Are you involved in a community project to help local wildlife?

Perhaps your organisation, group or school wants to create a pond or a colourful wildflower haven?

If so then you could still be in with a chance of receiving a grant of up to £10,000.

South Staffs Water is giving local groups and organisations the chance to apply for grants to help fund schemes which actively encourage and enhance biodiversity.

Projects that Explore Biodiversity Benefits in the Local Environment – or Pebble for short – will provide three levels of funding to organisations keen to enhance biodiversity within the South Staffs Water area of supply.

Dan Clark, Water Resources and Environment Manager for South Staffs Water, said: “We are keen to raise awareness of the importance of looking after our local environment and boosting biodiversity.

“Increasing the variety of natural living things and the diversity of the habitats where they live not only benefits wildlife, it can also enhance local communities and ultimately help improve the quality of our open spaces, which we can all benefit from.”

Projects can include anything that is designed to improve, restore or create new habitats and must be of benefit to the environment and/or the local community.

For example:

• Creating a pond to provide a home for plants and animals
• Planting a garden with species that provide habitats for wildlife such as birds or butterflies
• Transforming an area of neglected, derelict or overgrown space with the addition of new plant species
• Improving the habitat of local rivers and streams through improvements to the channel, banks and flow.

Applications can be received from schools, youth groups, charities or community organisations, however, they must either own the land or have permission from the land owner for the project. All work needs to take place in the future.

The first round of applications for funding in 2016/17 will close on 31 August 2016. A second round may open in December 2016 depending on the success of the first round.

Full terms and conditions and an application form are available on our website 

Projects submitted by individuals or those that are purely for research will not be funded.

Ends

Pebble Fund Terms and conditions

• Applications are welcomed from any group or organisation with an environmental or conservation project designed to protect and/or enhance biodiversity. This could be a school, youth group, charity or community association
• The project must aim to lead to a direct improvement to a habitat or species with the community and/or environment seeing a benefit. Projects that are purely for research will not be funded
• The project location must be within the water company supply area
• The applicant organisation must own the land or have permission from the land owner for the project
• Projects cannot be funded retrospectively. The application should be for work that will take place in the future. We appreciate there may be crossover of annual periods due to the nature of projects so funding could be allocated over a number of years.
• The project must meet the company criteria for biodiversity, conservation and community engagement
• The project must work in partnership and consult with appropriate stakeholders
• The project must include details of how the improvements or success will be measured, by monitoring and/or reporting
• Level 2 and Level 3 projects must have explored alternative or match funding opportunities

 How much can I apply for?

Applications can apply for three different levels of funding:

Level 1: For projects up to £1000

Level 2:  For projects between £1,000 and £2,000

Level 3: For projects between £2,000 and £10,000

How do I apply?

An application form will need to be completed and submitted to:

Pebble Fund
c/o Dan Clark
South Staffs Water
Green Lane
Walsall
WS2 7PD

The first round of applications for funding in 2016/17 will close on 31 August 2016. A second round may open in December 2016 depending on the success of the first round.  

What is the award process?

Applications will be assessed by a panel and the first round of funding for 2016/17 projects will be chosen in September 2016.

The successful projects will be announced and awarded funding in September/October 2016.

As part of the award, projects will be expected to participate in publicity and promotion of South Staffs Water’s Pebble Fund and submit a report, including photographs, a description of the project and the improvement and benefits it provides.