The Water Conservation Trust

Charity Number: 1007648

Stay updated on changes from The Water Conservation Trust and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed (limited resources, selective grantmaking)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by programme (quarterly review process typical)
  • Grant Range: £200 - £5,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily UK-based, emphasis on London and partner universities

Contact Details

Email: clerk@waterconservators.org

Phone: 1189833689

Address: c/o Watermen's Hall, 16-18 St Mary at Hill, London EC3R 8EF

Schools Programme Contact: rob.casey1@hotmail.com (Rob Casey)

Overview

The Water Conservation Trust (Charity No. 1007648, now operating as CIO 1199697) was established by The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators, a modern livery company incorporated by Royal Charter in 2005. The Trust leads and supports almost all of the Company's charitable activities, with the mission of “promoting a diverse and sustainable environment.” The Trust focuses on targeted interventions where funding can achieve significant impact or large multiplier effects, particularly supporting educational initiatives from primary schools through postgraduate level. The Company describes itself as “a leading Livery company on environmental issues” and “a Company of action” focused on tackling national and international challenges in water management, climate change, and energy. Funds are derived from investment income, Company members' regular giving, donations from trade organisations, and collections at Company functions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

University Bursaries and Prizes

  • Cambridge MPhil Programme: £4,000 bursary for students on the MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development, plus a prize for best dissertation
  • Plymouth University: £5,000 award (£4,000 for fees, £1,000 for dissertation expenses) for masters students in Environmental Consultancy, Sustainable Environmental Management, Environmental and Engineering Geology, or Environmental Geochemistry
  • Selection based on academic quality and financial need through university partners

Schools Programme (Rolling basis)

  • Museum Visit Bursaries: £200 per visit to London Museum of Water & Steam for schools with high percentages of disadvantaged children. Total spend of £1,770 across 2022/23-2024, supporting 328 children
  • School Garden Projects: Grants of £1,350+ for horticultural garden restoration and outdoor teaching areas
  • Free STEAM Explorer Course: Free participation for youth aged 13-18 in engineering and industrial archaeology programmes

Research and Special Projects

  • Year In Industry Placements: £5,000 grants supporting environmental education, practical conservation work, and Riverfly Monitoring Project
  • Special Need Cases: Variable amounts for water-related research and conservation projects

Priority Areas

  • Relief of poverty for persons in the water conservation and water industry sectors and their dependants
  • Advancement of education for those engaged or wanting to engage in water and environmental sectors
  • Promotion of research in water technology and conservation
  • Promotion of STEM in schools and support to youth organisations
  • Projects where Company members can become involved using professional and practical skills
  • Water-related science and environmental learning at all educational levels
  • Environmental education with focus on water supply, treatment, and conservation

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but focus is clearly on:

  • UK-based projects (international unlikely unless exceptional)
  • Water and environment-related activities (non-water projects unlikely)
  • Educational and research initiatives (general operational costs unlikely)
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for The Water Conservation Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Current Master (2025): Professor Carolyn Roberts, independent water and environment consultant and former academic

Leadership Structure: Managed by a Court comprising a Master, three Wardens (named after London's rivers: Thames, Fleet, and Walbrook), and Court Assistants. The Master and Wardens are elected annually from the Liverymen, who are practitioners in water, waste, and environment industries.

Trustees: Four to six trustees appointed from Court members, overseeing charitable trust operations.

Key Quote from Master: Professor Roberts stated, “We are in a good position to help tackle the huge national and international challenges we are facing on managing water, climate change and energy” and emphasized “Within our Company we have tremendous expertise and experience of water and environmental policy and practice... We will share our knowledge with any party that asks for help.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

University Programmes: Applications processed through partner universities (Cambridge, Plymouth). Students apply directly to the university programme, which selects recipients based on academic merit and financial need.

Schools Programme:

  • Contact Rob Casey (rob.casey1@hotmail.com) for bursary applications
  • Complete application form stating why school would be unable to visit without bursary funding
  • Email form to coordinator

Other Grants: Contact the Clerk at clerk@waterconservators.org or write to the Company address. The Trust evaluates all applications considering practicability and offers advice to applicants.

Decision Timeline

Typical timeframes not publicly specified, but the Trust appears to operate on a quarterly review cycle based on Court meetings. University awards decided by early September for autumn intake (applications close 31 July). Schools programme bursaries processed on rolling basis with coordinator responding as soon as possible.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The Trust emphasizes it has “limited resources” and looks for “cases of special need and where funding can have a significant impact or large multiplier effect.”

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated. Given the educational focus and multi-year university programmes, repeat funding appears possible for ongoing partnerships.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors:

  • Demonstrate Financial Need: University programmes explicitly select students based on quality AND financial need
  • Show Significant Impact: The Trust explicitly seeks projects where funding achieves “significant impact or large multiplier effect”
  • Enable Member Involvement: Projects where Company members can contribute professional and practical skills are favored
  • Focus on Disadvantaged Groups: Schools programme prioritizes institutions with high percentages of disadvantaged children
  • Water and Environment Connection: Clear relevance to water technology, conservation, or environmental management essential
  • UK Right to Work: University awards require permanent UK residency rights

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • £5,000 to River Home Connections for Year In Industry student supporting Riverfly Monitoring Project
  • £1,350 for school horticultural garden restoration (£2,700 total project cost)
  • £710 + £1,060 for museum visit bursaries for disadvantaged schools
  • £4,000 Cambridge MPhil bursaries for Engineering for Sustainable Development students
  • £5,000 Plymouth University awards for water-focused masters dissertations

Plymouth University Requirement: Applicants must submit a 500-word essay on “Challenges for the water industry in the 21st century” alongside their application, demonstrating understanding of sector issues.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Partnership Approach: The Trust primarily works through established institutional partnerships rather than open grant rounds; building relationships with the Company or applying through partner organisations is key
  • Educational Focus: Almost all funding goes to educational initiatives from primary through postgraduate level; research grants limited to student placements and academic programmes
  • Small But Strategic: With limited resources, the Trust makes targeted investments where £200-£5,000 can achieve measurable impact
  • Member Engagement Matters: Projects offering opportunities for Company member involvement using their water industry expertise have competitive advantage
  • Demonstrate Multiplier Effect: Show how modest funding will leverage additional resources, reach more beneficiaries, or create lasting change
  • Water Industry Connections: Understanding challenges facing the UK water industry and ability to articulate how your project addresses these strengthens applications
  • Consider Timing: University awards close 31 July; school programmes operate rolling basis; other grants likely reviewed quarterly at Court meetings

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References