Welsh Charities Urged to Apply for Funding from Leading Train Operator
The refreshed grant scheme will open at intervals throughout the year – with the summer application period closing on Friday 6 June.
A total of £100,000 has been made available throughout the year for community projects that deliver tangible social and environmental benefits across the UK, including South Wales.
Candice Dos Santos Hodgson, Project Manager at CrossCountry, said:
'We're excited to launch the next Customer and Communities Improvement Fund and can't wait to see what applications come in from communities across the country.
'We'd be delighted to hear from projects and groups looking to improve the communities served by the CrossCountry network, especially with an emphasis on social value and sustainability – if this sounds like you, please visit our website to apply.'
Since 1 April 2022, the Customer and Communities Improvement Fund has supported 30 different initiatives across the country, to a total value of over £550,000.
This has included £17,000 donation to social enterprise Social Bite's Job First programme in Edinburgh, as well as a £40,000 donation to Cornwall Community Foundation.
Tamara Sherston-Baker, Development Director at the Cornwall Community Foundation, said:
'It's been fantastic to work with CrossCountry to help even more projects and initiatives with their critical community work across Cornwall.
'We always value support from businesses and organisations working in Cornwall and we look forward to working closely with CrossCountry again in the future.'
Marzena Farana-Sherlock, Director of Social Impact at Social Bite, said:
'The generous funding from CrossCountry will allow us to continue supporting individuals affected by homelessness into jobs, which can be truly life-changing. By working closely with employers and partners, we aim to create a long-term, systemic shift in how people with a background of homelessness access and sustain employment.'
Applications to the fund can be made through an easy-to-complete online form. To find out more and to apply to the Fund, visit www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/customer-and-communities-improvement-fund.
For the first time this year, additional funding will be delivered by CrossCountry through its Biodiversity Improvements Projects (BIP) fund, which will support projects on and around the rail network that enhance biodiversity, improve access to nature and help the railway adapt to the changing climate. Applications to the BIP fund for this year can be made at www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/xc-community-hub/biodiversity-improvement-projects-fund
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