The UK’s largest train operator is investing in new community projects to address youth antisocial behaviour across the South Coast.
Youth workers have been deployed on trains to Brighton to identify vulnerable young people, and mentors will support them into careers as part of Southern and Thameslink’s latest £300,000 Your Station, Your Community funding round.
The train operators have announced the recipients of the 2026/27 fund, supporting initiatives designed to reduce antisocial behaviour, safeguard vulnerable young people and help prevent exploitation and criminal involvement.
Rebecca Butler, Southern and Thameslink’s Safeguarding Manager said: “Our huge network can play a holistic role in tackling these societal issues contributing to antisocial behaviour, in addition to the close partnerships we have with the police and other agencies already.
“The Your Station, Your Community fund invests in projects that enrich the communities we serve, and we’re proud to contribute to making them vibrant places to live, visit and work ”
Working with the Brighton Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), trained youth workers will be deployed on services from hotspot areas and at Brighton station, using intelligence from local stakeholders and the railway, on key dates where large numbers of young people are expected to be travelling into the city.
The approach, called On The Tracks and made possible with £49,522 from the fund, aims to provide a visible, supportive presence on trains and within the station — a key “gateway” into the city — offering early intervention that can prevent young people from becoming involved with higher-risk situations. Where appropriate, young people can be referred onwards to relevant statutory agencies and support services.
The BCRP works closely with Sussex Police and local partners to improve safety within the city, having created an Early Intervention Youth Plan which tackles youth crime at its roots – focusing on prevention rather than enforcement.
On The Tracks has been developed in direct response to concerns raised by community members, businesses, frontline professionals and young people themselves following significant safeguarding challenges experienced in previous summers.
Sarah Morris, from the Brighton Crime Reduction Partnership, said: “The railway connects thousands of young people to our city every year, providing access to our vibrant seafront, independent businesses and social spaces.
“While the vast majority travel safely and positively, for a small number of vulnerable young people these journeys can also present risks linked to exploitation, criminality, substance misuse and county-lines activity.
“Having listened to the concerns of our partners and stakeholders, and learning from the experiences of previous summers, we have developed this early intervention partnership to bring agencies and communities together around a shared holistic approach.
“By working collaboratively across the rail network and local services, we can identify those who may need support earlier, offer trusted relationships and positive opportunities, and help ensure young people feel welcomed, supported and connected to the city in a safe and constructive way.”
The outreach is being delivered by trained youth workers from the Trust for Developing Communities, and started on May 22 with workers speaking with young people on services between East Croydon and Brighton.
Adam Muirhead, Director of Youth Work at the Trust for Developing Communities, said: “We’re keen to forge a positive connection with these young people early on, rather than stepping in only when something goes wrong or behaviour needs challenging
“By engaging with people onboard trains, on their way into the city, we’re able to help them think ahead: who they’re going to meet, where they’re going, and how they might be getting home – all in order to help them enjoy the city more safely.”
On the first day of activity, on May 22, roughly one young person every two minutes interacted with the scheme, with additional staff and police resources to follow up with any immediate welfare issues and, where needed, make referrals so young people could take the first step towards longer-term support from statutory agencies.
A dedicated youth outreach bus operated by the Trust also provides a safe and supportive space near the station for mentoring, welfare support and safeguarding conversations.
The project’s scope also includes police resources down the key Queen’s Road corridor to the seafront, providing additional reassurance for business owners and tourists visiting the city.
Additionally, Southern’s Rail Enforcement Officers have access to a communication platform between the police and local businesses, identifying potential issues before they arise in the city.
The new funding builds on the success of the 2024–25 Your Station, Your Community scheme, which enabled young people to engage with positive activities and mentoring in partnership with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, supporting them to make safer choices and develop skills for the future.
Sussex Police’s Youth Sergeant Kate Hancox said: “By working even more closely with key partners across the city, including the railway network, we’re able to positively engage with young people at the earliest opportunity and help ensure they can enjoy their time in Brighton safely, before there is ever any need for enforcement action.
“Alongside this, we are continuing to work with partner agencies to identify young people who may be at greater risk of becoming involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, or who may be vulnerable to exploitation.
“Through early intervention, safeguarding and targeted engagement, we can help steer young people away from harm and provide the right support at the right time.”
The 2026/27 Your Station, Your Community funding round also includes support for other initiatives aimed at tackling risk factors linked to antisocial behaviour, including violence and exploitation.
Projects funded in Sussex include:
- A targeted outreach scheme with the Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA), supporting work to address knife crime and county lines drug trafficking, including activity following a stabbing at Seaford station in September 2025. (£16,770)
- Esteem’s employability and wellbeing project, supporting young adults aged 14–26 with confidence, skills and guidance to help them make positive choices and improve their prospects. (£30,000)
- Young people aged 8-17 working to transform areas of Ifield station into brighter, more welcoming places to be in partnership with the Crawley Community Youth Service, empowering young people to take pride in their local area and deter antisocial behaviour (£18,216)
- Engaging with men aged 16-25, who are the least likely to engage with conventional mental health services, through AudioActive’s Room to Rant project – a workshop using music to share difficult emotions and experiences. (£29,450)
- A project for young women part of Priority 1-54 to explore how stations can become safer and more welcoming places, through awareness days, safety audits and marketing campaigns (£9,375)
- BCRP (above, £49,522)
- A continuation of GTR’s Protection Approaches Active Bystander training – empowering people to respond safely if they witness harassment, hate crimes or antisocial behaviour – focusing on supporting victims. (£20,000)
- Delivering the next phase of Embedding Accessible Rail Standards for Blind and Partially Sighted People in partnership with the Thomas Pocklington Trust, helping to transform rail travel into a more inclusive, welcoming and accessible experience (£10,000)
- A creative project supporting the network of Station Partners across GTR with CoCreative Connection (£15,459)
Image credit: GTR
