Morson sleepout for Railway Children
Rail Director Gary Smithson, Morson CEO Ged Mason and three other members from across the rail team will be joining forces with people from across the rail industry, to spend an uncomfortable night sleeping out at Manchester Piccadilly and London Waterloo railway station in support of Railway Children.
As a father, it’s particularly distressing to know that there are vulnerable children across the UK facing unimaginable hardships every day. Our one night of cold and discomfort will go no way to replicate their experiences, but will hopefully have a huge impact, raising awareness and critical funds to help every child who is in need of support.
If you would like to support our team and donate to this wonderful cause, please click here.
The Railway Children Sleepout 2022: One night of hardship to make a lifetime of difference
The fundraising event you can do in your sleep is back for 2022! Swap your warm bed at home for the cold floor of a railway station on March 31st and help Railway Children raise awareness as well as vital funds to support the hundreds of children who face hardship every day around the world.
The Sleepout made a huge impact in 2020 with over 300 people sleeping at nine stations and raising over £160,000, and last year’s alternative version, The Sleep In, was another huge success. It’s back again in 2022 and eight stations (Glasgow Central, Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, Derby, Birmingham New Street, London Liverpool Street, London Waterloo and London Victoria) have signed up to take part.
This event won’t replicate the situations faced by the children we work with, but it will raise awareness of the issues and difficulties they face.
We know from our work with British Transport Police that around 10,000 vulnerable young people are identified on the rail network every year. They might be running away from home, involved in county lines drugs gangs, being groomed to go and meet a stranger or even coming to the station with thoughts of suicide. With the help of our supporters and the whole rail community, we can make sure we’re there to help them when they need it most. - Railway Children’s CEO Terina Keene
This event is a great way to raise money for our projects that reach these children, but also to share our work and our message with the many thousands of people who pass through our transport system every day. Together we can make a vital difference to the lives of so many children.
Eleven senior leaders from across the rail industry have committed to supporting the Sleepout by becoming ambassadors of the charity’s fundraising initiative. Not only will they encourage others to take part, but they will also be sleeping out themselves.
Simon Blanchflower, CEO East-West Rail, Andy Lord, MD London Underground, Elaine Clark, CEO Rail Forum Midlands, Anna Delvecchio, Development Director Transportation Mott MacDonald, Alex Hynes, MD Scotland’s Railway, Gareth Powell, MD Surface Transport TL, Alan Robertson, CEO VolkerWessels UK, Mark Thurston, CEO HS2, Mark Wild, CEO Crossrail, Will Wilson, CEO Siemens Mobility Ltd, Dyan Crowther, CEO HS1.
I’m delighted to support Railway Children. The COVID pandemic has made the charity’s work with young people more vital than ever. It will be a cold and uncomfortable night, but the children supported by Railway Children face this hardship every day. Railway Children will be continuously monitoring COVID guidance to ensure the event can take place safely. The ambassadors are keen to make the Sleepout a success across the sector with your support. Help us make this a reality and help even more vulnerable children. - Anna Delvecchio from Mott MacDonald
To find out more or to sign up for the Sleepout on March 31st, 2022, contact events manager Katie Mason at Railway Children on 01270 757 596 or email k.mason@railwaychildren.org.uk
