TRU Community Fund

Calling local community groups, schools and charities to help shape the future of our spaces and places along the Transpennine route! Whether it’s restoring vibrant green areas, renovating community facilities, or enhancing local spaces, your proposals can make a real difference.

Billions of pounds are being invested to transform train travel across the Pennines, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU). While we work to deliver major railway upgrades across the 70-mile stretch between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, we’re committed to investing back into the fantastic communities we’re working in.

That’s why we’ve created the TRU Community Fund. We’re offering local community groups, schools and charities the opportunity to apply for funding to improve local spaces and places across the Transpennine route.

Click through the photos below to see examples of TRU’s Community Fund Projects from 2024. 

  • Before the refurbishment of a disused changing room into a cycle library, recycling space and Family Cycle Hub. In collaboration with Your Trust.
  • After the refurbishment of a disused changing room into a cycle library, recycling space and Family Cycle Hub. In collaboration with Your Trust.
  • Transformation of an overgrown plot into 14 community mini allotments to enable ‘Edible Gardening’ sessions, improving residents’ health and food-growing skills. In collaboration with Grow Wakefield.
  • Creation of a dedicated space for one-to-one educational mentoring and mental health support for local secondary school students. In collaboration with The Place (University of York).
  • Creation of a dedicated space for one-to-one educational mentoring and mental health support for local secondary school students. In collaboration with The Place (University of York).
  • In collaboration with Milnsbridge Village Hall. Access improvements to steeply sloped and overgrown areas within the village hall grounds.
  • In collaboration with Milnsbridge Village Hall. Access improvements to steeply sloped and overgrown areas within the village hall grounds.
   

The TRU Community Fund 2025

The TRU Community Fund is back for its second year running. This year, a total of £250,000 is available in grants of £1,000, £5,000, £10,000 and £20,000. Depending on the number of applications received, we’re expected to deliver approximately 75 grants to local communities.

 

Application Dates

  • Applications open: 6 October 2025
  • Applications close: 27 October 2025 – please note that the application window may close earlier if we receive a high number of applications.
  • Successful applicants notified: by 30 November 2025.
  • Payments to successful applicants: by 19 December 2025

How to apply

This year, applications will be made via Neighbourly, an award-winning giving platform, free to use for charities and community organisations.

To be able to apply, you must have an account for your good cause on the Neighbourly platform, as the application process will be managed exclusively by Neighbourly.

Please make an account and register your good cause with Neighbourly before October 6th to get a head start. Once applications open, you can then apply on the TRU Community Fund campaign page.

Eligibility

  • The project for which you are applying for funding must create, enhance or protect indoor or outdoor facilities.
  • Your organisation’s premises and project location must be located within 5 miles of the TRU route.

Additional eligibility requirements can be found on our FAQ document and on the campaign page, when applications open.

For any additional questions about the TRU Community Fund 2025, please contact community@neighbourly.com.

TRU Sustainable Development Strategy

The TRU Community Fund aligns with key objectives of our TRU Sustainable Development Strategy, ‘Our Guiding Compass’.

Our Fund will enable TRU to be a catalyst for regeneration, by enhancing and protecting community spaces and places along the Transpennine railway line.

   

“The TRU Community Fund is a fantastic opportunity for the organisations at the heart of our communities to leave a lasting impact on the people they serve. With over 20 organisations offered funding in 2024, we’re delighted to be able to bring back the scheme for its second year in a row, and encourage as many local schools, charities and community groups as possible to apply this year.” Alex Peters, Interim Head of Sustainability and Social Value for TRU.