South-East London, Kent and East Sussex train operator Southeastern has announced the 11 charities that are to receive a share of £380,000 as part of its Customer & Community Improvement Fund (CCIF).

Last year the Train Operating Company opened for applications where grants of up to £50,000 could be applied for by local charity and community projects across the Southeastern network.

Not only does this show Southeastern’s commitment to supporting local communities and charity projects, but it has allowed these areas to grow and expand while highlighting the role that the railway plays across many communities.

This is the second successive year that Southeastern’s CCIF has been in operation which has seen the rail operator donate just shy of £1m to charities’ and communities across south-east London and Kent.

The money has been split among a great diversity of projects listed below:

Prospects – Refocus Project Ltd: This project offers families on low incomes with support, mentoring and mental health services. They also help young people to get involved with structured activities and job training.

Bemix Café – Bemix: This project aims to establish a café that will provide training and employment opportunities for individuals with learning difficulties and/or autism The café will operate at one of Southeastern’s stations as a social enterprise.

Safe Routes: Partnering for Prevention – Missing People: This charity focuses on finding and preventing people from going missing and committing self-harm. They run staff training and awareness campaigns to assist in finding people who have gone missing and returning them home safely, while also trying to prevent people from going missing to begin with. They also offer free travel solutions and provide crisis support at train stations.

Making Connections – Involve Kent: Offers travel training workshops to help autistic children aged 9-18 to successfully travel and navigate public transport while nurturing their independence and promoting social inclusion.

Safe Families South East – Safe Families UK: This organisation works to reduce loneliness across Kent and East Sussex by connecting those who are lonely with local community groups and volunteers. The project also seeks to promote community resilience.

Unity Rail Safe Program (U.R.S) – Youth Unity CIC: This mentoring program is for young individuals at risk of engaging in criminal activity or exhibiting anti-social behaviour. They support and guide those at risk with precise mentoring and partnerships with rail companies to promote better life choices.

Early Childhood Development – Small Steps Big Imprints! – Children & Families: This project aims to improve the lives of children in deprived areas by intervening early to reduce long-term social and economic inequalities they could face in later life. They also promote health and well-being.

Youth Arts Wellbeing and Community Joy – Gravesham Network Development CIC: Offers well-being through singing workshops and art classes to young people with additional needs. This project frequently sees the class artwork displayed at train stations

Specialist Counselling for Survivors of Domestic Abuse – Rising Sun Domestic Violence and Abuse Service: The services offer counselling for women who have suffered from trauma or experienced domestic abuse, the organisation supports deeper healing helping them to recover both emotionally and mentally.

Disabled Access Trips Training and Stories – Touchbase Care: This charity focuses on independence training for disabled adults when they go out by train on community day trips. They also are producing a film outlining previous experiences faced by disabled people using public transport.

Future Pathways – Sports Connect Community CIC: This community project uses sports to tackle anti-social behaviour and offer opportunities for young people to gain skills for potential employment while building relationships within the community.

“The railway is more than just a means of travel, it connects our communities and brings people together.

That is why we are proud to work with these incredible projects which will help people facing isolation, disadvantage, and barriers to opportunity, whether through mentoring programs, support for survivors of domestic abuse, or helping young people build confidence and skills for the future.

We are proud to work with such dedicated organisations to make a tangible, lasting difference in the areas we serve, ensuring that rail remains a positive force in people’s lives.”

Damian Testa, Head of Public Affairs at Southeastern