Last Call to Apply for GWR’s Community Fund as Railway 200 Celebrations Begin

With just one week left to apply, Great Western Railway (GWR) is urging communities to submit their proposals for the 2025 Customer and Community Improvement Fund (CCIF). This year’s initiative, tied to the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, focuses on projects that celebrate the legacy of the railway while fostering positive change in local communities. Applications close at 11:59 PM on Friday, 31 January 2025.

Celebrating 200 Years of the Modern Railway

As the rail industry marks two centuries of transformative impact, GWR aims to honour this milestone by sponsoring projects that reflect the history, innovation, and social significance of the railway. From Victorian engineering marvels to its integral role in communities across the South-West and South Wales, the railway has long been a catalyst for progress.

Emma Roberts, Programme Manager for Railway 200, said:
“This year’s bicentenary of the modern railway is a major national milestone for a British invention that changed the world. Through GWR’s anniversary-related fund, and a wide variety of activities and events throughout the year, we hope it will also have a positive impact on communities, offering opportunities for all.”

What Is the Fund?

The CCIF provides financial support for schools, colleges, councils, community groups, and other non-profits seeking to deliver initiatives that enhance their local areas, celebrate railway heritage, or address pressing social needs. The fund prioritizes projects that focus on inclusion, youth engagement, rail career promotion, and increasing rail travel.

Emma Morris, Senior Community Impact Manager at GWR, emphasized the diversity of past projects:
“Our Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to invest locally in projects that have a positive impact for our customers and our communities, especially as we celebrate 200 years of the railway.”

Examples of Past Successes

Previous projects funded by the CCIF have had a wide-reaching impact, ranging from promoting biodiversity to celebrating cultural heritage. Notable examples include:

• £20,000 for County in the Community in South Wales, supporting youth engagement through sports.
• £3,700 to plant bee-friendly blooms in Freshford and Limpley Stoke.
• £25,000 to document the heritage of Devon’s branch line railways.
• £19,950 to preserve and celebrate Gloucestershire’s LGBTQIA+ histories while enhancing travel accessibility.
• £15,000 for Clean Our Patch CIC, helping to clean and educate communities in Plymouth and South Hams.

Who Can Apply?

GWR encourages proposals that:

• Highlight the railway’s historical or cultural significance.
• Address economic or environmental goals.
• Promote accessibility, diversity, and inclusion.
• Encourage the use of rail for travel and connectivity.

All projects must be linked to the railway and demonstrate tangible benefits for the community. Proposals must be completed by the end of March 2026.

Get Involved Before It’s Too Late

Emma Morris highlighted the fund’s transformative potential:
“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 look forward to receiving a variety of bids which will have a positive local impact.”

For further details, application forms, and guidance, visit the GWR website. Don’t miss the chance to celebrate Railway 200 and make a lasting difference in your community.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, 31 January 2025.