Customer and Community Improvement Fund 2024/25

Applications now closed. Our team will begin reviewing all submissions, and we look forward to announcing the successful projects.

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What is the Customer and Community Improvement Fund (CCIF)?

The CCIF is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of our customers and the communities we serve. Our aim is to support initiatives across our network that drive positive change and foster community development.

We are excited to invite bids for funding for delivery in the 2024/25 Financial Year (FY) which must be completed by 31 March 2025. We are also inviting bids for proposed projects to be considered for funding in FY 2025/26 which must be completed by 31 March 2026. This is to ensure we have projects ready to start in April 2025.

We are looking for initiatives taking place on the Southeastern network. Projects should benefit communities served by one or more of our stations. See our network map.

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Funding Areas

We want to support projects that enhance and make our local rail services more sustainable, promote development and well-being through equal opportunities, and help reduce economic and social inequality. Projects should fall within one or more of the following categories:

• Local skills and employment – e.g. promoting the rail industry as a positive career choice, vocational skills training for young people.
• Healthier, safer and more resilience local communities – e.g. increasing awareness of rail safety, promoting well-being and mental health, reducing anti-social behaviour.
• Sustainable railway – e.g. promoting rail travel and walking and cycling links to/ from stations, improving information/ wayfinding to make using rail easier for customers, ways to encourage carbon reduction.
• Inclusion and diversity – e.g. activities to promote groups that are underrepresented in the SE or wider rail industry workforce.
• Railway 200 – e.g. rail heritage, culture and tourism.

In 2025, Railway 200 celebrates the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. To support this cross-industry initiative, we are including a special category for projects that help us tell the story of rail’s remarkable past, its role today, and inspire its exciting and sustainable future. To find out more information about this initiative, please visit the Railway 200 website.

Please review our fund guidance for more details and information.

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Funding amount

You can apply for a grant between £1,000 and £50,000. The total funding available for FY2024/25 is £125,000. Match funding isn’t a requirement but will be looked at favourably for schemes with a higher overall value.

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Who can apply?

We welcome applications from registered charities, constituted community groups and other types of not-for-profit organisations including community rail partnerships, business partnerships, town / county / parish / borough councils, schools, and colleges.

While we love helping our communities, there are certain types of projects we cannot consider for funding. Please review our fund guidance for more information on bid criteria and eligibility.

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How to apply?

Applying is simple! Just prepare your proposal and complete the online application.

We want to ensure you have everything you need before submitting your application. However, please be aware that the online form needs to be completed in one go, and you can’t save it and go back to it later. But don't worry – our handy template will help you get ready so you can simply copy & paste in your answers!

We're happy to provide alternative formats. If needed, you can contact laura.rondon@southeasternrailway.co.uk

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Assessment criteria

We will use the following criteria to evaluate funding bids:

• Alignment with CCIF categories
• Addressing social value
• Level of community engagement/support
• Accurate costings
• Deliverability
• Legacy

Timelines for your application

• Applications open: 15 July 2024
• Applications close: 31 August 2024 at 23:59 BST
• Bids reviewed: September 2024
• Recommended schemes submitted to DfT for approval: September – October
• Successful bids informed: October
• Funding spent and fully committed: 31 March 2025

We will do our best to notify all applicants, at the earliest opportunity, whether their application has been successful.

If you have any questions, you can contact laura.rondon@southeasternrailway.co.uk

Get involved! Apply now, spread the word, and let’s work together to build a better, more reliable and sustainable railway.

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