This year’s annual ‘Day of Action’ by the Railway Children charity was launched by train operator Avanti West Coast at Glasgow Central station on Wednesday, 29th July.

The ‘Day of Action’ campaign is aimed at highlighting young people at risk, protecting children, and raising public awareness of young people at risk on Britain’s railway network. Avanti West Coast has teamed up with other train operators across the UK for the campaign, which is led by the UK-based charity Railway Children.

This is the third year that Avanti West Coast has partnered with Railway Children to raise awareness of children at risk on the West Coast Main Line. The launch event at Glasgow Central station was the start of a three-day campaign of activities supported by train operators and the British Transport Police, which includes talking to customers at stations and on trains, and explaining to them what they should do if they spot an individual who appears to need help.

Further awareness of the campaign is being raised by digital posters that highlight the signs of a vulnerable child, and are being displayed for the three days of the event on Avanti West Coast’s ticket machines and onboard its trains.

Having started at Glasgow Central, representatives from Railway Children travelled across the UK to host events at key transport hubs, including Crewe station, Wales, the south west of England, London, and finishing today, Saturday, 31st July, at Edinburgh Waverley station in Scotland.

Last Christmas, Avanti West Coast in partnership with Railway Children, released a film to raise awareness of vulnerable young people on the rail network.

Avanti West Coast is working with the Family Holiday Charity to help some disadvantaged families take holidays this summer, and believes that this is the first such initiative in the UK railway industry.

“We’re delighted to be joining forces with Railway Children once again for their Day of Action. The charity’s work is vital to keeping young people on our railways safe. Teaming up with the wider rail industry this year for a larger three-day event further supports the charity’s mission to continue raising awareness and reinforces how everyone has a role to play so we have the best chance of helping keep as many children as possible out of harm’s way.”

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