GREATER Anglia is funding 28 community projects in the second year of its Customer and Community Improvement Fund initiative. 

Grants of up to £50,000 were available, with the train operator pledging a total of £350,000 this financial year, to projects across the Greater Anglia network as part of its ongoing support for communities in East Anglia.

Grants have been awarded to a wide range of projects that benefit both the community and the railway – from small-scale station enhancements to integrated transport projects, and schemes to introduce new or disadvantaged groups to rail travel. Funding has also been awarded to education projects, biodiversity projects, arts and heritage schemes, tourism initiatives, as well as other ideas that help to promote rail services amongst local communities.

This scheme is aimed at supporting initiatives which deliver community benefits and enhance the railway’s positive role in society. Applications were received from local organisations and bodies, such as community rail partnerships, station adopters, local authorities, parish councils, community groups, charities, and other stakeholders along the routes served by the train operator.

Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, Martin Beable, said:

“I am delighted that we are able to invest a further £350,000 into community projects across East Anglia, and we are looking forward to seeing the schemes and ideas put forward progress and flourish over the coming year.

“We are always looking to enhance the role of the railway in support of the community it serves, and this excellent scheme is a way of supporting further locally focused enhancements in line with community needs. Last year’s projects were a great success, making a difference at a local level right across our network.”

Projects which have been awarded funding include:

Essex

• £3,730 for new local history boards for Wivenhoe and to update history boards or posters at Dovercourt Hockley, Rayleigh and Harwich Town stations

• £3,132 for the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership for extra copies of their Railway 200 anniversary book, highlighting the impact of the railway locally and offering a valuable resource and insight for schools and other groups.

• £320 for the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership for Try a Train trips for local school primary groups to improve confidence and interest in train travel.

• £5,830 for the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership for inclusive trips or events for diverse groups whose personal circumstances mean they would not usually be able to make such a trip.

• £12,500 for the Alresford Station Project for continued refurbishment works to help bring the old station house back to life for community use, by complementing other external funding secured for the project. 

• £180 for Bures station adopters to create a new garden area with a wildlife pond, bark chip pathway and bluebells for children and other visitors to enjoy.
  
• £500 for Bures station adopters to create a “bluebell wood” on the station approaches.

• £13,970 for the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership for a Harwich Town station community project, highlighting the town’s heritage.

• £13,500 for Wivenhoe Library of Things for the ongoing project to bring the station house building into use for the community as a library of things. Building on previous work, this project will renovate windows, put in solar power and prepare for the creation of the community facility

• £13,500 for Clacton and District History Society for an activity pack of National Curriculum-aligned resources for pupils Key Stages 1 and 2 that tell Peter Bruff’s story – a national figure with many local rail connections to Clacton as a destination and to Chappel viaduct.  

• £48,875 for Harlow Council to landscape the corridor between Harlow Town Station and the Park and for a community created mural, providing digital wayfinding to encourage visitors to walk to and from Harlow Town Station.  

Cambridgeshire

• £7,428 to Hereward Community Rail Partnership/Fenland District Council for a Travel Buddies project in partnership with Age UK to help older people build confidence in travelling on the rail network and help increase independence. 

• £9,334 for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust for a trial bus shuttle bus to connect tourist attractions in the area, notably the Welney Wildlife Centre, to the local station and promote non car exploration, by linking public transport and the reserve together for a trial period.

Norfolk

• £12,500 to Heart2Heart Norfolk for installation of defibrillators at a number of stations on the Wherry Lines between Norwich and Great Yarmouth and between Norwich and Lowestoft 

• £4,500 for Friends of Thetford Station for design and production of interpretation boards for the station, to make it more attractive and informative for users and the local community alike.

• £2,000 for the Thomas Pocklington Trust for an educational art project at Great Yarmouth station, which will extend the successful visibility awareness work by the Trust, with a new artwork at Great Yarmouth station in the form of an exhibition highlighting issues faced by visually impaired people.

• 1,000 for Community Rail Norfolk to improve Gunton station picnic area.

• £30,660 for Norfolk County Council for Diss Cycle Route improvements that connect with Diss railway station.

• £48,778 for North Norfolk District Council for improved and enhanced information provision using digital technology to support visitors and residents at Sheringham, Cromer, North Walsham, and Hoveton & Wroxham stations – with new screens added to provide live travel and local information.

Suffolk

• £2,250 for Sudbury Museum Trust for a project celebrating the history of the railway in Sudbury and its impact on the town’s development.

• £5,100 for the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership to install new signage at Saxmundham station and car park to provide information about additional parking, onward public transport options and the route to public toilets, specifying both step-free and stepped access options. 

• £6,500 for the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership for waiting room improvements and linked local schools project for Saxmundham station

• £3,000 for Saxmundham Museum to promote visits to Saxmundham Museum to rail users on the East Suffolk Line.  

• £10,113 for Halesworth Museum (which is at the station) for improvements to upgrade the aesthetics of this building which connects the community and the railway (including upgrades for windows, doors and signage). 

• £22,500 for East Anglian Food Museum in Stowmarket for new digital screens to promote the museum at the station and in the town, as a rail-accessible attraction.

• £20,000 for the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership for new cycle parking and shelter at Oulton Broad South station, recognising increased cycle usage and house building in the area. 

• £1,300 for Babergh and Mid-Suffolk council to promote the Harwich Harbour Ferry and associated walks

• £47,000 for the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and Community Rail Norfolk for Lowestoft station improvements including additional toilet facilities and waiting area upgrades.