Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership will be at Pride in Gloucestershire as part of project celebrating LGBTQIA+ histories

A project to preserve and celebrate Gloucestershire LGBTQIA+ histories and enhance travel accessibility has received a £19,950 grant from Great Western Railway.

Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership (GCRP) will be at Pride in Gloucestershire on Saturday as part of a project to map LGBTQIA+ histories, collect stories and address travel concerns.

The project will gather insights to create a resource preserving and celebrating LGBTQIA+ histories and advocating for their transport needs. Results will inform GCRP's activities, shape travel confidence resources and guide stakeholders in making public transport more inclusive.

GCRP successfully applied for a grant from GWR’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund, which was launched to support local communities and address areas of social need.

As part of GWR’s National Rail Contract with the Department for Transport, the train operator is committed to supporting schools, colleges, councils, community and other not-for-profit organisations by aiding a number of initiatives.

GCRP Executive Director, Hannah McDonnell, said:

“We’re extremely grateful for this funding from GWR, which will help us amplify the voices and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community in Gloucestershire. This initiative is a key part of our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and accessibility in rail travel.

“By focusing on the LGBTQIA+ community, GCRP continues its mission to ensure that rail services are welcoming and accessible to all members of society. The project aligns with our broader goals of removing barriers to rail travel, promoting understanding of diverse community needs, and creating a more inclusive transport network across Gloucestershire.”

Information collected will contribute to a comprehensive report on LGBTQIA+ travel needs and challenges, which will be shared with local authorities and transport providers.

GCRP will then focus on developing an engaging and accessible resource that connects the LGBTQIA+ community with the rail network, ensuring that the voices and histories gathered are preserved and used to advocate for improved travel confidence and connectivity.

Pride in Gloucestershire Chairperson, Richard Stevens, said:

“The project from the Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership surrounding the Queer History map is a really exciting one and will be a perfect display of how diverse our county is and has been.

“The LGBTQ+ community has been a part of Gloucestershire’s history for centuries and for a community that is often isolated and targeted, it is important to give our community visibility and make people feel less alone.

“It’s also a great opportunity to get people out and about in Gloucestershire engaging with, and discovering, our rich culture and history and look at ways to make public transport more accessible and inclusive. “

GWR Senior Community Impact Manager, Emma Morris, said:

“The Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to invest in our communities in projects that really make a difference at a local level.

“Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership has made giant strides in connecting communities and making rail travel accessible to everyone. This project will enable it to dive deeper into the specific needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, helping it to create more tailored solutions and advocate for changes that will benefit not just this group, but all rail users in Gloucestershire.”