Media centre

Wednesday 26 Oct 2016

Barnardo’s announces partnership with Network Rail

Region & Route:

National

Barnardo’s, the United Kingdom’s leading children’s charity, has been chosen by Network Rail’s employees as their ‘Charity of Choice’ until March 2019.

Network Rail will support Barnardo’s through fundraising, volunteering, gifts in kind and payroll giving to help the charity with their work to transform the lives of some of the UK’s most vulnerable children. Information about Barnardo’s work will also be displayed at eighteen mainline stations in England and Scotland, including all major stations in London.

Javed Khan, Barnardo’s Chief Executive, said: “We are thrilled to have been chosen by Network Rail staff to be their next charity partner.

“At Barnardo’s we don’t do the easy stuff. We work with the most vulnerable children and young people in society, giving them hope, and transforming their lives through our frontline services, campaigning and research. But we depend on the support of individuals and companies like Network Rail so we can do this work.”

Network Rail is looking to drive positive change in communities by encouraging its employees to volunteer to support, and raise funds for, socially deprived areas.

Mark Carne, Chief Executive at Network Rail, said: “As a company we are doing a lot to improve how we engage and work with the communities surrounding the railway. This partnership will give hope to young people by offering them support.

“Every child should be able to look into the future and find happiness; I hope we can help them do that. Working with Barnardo’s, Network Rail believes that, with the right help, committed support and a little belief, even the most vulnerable children can transform their lives.”

Barnardo’s has unveiled a new ten year strategy to help 300,000 more vulnerable children and their families across the country.  Its themes are Safer Childhoods, Stronger Families and Positive Futures. It also aims to double its donations income and recruit another 10,000 volunteers by the end of the decade.  At the heart is the Barnardo’s founding ethos that no child that needs help is ever turned away.

  The network rail stations involved in the partnership are Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Reading and the following stations in London – Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Euston, Kings Cross, London Bridge, Liverpool Street, Paddington, St Pancras, Waterloo and Victoria.

To find out more about the partnership visit http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/5744.aspx