Since it was founded, Railway Children has helped more than a quarter of a million children, previously stricken by abuse, poverty and starvation, come to know a better life; living in hope and without fear. Each year the charity supports children from the UK, East Africa and India who, through neglect or poverty, find themselves in unbearable situations, homeless and on the street.

The pandemic wiped out Railway Childrens extensive events programme last year and has continued to affect us this year, including the cancellation of our main fundraiser, The Railway Ball, for the second year running. This leaves a gap of over £1 million in funding for Railway Children over two years, at a time when the children the charity supports need our services more than ever. Even as the world starts to recover from COVID-19, a new variant in India has emerged and is proving catastrophic for vulnerable communities and the impact and aftermath of this virus will be felt for generations to come.

Rail Aid 2020, dubbed the railways answer to Children in Need, invited every part of the rail industry to fundraise in support of Railway Childrens work, and we hope to involve even more organisations in Rail Aid 2021.