If your organisation wants to take action for a local river, grants are available to support small scale volunteer-led river restoration and water quality monitoring projects. 

If you would you like to revitalise a section of river in your local area, Thames21 this scheme is awarding grants of up to £20,000, from a total fund of £290,000, over a 5-year period.

In this round of the grant, there is £80,000 to be awarded.

One final round of this grant will be available in 2027.

EMPOWER Rivers is a Thames21 project, funded by the Lund Trust. The programme 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.

It can also provide equipment for general river maintenance such as litter picking and vegetation management.

Projects must be completed by 31 March 2028.

The closing date for the current funding round is 9am on Friday 20 March 2026.

Applicants will be made aware of outcomes by Friday 3 April 2026.

For full details and to request an application form, visit the EMPOWER Rivers Community Grant webpage.