TransPennine Express has announced that 17 causes across Northern England and Scotland are to receive donations thanks to the Transform Grants Fund.

As part of the £50,000 scheme, organisations were invited to apply for up to £5,000 in funding to support projects tackling unemployment in young people.

For their Travelling TransPennine Toybox Trails, York based ToyLikeMe has been awarded £4,855. St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds will receive £4,993 to improve their Path of Life memorial garden, whilst Manchester Young Lives has been awarded £5,000 to fund a new 16 to 24 year old cooking class.

The full list of winners are Abbot’s Lea School, Liverpool, The Island, York, Friends of Scarborough Valley Gardens, Jock Tamson’s Garden, Edinburgh, Friends of Rowntree Park, York, Densholme Farm Action, Great Hatfield, Futureworks NY, Scarborough, Manchester Young Lives, FirstLight Trust, Scarborough, Red Tower York CIC, Sheaf and Porters River Trust, Sheffield, Friends of Oswald Road Primary School, Manchester, St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds, Nields School, Slaithwaite,
The Fairfield Association, Lancaster, ToysLikeMe, York, Loxley Valley Community Farm, Sheffield.

In total, 56 applications were sent to TransPennine Express, requesting more than £194,000.

Commenting on this year’s Transform scheme, Accessibility and Integration Manager for TransPennine Express, Natasha Marsay said: “We are so proud to be able to support these incredible causes across our network and I want to say a huge congratulations to the very worthy winners.

“The people and places we serve are so important to us and we hope that this support will make a big difference across our communities – especially during such challenging times.

“The quality of entries has been exceptional as always, and I would also like to thank all those that took the time to submit their applications as part of this year’s scheme.”

Karen Newell from ToyLikeMe said: “ToyLikeMe is toot toot tootingly happy to have been chosen to receive a grant for its TransPennine Travelling ToyBox Trail here in York. We will deliver 8 stereotype smashing Toyboxes and inclusion activity programme resources to schools and play centres in York who welcome children with disabilities. Imagine if you had never seen yourself reflected back in the toys and media around you. How does that make you feel? Excluded, isolated, not worthy and lacking confidence and self-esteem. Well not anymore, thanks to TransPennine.”

Lucy Vernon, Senior Fundraiser (Trust and Grant Applications) said: “St Gemma’s is delighted to be awarded a TransPennine Express Transform grant. This will help us to improve our Path of Life garden which provides a peaceful space in the Hospice grounds for bereaved friends and family members to remember their loved ones.”

Samantha Maunder, Youth Programme Manager for Manchester Young Lives said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding which will enable us to provide additional support to young people which will improve their well-being and confidence, as well as developing a range skills to help them become more independent as they move into the world of work. We look forward to working in Partnership with TransPennine Express”

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