Keeping children and vulnerable young people safe across the UK transport network and beyond.
Many are trying to escape abuse, neglect, poverty and family conflict. Some are struggling with their mental health and are feeling isolated. Others are victims of criminal exploitation and are being coerced into transporting drugs for County Lines gangs.
With the cost of living putting pressure on families, mental health referrals reaching record levels and the lingering effects of the pandemic on education, the number of children in crisis is growing.
Social care, education, police and other civil and statutory services are so stretched that many of the systems set up to help vulnerable young people are failing them. They’re left desperate and without support.
children and young people have been educated on how to stay safe on the rail network.
BTP officers and rail staff have been trained to be our eyes and ears on the rail network.
Safeguarding Champions have been trained across the UK and we delivered our first conference.
Working alongside the British Transport Police (BTP) and the rail industry through our Safeguarding on Transport Programme, we support children and young people found in and around the rail network. We provide specialist training in how to recognise vulnerability and how to respond effectively.
Once a young person has been identified as being vulnerable and is referred to us, we assess their situation, establish their needs and put a bespoke plan in place. We work to strengthen the support system around them, as well as helping them access the right professional help. Our support is never time-bound and they engage with us for as long as they need.
We provide meaningful interventions with children, young people, their families and other carers to help them tackle issues, reduce conflict and re-establish relationships. Our support includes health, safety and wellbeing provision. And we act as advocates for the whole family to access help for more specific needs and stay consistent with our aftercare to keep the young person safe.
“ Railway Children has helped me and my family deal with the things that led me to run away. I know I’ve got someone to talk to now if things get too much. ”
Our work is pivotal in enabling everyone to play their part in keeping vulnerable children and young people safe.
Supporting children and young people outside the home, on public transport, in retail settings and on the streets, means everyone playing their part. Using contextual safeguarding approaches, we work with our Youth Ambassadors, statutory organisations, local authorities and the transport community to build networks committed to safeguarding children and young people.
Through a trauma-informed lens, we develop and deliver training to BTP, local authorities, train operating companies, security firms and others working in and around transport hubs to help them understand the experiences of young people and how to reduce the risks they face. We give them the tools and confidence to identify vulnerability and take the appropriate action.
Our Safeguarding Action Groups bring together those responsible for the physical spaces at stations and areas of high vulnerability on rail lines, including BTP, retail managers, security firms and others. Together, we look at how and when the spaces are used and make changes so they are hostile to those who would do harm and become safer for vulnerable children and young people.
Having influenced the development and adoption of the Safeguarding on Rail Scheme across the rail industry through lobbying, we deliver training and consultation to support train operating companies to achieve their accreditation through BTP and the Department for Transport. In addition to this, we provide further safeguarding support to staff within the wider railway network.
Our awareness events within stations are co-created with young people and help the public and those who use the rail network understand the signs of someone who might be vulnerable and how to alert BTP. Through this engagement activity, we aim to encourage more people to take action to help keep young people safe when travelling.
Through a trauma-informed lens, we develop and deliver training to BTP, local authorities, train operating companies, security firms and others working in and around transport hubs to help them understand the experiences of young people and how to reduce the risks they face. We give them the tools and confidence to identify vulnerability and take the appropriate action.
Our Safeguarding Action Groups bring together those responsible for the physical spaces at stations and areas of high vulnerability on rail lines, including BTP, retail managers, security firms and others. Together, we look at how and when the spaces are used and make changes so they are hostile to those who would do harm and become safer for vulnerable children and young people.
Having influenced the development and adoption of the Safeguarding on Rail Scheme across the rail industry through lobbying, we deliver training and consultation to support train operating companies to achieve their accreditation through BTP and the Department for Transport. In addition to this, we provide further safeguarding support to staff within the wider railway network.
Our awareness events within stations are co-created with young people and help the public and those who use the rail network understand the signs of someone who might be vulnerable and how to alert BTP. Through this engagement activity, we aim to encourage more people to take action to help keep young people safe when travelling.
We’re committed to helping train operating companies achieve their Safeguarding on Rail Scheme accreditation through training and safeguarding consultation. That’s why we’re supporting policy development, engagement and advocating for its adoption by the Department for Transport.
Our Safeguarding Action Groups help to identify thematic issues experienced by vulnerable children and young people and the gaps in services that put them at risk. Using that insight, we bring together relevant stakeholders to develop and influence improved practices to better support them.
Our Youth Ambassadors actively contribute to how we influence and develop the work we do at Railway Children and with train operating companies. Through co-creation of our interventions, these young people help us to become more accountable and give us a wider perspective that enables us to influence the transport industry.
Your support makes our work possible. It’s the only way we can ensure all children are seen, heard and supported, so no child is lost to the streets anywhere in the world.
