On 20 March 2026, c2c Railway and the Mayor of Southend, Councillor Nigel Folkard, officially opened a new waiting area at Westcliff station in Essex. The dedicated space, known as the Gold Geese Lounge, is located on Platform 1 and features bright yellow branding to support a local childhood cancer charity.
The project was paid for by the government through the Station Improvement Fund and the Customer and Communities Investment Fund. These schemes are designed to provide money to make rail stations more comfortable and useful for the people who use them every day.
Local artist Annie Lange of Letters Be Together worked with the rail company to create the artwork and signs for the room. The space is intended to provide a welcoming environment for all passengers, including families supported by Gold Geese who frequently travel to London for hospital treatment.
Katie Southgate started the charity in 2018 after her own child was diagnosed with cancer. The organisation receives no money from the government and relies on community donations to provide mental health therapy, food vouchers, and transport to hospital for families across South East Essex.
This new lounge is part of a long-term partnership that began in 2022 when the rail operator first wrapped a train in gold colours. In July 2025, the rail service moved into public ownership as part of a wider plan to change how the railway is managed.
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