Crane Valley Community Fund
Fund details & criteria
Fund purpose
The Crane Valley Community Fund is overseen by Crane Valley Partnership and is part of Thames Water’s Smarter Water Catchments initiative. Local community and conservation groups are well placed to carry out projects which will bring benefits defined in the State of the Crane Environment Report (Feb 2025) (https://www.cranevalley.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/State-of-the-Crane-Environment-Report-February-2025.pdf); and the River Crane Catchment Plan 2025-2030: 'A River Runs Through Us’ (https://www.cranevalley.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/River-Crane-Catchment-Plan-2025-2030-First-Edition.pdf) The Fund can cover organisational costs such as field equipment, PPE, operational services and training, promotional materials, site infrastructure and events. You can see here examples of projects (https://habitatsandheritage.org.uk/blog/community-action-in-the-crane-valley/) that have received funding. Funded projects will provide some of the following benefits to the Crane catchment area · Promoting community engagement · Developing partnership resilience and capacity · Reducing pollution / improving water quality · Raising awareness and support · Creating / enhancing habitat · Delivering economic benefits · Improving river flow · Reducing carbon footprint · Reducing flood risk · Promoting health and wellbeing · Protecting heritage · Improving public access and/or site connectivity *Please say how your project will produce some of these benefits* Other points to include in your application, if relevant to your project: In-kind support for your project, including volunteers’ time Any match funding *If your project needs permission from a landowner or authority, please confirm that you have this permission* Community groups without a bank account will need to apply with a ‘sponsor’ organisation that can manage funds on their behalf. Applications may be made at any time up to 18 Jan 2027. Early application is advised, as funds may be allocated soon. A panel will consider applications received by 14 Sep 2026 in one round of assessment; a second panel will be held after 18 Jan 2027. Any funding must be spent by 20 June 2027 and activities completed by 13 July 2027. For any queries please contact our programme partners: Let’s Go Outside and Learn at info@lgoal.org.uk Habitats & Heritage at stephen@habitatsandheritage.org.uk See also www.cranevalley.org.uk
