CrossCounty’s Customer and Communities Investment Fund (CCIF) for 2023/2024 has been launched.

The £103k fund supports applications which benefit the communities along the routes. It works with projects that have a tangible social benefit through outreach schemes or refurbishment projects.

Successful projects must have a link to the railway and be an area of benefit to the community or social needs.

CrossCountry are asking people to put forward their ideas no matter how small, with each proposal to be treated individually.

An application should show how it links with the CrossCountry Network and come under of one these criteria:-

• Customer Experience
• Rail Recovery
• Education and employability skills amongst marginalised groups
• Diversity and inclusion
• Social mobility
• Accessibility
• Environment/sustainability

Applications opened on 11th July 2022 and will be closed by Monday 12th September 2022.  Those looking to enter can find out more at www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/xc-community-hub/ccif-fund.

Tom Joyner, CrossCountry’s Managing Director said:

“The fund is in its second year and is aimed at improving our passengers’ journeys and providing a benefit to the communities we serve. Now more than ever the Customer and Community Investment Fund can play a vital role in rebuilding confidence in our industry and showcase the value of rail. I would like to encourage local organisations and our customers from across our network to get in touch with their ideas.”