Railway Children careers

At Railway Children, we stand for children, their childhoods and their futures. 

Our passion and values underpin everything we do. They unite us and provide the energy and optimism that drives us to work harder and harder for the children and young people we are privileged to help.

We believe in a world where no child ever has to live on the streets.

As we embark on our new strategy, we have ambitious plans to ensure no child is left behind, wherever we work.

Why not join us?

Railway Children is committed to safeguarding anyone who comes into contact with us and implements a range of policies to ensure only those suitable to work with vulnerable groups are employed.

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Railway Children's current vacancies:

Major Donor Officer

Salary: £35,000-£40,000
Location: Hybird – minimum one day a week in Sandbach, Cheshire (however would consider remote)

About the role

On the back of continued growth due to successful fundraising performance over the last 5 years, we are ready to take the next step in our fundraising strategy and launch a Philanthropy Giving programme.  You will bring specific expertise and skills in this field to support the fundraising team and build on the already strong stewardship and engagement we have with key individuals.

An experienced major donor fundraiser, you will relish the opportunity to own and launch the strategy and implement a long-term engagement plan to strengthen Major Donor relationships that will deliver a new and sustainable income stream.

The role is new and on an initial fixed term contract of 12 months but with the potential to make the role permanent if the strategy succeeds.

About you

You're likely to be a seasoned philanthropy professional, ideally with a track record securing gifts at £50k+. You will be comfortable in working closely with a Senior Leadership team and Board.

With an understanding of philanthropy and what makes major donors tick, you will also have the appetite and aptitude to develop new relationships from scratch.

The role will be a good mix of stewarding existing relationships and building brand-new ones. Therefore, you will need to be comfortable and confident researching and developing new contacts, harnessing the potential of existing networks and working closely with the wider organisation.

A key part to the role will be to deliver engagement activities, therefore event planning and strong project management skills are essential.

To apply for this position, please complete the application form below and return it to fundraisingjobs@railwaychildren.org.uk. Please include job title applied for in email subject. Please note that Railway Children will only accept applications made using this application form and will not accept CVs, academic certificates or covering letters.

At Railway Children, we are committed to the safeguarding and protection of all those who come into contact with us in our work. We follow a range of procedures to ensure that only those who are
suitable to work with children and vulnerable people are recruited to work for us. This post is subject to a range of background and reference checks including criminal records check.

Due to the number of applications often received, only those to be invited for interview will be informed of the outcome of their application. Applicants who have not heard within two weeks of the closing date should assume they have been unsuccessful.

Closing date: Friday 31st January 2025

Youth Practitioner 

Salary: £30,000-£32,000
Location: Birmingham
Responsible to: Programme Manager - Youth Practice 
Department: Safeguarding on Transport UK Team 

Be part of a team creating lasting change for young people at risk. In this vital role, you’ll provide direct support to children aged 10-17 who are vulnerable on the UK transport network, delivering tailored interventions to address issues such as exploitation, mental health, and safety. By working closely with British Transport Police, rail industry partners, and other professionals, you’ll play a critical role in identifying risks early, advocating for children, and helping them build a brighter future.

Key responsibilities: 

• Provide one-to-one and group interventions to young people.
• Conduct assessments and create tailored support plans for young people at risk.
• Collaborate with professionals, families, and young people to deliver solutions that prioritise safety and well-being.
• Raise awareness of child safeguarding in railway stations and public spaces.
• Ensure outcomes are measured and recorded using robust case management systems.

What we're looking for:

• Experience supporting vulnerable young people and families through structured, trauma-informed practices.
• Strong knowledge of child protection, safeguarding, and contextual safeguarding principles.
• A relevant qualification in youth work, social care, or similar (or equivalent experience).
• A full UK driving license and access to a vehicle.

What we offer

As well as helping some of the world’s most vulnerable children and young people, we offer some great perks:

• Time out. You’ll start with 25 days holiday per year to recharge the batteries. After three years, this will increase by an extra day per year until you reach a relaxing 30 days leave.
• Pension. We offer a pension contribution of 6% of annual salary.
• Birthday leave and ‘Railway Children Day’. You’ll get two additional days of annual leave in your birthday month and around Christmas time.
• A culture we’re proud of. Driven by our CEO, family values are at the heart of our culture and make Railway Children an incredible place to work.
• Flexible working environment and home working. It’s one of the reasons why our staff retention is so impressive!

To apply for this position, complete the application form below and return it to programmejobs@railwaychildren.org.uk - we will only accept applications using this form and not CVs, academic certificates or covering letters. Please include job title applied for in the email subject line. 

Closing date: Tuesday 17th December at 5pm

Only those to be invited for interview will be informed of the outcome of their application. Applicants who have not heard within two weeks of the closing date should assume they have been unsuccessful.

Due to the Christmas period we will not be contacting those shortlisted for an interview until after 6^th January 2025.

Community Engagement Worker 

Salary: £18,600 - £19,200 / FTE £31-32k
Location: Birmingham
Responsible to: Programme Manager - Safeguarding Partnerships
Department: Safeguarding on Transport UK Team 

Are you passionate about making a difference for vulnerable young people? Join us as a Community Engagement Worker and play a vital role in safeguarding young lives on the rail network.

In partnership with British Transport Police (BTP), you’ll lead and develop our community engagement work in the West Midlands, while contributing to our wider efforts across the UK. This includes:

• Establishing and growing Safeguarding Action Groups (SAG) to coordinate local responses to young people at risk.
• Encouraging local rail industry professionals to participate in our specialist safeguarding training, building a robust safety net for vulnerable young people.

Your work will involve close collaboration with BTP officers, station staff, and employees, as well as local services in the area. You’ll foster partnerships and ensure a joined-up approach to protecting young people, offering them the support they need to stay safe.

Key responsibilities include

• Building strong relationships with stakeholders across the rail industry and community services.
• Promoting Railway Children’s training opportunities and engaging rail industry professionals in safeguarding initiatives.
• Supporting the development of UK-wide community engagement strategies to expand our impact.

We’re looking for someone with excellent communication and relationship-building skills, a proactive approach, and a passion for safeguarding young people.

Be part of a dynamic team working at the forefront of protecting young people on the UK’s rail network.

What we offer

As well as helping some of the world’s most vulnerable children and young people, we offer some great perks:

• Time out. You’ll start with 25 days holiday per year to recharge the batteries. After three years, this will increase by an extra day per year until you reach a relaxing 30 days leave.
• Pension. We offer a pension contribution of 6% of annual salary.
• Birthday leave and ‘Railway Children Day’. You’ll get two additional days of annual leave in your birthday month and around Christmas time.
• A culture we’re proud of. Driven by our CEO, family values are at the heart of our culture and make Railway Children an incredible place to work.
• Flexible working environment and home working. It’s one of the reasons why our staff retention is so impressive!

To apply for this position, complete the application form below and return it to programmejobs@railwaychildren.org.uk - we will only accept applications using this form and not CVs, academic certificates or covering letters. Please include job title applied for in the email subject line. 

Closing date: Tuesday 17th December

Due to the number of applications often received, only those to be invited for interview will be informed of the outcome of their application. Applicants who have not heard within two weeks of the closing date should assume they have been unsuccessful.

Privacy notice for Job Applicants

Railway Children is aware of its obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is committed to processing your data securely and transparently. Railway Children has developed a privacy notice for job applicants that sets out, in line with GDPR, the types of data that we collect and hold on you as a job applicant. It also sets out how we use that information, how long we keep it for and other relevant information about your data. A full version of the privacy notice can be downloaded below.