Central Cheshire Buddies Scheme, a Cheshire-based charity which supports disabled young people and their carers, has received backing from operator Avanti West Coast for its ‘Train Buddies’ project.

This gives members of the charity’s activity groups the opportunity to experience day trips by train.

The first trip saw one group head from Crewe to Blackpool for a day out by the sea, and by March 2025 three of the charity’s groups will have made a total of 24 rail journeys.

For many of the children, these will be their first-ever trips by rail and, in some cases, their first trips outside of Crewe.

As well as enjoying the days out, it is hoped that these young people will also learn how to get around stations, ask for assistance, and board and slight trains safely, thereby allowing them to make more rail journeys in the future.

Moreover, members of the charity group will also have the chance to take part in creating a new piece of artwork for Crewe station.

A series of workshops will be held where recycled and repurposed materials will be used to create a piece of art that celebrates Crewe’s railway heritage.

The funding for these outings and for the artwork project has been provided by Avanti West Coast’s Customer and Communities Investment Fund.

The application process for receiving a share of this fund took place last winter, and any groups involved in social projects or regeneration initiatives within 10 miles of a station served by Avanti West Coast were eligible to apply.

In previous years, the operator’s fund has supported initiatives such as a children’s story trail in Staffordshire.

More information about the Central Cheshire Buddies Scheme can be found by clicking here.

We’ve seen first-hand the great work Cheshire Buddies do for disabled children and young carers local to our route, so we’re pleased to be funding their latest project and connecting them to the railway, which is a key part of their hometown.

Supporting initiatives that matter most to the people and places we serve is what our Customer and Communities Investment Fund is all about and we are delighted to be connecting young local people to opportunities they otherwise would not have access to. We look forward to welcoming them to our stations and onboard our trains for their days out and are sure they’ll have a great time experiencing the railway!”

Joanna Buckley, Avanti West Coast Community Manager

We’re delighted to work in partnership with Avanti West Coast and their team at Crewe station. This is a great opportunity for the children to travel on a train and to create a legacy piece of artwork at the station. The children are really looking forward to travelling on the trains and for many they would never normally get this opportunity.

Stephanie Lawley, Cheshire Buddies