South Western Railway (SWR) has announced a £400,000 investment in 15 community projects through its Customers and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF).

Purbeck, Isle of Wight and New Forest Community Rail Partnerships are among those awarded funding for projects that aim to increase confidence, teach rail safety and encourage more sustainable journeys on public transport.

The 2024/25 CCIF scheme supports projects that will provide a local community benefit or address an area of social need. Funding has been awarded to a wide range of activities which have been submitted by charities, community groups and local authorities.

With a further £400,000 in match funding, it takes SWR’s total investment through CCIF to more the £7.5 million since 2018.

Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s Customer and Commercial Director, said: “We’re proud to support this year’s 15 projects through our CCIF fund, which from 2018 has awarded more than £7.5 million in funding to over 100 projects that share our vision of seeing local communities thrive.

“From community hubs and cycle clubs, initiatives that promote physical well-being, to funding full-time outreach workers, CCIF provides investment for important local projects that make a real difference to people in towns and villages across our network.

“Every year we’re inspired by the passionate people and hard work that go into each of these projects and we really look forward to seeing the results that the completed projects will have in their communities”.

The community rail projects being support in the latest round of CCIF funding are:

• Purbeck Community Rail Partnership – Totem and digital poster

Installation of a Totem (interactive) information point which will promote the town and encourage public transport use.

• Isle of Wight and New Forest Community Rail Partnerships – Road and rail safety workshops

The CRPs, working with Isle of Wight Council, intend to write and produce a film promoting rail and road safety. The CRPs will use the film to support the delivery of workshops to 14-15 year olds across 10 schools on the Isle of Wight and the New Forest.

• Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership – Suit Yourself

Suit Yourself is a 10-week, self-esteem course for vulnerable women who would like to go back to work or education but suffer from low confidence and face barriers to seeking employment.

See the full list of successful projects here.