Community benefit fund to support 6 regional projects

Yorkshire Water has extended its commitment to working with others through the creation of a £100,000 Community Benefit Fund, which will help to deliver projects for local communities in the region.

The water company created the fund after receiving praise for its partnership work from Ofwat, which granted Yorkshire Water a financial reward.

Previous work included enhancing biodiversity, slowing flood water, installing fish passes, tackling non-native invasive species, building rain gardens at schools and revealing sites of historical significance across Yorkshire.

All the projects were carried out in collaboration with experts outside of Yorkshire Water and the new £100,000 Community Benefit Fund aims to ensure this activity continues.

A total of six projects have been selected for funding. These are:

• Carer’s Resource – a year-long project to provide one-to-one employment support to carers in the Bradford area impacted by Covid-19 pandemic
• Christians Against Poverty – pilot project to adapt and expand debt advice service in Barnsley, Harrogate, York, Skipton and Dewsbury
• River Holme Connections – providing three years funding to run river clean up days with volunteers, undertake sewer abuse awareness campaigns, tackle invasive species on the River HolmE
• Friends of Rowntree Park – four-year project to create a series of sustainable wildlife habitats which work with the natural flood plain of the park to improve drainage issues, as well as running an education programme for schools and families
• The River Stewardship Company’s Stewardship Skills project – a community engagement and job creation project linked to the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme
• Peak District National Park Foundation – a year-long project to recruit community champions to lead walks and encourage people from BAME communities to enjoy the Peak District National Park
• Yorkshire Water’s Amanda Crossfield said: “The reward we received for the great work we’ve undertaken with a range of partner organisations is testament to their dedication.

“We felt the creation of the Community Benefit Fund would ensure this activity could continue at a time when we know community-funded projects are under increased financial pressures.

“The six projects selected to receive funding will provide a variety of benefits for communities across Yorkshire and we look forward to working with them to deliver more positive outcomes for our customers across the region.”