Since Railway Children was founded in 1995, the charity has had one mission: to create and enable sustainable change for children living alone at at risk on the streets. In India, Tanzania and the UK, Railway Children have changed the lives of thousands of vulnerable children living alone and at risk on the streets and achieved landmark policy changes across all three countries to better protect street-connected children.
Over the last five years, the transport system has been at the heart of all Railway Children’s programmes to reach children on their journey to the streets, bringing together transport police, rail authorities, government stakeholders, train operating companies and the public to help keep them safe.
In addition to the charity's direct work with children, families, communities and collaborations with child protection agencies, Railway Children is now focusing on the development of research and evidence. The aim is to create programme models and practice that can be replicated, evidenced and used to support other organisations as they collaboratively position themselves to influence the post 2030 development goals.
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Cheshire
United Kingdom
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Main Areas of Work
Safeguarding on Transport Programme
Collaborating with the British Transport Police (BTP) and the rail industry, our Safeguarding on Transport Programme supports children and young people found alone and at risk on the UK rail network. Through a trauma-informed lens, we develop and deliver training to BTP, local authorities, train operating companies, security firms and others working in and around transport hubs to help them understand the experiences of young people and how to reduce the risks they face. We give them the tools and confidence to identify vulnerability and take the appropriate action.
Our Safeguarding Action Groups bring together those responsible for the spaces in and around stations and areas of high vulnerability on rail lines. Together, we look at how and when the spaces are used and make changes so they are hostile to those who would do harm and become safer for vulnerable children and young people.
Youth practice and family support
Once a young person has been identified as being vulnerable and is referred to us by the British Transport Police, our Youth Practitioners work with them to establish their needs and put a bespoke support plan in place. We work to strengthen the support system around the child, as well as helping them access the right professional help. We work with children, young people, their families and other carers to help them tackle issues, reduce conflict and re-establish relationships, and our support is never time-bound. We act as advocates for the whole family to access help for more specific needs and stay consistent with our aftercare to keep the young person safe.
Child Help Desks
In India and Africa, we collaborate with local government and transport officials to reach children arriving alone at transport hubs and early in their journey to the streets. They are brought to a place of safety at Child Help Desks to address their immediate needs, build their trust and determine the next steps. Where possible, we work to reintegrate them with their families or into an alternative family-based setting.
We also train transport staff, police and other people who work in and around rail stations and bus terminals to quickly spot vulnerable children and bring them to safety so we can support them.
Family reintegration
Alongside child protection agencies and government, Railway Children India and Railway Children Africa reunite families, support them to stay together and help them work through the issues that led to separation. We help parents to find employment so they can take better care of their families and run sessions to build positive parenting skills to reduce the risk of separation. Using a trauma-informed approach, we provide support for the whole family until we are certain that the child is in a nurturing, stable environment and is settled into education.
When it's not possible for a child to return to their family, we secure a safe, family-based home where they can stay long-term and rebuild their future.
Youth Associations
Our Youth Association Programme in Tanzania helps street-connected young people aged 15-24 become self-sufficient through workplace training schemes and employment support. The group helps young people to regain a sense of belonging, become more acquainted with their culture and evolve into valued members of their communities.
Each Youth Association group comprises of around 20 street-connected young people who meet weekly. They benefit from life skills sessions including literacy, budgeting, behavioural change, parenting, health, leadership and youth rights. Groups are helped to set up a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), a communal funding resource from which members can take low-interest loans. When they graduate, participants leave the streets behind and are able to independently support themselves and their dependants.