareholding Social activities continue and Apprentices assist with Santa Special services, though no longer in [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC]]animal character costumes.

==Projects in which SVR Apprentices have been involved include [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall]], ==Club members assist with the [[Barry Coalyard Miniature Railway Carriage 163]], [[LNER 24506 Brake Third]] and [[LNER 52255 Open Third]]. The Club also join joins other members on the SVR stand attending Warley National Model Railway Exhibition. Apprentices each year dress in animal character costumes to entertain waiting youngsters on each Saturday and Sunday of [[Christmas services|Santa Special services]]. As a thank you, traditionally the Club organises a get together early in January, with food prepared by the senior supervisors. The buffet lunch is rounded off with suitably educational railway films.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/junior-club SVRLive] (Retrieved 11 October 2018)</ref>

A series of appeals were made for new volunteers to take over from the ageing committee<ref>In early years they took part in working parties involved in restoring [[Northwood Halt]]. Other projects in which SVR News 219 Autumn 2022</ref>Apprentices have been involved include [[GWR 4930 Hagley Hall]], [[Barry Railway Carriage 163]], [[LNER 24506 Brake Third]] and [[LNER 52255 Open Third]].