Customer and Community Improvement Fund

Making a Difference in the Communities We Serve

At Northern, we’re proud to be the biggest passenger train operator outside London, connecting people and places across the North of England every day. But we’re about more than just transport. We care deeply about the communities we serve —and our vision is ‘to make a positive impact for the North in all we do and for all we serve.’

One way we do that is through the Northern Customer and Community Fund. This fund helps support local projects that improve lives and bring communities together. Each year, we focus on a key theme to guide the fund and make sure we’re creating meaningful change.

The fund is open to customers, charities, community groups, not-for-profits—anyone who’s working to make things better in their local area. We’d love to hear your idea – whether that’s offering free employment support, empowering underrepresented groups, reducing social isolation or any other initiative which will have a positive impact. We believe the best ideas come from the people they’re designed to help—so we encourage communities to help shape the projects we fund.

Our Customer and Community Fund is now closed. It will reopen next year, keep an eye on this page and our social media for more information! In the mean time please see our case studies below from some of our successful 2024 applicants

Case Studies from 2024

Special Needs Under Fives

Special Needs Under Fives are a longstanding charity giving volunteer opportunities for people across Bolton to support special needs children between the age of two to five, within early years settings. Their volunteers provide one to one essential support to a child for one session per week. Each volunteer they recruit receives an induction, safeguarding training and a DBS check. After completion, they support a special needs child within a pre-school setting in their local community.

Special Needs Under Fives wanted to grow and develop their team of volunteers, by recruiting and training more people which the funding has paid for. The project has contributed to the wider Bolton economy by engaging in support for young children and schools.

To find out more visit the Special Needs Under Fives Support website.

Extra Time

Extra Time provide mentoring workshops on confidence building and rekindling skill sets. They are primarily aimed at older people who have been out of work for some time. They give support to help people gain paid employment or volunteering opportunities. 80% of people who attend the courses report an increase in their confidence and belief. Extra Time aim to build confidence and develop presentation and interview techniques increasing possibilities of employment. They also offer a one to one mentoring service which gives advice on looking for work and completing applications. Funding from the Northern Customer and Community Fund helped pay for more courses and training to take place.

Find out more on the Extra Time website.

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