Two Sheffield community projects to benefit from more than £9,000 of Transform funding

Sheaf and Porters River Trust, who are working to restore Sheffield’s rivers, will receive £5,000 towards a project to enhance and ‘daylight’ the culverts at Sheffield Railway Station.

The Trust, supported by local designers, planners and engineers, has designed a unique, stainless-steel grille adorned with plaques and poetry, to emphasise this important part of the city’s social and industrial history as well as encouraging wildlife to pass through the long, dark river tunnels.

A £4,122 grant will go to Loxley Valley Community Farm and will be used to create an environment that works both as a productive farm and a thriving home for wildlife. The money will allow new habitats and homes to be built for wildlife, along with tree and hedge planting.

Organisations from across the North and Scotland were invited to apply for grants of up to £5,000 from the Transform Grant Fund which supports initiatives that tackle youth unemployment, help improve the environment and promote social inclusion.

Applications from 17 different causes have been successful and will receive support as part of the £50,000 scheme.

Commenting on this year’s Transform, Accessibility and Integration Manager for TransPennine Express, Natasha Marsay said: “We are so proud to be able to support these incredible causes across our network and I want to say a huge congratulations to the very worthy winners.

“The people and places we serve are so important to us and we hope that this support will make a big difference across our communities – especially during such challenging times.

“The quality of entries has been exceptional as always, and I would also like to thank all those that took the time to submit their applications as part of this year’s scheme.”

TPE received 56 applications for Transform funding this year in total, requesting more than £194,000.