How do young people feel on public transport?
We’re gathering young people’s stories about their experiences on transport networks across the UK, as part of research commissioned by British Transport Police (BTP).
Date: 28th May 2025 | Author: Con Enzler
So we’re leading a series of focus groups with a range of young people involved in various agencies and youth centres around the country, to capture an accurate picture of their experiences on public transport services across different regions.
We’re asking young people questions around how safe they feel on different types of public transport, what types of situations make them feel most and least safe, and who they would approach if they need help.
James Houghton, Safeguarding Lead Operations at BTP said:
“BTPs early work with young people highlighted how vital their insights are. It reinforced the importance of actively working them on their ideas.
That’s why, as a national force, we partnered with Railway Children to capture voices across the country. Already, key themes are emerging there will help shape safer rail environments and reflect our collaborative approach” –
Joe Clay, our Safeguarding Partnerships Manager, who leads the focus groups, said:
“It’s really inspiring seeing young people getting really involved in the discussions, as they share stories and open up about their struggles.”
“There’s already been really valuable insight coming out of these sessions, which BTP will use to educate officers around how young people are feeling on the network.”
The findings will give BTP a wider understanding of the types of issues young people are dealing with on public transport, to help inform how officers engage with them and ensure they’re providing the best support possible.
Across the UK, thousands of young people use public transport every day, travelling to and from school, and visiting friends or family.
Alone on buses and trains, many are vulnerable and at risk of being exploited by gangs or abused by perpetrators.
BTP officers are trained to identify and protect children at risk along the network. They work closely with social services and charities like us to intervene when necessary.
Officers patrol stations and trains, responding to welfare concerns, missing persons reports, and safeguarding incidents.
The force plays a huge role in disrupting County Lines, which exploit and groom vulnerable children and adults to transport drugs across the rail network.
BTP refer vulnerable young people to us who have been found to be at risk along the railway. We offer them bespoke, tailored support, tackling the root causes of their struggles to prevent them running away and coming to any harm.
Our Youth Participation Programme gathers the lived experience of the young people we support to help shape our work making transport hubs safer.
Railway Children will join partners from the Rooted Futures collaboration at the 2026 Skoll World Forum to lead an interactive session on family strengthening and child protection reform.
Over 200 supporters from the rail industry raised more than £60,000 at Railway Children’s Night At The Station event, spending a night in stations across the UK to protect vulnerable children at risk.
Through our flagship youth participation programme, Youth Platform, young people are shaping our training materials, influencing key decisions and ensuring the rail industry truly understand youth vulnerability.
No child wants to survive on the streets. And, through understanding and empowerment, together, we can ensure no child has to.
Julia, 24, grew up as a boy but knew, early on, that the gender she’d been born into was not who she was. Here, she talks to Youth Platform about her journey, and what she wishes she’d know as a ten-year-old boy.
Reflecting on the unique strengths different minds bring to Railway Children and the rich potential of the neurodivergent young people we support.
