Applications have opened for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency's (NIEA) 2024/25 Water Quality Improvement Strand of its Environmental Challenge Fund Competition.

The grant that is open to applicants from constituted not-for-profit organisations and councils, and projects will run from spring 2024 until February 2025.

The funding will cover up to 85 per cent of funding for projects costing £5,000 to £30,000.

NIEA Chief Executive, David Reid, said: "I am pleased to announce the opening of NIEA's Water Quality Improvement Strand. This fund is made available to support local communities and voluntary organisations to run small projects that will deliver improvements in the local water environment, help connect people with that environment, and encourage behavioural change.

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"Volunteers and community groups play a significant role in contributing to our plans to enhance the quality of our water through monitoring and our continued efforts to eliminate pollution and this fund offers a great opportunity for local conservation groups to support and continue in this important work. I would therefore encourage eligible organisations to consider submitting an application through this scheme to deliver improvements in their local water environment."

Applications for the funding close on 10 March 2024 at 11.59pm.