VolkerRail and the wider rail industry teamed up with the Railway Children charity to help host their second Sleepout event in railway stations across the country.

This year’s event was even bigger than last year’s Sleepout, with nearly double the number of volunteers taking part at nine stations, raising a staggering £155,000, well over the £100,000 target.

Katie Mason, events manager for the Railway Children, said: “Thank you so much for your very generous sponsorship of our Sleepout event. It was a huge success and everyone’s donations will do so much to help us with our work with children who find themselves vulnerable and alone on stations and streets around the UK, India and East Africa.

“Thank you on behalf of all the children who will have a safe place to sleep thanks to all your support.”

Steve Cocliff, VolkerRail managing director, said: “'VolkerRail is proud to have yet again taken part in and sponsored The Big Station Sleepout. It was amazing to see so many people from across the industry take part in the event, spending a night out in a railway station to raise money and show support for the Railway Children charity and all the fantastic work it does in helping those in need, both here in the UK and abroad.”

Railway Children work alongside the BTP and the rail industry to protect and support children at risk of violence, abuse and exploitation, providing longer term one-to-one support to address the issues they face.

This year the British Transport Police estimates it will deal with more than 10,000 child safeguarding incidents on Britain’s railways; an 11% increase from 2018/19.