Anglian Water Thriving Communities Fund

Anglian Water’s Thriving Communities Fund exists to empower groups in our region to improve their local environment and create positive social impact. It gives them the opportunity to drive change and tell us where money should be spent.

Over the next five years, they will be putting £5.8m of shareholder funds into projects that improve the water environment and bring real social benefits to communities. This aligns closely with their purpose, and they are excited to work closely with local communities to help them make the most of the fund.

Whether it’s shaping spaces that enhance wellbeing and reduce flood risk, improving water quality, or helping local species thrive, there are countless ways this fund can help communities flourish.

They are offering grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 to support projects across the entire Anglian Water region that are focused on the water environment whilst also delivering social benefits, combining two important pillars of our purpose.

This programme is managed by Cambridgeshire Community Foundation on behalf of Anglian Water.

Projects must primarily nurture, repair, protect or sustain our natural water environment. This covers all natural and managed water systems and the ecosystems connected to them, including the sea. Examples could include:

• Improvements in water quality
• Biodiversity enhancement
• Reduction of harmful practices
• River morphology improvements
• Floodplain connectivity
• Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)

Projects must also deliver one or more of the following social benefits:

• Environment and community wellbeing
• Health and wellbeing
• Education and Skills

Applications are sought from non-profit organisations in the Anglian Water region with a track record of successful delivery. They must demonstrate how a project will benefit both the environment and the people living in the Anglian Water region, as well as how that change will be measured.

You can view maps of the Anglian Water management catchments at the base of this page, and you can check if you are supplied by Anglian Water by following this link to the Water.Org website.

Projects that provide a clear legacy will be prioritised.

The fund will cover:

• Habitat creation and restoration
• Species conservation
• Capital building and equipment costs, providing the capital items will address the priorities of the fund, and are linked to the improvement of the water environment
• Repeat applications for continuation of projects that are proving to work well
• Staffing, salary and overhead costs (core costs) where directly related to the delivery of the project
• Interpretation, as a small proportion of a wider project
• Materials or equipment needed to deliver the project
• Reasonable travel expenses

1st February, 1st May and 1st August.