Media centre

Monday 13 Aug 2007

MIDDLESBROUGH SET TO GET THE NO MESSIN' MESSAGE

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Young people in Middlesbrough will have the opportunity to take part in more than 15 free activities as part of Network Rail's No Messin' Live! summer campaign. Activities available will include basketball, wrestling, boxing, football, steel drums, urban dance and motorbikes. The event, at the Acorn centre, Acklam Grange School on 20 and 21 August, aims to raise awareness of railway safety amongst young people by giving them ideas about positive ways to spend their time, rather than play on the railway. The event is free for all young people aged between 7-16 years old. Neil Henry, Area General Manager for Network Rail, said: "Middlesbrough is a hotspot for rail crime, so it is important that young people are aware of the dangers of hanging around or playing on the railway. Many of these people who use the railway as a playground do so because they think they've nothing else to do. "No Messin' Live! aims to get young people interested in different activities and encourages them to try something new. By doing so, we hope to make them think twice about playing on the railway, and avoiding potentially life threatening situations." Middlesbrough player, Stewart Downing added: "I think the No Messin'! Live campaign is a fantastic idea. I'm tempted to say that it's on the right track. Seriously, it's an important message that I would advise young people to take notice of. Train lines can seem like good places to explore but the fatal accidents that happen tell a different story. Network Rail are clearly looking at the problem from a different slant so I wish everyone well with the campaign. The more young people that hear the message the better." Twelve No Messin' Live! events are taking place throughout the summer holidays across the UK. They are backed by boxing hero Amir Khan who launched the campaign on 24 July in London. Says Amir Khan: "There's no excuse for mucking about on train tracks. You may think you're clever and fast but a train is quicker and what's clever about getting yourself killed? No Messin' Live! is a great way of finding a better way to spend your time, whether it's trying out new sports, like boxing, or skills such as mixing and having a laugh with your mates too." The No Messin' campaign isn't just for the holidays. Network Rail has a team of dedicated Railway Crime Education Managers working closely with other parts of the railway industry, offering railway safety information and visiting schools, young offending teams, youth clubs and local authorities throughout the UK.