Less than a week left to bid for GWR’s community funding

Great Western Railway (GWR) is urging organisations to apply for its Customer and Community Fund ahead of the deadline next week.

The application window for the community-focused fund closes at 12:00 on Monday 2 February. GWR said it hoped to build on the success of last year’s fund, which supported more than 90 projects across the operator’s network.

The fund is designed to support small and medium rail-related projects that benefit railway passengers and address local social needs through charities, community groups and voluntary organisations in the region GWR serves.

GWR said it was particularly interested in schemes that encouraged rail travel, carbon reduction, connect communities, support economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and deliver educational programmes around careers in rail or public transport awareness and rail safety.

Last year’s successful projects included:

• £24,000 towards Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Bristol, for a project to connect deaf communities across the region.
• Friends of Barnstaple Railway Station have used its £2,500 funding in partnership with Braunton Men’s Shed to repair platform planters and create a bug house in the form of a traditional signal box.
• Avonmouth Community Centre Association is using its £13,000 funding to develop a wellbeing project focused on gardening, growing food, and connecting people through green space – all inspired by the story of the railway.
• South Gloucestershire Council received £25,000 funding to install 20 new weatherproof bike lockers at Yate in the station car park, offering secure bike storage for regular train users. The project was delivered with support from GWR and Severnside CRP, with the aim to make it easier and safer for residents to combine cycling with rail travel.

GWR Senior Community Impact Manager Emma Morris said: “Our Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a superb programme that allows us to invest locally in projects that have a positive and meaningful impact for our customers and our communities.

“With past funding we’ve supported a diverse range of initiatives, from inspiring educational programmes and wayfinding schemes to wildlife and railway heritage conservation. We’re committed to improving passenger journeys and the economic prosperity and social footprint of the regions we serve.”

GWR added that all schemes must show a clear link to the railway and demonstrate strong community involvement. Projects must be completed by the end of March 2027.

For more information and to submit an application, visit GWR’s Community Investment page.