Second instalment of GWR £2.2 million community fund up for grabs

A £2.2 million communities improvement fund launched by Great Western Railway is now inviting applications for the second £750,000 available to support areas of real social need.

Got an idea? Get in touch

Launched in 2015, over 40 schemes benefited from a share of £750,000 in the first year of the Great Western Railway Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) to support areas of real social need.

Designed to help boost local communities, GWR is calling for ideas and bids of all shapes and sizes right now: they must however relate to local rail services: Be that infrastructure, service improvements, or outreach projects to help support customers. No upper or lower funding limits have been set. 

If you have an idea, we want to hear from you

Each proposal will be treated on its own merits and consideration of the benefit it would bring to the community. Remember, it must relate to local rail services.

Please visit www.gwr.com/CCIF, where you will also find further guidance notes, and a case study of a successful scheme. All proposals for the financial year 2016/17 must be returned by Thursday 30 June.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:

“We are committed to improving the journeys of our passengers, as well as the economic prosperity and social footprint of the regions and communities we serve.

“We had many responses earlier this year from those in our communities looking for help, and I am delighted to now be able to invite applications for next phase of our available funding.”

Covering 41 different projects across more than 10 counties, the 2015/16 fund will see among others:

• Help offered to disabled adults and children travel with their adaptive bikes
• An accredited education programme to improve access to engineering opportunities in South Wales
• Improved cycling and access facilities to create more sustainable travel options
• Work to renovate a disused 1859 station building for the community
• A programme to work with Year 5 and 6 pupils in deprived areas to introduce them to the rail network and its link with communities 

Supported by the Department for Transport, the Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) has been established to recognise and back projects identified by the communities the rail operator serves.

All the proposals will be presented to a panel of representatives from our Advisory Board (made up of local stakeholders), our Customer Panel and our executive management team. Their final recommendations will then be put to the Department for Transport (DfT) for approval.