A £249,579 grant will strengthen an environmental charity’s mission to protect and restore rivers across the Tyne catchment.
The backing from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will support The Tyne Rivers Trust – Foundations for the Future, an 18-month programme focused on building the people, systems and organisational infrastructure needed to increase the body’s long-term impact.
Rivers across the Tyne catchment face pressures including pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, declining wildlife and the impacts of climate change.
The recent plastic nurdles spill in the River Tyne has also highlighted the vulnerability of the region’s rivers and estuaries.
The grant will support new roles across philanthropy and partnerships, systems, projects and communications, helping the Trust attract investment, strengthen its use of data and evidence and build relationships with communities, landowners and other partners.
Sophia Stovall, Trust chief executive, said: “This funding comes at a pivotal moment for Tyne Rivers Trust.
“The challenges facing our rivers are becoming increasingly complex. Pollution, habitat loss, declining native species and the effects of climate change all require long-term thinking, strong partnerships and an organisation with the resilience and capacity to respond.
“Some of this investment will happen behind the scenes, in our people, systems and infrastructure, but the reason for doing it is very much about what happens out on our rivers.
“It will help us make better use of evidence, strengthen relationships with communities, landowners, land managers and other partners, attract new investment and ultimately develop and deliver more ambitious work for rivers and wildlife.”
Helen Featherstone, director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Rivers are an important part of our natural heritage, supporting wildlife, shaping landscapes and connecting communities with the places in which they live.
“We are delighted to support Tyne Rivers Trust thanks to National Lottery players, who have told us time and time again that natural heritage is of great importance to them. We are very proud to be investing in this project.”
