Apply Now: Freshwater Community Grant Fund (UK)

Deadline: Ongoing Opportunity

The Freshwater Community Grant Fund supports community initiatives to restore freshwater habitats at five locations in England.

In partnership with Defra’s Species Survival Fund, the scheme aims to award local initiatives. Community groups are invited to suggest projects that will boost biodiversity and create opportunities to connect with nature at freshwater sites. They hope the work will have a cascading impact on wider ecosystems. They also want to build skills within communities, so they can look after these special habitats and species long term.

The Freshwater Community Grant Fund is available for community organisations within a 20-mile radius of:

• Dunham Massey, Woodhouse Lane, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4SJ (the Bollin project)
• The Blickling Estate, Aylsham, Norfolk NR11 6NF (the Bure project)
• The Holnicote Estate, near Minehead, Somerset TA24 8TJ (Holnicote project)
• Arlington Court, near Barnstaple, Devon EX31 4LP (North Devon project)
• Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby, near Penrith, Cumbria CA10 1SP; or the town of Cockermouth, Western Lakes, Cumbria (Cumbria project).

Funding Information 

• Grants of £500 to £5,000 are available for initiatives that create, look after or improve local freshwater habitats and provide opportunities for people to connect with nature.

Cost Covered

• Community groups can apply for costs relating to anything in the list below:
  • Events, activities or training and development, including fees for professionals that lead to local communities creating, looking after or improving freshwater habitats
  • Capital works (for example, contractor costs, equipment or materials) that support habitat creation and improvement, including access and interpretation improvements
  • Any materials and equipment, educational or interpretation resources, refreshments and the reimbursement of travel and other reasonable expenses
  • Requests by applicants to work with/at the places in the care.
• The community grant fund is unable to support the day-to-day running costs of an organisation or group.

Who can apply?

• The Freshwater Community Grant Fund particularly welcomes applications from organisations who seek to deliver activities with, and for, people who are under-represented in conservation, for example:
  • People with disabilities, people with a long-term health need – including mental health – and those experiencing loneliness or isolation
  • Diverse and minority ethnic communities
  • People who identify as LGBTQ+
  • People experiencing a disadvantage due to low income
  • Young people, especially those who are not in education, employment, or training.
• The following groups are eligible to apply:
  • Community or voluntary groups/organisations in the project areas
  • Registered charities and other non-profit making organisations (for example, a social enterprise/CIC)
  • Schools, town councils and parish councils (where their project demonstrates wider community involvement and benefit).

For more information, visit National Trust.