Charity Railway Children met with Rail Minister Huw Merriman in Crewe on the 8th of August at Avanti West Coast‘s Talent Academy.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Department of Transport, Cheshire East Council and Kieran Mullen, MP for Crewe and Nantwich and saw a discussion of the charity’s work across the UK transport network supporting vulnerable children and young people. The meeting also showcased how support from rail partners has been essential to its projects such as Glasgow Safeguarding on Transport programme funded by Alstom and Avanti West Coast.

During the meeting, Mr Merriman recognised the focus and dedication of Railway Children, especially following work with the Department for Transport on the national programme Safeguarding on Rail accreditation, which is hoped will become compulsory across the contracts of rail operating companies as soon as 2027.

Railway Children aims to create a safety net throughout the rail industry to identify and protect children and young people who are at risk alongside the provision of support to their families. The meeting saw evidence presented which demonstrates how their work has strengthened safeguarding responses across the industry via its Safeguarding on Transport programmes, which have supported five large stations and also its Critical Referral Scheme via British Transport Police.

Youth practitioners for Rail Children saw 930 young people referred via British Transport Police from 2021 to 2022. The scheme has enabled British Transport Police to provide:

• Bespoke advice and guidance
• Delivery of trauma-informed, one-to-one youth work and family interventions

Gaynor Little, UK Programme Manager – Youth Practice at Railway Children, said:

“We have a great working relationship with BTP, Avanti West Coast and the rail community, who are our eyes and ears at stations and on the transport system. Together, we can reach more children and young people who are at risk and continue to make the rail network a place where vulnerability is seen and reported.”

“I am proud of the work we have achieved within the rail industry and the impact our team of Youth Practitioners have had on the lives of the young people they have engaged with.”

Rob Capener, CEO of Railway Children, said:

“We were grateful to meet with the Rail Minister to talk about the Railway Children’s work and our relationships with the UK rail industry that make what we do possible. It was a great opportunity to share our insights and discuss the potential of working with the DfT to enhance the change we seek to create for vulnerable children and young people.”

“We would like to thank Avanti West Coast for organising the meeting and for generously allocating time for us to share our story. Railway Children remains committed to our mission to ensure no child is left behind and we eagerly look forward to the prospect of further collaboration to create a lasting impact on young people’s lives.”

Mark Osborne, Regional Growth Manager at Avanti West Coast, said:

“We are delighted Railway Children joined us for the Rail Minister’s visit to showcase their work to safeguard young people in the UK and abroad.”

“Through our work with the charity, we have seen first-hand the difference their efforts to support and protect vulnerable children can make on the rail network. It was great to highlight this to the Minister, as well as share how industry partners are joining together with Railway Children to build on this vital work.”

To find out more about Railway Children, please click here.