Great Western Railway is inviting bids for funding from customer and community projects connected to the railway in its area that address an area of social need.
The funding for the projects will come from the company's Customer and Community Improvement Fund. Last year, Great Western supported 52 projects worth a total value of more than £900k.
The support for the projects is through the company's National Rail Contract with the Department for Transport, which requires it to support schools, colleges, councils, community, and other not-for-profit organisations.
Among last year's projects was the Turning Tides Project CIC based in the Tea Rooms at Crediton Station in Devon, where a grant of £18,950 was made to renovate the toilet facilities and make them accessible for people with disabilities.
The project had both a positive impact on the local community and showed how accessible toilets could be created while maintaining all aspects of a listed building and its heritage.
Great Western Railway is now inviting bids for 2024-25. Applications must demonstrate that they have a link to the railway and address an area of social need.
Bids for funding can be large or small, but in particular, the company is looking for small and medium bids to maximise the number of communities it can help.
Information, guidance notes on making a successful bid, and application forms are on the company's website which can be accessed by clicking here. The closing date for applications is 2359 on Monday, 25 March.
Details about some of the projects awarded last year can be found below:
GWR Regional Growth Manager (West), David Whiteway, 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.”
