Mill Waters Next Steps Community Grants

We want to support local organisations to provide opportunities for people to take part in activities at Mill Waters (Sutton Lawn and Kings Mill Reservoir).

The focus is to support existing operators at Mill Waters to improve mental health and wellbeing through access to heritage and the great outdoors at Mill Waters. For this, we will distribute funding to local organisations with grants of up to £500.

Mill Waters Next Steps is a partnership project led by Ashfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, with several community partners. The project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

All grant payments will be paid by BACS as soon as all necessary processes are completed e.g. setting up of new accounts.

Funding eligibility and criteria

Applications are currently only open to existing businesses, organisations and groups that operate at Mill Waters (Sutton Lawn and Kings Mill Reservoir). One application per organisation please. 

The funded activity or project will need to improve access or engagement with heritage, nature or both at Mill Waters (Sutton Lawn and Kings Mill Reservoir), in addition to one or more of the following benefits:

• Creates or improves community connections
• Improves mental and physical wellbeing
• Improves biodiversity or combatting climate change
• Contributes to future sustainability of your organisation operating at Mill Waters

Litter picking packs

We also have litter picking packs available for community groups on request. Each pack contains enough kit for a group of 10 including pickers, hoops, hi-viz vests, gloves and 200 red bags.

These will be available free of charge to community groups on the understanding that, should they receive a pack, they agree to complete at least 4 litter picks within the District per year.

Both adult and child packs are available.

To apply for a litter picking pack, please complete a green activity growing application form, and state that you would like a litter picking pack the under grant request section.

Note: If you are only applying for litter picking packs, we will not need your groups bank details so please ignore this section.

How to apply

To apply, you will need the following information to complete the application:

• proof of your organisation's authenticity
• copies of your organisation's equal opportunities policy, safeguarding statement and insurance cover - if these are in place
• an overview of how you plan to spend the money if successful
• bank details for your organisation

If you don't have all of the documentation available, please still apply as your application will still be considered.

1. Please complete the online application form - make sure you have everything ready to complete the whole form, as it cannot be saved and completed at a later date.
   Mill Waters Next Steps Community Grant application form
2. Please refer to the privacy notice statement for information about how your data will be used.
   link: Privacy notice
   
   
3. Please acknowledge our grant aid in your annual report, in your accounts and in any publicity or other written material you produce about the activities we are funding.
   
   
4. Please retain all your receipts, record details of all your expenditures and project outcomes, as we will require you to complete a short monitoring form at a later date.

This round of applications will close at midnight on Wednesday 4 December 2025.

Decisions on awards will be made in mid December and project activity will need completing by July 2026. Priority for this round will be given to existing businesses, organisations and groups that operate at Mill Waters - Sutton Lawn and Kings Mill Reservoir.

Any funding remaining for the third and final round in early 2026 will be eligible to any organisation to run events at Mill Waters. Therefore, to significantly increase the likelihood of a successful application you are encouraged to apply now, whilst priority is still being given to existing businesses, organisations and groups that operate at Mill Waters. 

Further information

Please contact us via email for an initial chat to check your eligibility and discuss your project or activity ideas and we will arrange to call you.

• email: millwaters@ashfield.gov.uk