In a collaborative effort to promote railway safety and healthy activities, Network Rail and Stockport County Community Trust hosted a friendly football tournament and railway safety educational session on May 17 at Edgeley Park. The event welcomed students from Stockport School, Stockport Academy, Poynton High School, and Laurus Cheadle Hulme.
Between matches, the students engaged in educational sessions on railway safety, facilitated by Chris McLaughlin, Network Rail’s North West route community safety manager. Emphasizing the partnership’s significance, McLaughlin stated, “We’ve been working closely with Stockport County Community Trust for two years now, providing railway safety information at matches, school visits, and during the summer holidays.”
Matthew Bailey, social inclusion lead at Stockport County Community Trust, expressed gratitude for the support received from Network Rail. He highlighted the shared values of the organizations in providing football opportunities for girls and fostering the well-being of young people.
The tournament garnered significant participation, with over 30 girls taking part and each team playing six matches. Stockport School emerged as the tournament victor, claiming the Network Rail trophy after a series of intense games. Navendu Mishra, the MP for Stockport, attended the event and voiced his support for the initiative.
While off the field, the aspiring Lionesses received a crucial railway safety briefing from Network Rail. The organization reported 2,446 instances of railway trespass or vandalism in the North West route last year, with 86 incidents occurring in the Stockport borough alone. Stockport station was identified as a particularly affected area.
The partnership aims to engage young people in community sports to promote physical and mental well-being and simultaneously reduce the likelihood of railway trespass. Network Rail and Stockport County plan to further their collaboration by expanding citizenship workshops to primary schools as part of the Club’s Hatters in the Community program.
