Project Groundwater Innovation Fund
The Project Groundwater Innovation Fund is dedicated to empowering and engaging local communities across the Chiltern Hills and Berkshire Downs to address groundwater flooding issues
Update 14th March 2025: We are experiencing some issues with some office phone lines. Please call 07549 020 152 or 02079221230 if you have any queries relating to submitting your application for the Project Groundwater Innovation Fund.
Applications to the Project Groundwater Innovation Fund are closed.
What is the Project Groundwater Innovation Fund?
The Project Groundwater Innovation Fund is dedicated to empowering and engaging local communities across the Chiltern Hills and Berkshire Downs to address groundwater flooding issues to help them become more resilient to groundwater flooding. This grant will enable local community organisations and individuals to access funding for projects that will encourage using grassroots knowledge to drive solutions for managing groundwater flooding, ensuring the outcomes align with the needs of the community.
The activities funded by the Project Groundwater Innovation Fund will be designed to also make a significant contribution to a number of wider social and environmental objectives, notably:
- Increasing awareness and education on groundwater flooding
- Developing innovative solutions to mitigate groundwater flooding
- Actively monitoring flood events and improving warning systems
- Supporting sustainable water management practices
- Enhancing community resilience to flood events
- Strengthening community involvement in environmental stewardship
- Fostering collaboration between local groups
If you are unsure if your idea fits with the objectives, please get in touch with Groundwork London for guidance or see our prospectus for further information.
Who can apply?
The Project Groundwater Innovation Fund supports local organisations and individuals in nine pilot communities across the Chiltern Hills and Berkshire Downs:
- Chalfont St Peter
- Chesham
- Colnbrook with Poyle
- Hinksey Park
- Kimpton
- The Lambourn Valley
- Luton
- Marlow
- The Pang Valley
To apply for funding, you must deliver a project within one of the nine supported pilot areas as outlined above, and be proposing a project that tackles groundwater flooding and benefits the local community.
What support is available?
We offer two tiers of grants:
- Standard grants of £5,000 to £10,000
- Flagship grants of £10,001 to £20,000 for larger stand-out projects, or projects that link several targeted communities
Any eligible group/organisation can apply for Standard and Flagship grants.
How to apply
Applications are now closed.
Funders
The Project Groundwater Innovation Fund is led and supported by Buckinghamshire Council and administered by Groundwork London.
Project Groundwater is led by Buckinghamshire Council and is funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes which is managed by the Environment Agency. The programmes will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.
Contact
If you have any questions about the fund or the application process, we are here to help. Please get in touch with the Groundwork team by emailing innovationgrant@projectgroundwater.co.uk or phone 07549 020 152, 07525 703 358 or 0207 922 1230.
