Thames21 is the voice for London’s waterways, working with communities to improve rivers and canals for people and wildlife.
We mobilise over 9000 volunteers every year to clean and green the capital’s 400 mile network of waterways.
Thames21 aims to transform neglected and littered waterways into areas that everyone can use and enjoy with innovative and tailored community approaches.
Our aims:
Thames21 works hand-in-hand with local communities to improve and maintain our waterways by:
- Engaging people of all ages, abilities and from all parts of society in London’s waterways
- Removing litter
- Creating new habitats for wildlife, flora and fauna
- Removing non-native invasive species
- Promoting safe and equitable access to waterways
- Removing graffiti
- Undertaking monitoring and research
- Delivering education projects
- Campaigning for the reduction of waterway pollution and promoting sustainable behaviour
- Accrediting and training community groups to deliver safe and sustainable waterway improvement events
Our achievements:
Thames21 engages a growing number of volunteers in waterway improvement activities across London every year. In the past year alone, 9337 volunteers took part in 366 events, giving up at least 19,552 hours of their time to improve our waterways, helping remove 799 cubic metres of litter and debris.
Our history:
Thames21 developed from a partnership programme supported by Keep Britain Tidy, the Port of London Authority, the Environment Agency, Thames Water, British Waterways, The Corporation of London and 19 local authorities. The charity is now independent, and is funded by a wide variety of charitable trusts, companies and public funding. It has a growing and diverse programme of water improvement projects across London.
For more information, please see our Mission Statement or get in touch.
