Initially, the funding from ChangeX encouraged us to consider taking part in a year-long water testing project. It was not an easy ask as our Fresh Water Watch (FWW) group was formed out of the existing Swords Tidy Towns volunteers who were already involved in many other projects. However, a very committed group of five members was successfully formed and has been out every month to do the testing.

We were very lucky to get some extra support from our families, who would join us on occasion to help out. As much as this project was about rising awareness and contributing to the global data, it was also a personal journey and had a positive impact on our lives. One of our members - Catherine has shared her experience here:
https://swordstidytowns.com/2023/08/24/fresh-water-watch-project-august-2023-observations/

Testing 10 different locations (in 2 rivers and an estuary) meant that we were producing a great amount of data that was contributing to the global pool of data to be analysed by the experts. We were delighted to be able to take part in World Water Blitz event:
https://swordstidytowns.com/2023/11/11/worldwaterblitz/

Sharing our water testing adventures through photos on our social media channels meant rising awareness and interest in our rivers in our local communities. Sharing test results encouraged conversations and discussions about the quality of our waters.

Forming a group here on ChangeX and later on FWW platform meant that we became more visible to all other groups doing similar work in other areas. We were contacted by another group from a neighbouring town and we are currently in discussion about forming a communication channel for our wider network so we can keep in touch easily, share experiences and provide help if necessary.

Funding received from ChangeX means that we can either continue doing this work for another year or use the funds to rise awareness and educate our local communities through other water related activities.

Action plan:

Timeline: When will you be able to start your project? How often will your team meet? Are there any key dates to share for the project?

Budget: You don't need to share exact prices, but please share how you're planning to spend the seed funding & what costs you're anticipating to get your project up and running:

Impact: How will your community benefit from this project? Do you have any measurable goals for your project, such as the number of people that will participate? Are you hoping to spread knowledge or increase interest in a specific subject?

Location: If your project requires physical space, have you decided the location? Do you have all necessary permission and permits to carry out your project at the chosen location?