Community groups around north Shropshire will be able to access community funding through water provider Severn Trent.

Applications are open for Severn Trent’s new Community Fund where more than £10 million will be given away to community groups and projects over the next five years.

Severn Trent is the UK’s second largest water company and delivers two billion litres of water each day to customers in England and Wales.

Communities and organisations from across the company’s region, including north Shropshire, can apply to be in with the opportunity to be awarded funding for their community projects.

Community Fund Manager, Daisy Powell, said: “We’ve already had a fantastic response and more than 300 people have been in touch to register their interest to the fund, and that’s even before applications were open!

“We really want to hear all about schemes, projects and groups that make a real difference to communities.”

The Fund is looking to support projects which are able to demonstrate a clear link to one or more of their three elements of community wellbeing.

"These are projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills; ideas that help create better places to live in and use; and schemes which will help look after the natural environment and give people greater access to that environment.

"Projects which are linked to water such as river restoration, flood alleviation or sustainable drainage will also be projects which are encouraged by Severn Trent.

To help decide which projects will be awarded an independent customer panel has been made up of customers.

Daisy added: “We really wanted to have our customers’ involvement in helping us shape the Fund, and ultimately be making the decision on which community projects we should financially support.

“We know there are thousands of groups out there that do fantastic work, and we’re really keen to make a real difference to the communities in our patch”

To apply and for more information visit stwater.co.uk/communityfund