Railway Children Celebrates 30 Years of Supporting Vulnerable Children Worldwide at House of Commons Reception
Author: Suzi Lawrence | Date: 4th September 2026
Celebrating 30 years of impact
Railway Children marked its 30th anniversary with a special parliamentary reception at the House of Commons on Wednesday 2 September, bringing together supporters, rail industry leaders, charity partners, funders and staff to celebrate three decades of transforming the lives of vulnerable and street-connected children around the world.
The event was hosted by Connor Naismith MP, Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich, home to Railway Children’s headquarters, and recently appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary for the Department for Transport.
Bringing together voices from across the railway family
Guests heard from a distinguished line-up of speakers, including Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister, a longstanding supporter of Railway Children, and Rob Capener, Group CEO of Railway Children.
Attendees also heard from Mary Gatama, Executive Director of Railway Children Africa, Navin Sellaraju Sukumar, CEO of Railway Children India, and Louise Lucas, Safeguarding & Security Manager at Great Western Railway, alongside inspiring stories from three Railway Children Youth Ambassadors, interviewed on stage by television and radio presenter Nikki Bedi.
The reception celebrated Railway Children’s 30-year mission of “making the invisible, visible”, recognising the significant progress made in identifying, protecting and supporting vulnerable children, particularly those found on and around transport networks.
Making the invisible, visible
Founded in 1996 by David Maidment OBE, who was in attendance at the event, Railway Children has worked across nine countries over the last three decades.
Today, the charity focuses its efforts in the UK, India and Tanzania, partnering with the transport industry, local communities and governments to ensure vulnerable children receive the support they need before, during and after their time on the streets.
Through this collaborative approach, children who may once have been ignored, criminalised or simply unseen are now more likely to be identified, safeguarded and supported to build safer, brighter futures.
Railway Children Youth Ambassador, Janet, said: “Even though train stations are really busy, they can be a private space for young people and somewhere they can escape or be ignored. But it‘s also an opportunity for abusers to exploit vulnerable young people. That’s why the work of Railway Children is so important.”
“As we mark this anniversary, we do so with pride in what has been achieved and with gratitude to everyone who has made this possible. It is wonderful to see so many of our supporters who have helped us achieve this in the room tonight. For 30 years, Railway Children has worked tirelessly to make the invisible issue of children on the streets visible to all, ensuring that vulnerable children found on and around transport networks are seen, protected and supported. While we are proud of the progress made, we know there is still much more to do, and we remain committed to working alongside our partners to create lasting change for the children of tomorrow.”
Protecting children through partnership
The evening showcased the power of partnership in tackling child vulnerability and exploitation, highlighting the crucial role that transport staff, communities and frontline services play in recognising and responding to children who may be at risk.
Louise Lucas, Safeguarding & Security Manager at Great Western Railway, said:
“We all have the opportunity to strengthen safeguarding commitments across the rail network because children and young people don’t care about organisational boundaries, only that they are seen, safeguarded and supported, regardless of which train operator they are on or where they start or end their journey.”
Railway Children extended its thanks to all those who attended and supported the event, particularly Angel Trains and Alstom, whose sponsorship helped make the celebration possible.
As Railway Children looks to the future, the organisation remains committed to ensuring that every child, wherever they are, is seen, heard and given the opportunity to thrive.
