Island Rivers Catchment Partnership – Grant Funding Now Available
ISLAND RIVERS PARTNERSHIP
Island Rivers Catchment Project Fund 2026-27
Island Rivers Partnership and Community fund, hosted by Natural Enterprise and sponsored by Southern Water, to back collaborative river catchment projects.
Isle of Wight · October 2026 · Applications now open
About the fund
Island Rivers Catchment Project Funding is available to support community and partnership efforts to develop and deliver new projects, as well as helping to coordinate and strengthen projects already underway.
The fund aims to accelerate practical action across the Island’s rivers and river catchments.
Funding at a glance
£50,000 is available from June 2026 until March 2027, or until the funding is fully allocated. Further funding rounds are expected.
Who can apply
Bring your idea to life. We welcome applications from community groups, members of the public, partnership organisations, local stakeholders, landowners and land managers who want to make a positive difference to the Island’s rivers and river catchments.
What the fund will support
The fund is intended to support the priorities and objectives of the Island Rivers Catchment Partnership, including:
- Restoring habitats and protecting species
- Addressing physical modifications to rivers and streams
- Building climate resilience
- Managing water resources
- Improving water quality
Turn your idea into action
From restoring habitats and supporting wildlife to bringing people together and improving riverside spaces, your project can make a real difference.
These are just examples — we’re open to other ideas that benefit rivers, streams, wildlife and local communities.
🌿 Give nature a helping hand
Restore habitats, support wildlife and make space for nature.
You could:
- Organise river or stream clean-ups
- Plant native trees, hedges and wildflowers
- Create or restore ponds and wetlands
- Install bird, bat or insect boxes
- Survey and monitor local wildlife
- Help manage invasive species
🌊 Help rivers and streams flow naturally
Improve watercourses and restore more natural river systems.
You could:
- Remove small obstructions or litter traps, with the necessary permissions
- Restore eroded banks using natural materials
- Reconnect streams with floodplains
- Improve culverts and crossings for wildlife
- Develop plans for more natural river flows
🤝 Bring people closer to their river
Help communities discover, understand and care for their local river.
You could:
- Organise river walks, talks and community events
- Create interpretation, artwork or local river stories
- Help children and families discover river wildlife
- Set up citizen-science and monitoring projects
- Create volunteering opportunities
- Bring community groups together
- Celebrate local rivers through creative projects
🔎 Explore what’s possible
Turn an idea into a practical plan for action.
Funding could help you:
- Carry out feasibility studies and site surveys
- Map habitats, watercourses and community assets
- Explore restoration opportunities
- Develop designs, options and cost estimates
- Investigate permissions and practical requirements
- Work with communities to identify priorities and next steps
💡 Get expert advice
Bring in the skills and knowledge to make your project work.
You could:
- Access specialist advice on ecology, rivers and flood resilience
- Get support with project design and planning
- Commission ecological or hydrological surveys
- Get advice on permissions, consents and land management
- Develop restoration or management plans
- Build local skills through training and workshops
🌦️ Prepare for a changing climate
Build resilience to flooding, drought and extreme weather.
You could:
- Create rain gardens, swales and community wetlands
- Plant trees beside streams
- Restore soils and hedgerows to slow run-off
- Develop local flood action plans
- Run drought and flood preparedness workshops
💧 Make every drop count
Save water, capture rainfall and understand your local water environment.
You could:
- Install water butts at community buildings
- Set up shared rainwater-harvesting projects
- Run water-saving campaigns
- Monitor stream levels and flows
- Help schools, allotments and community gardens use water more efficiently
🏡 Improve your riverside spaces
Create welcoming places that help people connect with and enjoy their river.
You could:
- Improve community access to rivers and streams
- Create seating, gathering and viewing areas
- Add native planting and wildlife features
- Improve riverside paths and recreation areas
- Create river-connected community gardens and green spaces
- Add interpretation and wayfinding
- Work with residents to identify and deliver local improvements
Have an idea that’s different?
Your project doesn’t have to fit neatly into one of these categories. We’re interested in projects that bring people and rivers closer together, improve the natural environment, build local resilience or help communities develop ideas for the future.
Whether you’re ready to deliver something on the ground or need support to explore an idea, we’d like to hear from you.
What a strong project should show
Projects should demonstrate collaboration, clear environmental benefits and measurable outcomes for the Island’s rivers and river catchments.
How to apply
REQUEST THE APPLICATION FORM
Email marianne.combe@naturalenterprise.co.uk or call 01983 224926.
Background resources
Island Rivers Catchment Project Fund - Information Note
Island Rivers Partnership Management Plan
Water Industry National Environment Programme AMP 8 actions for the Isle of Wight
Notes
Island Rivers Catchment Partnership, hosted by Natural Enterprise brings together organisations and communities to improve water quality, enhance habitats and build climate resilience across the Isle of Wight.