Charity partnership ends having raised £3.5 million in four years

Rail and bus operator FirstGroup brought its four-year charity partnership with Action for Children to a close on March 31, after providing £3.5 million.

FirstGroup-owned Great Western Railway provided support through employee and customer fundraising, corporate donations, gift-in-kind advertising space, volunteering, and pro bono support.

Initially set up for three years in April 2018, the partnership had been extended to a fourth year.

A highlight came in June 2019 when GWR ran the HST Farewell Rail Tour, raising £30,000 for the charity.

“To be able to contribute towards this incredible sum, knowing the difference it will make to so many young people, is a huge moment of pride for all of us at GWR,” said GWR Community Manager Emma Morris.

The organisation’s support focuses on the mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people, including more than 1,000 training places for Action for Children mental health staff on the frontline of the GWR network.

As a result, Action for Children employees deliver initiatives such as The Blues programme, for 13- to 19-year-olds with early indicators of low mood and anxious thoughts.

The funding also supports staff training to deliver the Bouncing Back programme, a one-day training course started in response to the pandemic.

Aimed at eight- to 19-yearolds, it equips young people with practical tools, an understanding of good mental health resilience, and the knowledge of when and where to seek additional support.

The fundraising led to more than 2,000 activities being provided through Action for Children’s Enrichment Fund, giving children who might otherwise miss out access to enriching activities and experiences that improve mental health and wellbeing.