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How to apply

The Catchment Partnership Fund is always open for applications. Your application will be assessed at the first available assessment panel meeting. The next assessment panel this year will be:

•    October 2025 - Applications must be submitted by Monday 15th September 2025 23:59 to be considered at this meeting. 

If you have an idea for a potential application, please contact us. 



Application forms, guidance and Terms and Conditions of the Fund are all available to download below.



Key Documents

Main Grants Scheme

This provides seed-funding to enable partnership projects to carry out vital scoping, feasibility and community engagement work. The usually provides match funding for larger projects.  In previous years projects on average have been granted between £4,000 - £8,000. 

Applicants may include non-governmental organisations such as; Rivers Trusts, Wildlife Trusts and academic institutions. Applications from private companies, individuals or government organisations would be accepted if it was demonstrated that they are working in partnership with NGOs or the third sector.

The funding could be used for things such as:

  • Habitat creation/restoration
  • Ancillary conservation works (e.g. fencing, support services for grazing),
  • Land management actions to improve water quality
  • Provision of land management advice
  • Dissemination/communication of information
  • To meet immediate research or monitoring needs

 

Community Grants Scheme

This is aimed at supporting smaller, community-led projects, providing up to £2,000. Applicants should be from a constituted community group or small charity. The funding could be used for a variety of things such as:

  • Equipment for litter picking or habitat management,
  • Improved signage and accessibility to blue spaces
  • Monitoring equipment to gather data on water quality or wildlife

Examples of successfully funded community projects can be found on our website. These include: Kayaking for Health, Land Yeo Friends, Stoke Park Pond Restoration and Water Voles and Otters in the River Trym.

Questions and Guidance

The current funding criteria and guidance is available above. Please read this thoroughly before submitting your application. We are especially keen for applications to demonstrate engagement with groups underrepresented in the environmental sector.



We are aware of many citizen science programmes and projects producing valuable data across the catchment. It was identified at the BACP Supporting Community Action for Rivers Workshop in March 2023 that there is a need for a coordinated strategy for developing and delivering Citizen Science across the catchment.

For this reason, in the short term, the BACP will not be considering applications that involve new Citizen Science programmes/approaches as part of any potential projects, this is only until we have worked with partners and local groups to support a more coordinated strategy moving forwards.

If you have a project you would like to discuss before submitting your application, or if you have any questions about the Catchment Partnership Fund, please contact info@bristolavoncatchment.co.uk and we can arrange a time to talk with you.