SOUTH Western Railway has announced a £1.5 million investment in 58 local community projects across its network, from London to Devon.
Projects that benefit local communities by improving their surroundings, as well as their residents’ quality of life, are just some of those awarded funding from SWR’s Customers and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) round for 2023/24.
Included in the 58 projects - 15 of which are run by local authorities in Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Wiltshire.
It is yet to be released which projects in Devon are to receive funding.
In total, 58 schemes have been awarded CCIF funding, and when combined with the additional match funding that 35 of the projects have also confirmed, a little over £3 million is set to be invested in these important community projects.
The latest round brings the total number of projects supported by CCIF to more than 100 and SWR has now given more than £7 million in grants across three rounds of funding. Successful projects last year included Shawford station’s Platform One Café and station forecourt improvements at Weymouth.
06 September 2023, 11:34
- South Western Railway’s Customers and Communities Improvement Fund will support 58 local projects across Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Surrey and Wiltshire
- Projects ranging from a primary school competition in Staines to improvements at Feniton and Salisbury stations have been submitted by charities, community groups and 15 local authorities
- Match funding will take the total investment to £3 million
SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) has announced a £1.5 million investment in 58 local community projects across its network, from Vauxhall in London to Exeter in Devon.
Projects that benefit local communities by improving their surroundings, as well as their residents’ quality of life, are just some of those awarded funding from SWR’s Customers and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) round for 2023/24.
The wide range of projects will be funded by a wide range of grants. In Wokingham, SWR has awarded £1,350 to Wokingham In Need - a charity dedicated to helping homeless and vulnerable people - for early years play and learn sessions.
At the other end of the scale, SWR has awarded £76,759 to the University of Portsmouth for the UK’s first ‘skills garden’, an interactive outdoor space that can be used by the whole of the local community.
Included in the 58 projects - 15 of which are run by local authorities in Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Wiltshire – are:
- The purchase of wet wheelchairs for Dolphins Swim Club in Woking, to provide more swimming opportunities for people with learning and physical needs. SWR is contributing £3,633.76 in funding.
- Active Vision, a 12-month project which will allow Guide Dogs to support 30 vision impaired people living across the SWR network, helping them to get out of their homes and re-engage with the local community. SWR is contributing £25,605 in funding.
- Improving facilities at Smallbrook Junction on the Isle of Wight, for passengers connecting between the Island Line and the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, including Customer Information Screens and power and lighting using solar power and biodiesel. SWR is contributing £46,000.
Dolphin's Swim Club, Guide Dogs and the Isle of Wight Steam Railway comment on their funding in the video below.
In total, 58 schemes have been awarded CCIF funding, and when combined with the additional match funding that 35 of the projects have also confirmed, a little over £3 million is set to be invested in these important community projects.
The latest round brings the total number of projects supported by CCIF to more than 100 and SWR has now given more than £7 million in grants across three rounds of funding. Successful projects last year included Shawford station’s Platform One Café and station forecourt improvements at Weymouth.
Peter Williams, SWR’s Customer and Commercial Director said:
'At South Western Railway we are always looking for ways to support the local communities our network serves, and the Customer and Communities Improvement Fund plays a vital role in this by funding schemes that will provide very real benefits for people in towns and villages across our network.