25 community projects across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire have received £479,988.20 from Govia Thameslink Railway.

Govia Thameslink Railway’s Your Station, Your Community fund has been shared out to communities for the fourth year running.

This year’s fund has gone towards schemes to improve diversity and inclusion, environmental improvement, mental health and Railway 200.

Govia Thameslink Railway received over 300 applications for the scheme and could only choose 25 projects.

Some projects included in the 25 are:

• Biggleswade Community Gardens – community members will create a mural to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the railway.
• Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre – Specialist counselling for women and girls to support them through violence.
• Cambridge Sustainable Food – A travelling bike visiting stations to help environmental projects, essentially a travelling garden.
• Centre 33 – Someone To Talk To scheme at Huntingdon Young Persons Early Support Hub, helping those with mental health issues, caring responsibilities and housing.
• Good Gym – A Community project with over 40 sessions which will use outdoor exercise with volunteering projects.

 “It has been great to see what our grant recipients have got up to over the past year for the benefit of the communities we serve on our Thameslink and Great Northern routes.

“This year’s tranche of funding sets out to build on the successes of last year and help even more wonderful organisations do some truly amazing things.”

GTR Community Engagement Manager Rob Whitehead