LNER Safeguarding Champions Strengthen Skills Ahead of Busy Christmas Season
LNER colleagues have completed an intensive safeguarding training day to help protect vulnerable customers during the festive travel period.
Known as Safeguarding Champions, the specially trained colleagues work across the LNER route and play a vital role in identifying and supporting people who may be at risk. The training, delivered by Railway Children, a charity dedicated to helping vulnerable young people and adults, covered a wide range of topics including exploitation, county lines, modern slavery, drug and alcohol dependency, mental health, and homelessness.
The Champions learned how to spot signs of vulnerability, take steps to keep individuals safe, and make referrals to British Transport Police and partner agencies to ensure the right help and support is provided.
As part of the session, colleagues also signed up to become White Ribbon Ambassadors and Champions, pledging to ‘Speak up’ against violence towards women and girls and to challenge sexist behaviour whenever they witness it.
Joe Clay, Safeguarding Partnership Programme Manager for Railway Children, said: “We work closely with LNER to highlight the key role their colleagues play in identifying vulnerability and preventing harm. Thousands of people pass through stations and travel on trains every day, some of whom may be experiencing violence, abuse, or intimidation. LNER colleagues are perfectly placed to help in those moments of need. After receiving their training, Safeguarding Champions share their knowledge with colleagues, making the railway network safer for everyone.”
Jim Rawcliffe, Security and Safeguarding Manager at LNER, said: “Our Safeguarding Champions are an important part of how we keep thousands of customers and colleagues safe. We don’t just run trains and manage stations – we look after people. By enabling our colleagues to identify someone in a dangerous or difficult situation and offering support, we’re acting on an LNER core value and putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.”