A waiting room at Saxmundham station in Suffolk has been restored following a grant secured by Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund.

A grant of £6,500 has enabled children from the local primary school, along with local artists and poets, to refurbish the waiting room, which had been previously vandalised, giving the locals a space not only to wait for trains, but also a sense of community spirit.

The redesign has seen colourful artworks of birds, butterflies, flowers and a pair of Greater Anglia hares, painted onto light blue walls, complete with a poem on what used to be the waiting room fireplace.

The Greater Anglia Customer and Community Improvement Fund is now in its second year and has supported 28 different community projects across its region in the last year.

£350,000 was set aside by Greater Anglia for its Community Improvement Fund, through which local communities, partnerships, and groups could apply for grants of up to £50,000.

Community improvement funds are available from most Train Operating Companies (TOCs) throughout the year.

In the past, many grants have supported local projects across the country, ranging from better transport integration and heritage preservation to education and station gardens.

Community Funds are a great way for local projects to get off the ground.

Not only do they bring a community together to create something others will enjoy, but they also enhance local community spirit to give something back to society.

The opening of the waiting room featured a red ribbon ceremony, which was well attended by many locals, featuring songs and a bake sale, showcasing the power of community cooperation.

“We are pleased to support this initiative to help enhance our station. We are always looking to strengthen the role of the railway in supporting the communities we serve, and our Customer and Community Improvement Fund allows us to back locally led projects that meet community needs.

Refurbishing the waiting room at Saxmundham station in this way has given local artists and schoolchildren a creative role, and our experience shows that community artwork like this can help prevent further vandalism.”

Greater Anglia’s Partnerships Manager, Scott Dolling

“We are delighted to have been able to refurbish the station thanks to Greater Anglia and the efforts of the local community. Hopefully, this project will help restore a sense of pride and ownership in Saxmundham.”

Thalia Woodgate, East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership Officer