Volunteering and Business Engagement

Overview

People and partnerships are central to creating lasting change for rivers. We provide opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses to contribute their time, skills, resources and expertise.

Whether you join a practical conservation activity, support citizen science or build a strategic business partnership, your involvement can help restore habitats, strengthen local connections with rivers and deliver long-term benefits for people and nature.

Why it matters

Rivers face growing pressures from pollution, climate change and development. Addressing these challenges requires more than technical solutions — it needs people and organisations who understand the challenges and take action. 

By connecting individuals, communities and businesses with rivers, we help to: 

• Improve river health through hands-on action  

• Build long-term stewardship and care for local environments  

• Support wellbeing through meaningful time spent in nature  

• Unlock investment and partnerships that scale up impact  

For businesses, this work also helps to:

• Deliver climate, nature and community-related goals  

• Build flood resilience and reduce environmental risk  

• Support biodiversity and reduce nature loss  

• Strengthen supply chain resilience  

• Engage employees through meaningful, hands-on experiences  

• Enhance reputation through visible environmental action  

Our approach combines practical volunteering, citizen science and strategic partnerships to deliver real, measurable change. 

Volunteering for rivers

Volunteering is one of the most powerful ways people can support their local river — and see the difference they make. 

We work with a growing network of volunteers who take part in a wide range of activities, including: 

• River clean-ups tackling plastic pollution and fly-tipping — removing tonnes of waste before it harms wildlife or is carried downstream into larger rivers and the sea  

• Habitat restoration to support wildlife — improving riverbanks and channels to create better places for fish, insects and plants to live, feed and breed  

• Planting wetlands and trees — helping to slow the flow of water, reduce flood risk, store carbon and create new habitats for wildlife  

• Invasive species management — removing invasive plants to allow native species to recover and improve biodiversity  

• Citizen science programmes, such as Riverfly monitoring — collecting data that helps identify pollution and guide action to improve river health  

Our volunteers contribute thousands of hours each year, helping to restore rivers while gaining new skills, improving wellbeing and connecting with others. 

We make volunteering accessible and rewarding, providing training, equipment and expert guidance so everyone can get involved safely and confidently.

Corporate volunteering

Our corporate volunteering days offer teams the opportunity to step out of the office and take part in practical river restoration activities. 

These experiences help businesses to: 

• Deliver on ESG and CSR commitments 

• Build stronger, more engaged teams 

• Connect with local environments and communities 

Activities can include river clean-ups, habitat improvements or invasive species management, all guided by our experienced team. 

A shared impact

Volunteers and businesses are essential to achieving our wider mission. 

Together, we: 

• Restore and reconnect rivers 

• Improve water quality and biodiversity 

• Reduce flood risk through nature-based solutions 

• Inspire lifelong stewardship for rivers 

Our work is always guided by data and evidence, ensuring every action contributes to healthier, more resilient rivers.