Our partnerships
No young person should face risk on the rail network.
Every day, young people are identified, supported and kept safe because the right organisations work together.
With more than 30 years’ experience, we know no organisation can safeguard children alone. That’s why we work with British Transport Police, rail staff, local authorities, schools and communities to protect young people at risk and help them build safer futures.
Better together
Safeguarding is strongest when information, expertise and local insight are shared.
Our Safeguarding Action Groups (SAGs) bring together frontline professionals from:
- the rail industry
- local authorities
- British Transport Police and local police forces
- security staff
- statutory services
- local business
By combining this shared knowledge with our safeguarding expertise, we can spot risk earlier, respond faster and make sure more young people are seen, safe and supported before they come to harm.
“It has been brilliant to see that, although we all wear different uniforms and work for different operators, when it comes to safeguarding we are all on the same page.”
By combining this shared knowledge with our safeguarding expertise, we can spot risk earlier, respond faster and make sure more young people are seen, safe and supported before they come to harm.
Alongside our training and consultancy, SAGs help spread the safeguarding message so that more staff, services and members of the public know how to recognise and respond to vulnerable young people on the rail network.
That means when a young person is found alone, at risk or causing concern on the network, they are not simply moved on.
They are connected to the support that can address what is happening beneath the surface.
Collaborating for greater impact
We work closely with British Transport Police (BTP) so young people at risk on the rail network get the right support at the right time.
Whether they are running from conflict or abuse, affected by exploitation or crime, or experiencing mental health challenges…
Our partnership with BTP helps us identify risk early and respond quickly.
Through BTP’s referrals into our services, young people receive specialist, trauma-informed support to help them work through challenges and find lasting solutions.
Each year, during our Safeguarding Days of Action, we come together with train operating companies and British Transport Police to raise public awareness of safeguarding. Through travelling together on trains up and down the country and running events at different stations, we spread the message of how to spot vulnerability on the transport network and what to do about it.
“Our Safeguarding Days of Action showcase our joint approach and how we all work together, across the rail network, to keep everybody safe. It doesn’t matter which train operating company you travel on, we’re all here to keep everyone moving safely.” Natalie Richbell-Beer, Safeguarding and Crime Manager, Avanti West Coast.
During Leeds and Reading festivals over the past two years, Railway Children’s Community Engagement Workers have collaborated with Safeguarding Partners including train companies GWR, Northern, LNER, TransPennine Express, Network Rail and CK Rail, as well as British Transport Police, Amulet and Samaritans to offer support and advice to young people attending the festivals.
Contextual safeguarding recognises the risks posed to young people outside of their home context, including in schools, communities, on the transport network and online.
On the transport network, we support local authorities who have identified hotspots for vulnerability in their areas and work to build partnerships with key stakeholders and create bespoke training to mitigate these risks and, ultimately, make the network safer for everyone.
Organisations we partner with
We’re proud to partner with organisations across the UK, all working together to keep young people safe.
