The charity Railway Children is asking the railway industry to take part in what it describes as “a fun, simple fundraising challenge to bring staff together, spark creativity and boost morale – all while changing the lives of vulnerable children. “

The £50 Challenge will take place in May and June. Each team which registers for the challenge receives a fifty-pound ‘stake’ which it then tries to grow into a much larger sum.

The charity says that teams can use whatever method they choose to increase their money. It suggests that teams might put members’ skills to good use, in activities such as gardening, cooking or crafting. Or team members could “sell their services around the office”, for example hiring out their time to clean desks, make tea and coffee, and carry out the boring jobs that no-one else wants to do.

Alternatively, they could spend the £50 on organising an event that will bring people together while raising funds for Railway children’s important work in helping vulnerable children.

The teams will have two months to increase their £50 stake as much as possible.  

All the money raised through the £50 Challenge will fund the charity’s work in changing the lives of children and young people, in the UK and also India and Tanzania.

The charity tells the story of Finley, who was referred to Railway Children at the age of 13 after he had behaved in an anti-social manner at a railway station. Finley lived in eight different care placements, and had disengaged from school and society. He believed that nobody would stick around for him, but now says that Railway Children’s youth practitioner changed this by turning up reliably. Over time, Finley began to change his outlook. 

To maintain this consistent level of support, Railway Children needs supporters to continue to raise funds.

Railway companies have a couple of weeks left to sign up for the fundraising challenge and can find out more and sign up here. 

The railway industry raises a lot of money for the charity, recently including a Kilimanjaro Challenge and a rail tour from north to south Wales.

“Railway Children’s £50 challenge brings together the rail industry and Railway Children in a common cause – to reach and safeguard vulnerable young people on the transport network, all while boosting morale, sparking creativity and inspiring innovation. And, of course, there’ll be some healthy competition along the way!” 

Lizzi Hollis, Partnerships and Philanthropy Manager at Railway Children