Better Futures Fund
Providing financial help and support for community projects around the Bristol Water supply area.
How does it work?
We have now opened our next round of Better Futures funding which will remain open until December 2026.
Bristol Water are part of the Pennon Group alongside South West Water, SES Water and Bournemouth Water.
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in supporting projects and charities in the places where we live and work, helping to build stronger communities.
To provide more support to our communities, the Pennon Group have launched the £5m Better Futures Fund.
The fund includes £2.5m for community groups involved with physical activity, education, health and wellbeing, and positive environmental impacts.
For Bristol Water customers, the fund will provide £564,000 over five years for community funding.
The remaining £2.5m will go towards alleviating hardship, in addition to the £200m programme to help customers who are vulnerable or struggling financially across the Pennon family.
Better Futures will help to unlock opportunities and bring positive change to the communities we serve.
How is the programme managed?
We’ve partnered with ActionFunder, to manage and facilitate this grant programme. Action Funder is a grant management platform revolutionising community investment. Built with funders and driven by AI, it streamlines the funding process delivering money directly into community projects.
How to apply
Click here to apply and create a free profile on ActionFunder if you haven’t already registered.
You will then need to create a project application outlining what you need the funding for and expected impact.
Your project application will automatically be submitted to the relevant fund that it meets the eligibility criteria for which will include Better Futures.
Review and decision timeline
Our Community Outreach Team will review all project applications on a monthly basis.
If you’re successful we’ll send you a funding invitation through ActionFunder, and you’ll be asked to provide some further due diligence information before the grant is transferred.
Please note. If you don’t hear from us that doesn’t mean you’re unsuccessful , due to the volume of demand we may revisit your application at a future review. We will aim to decline any applications we can’t support on a regular basis at which point you’ll receive an email notification.
Sidenote. By maintaining a profile and project on ActionFunder, you'll automatically be notified of any other relevant funding opportunities from other funders.
Funding Now Open
Better Futures funding will remain open until December 2026.
Who and what we want to support - Fund eligibility criteria
To apply for a share of the community funding, your project needs to involve one or more of the following:
- Nature and the environment
Projects and organisations that directly impact and protect nature for the benefit of community health and wellbeing. - Education
Providing new opportunities to help people of all ages grow and develop. - Community
Groups that bring people together to create a sense of purpose within communities. - Vulnerability
Organisations providing care and support to people who need extra help.
If you have questions about the fund or want to check if your project is eligible, see our FAQ’s below.
Who can apply?
You need to be located within our service area. The following are eligible to apply:
- Schools, colleges or academies
- Registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations
- Constituted groups or clubs
- Community Interest Companies (CICs)
- Local community groups such as: cricket clubs, allotment groups, scout groups, garden clubs etc.
What we can fund
Things we can fund include:
- Equipment hire and purchase
- Skills and training
- Employee salaries for time dedicated to working directly on the project
- Professional fees i.e. builders, groundworkers or an interpretation design agency
What we can’t fund
We’re unable to help with the following:
- Applications submitted by a person aged under 18 years old
- Commercial businesses that make a profit (e.g. limited company, sole trader)
- Individuals
- Organisations and projects based outside of our service area
- Projects where we are not the majority funder and will require further funding to complete
- Retrospective costs – we will only fund new projects
- Projects with a political or religious purpose*
- Projects that have been unsuccessful with an application in the same financial year (April to April)
* We can fund religious organisations if their project benefits the wider community and doesn’t include religious content.
Pennon Group is earmarking £500,000 per year within this fund to support community groups across our 4 brands and communities. This will be administered by Action Funder, whose fees will be paid from the fund. We expect that each year at least £450,000 will be donated to good causes.
Who can apply?
You need to be located within our service area. The following are eligible to apply:
- Schools, colleges or academies
- Registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations
- Constituted groups or clubs
- Community Interest Companies (CICs)
- Local community groups such as: cricket clubs, allotment groups, scout groups, garden clubs etc.
What we can fund
Things we can fund include:
- Equipment hire and purchase
- Skills and training
- Employee salaries for time dedicated to working directly on the project
- Professional fees i.e. builders, groundworkers or an interpretation design agency
What we can’t fund
We’re unable to help with the following:
- Applications submitted by a person aged under 18 years old
- Commercial businesses that make a profit (e.g. limited company, sole trader)
- Individuals
- Organisations and projects based outside of our service area
- Projects where we are not the majority funder and will require further funding to complete
- Retrospective costs – we will only fund new projects
- Projects with a political or religious purpose*
- Projects that have been unsuccessful with an application in the same financial year (April to April)
* We can fund religious organisations if their project benefits the wider community and doesn’t include religious content.
Pennon Group is earmarking £500,000 per year within this fund to support community groups across our 4 brands and communities. This will be administered by Action Funder, whose fees will be paid from the fund. We expect that each year at least £450,000 will be donated to good causes.
Who can apply?
You need to be located within our service area. The following are eligible to apply:
- Schools, colleges or academies
- Registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations
- Constituted groups or clubs
- Community Interest Companies (CICs)
- Local community groups such as: cricket clubs, allotment groups, scout groups, garden clubs etc.
What we can fund
Things we can fund include:
- Equipment hire and purchase
- Skills and training
- Employee salaries for time dedicated to working directly on the project
- Professional fees i.e. builders, groundworkers or an interpretation design agency
What we can’t fund
We’re unable to help with the following:
- Applications submitted by a person aged under 18 years old
- Commercial businesses that make a profit (e.g. limited company, sole trader)
- Individuals
- Organisations and projects based outside of our service area
- Projects where we are not the majority funder and will require further funding to complete
- Retrospective costs – we will only fund new projects
- Projects with a political or religious purpose*
- Projects that have been unsuccessful with an application in the same financial year (April to April)
* We can fund religious organisations if their project benefits the wider community and doesn’t include religious content.
Pennon Group is earmarking £500,000 per year within this fund to support community groups across our 4 brands and communities. This will be administered by Action Funder, whose fees will be paid from the fund. We expect that each year at least £450,000 will be donated to good causes.
Better Futures Fund Impact so far
Please click though to this link to explore the projects below.
- Bristol Association for Neighbourhood Day Care
- Great Western Hearts school
- The Dumps Management project
- 43rd Bristol Scout Group
Avon Wildlife Trust
The Water Bar
The Water Bar ensures that everyone can reduce their plastic waste and hear about the work of Bristol Water at events and festivals in our supply area.
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