Capital grants of between £500 and £10,000 are available to UK clubs, community groups, parish and town councils and local authorities for projects that improve accessibility to waterways and canoeing facilities, thereby encouraging greater use.
The Foundation particularly seeks to support projects that improve levels of participation in paddle sports for all people.
Very occasionally grants of over £10,000 are awarded. However, the vast majority of awards are towards the £500 end of the Foundation's funding parameters.
Projects should:
- Improve the quality of UK waterways and oceans through support, for example practical kits, for a clean-up or an improved natural habitat.
- Incorporate better accessibility or facilities at waterside locations which might improve the parking or changing aspects of a site, and
- Provide new or improved launching points in urban or rural locations or as part of a water trail, such as steps or pontoons. Linked promotion of access points including signage or maps to increase participation and use.
While matched funding is not an essential requirement, the Foundation will take it into account when assessing applications as it considers this demonstrates local support for a project.
Grants can be used for such things as providing (please note that this is not an exclusive list):
- Designated or additional parking for water users.
- Improvements to pathways and accessible routes to the water’s edge.
- Launch and landing platforms, steps or ramps, and
- Signage and information that promotes positive behaviour (for example, the Countryside Code, “Check, Clean, Dry”, take your litter home).
Further information, guidance and an online application form is available on the Foundation's website.