The deadline is rapidly approaching for applications to the current round of Essex & Suffolk Water′s Branch Out scheme, which offers grants of up to £25,000 to projects which benefit the natural environment, wildlife and local communities.
Branch Out supports projects within the Essex & Suffolk Water, and applications are welcomed from organisations, community groups and individuals from the public, private, voluntary and education sectors. The deadline for the current round of funding is 31 August 2019.
Since launching in 2013 Branch Out has awarded grants worth over £400,000 across nearly 100 different projects.
Judging for the most recent round of Branch Out funding took place in March 2019, with around £20,000 of funding being allocated across six new projects.
Miranda Cooper, Conservation and Land Manager for Essex & Suffolk Water, said: "A healthy natural environment is essential for us to supply top quality drinking water. Since launching in 2013 Branch Out has made a really significant contribution to helping this region build resilience and adapt to the changing climate, whilst benefiting water, wildlife and local communities.
"We are now accepting applications for the current round of funding, and with grants from £1 to £25,000 available we encourage organisations, groups and individuals to get their bids in to us by the end of August 2019."
Projects can also be supported by ‘Just an Hour', Essex & Suffolk Water's employee volunteering programme.
The RSPB made a successful bit for Branch Out funding for their new Flatford Wildlife Garden, in East Bergholt, Essex, receiving a grant of £10,700.
RSPB Warden Shirley Sampson said: "The grant from Essex & Suffolk Water's Branch Out scheme will help us to truly realise the potential of Flatford Wildlife Garden and provide a wonderful experience for everyone who comes to visit it. Key to this is our new 7,500 litre underground water tank which will be used to store rainwater that is harvested from the roof of the barn. This will help us to improve water consumption as the water collected can be used to feed the pond and water the garden.
"The grant we secured from Branch Out has been extremely valuable to us, and I would recommend the scheme to other local organisations who have environmental projects which require additional funding."
Full details on how to apply are available at www.branchout-esw.co.uk. All applications will be carefully considered and judged against set criteria. Decisions for applications received by 31 August 2019 will be provided by 30 September 2019.