Chiltern Railways has announced 12 projects the operator will be supporting with £145k of funding as part of its Community Investment Fund.
The projects will seek to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits in Birmingham, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London.
Last year’s funding went towards engaging over 250 people including boosting rail confidence for refugees and youth groups across the West Midlands and Oxfordshire. The funding also helped enhance station gardens and woodland areas improving stations and their surrounding areas.
Chiltern was presented with a Highly Commended award at the National Rail Awards for the operator’s community work in September 2024.
Zach Bailey, Regional Growth Manager at Chiltern Railways, said:
“After the initial success of last year’s community fund to engage communities across the rail network, we are delighted to be funding a further 12 projects this year.
“From working with our existing Community Rail Partnerships in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire to delivering joint projects with new organisations such as Buckinghamshire New University and The Roald Dahl Museum, I’m confident the projects will improve station environments and help to engage local people as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of UK railways in 2025.”
Some of the projects funded by the CIF in 2024/5 include:
- Several projects to enhance stations across the Chiltern network through community artwork schemes. This includes a Roald Dahl themed display at Great Missenden, a community mural project at Bicester North and working with the Feathers Charity on a community led public art scheme on Rossmore Road Bridge near London Marylebone.
- The Chiltern Rangers delivering planting schemes on public land outside of High Wycombe Station, to enhance the welcome to the town centre.
- Delivering planting and biodiversity schemes with the Tree Council at Gerrards Cross, Aylesbury and Stoke Mandeville stations.
- Supporting Jericho, a social enterprise charity in Birmingham which will support marginalised young people or survivors of modern slavery to take rail confidence trips out on the network.
- Trips for students at the Cressex Community School in High Wycombe to learn about careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
- Projects to promote local businesses and charities including a community gallery at Banbury Station with Banbury Business Improvement District, and community advertising at London Marylebone with the Baker Street Quarter Partnership.
More information on the Community Investment Fund can be found here.
