Railway Children Big Station Sleepout success

The event returned for its sixth year on Thursday 27 February, with over 350 volunteers spending an uncomfortable and cold night on the floor of 11 railway stations across the country.

The Big Station Sleepout helps to raise money and awareness for the work being done to help the thousands of vulnerable children who pass through the railway networks every year.

With over £90,000 donated this year, this event has raised over £850,000 since its first event in 2019.

This year, as well as key Sleepout Ambassadors. Railway Children welcomed Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP, at various London Stations, and Lord Peter Hendy at Leeds Station. 

At the event, Heidi Alexander MP said “I was delighted to see so many people come together to raise money for such a good cause. I’d like to thank the station teams, rail industry representatives and the participants for making this event a huge success.

Railway Children work to help identify and support vulnerable children that may be in danger, including those that have run away, may be at risk of violence, abuse or exploitation with the aim to provide them with the safety and support that they need.

Rob Capener, Railway Children’s chief executive officer, said: “The challenges children and young people face are more prevalent than ever, with increasing levels of poverty, exploitation, and mental health. 

“The Big Station Sleepout event is a great way to raise vital funds for our programmes that help us reach children in need of urgent support while increasing awareness of our work with thousands of people who use the transport system every day.”

Andrew Wilkins, VolkerRail’s finance director, commented: “This was yet another successful event. Each year I join others taking part, and those new to the experience gain a much greater understanding of what the young people the charity support must feel like.

“I’d like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who took part across the UK to raise money for Railway Children. The charity does valuable work to help the lives of countless vulnerable young people, and VolkerRail is proud to have continued its support for this event.”

Kathleen O’Malley MBE, social value manager at Network Rail, said: “I’d like to thank our station teams, rail industry partners and participants for making this event a huge success for the sixth year running. The Railway Children charity makes a big difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people and we’re delighted to continue supporting such an important cause.”