Media centre

Friday 6 Jun 2008

NETWORK RAIL COMMUNITY WORK REWARDED WITH BIG TICK

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National

No Messin' – Network Rail's community campaign aimed at tackling railway crime and saving lives on the railway – has won the prestigious Business in the Community BUPA Healthy Communities Award. The award, which is supported by the Department of Health and known as the 'Big Tick', recognises companies that work with voluntary and public sectors to improve the health and well-being of UK communities. No Messin’ has also been shortlisted for the BITC's Examples of Excellence Awards in July.

The Big Tick Award was presented to the No Messin' team by John Swinney MSP at an official awards event at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow last night.

Network Rail has a team of ten rail crime education managers that work across the UK in conjunction with a range of community agencies and organisations including youth offending services; independent community, sports and youth groups; British Transport Police and local police; train operating companies, premiership and football league clubs, and schools to try and prevent crime by spreading awareness of the dangers of trespass on the railway and the consequences of vandalism and other crimes. It also works with these groups to encourage and involve young people in healthier and more purposeful activities including sports, music art and dance.

Examples of recent work includes the opening and sponsoring of the Gloves Community Gym, owned by champion boxer Amir Khan, which provides young people in Bolton with easy access to boxing, fitness and computer facilities and training, distracting them from hanging around on the tracks where they are putting their lives in danger.

In February, two young offenders caught vandalising the railway in Sheffield were made to clean up the graffiti they left behind. The teenagers, who cannot be named, spent four hours cleaning up a railway bridge under the supervision of the Youth Offending Service and Network Rail staff.

Commenting on the award, Martin Gallagher, who heads up the No Messin' campaign said: "I’m really proud that No Messin’ has won the Big Tick Award. It is great recognition for all the hard work everyone on the No Messin’ team has put in to making a real difference to people’s lives. We are committed to preventing pointless tragedies where people are seriously injured or lose their lives because of taking a short cut or mucking about throwing stones or placing objects on the line. We will continue to work with the rest of the industry and community groups to reduce crime and hopefully save lives."

Stephen Howard, chief executive, Business in the Community said: "I congratulate all the winners of a Big Tick this year. It is fantastic to see so many strong examples of responsible business practice. The Big Tick is now recognised as both a valuable and difficult award to achieve. It means a company has demonstrated ways in which they positively make a difference to the environment, their workplace, the community or in the marketplace in which they sell, advertise or trade.

"Those who achieve the Big Tick are leading companies, ones that run their businesses aware that they depend above all on the talent, innovation and loyalty of their people. They know that they cannot build a successful sustainable business without constantly showing their commitment to being a better business.

"Business in the Community mobilises business for good. The Awards for Excellence is our annual benchmark of the very best. It is reassuring to see such a high standard in all the Big Tick winners this year."