Northern Rail: Customer and Community Improvement Fund
At Northern, our vision is to make a positive impact for the North, in all we do and for all we serve. Our Customer and Community Improvement Fund supports incredible projects across the North, delivering long-lasting benefits to customers and communities around our network.
Applications are now open for grants and we’re looking for even more projects to support. This year, the fund has been doubled to £200,000, made up of individual grants with values of up to £2,500, £10,000 or £20,000.
If you know, or are involved with, an organisation or group doing great work that matches what we’re looking for this year, please share the information with them and encourage them to apply, or apply on their behalf, online at: northernrailway.co.uk/about-us/community/ccif.
The deadline for applications is 23.59 on Friday 18 July 2025. Applicants can find further information about what happens after applications close on the link above.
This year we will focus specifically on connectivity and social isolation. A recent study has shown 49.63% of adults (25.99 million people) in the UK reported feeling lonely at some point in their lives. Northern want to help combat this by supporting projects/initiatives that look to reduce social isolation and help people become integrated into their local communities.
We’re open to any great ideas but there are a few things that we wouldn’t be able to consider project funding for.
Successful schemes must not: Provide a commercial return to Northern require ongoing funding feasibility studies into new services, new railway lines / routes or new stations be something we would be expected to deliver as part of our business plan commitments (we can advise if you’re not sure) require any element of delivery by Northern.
Who can apply?
Pretty much anyone! We welcome applications from colleagues, customers, stakeholders, community groups, charities and not for profit organisations. If you have previously received a Customer and Community Improvement Fund grant, you may still apply but your application must be for a different project. Projects do not need to be linked to one of our stations or have a specific connection to rail but should be delivered within 10 miles of one of our station, depot or TrainCare Centre locations.
If you have any questions about the fund, please email ccif@northernrailway.co.uk.
