Nearly 1,000 children have enjoyed a trip to London over the past school year thanks to a partnership with Hull Trains and the local charity.

The rail operator has worked in partnership with the charity Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University for more than 10 years, and over the past year has seen 36 groups made up of 991 children and 256 adults get on board a Hull Train’s service to London.

The charity hosts a range of educational activities for children one of which is its London Experience which supports youngsters to appreciate that the world exists outside of their own community, the experience also aids confidence and aspirations.

As an ongoing supporter of the charity, Hull Trains has been able to support children from an array of local schools to enjoy a journey to and from the capital to see some of London’s famous landmarks.

Rose James, Director of Development at HCU, said: “Hull Trains have supported our charity now for almost a decade in various ways, including helping children travel safely to and from London and fundraising activities outside of working hours. For many of these children, it is their first time ever seeing the Humber Bridge as they leave their city for the first time in their lives.

“Not every child gets to visit London, so having that opportunity can spark a whole new set of dreams. The Hull Trains staff always go above and beyond to help our charity, from the initial booking process right through until we have arrived safely back in Hull. We are extremely grateful for their support; it genuinely helps us to create dreams for more local children.”

 “The value and experiences that HCU brings to the lives of local children and families are huge” explained Head of Commercial at Hull Trains, Tom McFall, “It is a very well deserving local charity that we are proud to be associated with and we can’t wait to welcome more children on board with trips to the capital over the coming months!”