Train operator Avanti West Coast and the Railway Children charity recently hosted an all-day event on the West Coast Main Line between Glasgow and London to raise awareness of safeguarding issues affecting children and young people.

The event, called Day of Action, also involved other partners in the rail industry, including British Transport Police and Network Rail, and aimed to highlight how people can help protect children on the railway network.

Conveniently taking place during the school summer holidays, representatives from Avanti West Coast and Railway Children discussed with customers and railway staff travelling on trains between Glasgow Central and London Euston the topic of vulnerable children and young people. They also distributed educational safeguarding materials, whilst at key stations along the route, including Glasgow Central, Preston, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street, and London Euston, safeguarding and railway professionals hosted supporting stalls.

The journey from Scotland to London was chosen to show how easy it could be for a young person to travel a significant length of the UK. It showed how the public can help to ensure children and young people can be protected and safeguarded by knowing and recognising the signs of vulnerability. The initiative forms part of Railway Children’s’ At Risk Right Here Right Now’ campaign, which is designed to increase understanding of the risks facing vulnerable young people on the railway network, and how the public can react by contacting British Transport Police by text on 61016.

The Railway Children charity recently received over £2,000 from a group of Avanti West Coast employees who completed a walking challenge across the Yorkshire Dales, and last February, Chiltern Railways employees took part in an overnight sleepout at London Marylebone station that raised over £5,000 for the charity.

“Having these important conversations with customers about safeguarding is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the risks young people can face, as well as the role everyone can play in protecting vulnerable people. By teaming up as an industry alongside Railway Children to highlight how to spot those at risk who find themselves at stations or on trains, we hope to encourage the public to act so they can support us in keeping even more young people safe.”

Natalie Richbell-Beer, Avanti West Coast Safeguarding and Crime Manager