Huge fund to improve communities around railway stations opens for applicants in London and Surrey

The UK’s largest train operator, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), is looking for community groups and charities who want to make an impact in the communities it serves with the latest round of a huge grant fund which has already awarded £1.26m to a wide range of good causes.

This year, some 120 teenaged students from underserved communities in South London have benefited from a £20,000 grant handed to Motivez offering them career skills and confidence in tackling environmental challenges, along with an activity week with Thameslink and a trip to Parliament.

Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services, is asking for more charities, community groups and social organisations to apply for its 2026/27 Your Station, Your Community fund.

The fund is in its fourth year having already offered £1.2m worth of support to causes which benefit groups, charities, customers, and the communities across the length and breadth of the country’s largest railway network.

Organisations across London and Surrey are being asked to put in their bids for community projects which make a positive impact under the key themes of mental health, employability skills, diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability and improving station environments.

The grant fund accepts bids up to £50,000 with an additional two Station Partner Support Grants for arts, creative, environmental and horticulture projects.

Motivez was one of the organisations which was awarded money in the fund to help engage young people in tackling climate issues.

Participants took part in developing sustainable solutions for the Elephant and Castle area, pitching ideas to a panel of experts – with one group being lucky enough to take part in a special week-long activity week with the train operator.

The Sustainable Southwark partnership is one of many ways GTR is helping to create pathways into the industry and inspire the next generation, particularly those from underrepresented communities

George Imafidon MBE, Motivez CEO said: “The Govia Thameslink Railway 'Your Station Your Community' funding has been absolutely vital in enabling our Sustainable Southwark programme to empower young people from underserved communities.

“Through the support of Govia Thameslink Railway, students have gained hands-on experience, confidence, and essential career skills that will help them thrive in the green economy.

“Their work placements at GTR have not only opened their eyes to the breadth of opportunities in transport and engineering but also shown them how STEM can be a powerful tool in tackling climate change. This partnership has helped them see themselves as part of the solution, as future innovators building a more sustainable world for us all.”

The youngsters visited Parliament, the Sussex Rail Operating Centre, from where trains are controlled, drove train simulators and took a history tour behind the scenes in Brighton

Applications for the 2026/27 fund close at midnight on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Since the first round of funding opened in 2022 more than 862 bids have been submitted with an average award of £15,558.

Rob Whitehead, GTR's Community Engagement Manager said: “Over the past three years, the Your Station, Your Community fund has supported projects that have created amazing community impact and generated real social value.

“As a train company, we want to directly support and contribute to the wider communities we serve, be it through social work, encouraging new skills, or simply making somewhere a better place to be.

“I’m looking forward to hearing all your proposals to create change in the regions across our network.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Applications close at Midnight on Tuesday, 9 December. Applications are open for bids up to £10,000. Bids between £10,001 and £50,000 must be discussed with GTR prior to an application being submitted.

The two Station Partner Support Grants must cover the whole GTR network.

Initiatives should be in and around stations served by Great Northern, Southern or Thameslink on the GTR network. The communities supported should be served by these stations. Priority will be given to bids for projects around stations managed by these brands.

For more information, and to apply, visit: Your station Your community Improvement Fund