Network Rail has signed the first pan-industry homelessness charter as part of its work to help homeless people across Britain.
Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines and Secretary of State Grant Shapps met yesterday (Wednesday 7 October) at London Paddington station, to sign the first pan-industry homelessness charter as part of a wide-reaching programme of efforts to support a route out of homelessness for every rough sleeper by 2027.
Through the Rough Sleeping on Rail Charter, Network Rail is working with five charity partners and organisations – Railway Children, End Youth Homelessness, Shelter, Crisis and The Big Issue – on a wide-reaching programme called Routes Out Of Homelessness. The programme will feature a number of events to raise awareness for the organisations, and a new outreach programme to support the Government’s ambitions to end rough sleeping by 2027.
The programme is being piloted by Shelter at Manchester Piccadilly and includes newly devoted outreach teams at stations who will help offer support to those in need whilst ensuring a safe environment for them, as well as railway staff and passengers. It will also launch at Birmingham New Street in December and more stations across 2021.
To mark the launch of the campaign, each of Network Rail’s regions has partnered with one of the charities to produce a piece of artwork for World Homelessness Day on Saturday 10 October.