The Inland Waterways Association

Registered charity 212342 · since 1962waterways.org.uk·England·Updated 30 October 2026

At a glance

£231k

Annual giving, year to 31 December 2025

From the Charity Commission register

Key takeaways

The Association's work centres on protecting, restoring and regenerating Britain's canals and navigable rivers, so projects of that kind are the closest fit.
Its South West Inland Waterways Regeneration Fund gives small grants for waterway regeneration, and the priority area is stated as the South West, so a regeneration project there is the strongest match.
No application process is published in the annual report, the register entry or its website, so get in touch through the contact shown before preparing a full request, and ask what size of grant is realistic, since no grant range is stated.

Overview

The Inland Waterways Association is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 212342).

The Inland Waterways Association exists to advocate the conservation, use, maintenance and development of the inland waterways of the British Isles, for the public benefit. It was founded in response to the very real risk that continued neglect of the historic waterways network would see a precious national asset lost forever. It is a registered charity in England and Wales, with annual giving of £231,133. Its South West Inland Waterways Regeneration Fund provides small grants for waterway regeneration in the South West.

What they fund

Priority Areas

The Association’s work centres on protecting, restoring and regenerating Britain’s network of canals and navigable rivers for everyone to enjoy. It advocates their conservation, maintenance and development, promotes public education and research about inland waterways, and provides leadership, resources and practical support to the waterway restoration sector. Grants are made to third parties in furtherance of its objects. The South West Inland Waterways Regeneration Fund provides small grants for waterway regeneration in the South West. Its wider aim is a well-maintained network of inland waterways available for the benefit of all.

Themes

Waterway regeneration

Geographic Focus

Priority: South West.

How to apply

No application process is published in the charity's annual report, its register entry or its website. The contact shown is for getting in touch.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

England

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to The Inland Waterways Association.

The Don Catchment Rivers TrustNo public process Nene Rivers Trust CIONo public processGave £27,845 River ChurchNo public processGave £26,327 Wessex Rivers TrustNo public process Paddle Steamer Preservation SocietyNo public processGave £10,200 Lempriere Pringle 2015Invitation onlyGave £4.5M The Weinstock FundRollingGave £431k Spielman Charitable TrustNo public processGave £246k Churches ConservationNo public processGave £2M The Rochester Bridge TrustMixed deadlinesGave £514k

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 December 2021	£1,770,221	£1,743,480	£52,662	Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022	£1,645,622	£1,883,087	£42,015	Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023	£1,890,454	£1,808,219	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024	£1,818,463	£1,537,395	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2024
year to 31 December 2025	£1,488,666	£1,214,796	£231,133	Accounts for year to 31 December 2025

Income vs grants paid

IncomeGrants paid

Total value each financial year

YE 2021

£52,662 grants

YE 2022

£42,015 grants

YE 2025

£231k grants

Grants paid stayed within income across the 3 years shown.

Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2025: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).

— No grants figure for those years.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.