BRIGHTER TOMORROWS, POWERED BY UK RAIL
For more than two decades, The Railway Ball has been the rail industry’s flagship charity event. Each year, it brings together organisations from across UK rail to raise vital funds for Railway Children, helping protect vulnerable children in the UK, India and Tanzania. It is a night that combines industry connection with real impact, proving that the rail sector’s influence reaches far beyond the network and into the lives of children who need protection, care and opportunity
WHO WE ARE
Railway Children believes no child should ever face danger alone. They work to protect children at transport hubs, support families in crisis, strengthen safeguarding across rail and empower young people to shape safer futures. Together with the rail industry, they are changing what’s possible for children at risk.
OUR IMPACT
Supporting The Railway Ball isn’t just giving, it’s taking action. Funds raised help Railway Children step in early, protect children before harm occurs, rebuild family relationships and strengthen safeguarding across transport networks. This is impact delivered through partnership, prevention and long term change
WHAT WE DO
Your support helps Railway Children step in when a child becomes vulnerable. Last year, their teams protected and supported 5,600 children across the UK, India and Tanzania, trained 8,284 transport staff, and delivered safeguarding and family support across rail and local communities.
£6500,000 + RAISED LAST YEAR BY UK RAIL
2025, A LANDMARK YEAR FOR RAIL. A LIFELINE YEAR FOR CHILDREN.
The Railway Ball 2025 raised over £650,000 for Railway Children, exceeding expectations at a time when fundraising was tougher than ever. This unrestricted income is helping underpin Railway Children’s work.
Catch up on our 2025 highlights here.
IMPACT OF MONEY RAISED IN 2025
A single night brings lasting protection, helping keep children safe and supported when it matters most.
The London safeguarding project
Funds raised could support Railway Children’s London safeguarding work, protecting children at risk on the capital’s transport network through early identification, crisis support and longer‑term help to reduce harm and exploitation.
Station projects in India
Railway Children works at some of India’s busiest stations, where many children arrive alone. Funds raised could support seven station programmes that identify children quickly, keep them safe, provide urgent care and help reunite them with family.
Family programmes in Tanzania
Funds raised could support family‑strengthening work in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, including support for parents, safeguarding training for communities and practical help that keeps families together and prevents children from reaching the streets.
£500,000 + RAISED AT HIGH SCHOOL PROM
2024, A NIGHT THAT CHANGED THOUSANDS OF TOMORROWS
What a night, what a year, what a difference you’ve made! The Railway Ball 2024 raised an incredible £500,000+ for Railway Children, and we couldn’t have done it without YOU – our incredible rail industry family.
Catch up on our 2024 highlights here.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT
WE ARE TRANSFORMING LIVES
Funds raised supports vital safeguarding work that keeps children safe and families together.
Preventing children from reaching the streets
Supporting families facing crisis, poverty or conflict, helping address pressures that can push children towards the streets and keeping children safe at home.
Protecting children on transport networks
Working across rail and bus networks to identify children who are alone, at risk or in danger, and ensure they are protected before serious harm occurs.
Family reintegration and alternative care
Helping families rebuild relationships and resolve the issues that led to separation, or supporting safe, family based alternative care where returning home is not possible.
Improving community and transport responses
Training transport staff, police and stakeholders to spot warning signs and respond safely, increasing protection before, during and after crisis.
Mental, emotional and practical support
Providing specialist emotional, psychological and practical support to help children recover from trauma and move forward safely.
Changing systems for long term impact
Working with governments, public services and the transport industry to strengthen safeguarding systems, embed policy and shape national standards.
CHANGING LIVES
RAILWAY CHILDREN
Railway Children supports children who are alone and at risk on the streets and transport networks. By combining frontline work with systems change, they help create safer environments and brighter futures.
Railway Children believes in a world where no child ever has to live on the streets. They work to protect vulnerable children and young people at risk across transport networks and communities.
Railway Children acts at the moments that matter most, before, during and after a child is at risk, combining early intervention, family support, safeguarding training and systems change.
Since the mid‑1990s, Railway Children has built one of the strongest safeguarding partnerships in the transport sector. Working with rail operators, police, governments and communities, they have protected and supported thousands of children and helped shape national approaches to safeguarding.