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Better Futures Fund

We provide help to support nature, community and opportunities around the Bournemouth region.

We have now opened our next round of Better Futures funding which will remain open until December 2026.

Bournemouth Water are part of the Pennon Group alongside Bristol Water, SES Water and South West.

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in supporting projects and charities in the places where we live and work, helping to build stronger communities.

To provide more support to our communities, the Pennon Group have launched the £5m Better Futures Fund.

The fund includes £2.5m for community groups involved with physical activity, education, health and wellbeing, and positive environmental impacts.

For Bournemouth Water customers, the fund will provide £235,000 over five years for community funding.

The remaining £2.5m will go towards alleviating hardship, in addition to the £200m programme to help customers who are vulnerable or struggling financially across the Pennon family.

Better Futures will help to unlock opportunities and bring positive change to the communities we serve.

How is the programme managed?

We’ve partnered with ActionFunder, to manage and facilitate this grant programme. Action Funder is a grant management platform revolutionising community investment. Built with funders and driven by AI, it streamlines the funding process delivering money directly into community projects.

How to apply

Click to apply and create a free profile on ActionFunder if you haven’t already registered.

You will then need to create a project application outlining what you need the funding for and expected impact.

Your project application will automatically be submitted to the relevant fund that it meets the eligibility criteria for which will include Better Futures.

Review and decision timeline

Our Community Outreach Team will review all project applications on a monthly basis.

If you’re successful we’ll send you a funding invitation through ActionFunder, and you’ll be asked to provide some further due diligence information before the grant is transferred.

Please note. If you don’t hear from us that doesn’t mean you’re unsuccessful , due to the volume of demand we may revisit your application at a future review. We will aim to decline any applications we can’t support on a regular basis at which point you’ll receive an email notification.

Sidenote. By maintaining a profile and project on ActionFunder, you'll automatically be notified of any other relevant funding opportunities from other funders.

Who and what we want to support - Fund eligibility criteria

To apply for a share of the community funding, your project needs to involve one or more of the following:

Nature and the environment
Projects and organisations that directly impact and protect nature for the benefit of community health and wellbeing.
EducationProviding new opportunities to help people of all ages grow and develop.
CommunityGroups that bring people together to create a sense of purpose within communities.
Vulnerability
Organisations providing care and support to people who need extra help.

If you have questions about the fund or want to check if your project is eligible see our FAQ’s below.

Replacement of the Neighbourhood Fund

The Better Futures Fund replaces the Neighbourhood Fund, which is now closed for applications. We’d like to thank everyone who used the Neighbourhood Fund to benefit the community.

You can also apply to our water-saving community fund

In addition to the Better Futures fund, we also provide support for community-led initiatives that deliver measurable water-saving results. See the water-saving community fund page for more details.