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
There are many ways to address groundwater flooding. Below are some examples of activities your project could include:
- Developing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
- Enhancing natural flood management techniques
- Creating water storage or infiltration areas
- Planting trees or vegetation to support water absorption and biodiversity
- Installing rainwater harvesting systems
- Conducting educational campaigns or workshops on groundwater management
- Increasing access to flood-resilient infrastructure for vulnerable groups
- Encouraging community driven monitoring and maintenance of flood prone areas
- Developing a better flood alert system for groundwater flooding
These are just examples and your project does not need to include any or all of them. We welcome any other innovative ideas or approaches you believe will address groundwater flooding while benefiting your community.
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. The fund is open to a wide range of groups, including:
- Formal organisations such as small or medium sized enterprises, educational establishments, registered charities, local authorities, religious organisations, and companies limited by guarantee
- Community focused organisations such as not-for-profit CICs, social enterprises, constituted community organisations, tenants or residents’ associations, and friends of groups
- Informal or unconstituted groups that do not have a formal structure or governing documents, typically made up of individuals who come together to work collaboratively on specific projects, such as a group of neighbours
If you are applying as a non-constituted group, you will need to provide reference details in your application. This should be someone who can vouch for your work in the local community. This could be, but is not limited to, a local councillor, local authority employee, school or a local charity. You will also need to have a bank account with at least two signatories – if you do not have this you can partner with an organisation you have links to that can hold the grant money for you. Please note grant money cannot be paid into a personal bank account. If you have any queries relating to applying as a non-constituted group, please get in touch with Groundwork.
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.
Timeline for applicants
| Event | Date |
| Application window opens | 03 February 2025 |
| Application support workshop | 20 February 2025 |
| Application window closes | 9am 24 March 2025 |
| Processing of applications | w/c 24 March 2025 |
| In principle awards made | w/c 31 March 2025 |
| First payments made | w/c 14 April 2025 |
| Delivery starts | 21 April 2025 |
| Mid project monitoring | August 2025 |
| Project complete and final monitoring | 31 December 2025 |
Application Support
We held an application workshop on 20th February 2025, which details key information on the Project Groundwater Innovation Fund, who it aims to support, how to apply.
Please click below to access a recording of the workshop via YouTube.
You can access the Application Workshop recording here.
Youtube Application Workshop Recording
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.
