ransPenine Express has announced that they have donated £50,000 to a number of charities and community projects in Northern England and Scotland as part of their Transform Grants Fund.

Each year, the rail operator invites charities and community groups to submit applications for the funding, which aims to support projects tackling unemployment, environment improvement and promoting social inclusion.

74 applications have been received, requesting more than £300,000 across areas that TPE serve.

Winners of the funding include the Southgate School in West Yorkshire, which has received £5,000 for an outdoor adventure programme, The National Literacy Trust is benefitting from just over £4,900 for a book quest project and the Whirlow Hall Farm Trust in Lincolnshire will be receiving £5,000 for a new learning centre.

The full list of winners include Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Branch Out Education, Easington Lane Community Access Point, Kirklees Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Trust, Lake District Foundation, Liverpool Cares, National Literacy Trust, Sight Support Ryedale, Southgate School, Whirlow Hall Farm Trust, Worth Unlimited (Doncaster).

Natasha Marsay, Accessibility and Integration Manager at TransPennine Express, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to submit an application to our Transform Fund. It was fantastic to see so many people take part in a public vote for their favourite project.

“Once again, we received a high standard of submissions for the funding and I’m delighted that so many projects across our local communities we serve will benefit from the Transform Fund, especially in this current climate where many charities and community projects are facing the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a company, we all can’t wait to see how each project benefits from our support.”

Ben Walker, DofE Award Leader, Outdoor Education Co-ordinator at Southgate School said “We have an outdoor adventure programme and we allow children the opportunity to do a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, spending time away from home, opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t get the chance to do, including qualifications. Southgate School is extremely grateful for the grant and it will help us offer these opportunities for a while.”