Network Rail provide Platform with tools to teach rail safety

Network Rail has donated several safety helmets to Platform, a rail education organisation, for use in their school railway safety workshops.

The helmets could no longer be used by rail colleagues as part of their personal protective equipment (PPE) as they had passed their expiry date but are now being put to use in classrooms as a learning aid. Platform has used the helmets in classrooms across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North Somerset, reaching almost 500 pupils.

Platform is part of the Community Rail Network, a non-profit organisation that brings together over 70 community rail partnerships, station friends and social enterprises. The network is dedicated to supporting groups and partnerships that connect their community with the railway and the social benefits it can offer. Since early 2022, Platform has been delivering in-school workshops around rail safety, understanding sustainable and healthy travel, and how to feel confident using trains.

Máedóc Ellis, Network Rail’s community support manager for community rail, said: “I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to support the valuable work of Platform with the donation of safety helmets.

“The safety of people on and around the railway is always our priority and education is key to keeping people safe – especially for young people.

“I hope that we can continue to work with Platform to support in-school activities and workshops and that the pupils who are able to get involved feel inspired by the interactive sessions.”

Emilie Dawson, Platform’s learning development manager, said: “We are extremely grateful for the helmets donated by Network Rail. We try to make our workshops fun, interactive, and engaging and letting students get dressed up at the end of a session is a big part of this.

“The helmets have already travelled with us into a number of schools and have visited almost 500 young people. On top of being an integral part of our safety workshop, the helmets are used – with other pieces of uniform – to highlight and promote rail industry careers, and it is wonderful to see children being interested in this.

“At Platform, we are committed to delivering educational messages around sustainability too, so it’s great to be able to re-use expired PPE instead of trying to find new alternatives.  A huge thanks to Network Rail for their kind donation!”

Photo credit: Network Rail

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