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In the more recent series of Thomas and Friends, there
has been a greater focus on the role of the children of Sodor. In many of the newer stories, Thomas and the other engines
have been seen striving to try and help them while going about their daily duties, which are rather trivial things
such as organising parties and delivering toys. However, there is a very real issue out there which we'd like to
turn your attention to which affects the lives of children across the world every day.
David Maidment set up the charity Railway Children
in 1995 in order to help children across the world who are affected by homelessness, particularly in developing countries
such as India. A former Railway Executive, he became aware of the problem in the early 1990s as a result of conferences
on railway safety overseas. He found a number of children were found
to be sleeping rough and at risk on the streets, and sought shelter and refuge in railway stations, hence the name of the
charity.
In early 1997, David approached the Britt Allcroft Company to ask for
a donation to the cause, and was given the role of Railway Consultant for the fifth series of Thomas, providing some
creative and realistic insight for Producer/Director David Mitton to work from. The company generously donated £10,000
to the charity for David's services.
Very recently, contact was made with Mr Maidment through SiF Researcher Jim
Gratton (aka TroublesomeTruck), and he even made time for an interview and thoughtful response which has been pubished
in our Interviews Page. By way of showing our gratitude to him for his time and insight
to our research, Sodor Island would like to take the opportunity to
ask all of our visitors to consider giving a donation, no matter how much or how little they can afford to the cause
and help Railway Children to help these unfortunate children.
50% of the charity's £2million annual income comes from people within
the railway industry and enthusiast market. In 2006, they were able to help over 24,000 children and they now work with
over 40 partner organisations, with 117 projects worldwide across Africa, Asia, South America and Europe.
Every penny counts to the work of the charity, and we hope that you will
give as generously as you can to the good work that Mr Maidment and his colleagues do for these street children.
All information about Railway Children
is available above at their website, as well as means of making donations.
Truro has agreed to give £1 from every one of his art commissions to
Railway Children to support the good work of the charity.
For just £5, he will paint, draw or sketch anything you wish, and part
of the cost will go to help a child on the street out of poverty. For more details of his art venture, visit his
website - http://truro359.tripod.com/trurosartwork/
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