Its inclusive model brings together local businesses, local authorities schools and young people, resident and community groups, faith groups and public bodies via Stewardship Partnerships. These coalitions are an innovative example of public-private financing, central to Riverlution’s success.

The organisation has removed over 100 tonnes of waste and litter from rivers and waterways, delivers more than 2,700 hours of, free to participants, training each year and last financial year created more than £2million of social value.

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An effective model – that funds training for all

Riverlution is a community interest company. It works with businesses and public bodies to manage local rivers, and riparian habitats and is also contracted to provide accredited training. It uses income from these activities to fund free training for disadvantaged groups, particularly young people.

Its proactive management of local rivers, based on planned and regular interventions, is highly effective. Sheffield’s industrial past means its rivers and streams have been heavily shaped by human activity, and many floodplains covered in concrete – all of which raises flood risks. In 2007, two people were killed during catastrophic flooding in the city.

Riverlution’s activities vary from site to site. But they include tree planting, wetland creation, and removing invasive species. As well as introducing leaky dams, which use logs and branches to slow the flow of water after downpours.

From its early years working purely in the city, the organisation now works along the River Don ‘from source to sea’ – with activity on the edge of the Peak District, around the river’s tributaries, and in the Humber Estuary.

As an accredited training provider, Riverlution offers industry-standard qualifications. It is one of only two organisations in the country delivering the Water Environment Worker Apprenticeship.

An inclusive, community-focused approach

The conservation, environment and water management sector is sometimes difficult to break into, particularly for young people from urban areas without easy opportunities to engage with land based activities, These factors act as barriers for marginalised groups. Riverlution’s thorough approach and inclusive model helps trainees overcome them.

People not in education, employment or training, or those seeking to change careers or re-skill can join a free six-month skills scheme. This gives them foundational knowledge, experience working on real projects, and recognised qualifications. There’s also support for CV writing and interview advice. And the organisation runs tailored schemes for trainees with special educational needs and disabilities.

Riverlution’s approach is designed to help the wider community manage and benefit from the waterways on their doorstep. This ranges from supporting the Hindu community’s celebrations involving the river, to engaging primary and secondary school pupils.

The organisation has also helped a diverse range of local businesses get involved in financing nature-based climate solutions – from property firms to engineering companies. Growing the involvement of the private sector in this sector is an important and rare achievement.

Riverlution’s future plans include developing its work on Humberside, and expanding its Sheffield Stewardship Partnership to cover nearby Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. The organisation is keen to work nationwide, and is confident its flexible, effective model could succeed in regions and communities across the UK.