GrantRadar

Thames21

EMPOWER Rivers Community Grant

Not open yet: Thames21 says one final round launches in December 2026, with a deadline in March 2027 and how-to-apply details coming soon. Grants of up to £20,000 go to small-scale, volunteer-led river restoration and monitoring projects in Greater London, led by community groups or charities with an income under £1 million. The details here come from the 2026 round's information document, as the final round's has not been published; the scheme is funded by the Lund Trust.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £20,000
Deadline
Not published
no closing date given
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Projects instigated, led and largely delivered by volunteers and community groups, and smaller charities with an annual income under £1 million
  • Projects with physical river improvements must be submitted by recognised community groups, such as River Action Groups or Friends groups, or by registered charities
  • Monitoring projects must be part of a coordinated monitoring strategy
  • Projects must take place within the boundary of a London Borough
  • Local authorities, businesses and charities with an income over £1 million cannot apply alone, but Thames21 will consider them if the application is made jointly with voluntary community groups or small charities
  • These rules are from the 2026 round

What it funds

  • River restoration projects, such as creating berms, adding large wood habitat, toe-board removal, small-scale concrete and stone channel reinforcement removal, small-scale weir removal and fish passage, small-scale channel reprofiling, backwater creation and restoration, leaky dams, reedbeds, planting as part of wider improvements, and invasive species control
  • Monitoring projects as part of a coordinated monitoring strategy, such as Urban Riverfly surveys, chemical and physical monitoring, accredited lab testing of water samples, eDNA, bioacoustic and MoRPh surveys
  • Equipment, tools and materials: PPE, first aid kits, tools, materials such as hazel bundles and coir rolls, plants and small trees, storage boxes, equipment hire, and equipment for events
  • Some contractor work: invasive species removal (Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed), vegetation management specialists, small-scale concrete bank reinforcement removal, weir removal, channel re-profiling, backwater creation and restoration, and surveys
  • Monitoring equipment: Riverfly monitoring kits, handheld water quality devices and reagent, conductivity and temperature probes, Secchi tubes, lab analysis costs, and safety equipment

Restoration needs landowner approval and sometimes permits, with Thames21's help, and should be planned with the relevant catchment partnership. Individual citizen scientists get monitoring equipment mainly through Thames21's training courses instead.

What it will not fund

  • Staff costs
  • Organisational overheads

How to apply

  1. Wait for the final round to launch in December 2026; Thames21 says information on how to apply is coming soon
  2. In the 2026 round: email empowerrivers@thames21.org.uk or use the grant's webpage to get the application form and budget spreadsheet
  3. Complete the form and budget, and return them to empowerrivers@thames21.org.uk with any supporting documents or photos

Applications are scored equally on environmental impact, social impact, deliverability and community action. Grants are usually paid in arrears on receipt of an invoice and proof of expenditure.

Have ready

  • Application form
  • Budget spreadsheet

Based on the 2026 round; supporting documents or photos can be included.

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