London, 27 October 2025, Rail leaders gathered at the Houses of Parliament this week for a special reception hosted by Lilian Greenwood MP, celebrating the Railway Mission’s ongoing pastoral support for the rail workforce and marking the launch of an innovative new mental health and resilience training programme for the UK rail industry.
Held in the Terrace Pavilion, the event brought together representatives from across the rail sector to recognise the Railway Mission’s crucial role in offering pastoral and emotional support to frontline staff, whether following major incidents or simply as a compassionate, consistent presence during life’s challenges.
Addressing the gathering, Lilian Greenwood MP said:
“As many of you know, this reception is a chance to celebrate and recognise the vital role the Railway Mission plays in supporting our rail industry. Whether it’s offering pastoral care after traumatic incidents or simply being a non-judgemental listening ear and calming voice during life’s journey, the chaplains of the Railway Mission are a quiet but powerful force for good.”
Attendees also heard from a range of industry speakers and were joined by Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy and Shadow Rail Minister Jerome Mayhew. Lord Hendy praised the Railway Mission’s enduring contribution to staff wellbeing and its strong partnership with the industry, noting its long-standing presence within the rail community.
The event was sponsored by Netcompany, an IT service provider supporting the railway sector in modernising legacy systems and building digital resilience and was supported by the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO), Rail Forum, Rail Freight Group, Railway Industry Association (RIA), and RSSB—reflecting the sector’s shared commitment to mental health and workforce resilience.
Netcompany’s UK Director Richard Davies commented:
“It’s an honour to support the Railway Mission. The tech industry faces the same mental health and well-being challenges as the rail industry, and tackling these is a shared priority.”
New Training Programme: Paideia Coaching
A key highlight of the evening was the formal launch of Paideia Coaching, the Railway Mission’s new professional training arm, and its flagship resilience training programme, developed in collaboration with CIRO.
Derived from the Greek word Paideia, meaning lifelong education, the programme focuses on building ongoing personal growth and resilience. It was created in direct response to requests from rail organisations seeking structured, evidence-informed training to help staff manage the mental and emotional demands of railway work.
During the event, Lord Hendy and Phil Sherratt, CEO of CIRO, presented the CIRO Certificate of Endorsement to Liam Johnston, Executive Director of the Railway Mission, formally recognising the training’s quality and value to the industry.
Matthew Greenwood of Carlisle Support Services, who took part in a recent pilot session with Northern, shared:
“Myself, along with a select group from Carlisle Support Services and Northern, were lucky enough to be involved in a groundbreaking resilience training pilot. The training is potentially game-changing, the format was refreshing and thought-provoking.”
A Unified Industry Effort
Through its partnership with CIRO and the backing of leading organisations, the Railway Mission aims to make mental health awareness, pastoral care, and resilience training integral parts of the UK railway’s culture, ensuring that the people who keep the nation moving receive the support they need, both professionally and personally.
Railway Mission is a registered charity in England and Wales (1128024). A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (06519565)
Railway Mission
Rugby Railway Station
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