Connecting People and communities is at the heart of our business, so we were delighted to receive so many applications for our Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF).
CCIF is unique in that it involves communities, customers and stakeholders in identifying schemes that address an area of social need, educate, or engage with the community across the South Western Railway network. Successful bids for the 2020-2022 fund have come from a wide range of organisations, covering a large number of different schemes and activities; from diversity and outreach projects helping to open up rail travel to more communities, through to full scale building refurbishment projects.
The applications were assessed and reviewed by SWR alongside input from independent observers, such as Transport Focus. The shortlisted schemes were sent for approval to the Department for Transport in December 2019 and all successful applicants have now been informed of the funding awarded to their particular schemes.
Each scheme being taken forward was able to demonstrate how it linked with the SWR network and the communities we serve. Schemes that have secured funding were also able to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Showed clear evidence of how it would address an area of social need and serve the community.
- Demonstrated a clear level of community engagement, through offering clear evidence of meeting an issue identified by the community.
- Set out clear plans for delivering the project, with accurate costs, timescales and where appropriate assurances about any consents or permissions needed from other organisations.
Schemes that were unsuccessful in their application for funding have been notified and offered advice on any changes which might make the scheme more likely to succeed if resubmitted in future funding rounds.
While successful applicants have been contacted and we look forward to working with them in the forthcoming months, the current challenging circumstances may mean that some schemes cannot now be delivered, and we are working closely with scheme owners during these uncertain times to help wherever we can.
Thank you again to everyone who submitted a scheme, we will use this website to keep you updated on news and progress around those projects that were successful.
