Govia Thameslink Railway’s ‘Your Station, Your Community Improvement Fund’ has supported Railway Children, a charity that aims to help vulnerable children.
This week, the Chief Executive Officer of Govia Thameslink Railway, Angie Doll and representatives from the Railway Children met at East Croydon Station to discuss current projects.
The grant they received from the fund will be used for staff training, enabling them to identify and support individuals within station communities.
Youth Ambassador Janet R and one of the mental health awareness posters at East Croydon station // Credit: Govia Thameslink Railway
East Croydon and Finsbury Park are two key stations for this project, as they have child safeguarding concerns that occur more frequently than others.
They have also launched a mental health awareness campaign, designed by young people, featuring both digital and print options that encourage people to have conversations about mental health.
They not only hope that people will begin to talk to someone about their mental health but also strengthen safeguarding responses.
The rail industry has been raising money for Railway Children through Railway 200 events and numerous fundraisers.
“Many young people may first come to our attention due to something like ticket evasion, but that’s often just a symptom of deeper issues at home, at school, or elsewhere in their lives. Our role is to look beyond the surface and offer the right support to help them move forward.”
Jasmine Sykes, London-based Railway Children Youth Practitioner, highlighted the wider issues that often underpin the cases referred to them by British Transport Police
