Hub aims to help rail passengers in crisis

A new safeguarding hub has opened at Wolverhampton Railway Station.

"The Hub", launched by West Midlands Railway (WMR) and charity Rethink Mental Illness, aims to provide people with support and guidance.

Rethink will work with local charities across the area, offering people one-to-one support, information and signposting.

"This initiative is more than just a facility - it's a lifeline," said Thomas Harty, security and suicide prevention manager at WMR.

He said he hoped the "safe space" would support the "hundreds of vulnerable individuals in the local area and using our network".

"Wolverhampton is our busiest station in the region, with over 6.5 million passengers passing through each year, and I'm looking forward to seeing the positive impact Rethink and our other charity partners will have," he added.

Other organisations involved with the hub include The Samaritans, Railway Children, White Ribbon and the Wolves Foundation.

Head of area at Rethink, Lindsey Gooding, said the charity was proud to have been given the opportunity to create the hub.

"With support from our partner organisations, we will provide a 'one stop shop' for people to access support around mental health and wellbeing," she said.

"We want everyone to feel part of a community that cares. To be treated as a whole person. To have access to the right help when needed."

The Wolverhampton safe space was inspired by a similar hub in Hull, which brought about a 63% reduction in people arriving at nearby stations in crisis, WMR said.

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