In the past year, almost 50 people were killed and hundreds more were injured either crossing the tracks, taking short cuts, messing around or playing chicken, and Rochdale is a hotspot for this kind of activity.
The young people who attended the event today had the chance to try out a range of activities in three zones – sport, gaming and music – including football, DJ-ing, urban dance, a climbing wall and a surf simulator.
Local organisations are providing sports coaches for the two days and will be hoping to recruit young people to carry on with their new hobby once the tour has moved on.
Local radio, sports clubs and TV dropped into Rochdale, to support the campaign which is also backed by DJ Dave VJ and athlete Roger Black.
Launching the No Messin’ Live campaign earlier this year, Amir Khan said: “There’s no excuse for mucking about on train tracks. You may think you’re clever and fast but a train is quicker and what’s clever about getting yourself killed? No Messin’ Live! is a great way of finding a better way to spend your time, whether it’s trying out new sports, like boxing, or skills such as mixing and have a laugh with your mates too.”
Network Rail’s Peter Strachan, Route Director for the London North Western region, said: “The young people who use the railway as a playground do so because they think they’ve got nothing else to do. We’re visiting Rochdale because it’s a known hotspot for trespassing and vandalism on the railways.
“Network Rail is committed to preventing pointless tragedies and No Messin’ Live! aims to show the young people who live here that there is a range of activities available to them, like sport, gaming and music, which – unlike playing on the railway – don’t involve the risk of injury, disfigurement and death.”
The No Messin’ Live! campaign isn’t just for the holidays. Network Rail is already working with local youth clubs and community groups in Rochdale and will leave something tangible behind that young people can continue to use after the tour has moved on.
As the tour is in town for two days, anyone aged 10 to 16 who didn’t make it down on day one is welcome to come along and join Amir Khan on day two. The event runs from 10am-5pm at Rochdale’s Hopwood Hall College, Middleton Campus, Rochdale Road, Middleton, M24 6XH on 1 of August.
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