Communities from across the London Northwestern Railway (LNR) and West Midlands Railway (WMR) networks are being invited to put forward ideas for help transform their areas.
The “Your Community, Your Fund” scheme is now open for applications and aims to inspire people to get involved with the railway, as well as supporting established groups by helping them to enrich their local communities. The fund has already supported a number of community-led projects and is set to do the same during 2022.
The process of applying is simple. WMR and LNR are inviting communities and social enterprise groups to submit their projects – which will then undergo a selection process. If chosen, each project will need to be completed by February 2023 and will receive support from LNR and WMR’s dedicated rail and community teams to help bring their visions to life.
The application window is open until Wednesday 11 May, with successful bids due to be announced in coming weeks. The scheme is open to local communities and social enterprises that are in need of funding, to help develop projects across the LNR and WMR networks – with the core focus to deliver significant benefits to their local community and station.
Last year, WMR supported 21 exciting projects across its network – which helped to provide a great number of benefits to the environment, as well as social enhancements and station improvements. Projects included heritage, arts, and community wellbeing programmes, as well as supporting schemes such as ‘Rail and Rambles’, ‘Poetry Trails’ and improving confidence in rail travel. To find out more about the 2021 projects visit here.
Meanwhile, LNR helped bring a number of exciting projects across its network – and saw communities flourish as a result. Various stations saw upgrades and improvements installed such as the regeneration of the station gallery at Nuneaton station and new signage for Wolverton station. As well as supporting a selection of brilliant schemes that brightened up local areas – including the transformation of the station square outside Milton Keynes Central. To learn more, click here.
Fay Easton, head of stakeholder and community, at West Midlands Railway, said: “I am delighted to help launch this community funding initiative once again. The work our communities achieved last year was impressive and the team were so proud to have been involved.
“The railway is an important aspect of every community and it’s great to see the work that takes place when people and passengers work together as well as the immense effort they go to, to create a cherished railway. We are looking forward and excited to see the variety of projects submitted for this year’s round of funding.”
Tim Bellenger, head of stakeholder and community at London Northwestern Railway, said: “It’s great to see our brilliant funding initiative is back once again. The scheme offered a variety of communities and social enterprises the chance to enhance their local railway last year, and I can’t wait to see the work we’re able to achieve this time around. “The railways are such an important part of the communities they operate in, and our funding not only inspires individuals but gives them the opportunity to make a difference too. I’m looking forward to seeing the amazing variety of projects that are submitted and urge anyone thinking of applying that meets requirements to absolutely go for it. It’s great to see the impact we can make when we come together.”
The Your Community, Your Fund scheme is financed by the Department for Transport. Under the scheme, WMR and sister company London Northwestern Railway will invest in community projects across the network over the coming months.
If you’re interested in applying for WMR’s ‘Your Community, Your Fund’ 2022 funding or would like to find out more, visit here — and for LNR click here. To find out whether your organisation and project concept is eligible for the funding, please visit here for the WMR region and here for LNR.
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