£100,000 CrossCountry Customer and Communities fund now open for applications

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has announced that its Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) to support community initiatives across the CrossCountry network is now open for applications.

The refreshed grant scheme will open at intervals throughout the year – with the summer application period window open from Tuesday 6 May and 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.

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

• 170101 refurbished - CrossCountry logo Download 170101 refurbished - CrossCountry logo
• Colleagues from CrossCountry and Social Bite Download Colleagues from CrossCountry and Social Bite
• CrossCountry and Cornwall Community Foundation supporting MCH Wheal Prosper Download CrossCountry and Cornwall Community Foundation supporting MCH Wheal Prosper

Contact Information

CrossCountry Press Office: [email protected]

About CrossCountry

CrossCountry is a long-distance passenger train operator, with a network stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff and calling at over 100 stations. Based in Birmingham, CrossCountry connects seven of Britain’s 10 largest cities and delivers 240 services every weekday, equating to over 42 million passenger journeys each year.

For further information on CrossCountry services, visit crosscountrytrains.co.uk or visit one of our social media platforms via X @crosscountryuk or Facebook at facebook.com/crosscountrytrains