SES Water - Community Hardship Fund
Fund details & criteria
Fund purpose
The Hardship Grant provides financial support to organisations helping local communities facing difficult circumstances. This is the first time SES Water has introduced this fund, with funding expected to increase year on year. How does it work? SES Water offers affordability schemes to help customers on low incomes manage charges and repay debt, plus a Priority Services Register for customers who need extra support. Our hard-to-reach projects help increase awareness and take-up of this support. Projects should increase awareness and enrolment in our affordability schemes and/or the Priority Services Register in hard-to-reach areas where engagement is typically lower. If you support these customers, we encourage you to apply. Proposals must be specific and explain how you will increase enrolment. Projects can run for up to 12 months. If you already receive SES Water funding, your proposal must add activity beyond what you currently deliver. Funding can support activities such as: • Cost of living workshops • Create and share assets (in venues and online) • Community in person drop-in events • Online Support Groups • Events targeting vulnerable or hard to reach customers. The following conditions apply to all projects: 1. Projects must be completed within the agreed timeframe. 2. Provide monthly updates to SES Water. Where appropriate, include case studies and an end-of-project summary showing impact. 3. Use social media to support engagement, where appropriate. 4. Set out the funding requested and how it will increase take-up of affordability schemes and/or the Priority Services Register. 5. Maintain a clear focus on increasing awareness and enrolment in the relevant support options. 6. Projects must operate within the SES Water supply zone. Review and decision dates The closing date for project applications is 1 June 2026. - If you are successful, we’ll send you a funding invitation through ActionFunder. You’ll then be asked to provide further due diligence information before the grant is transferred. - If you don’t hear from us straight away, it doesn’t mean your application is unsuccessful. Due to demand, we may revisit applications at a future review. We aim to decline applications we can’t support on a regular basis; if declined, you’ll receive an email notification. - By maintaining a profile and project on ActionFunder, you’ll automatically be notified of other relevant funding opportunities from other funders.