EMPOWER Rivers Community Grant

Thames21 recognises the fantastic work being done by volunteers and community groups to improve the health of London’s rivers.  To support this work, Thames21 will be awarding grants of up to £20,000 for small-scale volunteer-led river restoration projects and monitoring initiatives. This grant scheme is awarded as part of EMPOWER Rivers, a Thames21 project funded by the Lund Trust.

Would you like to revitalise a section of river in your local area? Thames21 can support small-scale river restoration projects led by community groups or small charities in London. Projects could include berm creation, adding wood deflectors, bank reinforcement removal, invasive species management and other restoration activities designed to improve the ecological health of your local river. We can also provide equipment for general river maintenance such as litter picking and vegetation management.

Are you concerned about the health of your local waterway? This grant can provide you with the equipment you need to become a citizen scientist to gather crucial data that will help identify pollution sources; find solutions to combat pollution, and monitor the effectiveness of these solutions.

The EMPOWER Rivers Community Grant will be launching again in December 2026 for one final round. The deadline for applications will be in March 2027. Information on how to apply coming soon.