Flood sign

Operation Watershed - Community projects

Operation Watershed Active Communities Fund is a grant fund supporting community groups working in their local area to help prepare for, and reduce the risk and impacts of flooding from ground and surface water.
A committed funding pot is available for community groups, volunteer groups and town and parish councils within West Sussex who can apply to fund projects they wish to deliver for themselves. Applications have to demonstrate:

- How it addresses recognised flood issues
- If it has strong community support
- That it demonstrates value for money
- How it will realise benefits for the community

Further details can be found on the Operations Watershed webpage

March 2021 performance

Total of 17 successful applications received funds to support local projects to reduce the risk of flooding impacting communities day to day lives. Applications demonstrate community working and resilience responding to local need. 2019/20 autumn/winter was the wettest 6 months on record for West Sussex and the change in weather focuses activity around how to adapt and respond to climate change.
 
Operation Watershed fund allocated to community projects
  • Quarter 4 2020/21
  • 5 successful Operation Watershed Applications
  • £90,771.72  funds awarded in quarter 4
Cumulative total for 2020/21
  • 17 successful Operation Watershed Applications
  • £387,512.11 funds awarded for 2020/21
Quarter 4 2020/21
Quarter 4 - 2020-21 5 successful Watershed operations
The original target was 70 groups receiving funds by 2022 and by 2019 had already exceeded the target with a total of 73 successful applications being awarded funding between 2017 & 2019. A new extended target of 10 groups per annum was set from 2019 to 2022.  
In 2018-19 there were a total of 21 projects funded. 
  1. Arun – 3 projects receiving £109,505
  2. Adur – 1  project receiving £11,240
  3. Chichester – 9 projects receiving £136,233
  4. Horsham – 3 projects receiving £47,381
  5. Mid Sussex – 4 projects receiving £63,839
  6. Worthing – 1 project receiving £1,837