Media centre

Tuesday 25 Feb 2003

NETWORK RAIL SIGNS UP WITH CAMBORNE RUGBY CLUB IN MAJOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail and Camborne Rugby Club will announce a major partnership this week as part of a campaign to stop vandalism and prevent children playing on the railway.  The company has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with Camborne Rugby Community Scheme, which helps to introduce children to rugby through coaching sessions at local schools.  In return, senior players at the club will inform young people about the dangers of playing near railway lines. The agreement will be formally announced on Thursday 27 February 2003 at Camborne Rugby Club’s ground, where club officials and players will be joined by representatives of Network Rail.   Current club captain, Nigel Coldrick, who works for Network Rail as Mobile Operations Manager at St Blazey and is Rail Crime Champion for Cornwall, will also be present.   Many children are injured playing on rail lines and Network Rail spends million of pounds every year repairing damage caused by trespass and vandalism on the tracks.  Research shows that the main perpetrators of railway crime are 8 to 14 year old males, with most offences carried out in the late afternoon and early evenings. -more Camborne Rugby Club – 2 Network Rail’s Route Crime Manager, Paul Denton, said:  “We are delighted to be working with Camborne Rugby Club on this important initiative, which gives us the opportunity to promote an awareness of the dangers of route crime to children in Cornwall.  Through rugby we can get across the message that playing on the railway can cost you your life.” Bill Hussey, Commercial Manager at Camborne Rugby Club, said:  “We hope this two-pronged approach – with enjoyable coaching sessions coupled with important safety messages – will help keep local children safe and healthy.” As part of the ‘Campaign against Route Crime’ many children in the Camborne area have already been involved in a competition to design the club’s 125th Anniversary shirt, ahead of the club’s 125th Anniversary game against Capt Crawshays Touring Welsh XV on 7 April 2003.  The presentation of the rugby shirt to the boy or girl who submitted the winning design is expected to take place before the Anniversary match.