Community organisations in London and Surrey benefit from half-million-pound railway fund

Community organisations across London and Surrey have been handed their share of almost half a million pounds from a fund set up by the country’s largest train operator.

The fourth year running of Govia Thameslink Railway’s Your Station, Your Community fund has seen a record £479,988.20 go towards 25 projects which benefit the diverse communities along its extensive network.

This year’s successful recipients have bid for schemes which promote a range of causes – including positive mental health, diversity and inclusion, employability and confidence building, improving the station environment, environmental sustainability and Railway 200.

More than 312 bids from across GTR’s network, which covers Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express routes, were received for the coveted scheme.

Community Engagement Manager Rob Whitehead said: “It has been great to see what our grant recipients have got up to over the past year for the benefit of the communities we serve on our Thameslink and Great Northern routes.

“This year’s tranche of funding sets out to build on the successes of last year and help even more wonderful organisations do some truly amazing things.”

Among those receiving grant funding in the region include a support group for people impacted by homelessness, and a scheme to empower 570 refugees and asylum seekers to secure employment.

Govia Thameslink Railway has also partnered with Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens in Richmond to deliver the Grow Wild on the Railway project, which will see projects developed and led by young people living locally to selected stations to improve biodiversity.

The successful projects will receive a £500 grant to develop and deliver their idea, with regular support from Kew’s Grow Wild Team.

Grow Wild champions UK native plants and fungi, and inspires people to connect with nature, enhance biodiversity and take action in their communities. The young people will also have the opportunity to gain the Young Environmental Leader Award.

Polly Gifford, Grow Wild & Youth Programme Manager, said: “We’re excited to see the launch of Grow Wild on the Railway. This funding gives young people a chance to lead creative projects that celebrate UK native plants and fungi, while making a real difference in their local communities.

“With support from our team and local station partners, they’ll gain valuable experience and inspire others to connect with nature, with the opportunity to reach huge numbers of people who pass through the stations every day."

The total list of recipients in London and Surrey includes:

• Breaking Barriers (breaking-barriers.co.uk)

• Scheme for 570 refugees and asylum seekers to secure employment, supported by coaching, mentoring and job opportunities.

• Bromley and Croydon Women's Aid (bcwa.org.uk)

• Supporting victims of domestic abuse with confidential telephone and face-to-face support.

• Climate Ed (climateed.net)

• Education for primary-school aged children on how to reduce their carbon footprint at 30 school classes within two miles of GTR stations.

• Evolve Housing Support (evolvehousing.org.uk)

• Providing mental health and trauma support to people impacted by homelessness in Croydon

• House of Fairy Tales (houseoffairytales.org)

• Engaging the thousands of schools served by the GTR network in a celebration of 200 years of the modern railway through participation in an enrichment programme on the history of rail, and its importance in a greener future

• Lucy Rayner Foundation (thelucyraynerfoundation.com)

• Expanding the foundation’s suicide prevention and mental health outreach program, which supports those in mental crisis with the help of a new suicide prevention officer.

• Motivez (motivez.co.uk)

• Sustainable Southwark connects 20 STEM professionals with 120 students from minorities aged 14-16 to develop engineering-based solutions to mitigate local sustainability issues and reach net zero. Youngsters will compete against each other to create and pitch innovative and sustainable transport solutions inspired by the GTR network.

• Railway Children (railwaychildren.org.uk)

• Engagement work and training on GTR routes to ensure vulnerable young people facing mental health issues are identified and offered support quickly, along with a mental health and suicide prevention campaign on the GTR network.
  

• Spiral Skills (spiralskills.co.uk)

• Sessions for socially and economically excluded young people near Loughborough Junction to develop their employability skills through guidance on how to develop businesses which tackle local challenges.
  

• Wimbledon Guild (wimbledonguild.co.uk)

• Social groups to bring together diverse groups of older isolated people in the London borough of Merton.
  
  The course will equip participants with the skills and confidence to reduce harm, seek help, and safely challenge antisocial behaviour, while supporting those affected.
  
  Sessions will be held face-to-face and online, and will help contribute to a more welcoming and safer travel experience across the entire GTR network.

ENDS