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 provide one or more of the following benefits:

• Creates/improves community connections
• Improves mental wellbeing
• Improves physical wellbeing
• Improves access to heritage and/or nature
• Improves biodiversity/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

This first round of applications will closed on 31 June 2025. Decisions on awards will be made by mid July and project activity will need completing by December 2025. Dates of a second round will be announced in the autumn 2025. Priority will be given to existing businesses, organisations and groups that operate at Mill Waters (Sutton Lawn and Kings Mill Reservoir).

Further information

If you need any further information or support with this application, please contact us:

• email: millwaters@ashfield.gov.uk