Rail Aid 2021 gives a special thanks to its bronze sponsors

As part of it’s major fundraising efforts for charity Railway Children, Rail Aid 2021 has truly rallied people and businesses across the industry.

Railway Children is a very important cause, taking direct action to rescue children from life on the streets. Thanks to the funding they provide, Rail Aid 2021 and its supporters play a crucial part in ensuring that these children – across India, UK and East Africa – stay safe when facing the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances.

In the following piece for RailBusinessDaily, Rail Aid 2021, whose biggest fundraising week begins Monday (22 November), gives a special thanks to businesses providing much-needed bronze-level sponsorship.

Sponsor shout out: Thank you to our Rail Aid 2021 Bronze sponsors: Granger Reis, HS1, KPMG, SYSTRA, Thales and WSP

There are a number of incredible businesses who form the cohort of Rail Aid 2021 sponsors and sponsorship sign-up has continued to increase as Rail Aid Week approaches. This year’s Bronze sponsors are Granger Reis, sponsoring the Santa Express; HS1, SYSTRA and WSP, jointly sponsoring the Love Train Challenge; and KPMG and Thales, jointly sponsoring Walk the Line and the Rail Aid Raffle. All our sponsors are integral to Rail Aid 2021 and we are extremely grateful to our Bronze sponsors, without whom we wouldn’t be able to raise such critical funds to support vulnerable young people and their families.

Meet Rail Aid 2021’s Bronze sponsors!

Granger Reis

Ben Hewlett, Partner at Executive Search company Granger Reis and member of the Rail Aid Committee said: “Granger Reis has been a keen supporter of Railway Children for a number of years, most recently through our sponsorship of the Santa Express Train, which forms part of the amazing array of events taking place as part of Rail Aid 2021. We are committed to this partnership and look forward to many more opportunities to support this incredible charity.

“It has been a tough few years for all charities, but the way in which the fundraising team at Railway Children have responded through incredible innovations, as well as the energy to make Rail Aid come to life, is a privilege to witness and be a small part of. I would encourage all our clients, partners, in fact, anyone that is part of or works within the rail industry to get involved. It’s an awesome charity with an incredible ethos, run by inspirational people… what are you waiting for!”

HS1

Wendy Spinks, Commercial Director at HS1 said: “More now than ever we need to support others and what better way than to get involved with such a deserving charity as Railway Children. In tandem with its Social Sustainability Strategy, HS1 set its 55 staff the goal of donating 700 hours of volunteered time in support of charitable activities involving organisations aligned with the HS1 line. We set ourselves the target for 2022/23 but despite the COVID-19 restrictions we are proud to confirm we have already reached this target in 2021/22.

“Contributions to the target include mentoring, support/assistance to charitable fundraising activities and hands-on assistance, such as painting a local community school classroom in Camden. HS1 has also donated nearly £15K to charities such as Railway Children, Camden Giving, Nordoff Robins and the Royal Marsden Hospital amongst others.

“COVID continues to restrict the normal working environment and we recognise the challenges the pandemic has brought to many people. This is why HS1 fully supports Rail Aid 2021 and specifically the Rail Aid Auction which will help ensure the invaluable work that Railway Children do for children living on the streets can continue.

“Railway Children need the support to help keep children safe who have been driven out of their homes, suffered poverty, abuse, violence and neglect. The postponement of the Railway Ball potentially impacts the significant fundraising fillip that helps the Railway Children continue this vital work. This is why Rail Aid 2021 is so incredibly important and why we have donated prizes to help support the virtual auction. Despite the unique circumstances that we all find ourselves in, we hope that the rail industry will once again come together to demonstrates a true commitment to such a worthy cause.”

KPMG

Ed Thomas, Partner, UK Head of Transport at KPMG said: “As part of KPMG’s commitment to the rail sector, we’re delighted to sponsor Rail Aid for another year. With its extensive reach across the rail sector encompassing operators, infrastructure organisations and the supply chain, Rail Aid a great opportunity to bring people together and show young people and families in need that they are not alone.

“It’s important the rail industry comes together to support this cause, helping to improve the quality and safety of young people’s lives across the world. Rail is an important sector to KPMG, not least due to the crucial role the railway has in driving our economy and connecting communities and families across Britain.

“KPMG is delighted to sponsor Rail Aid Week 2021 for another year. With COVID-19 having a critical impact on millions of children, it’s important that the rail industry comes together to support this cause, helping to improve the quality and safety of young people’s lives across the world. I’m proud to see our involvement in a number of fundraising events this year, whether it be taking part in the Walk the Line event or the Sir Peter Hendy Rail Aid Quiz or running marathons to help raise awareness and money for this brilliant cause.”

SYSTRA

Nick Salt, CEO, SYSTRA Limited UK & Ireland said: “As a global leader in the rail industry with teams working in the UK, East Africa and India, Railway Children is a charity that resonates with SYSTRA as a business. We live and breathe the railway and other transport modes so supporting Railway Children’s mission to safeguard vulnerable children is very important to us.

“In the aftermath of COVID-19, it is more vital than ever that the industry engages with Rail Aid’s fundraising events. This year, we are sponsoring the Love Train Challenge and hope that everyone enjoys taking part and votes for the best submission to help us to raise awareness and financial support for this worthy cause.”

Thales

Sarah Tack, HSE Director at Thales said: “For over a decade, Thales Ground Transportation Systems and Railway Children have worked side by side, with the collective ambition of providing relief to children in conditions of need, particularly those living on the streets of India, East Africa, and here in the UK.

“Railway Children’s work is needed now more than ever, and it is for that reason that Thales is dedicated to helping thousands more children and young people who are living alone and at risk on the streets. COVID-19 has been catastrophic for the charity sector, and Rail Aid was formed as a fundraising initiative to help bridge the fundraising gap, ensuring Railway Children’s important work can continue. Thales are proud to be supporting Rail Aid to ease the living situations of children that need it most.”

WSP

Darren Reed, Managing Director, Rail at WSP in the UK said: “Through its fundraising, Rail Aid plays a vital role in the protection of children on the streets. By working with street-level organisations and policy makers, it is helping to bring social value to local communities and raise public awareness of the scale of the challenge. With the additional stresses and displacement caused by the pandemic – particularly the long-term impact yet to be felt by many children – the need for such action is more pressing than ever. 
 
“Rail Aid is bringing the entire rail industry together to make a real difference to children’s lives, and WSP is immensely proud to support it by sponsoring the exciting Love Train Challenge. We hope lots of businesses and teams take on the challenge, dust off their dancing shoes and show off their dance moves – we can’t wait to see all their submissions and let’s raise as much money as we can for Railway Children!”

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