A £249,579 award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will help North East environmental charity Tyne Rivers Trust invest in new staff, stronger systems and long-term resilience as it prepares for the next phase of its work.
Tyne Rivers Trust has secured the funding to strengthen the organisation behind its efforts to protect and restore rivers across the Tyne catchment.
The funding 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 Trust’s long-term impact.
Rivers across the Tyne catchment are facing growing and interconnected pressures, from pollution and habitat loss to invasive species, declining wildlife and the impacts of climate change.
Recent events have also demonstrated how quickly additional pressures can emerge. Following the plastic pellet spill in the River Tyne this summer, concerns around pollution and the potential impact on wildlife have brought renewed attention to the vulnerability of rivers and estuaries, and the importance of protecting the waterways that people, wildlife and local communities depend upon.
Against that backdrop, Tyne Rivers Trust is investing now in the foundations that will allow it to respond more effectively to both immediate challenges and the longer-term pressures facing rivers.
The National Lottery investment will support new roles across philanthropy and partnerships, systems, projects and communications, increasing the Trust’s capacity to build long-term relationships, attract new investment, strengthen its use of data and evidence, and communicate more effectively with communities, supporters and stakeholders. These areas are central to the Foundations for the Future programme and its ambition to create a stronger, more sustainable organisation.
Investment is also being made in the internal infrastructure needed to support the charity’s future growth.
Work already under way includes the procurement of a new organisation-wide Customer Relationship Management system, alongside a comprehensive HR and organisational review designed to ensure the Trust has the structures, processes and people frameworks needed to operate effectively and sustainably.
Further investment will include improvements to data management, governance, health and safety and digital systems, alongside a refreshed website and organisational identity.
The aim is not simply to create a bigger organisation, but a stronger and more resilient one, capable of delivering greater impact for rivers, wildlife and communities.
Better systems will help the Trust use environmental evidence more effectively and demonstrate the impact of its work. Increased fundraising capacity will support more sustainable and diverse sources of income, reducing reliance on short-term project funding and enabling longer-term planning. Stronger communications and engagement infrastructure will also help more people connect with their local rivers and understand how they can support their recovery.
Sophia Stovall, Chief Executive Officer at Tyne Rivers Trust, 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.
“Recent pollution incidents have also been a stark reminder that our rivers can face sudden pressures alongside the longer-term challenges we are already working to address.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, we now have the opportunity to invest in the foundations that will help us do that.
“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.”
“This is about building the organisation we need for the future, and creating the conditions for greater impact over the years ahead.”
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.”
Naomi Kinghorn, Head of Investment, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added:
“By investing in Tyne River Trust’s people, systems and long-term resilience, this project will help the organisation to strengthen its ability to care for river heritage and involve more people in its development. It is vital that we value, rebuild and protect our natural heritage so it is sustained for the future, and supporting organisations like Tyne River Trust can help to realise that vision.”
The funding comes as Tyne Rivers Trust develops its new three-year strategy, setting out how the organisation will strengthen its resilience, increase its impact and respond to the changing pressures facing rivers.
The strategy places particular emphasis on investment in people, systems, governance, partnerships and long-term financial resilience, alongside catchment-scale environmental action and greater opportunities for people to connect with and care for their local waterways.
Further details about the Trust’s future direction and ambitions for the rivers it works to protect will be shared this autumn.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.
The Tyne Rivers Trust – Foundations for the Future is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, Tyne Rivers Trust is able to invest in the people, systems and organisational capacity needed to protect and restore river heritage for the future.
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