Chiltern Railways supports £135k of social value projects for 2025/26

Chiltern Railways is continuing its investment in local communities with a new series of projects delivering social, economic and environmental value across its network.

Delivered through the operator's Community Investment Fund, this year's partnerships will deliver 11 projects from improving station environments to supporting young people with employability workshops.

Building on this momentum, new collaborations with local colleges, charities, and community rail partnerships will deliver a range of initiatives including: 

• Station greening and community planting from City of Oxford College students of the Activate Learning College group at Oxford Parkway station 
• Planting trees and promoting a new rail trail from Denham and Denham Golf Club stations to the Colne Valley Regional Park with the Groundwork South
• Employability training for disabled and neurodiverse young people in Westminster with Action for Kids Charitable Trust
• Creating murals and artwork including with Banbury Business Improvement District and the Friends of Barnham Library at Sudbury Harrow Road

Zach Bailey, Regional Growth Manager at Chiltern Railways, said: 

"We are delighted to announce our 11 new Community Investment Fund projects for the next year. We are supporting a wide range of existing and new not for profit organisations across the Chiltern network. 

"This year's projects reflect the importance of community collaboration - whether that's improving the look and feel of a station, helping young people build skills and experiences, or supporting organisations on our route to promote key destinations by rail."

On the Oxford Parkway project, Catalina Marin, Group Director at Activate Learning, said:

"We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Chiltern Railways on this transformative project at Oxford Parkway station. This student-led transformation of the station's green space into a welcoming garden is a perfect example of how we create meaningful, real-world opportunities for young people at City of Oxford College and University Centre.

"Through hands-on work with plants, landscaping and environmental design, our students with learning needs will develop valuable independence, travel skills and practical gardening skills while creating a cleaner, more inviting space that benefits passengers and the wider community. Working alongside Blenheim Palace and Chiltern Railways, we're excited to see our students grow in confidence as they help transform Oxford Parkway into an oasis of calm that enhances everyone's travel experience."

On the Denham project, Bergey Sigurdardottir, Landscape Recovery Manager at Groundworks Trust, said:

"Denham sits at the heart of the Colne Valley Regional Park and is the first taste of countryside west of London. We are excited to work with Chiltern Railways to highlight and encourage both city dwellers and local residents to come and explore their local countryside, and to enjoy the benefits it brings to physical and mental health.

"At the same time we aim to enhance biodiversity and the character of the area, through wildlife meadow and pollinator friendly planters, all of which the local community will be able to enjoy."

The Community Investment Fund is designed to deliver initiatives that improve station environments for customers, encourage sustainable and accessible travel, and strengthen community relationships.

More information on Chiltern Railways' community activity and investment fund can be viewed here.