There are two funding windows per year. For 2026, this will be June and November. Each window will be open for one month. The dates are:
1 June to 30 June 2026
2 November to 30 November 2026
Eligible not-for-profit organisations can apply for a restricted grant of £5,000–£20,000 to support their core costs for one year. They expect to fund around 28 organisations from across the Severn Trent region in this round.
Eligible Expenditure
Grants are to cover the essential costs an organisation has to keep running. This might include management and administration, general office costs (rent and utilities), accountancy and audit, fundraising, communications and governance/compliance costs.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate that:
- Their organisation runs a vital service for the local community, especially supporting those most vulnerable.
- They have a real and measurable impact on improving wider community wellbeing in the region.
- Are finding it hard to maintain their organisation’s current activities and need urgent financial help to cover their running costs.
The organisations the funders expect to support – in this priority order – are those providing emergency relief services (such as foodbanks), followed by health and medical support, housing and homelessness services, support for vulnerable populations, and finally organisations offering employment and income‑assistance programmes.
Who Can Apply
Applications are accepted from organisations that:
- Are not-for-profit, have a governing document and a bank account in their name.
- Are located in the Severn Trent region.
- Deliver a vital service for local residents, and improve wider community wellbeing, especially supporting those most vulnerable.
- Have been operating for at least three full years, and have a gross annual income of £250,000 or less (averaged over the past three years).
- Are struggling financially to maintain current activities.
- Do not have unrestricted reserves exceeding 12 months of standard operating costs.
- Do not have significant and unmanageable debt.
Faith-based organisations are eligible to apply as long as the request is for community work eg food banks or warm hubs. The practice of religion or any activities that actively promote religion or particular belief systems are not eligible.
Only one application can be accepted from an organisation in a 12-month period.
Applicants can check their location eligibility using the map on the Severn Trent website or entering their postcode on the Water UK website.
There are two funding windows per year. For 2026, this will be June and November. Each window will be open for one month. The dates are:
- 1 June to 30 June 2026.
- 2 November to 30 November 2026.
Full eligibility criteria and details on how to apply can be found at stwater.co.uk/corefunding
