Below is a call for expressions of interest from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation:

Blue Spaces Wales is a new initiative to support imaginative approaches to looking after local freshwaters – rivers, streams, lakes, canals and ponds.

As part of this, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is launching an open call for ideas and projects in Wales. We are interested in unusual partnerships and imaginative ways to engage people in protecting and restoring their local freshwaters. Through Blue Spaces – Wales, we want to find and support organisations to develop their ideas and explore their potential to become longer-term, sustainable place-based initiatives.

We’re offering grants of £10,000 to £60,000 to support organisations to develop their ideas. We’re looking to support work that:

  • Aims to improve freshwater habitats and species in a place.
  • Engages with and is shaped by the diverse communities in a place particularly those who experience discrimination or face barriers to accessing nature, as well as landowners, land managers and farmers.
  • Involves new and unusual collaborations and ambitious partnerships, engaging with local communities and a range of charity, public sector or corporate stakeholders.
  • Has benefits for people and communities – for example: flood risk management, opportunities for access to and enjoyment of freshwater, engaging in citizen science, links to community-led regeneration and enterprise.
  • Is ambitious and has a longer-term vision to deliver, or is seeking resources to co-create a vision with communities and partners.
  • Has the potential to leverage partnership funding to develop innovative approaches to funding (including private investment).
  • Is pioneering by breaking new ground, or using tried and tested models to push things forward in a new way.

Who can apply

  • Organisations whose work is legally charitable including:
    • Registered charities
    • Social enterprises, Community businesses (e.g. Community Interest Companies) and other organisations with an asset lock clause in their constitution to protect against private gain.
  • Projects working primarily in Wales (although elements may be cross-border with England)

Process for applying

  • We will be open to expressions of interest on 21 March 2023 and will close at 5pm on 2 May 2023.

Further information can be found here.

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