Submit your bid: GWR launches latest Customer and Community Improvement Fund in London and the Thames Valley
Projects connected to the railway and which address an area of social need can now apply for a slice of Great Western Railway’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund.
Following the success of last year’s scheme, in which GWR supported 52 projects totalling more than £900k, GWR is inviting funding bids for customer and community projects.
As part of its 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.
Platform Rail Education and Southeast Communities Rail Partnership have specialist teams delivering rail-education to young people across the GWR network.
When delivering workshops, both teams noticed a recurring theme around the misconceptions young people have about the railway. A grant of £8,900 was used to create an engaging, innovative and informative video, helping to bust myths which ranged from inaccurate and unhelpful to incredibly dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
Now GWR is inviting bids for 2024-25. Schemes must show a link to the railway and address an area of social need.
Applications must be submitted via an online portal on GWR’s website here, where there are also guidance notes on making a successful bid. All proposals must be submitted by 2359 on Monday 25 March.
GWR’s Head of Regional & Welsh Development Dan Okey said:
“The Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to invest in projects that really make a difference to our customers and communities at a local level. We’re really keen to stress that all bids must relate to rail and address an area of social need.
“We are particularly interested in schemes that benefit customers, increase rail travel, encourage carbon reduction, connect communities, people and places, support economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and educational programmes that support careers in rail or increase awareness and experience of public transport and rail safety.
“A good bid will show a strong level of community involvement and support and the proposal will have benefits that last beyond the duration of the project.”
Bids can vary in size, but GWR is particularly looking for small and medium bids to maximise the number of communities it can help.
Contact Information
John Carter
Media and Communications Manager
Great Western Railway
0845 410 4444
Notes to editors
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us.