The UK’s second largest train operator, Northern, has moved to support social mobility in deprived areas with a £100,000 funding injection to help its mission to positively impact the North of England.
The £100,000 available through the operator’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund is double what was invested last year, when £50,000 was split between 12 projects that sought to tackle social isolation.
This year, the project will have a particular focus on early careers, education outreach and inclusive employment.
“We know social mobility is a major issue for some of the communities across our network,” said Northern’s stakeholder and community engagement director, Carolyn Watson.
Carolyn added: “The Customer & Community Improvement Fund is a way we can support local people to deliver initiatives and projects that they know will help improve the situation on the ground in those locations.
“This is an important part of our mission to ensure that Northern has a positive impact on the North.”
Applications for grants ranging from £2,500 to £20,000 are now open and will close on 7 June for community groups with ideas of supporting social mobility.
The organisations that benefitted from the funding last year included:
- YMCA Barnsley
- Family Action
- Bolton CVS
- The Hub at Westhoughton
- Brathay
- Humber Job Hub CIC
- Niamos Centre
- Selby Coder Dojo
- Divine Days Community CIC
- Settle and Community Business Hub
- Maverick Lab CIC
- Featherstone Rovers
Northern hopes another cohort of local organisations can ‘lead the charge’ on improving social mobility in the deprived areas of its network.
Image credit: Northern
