Thames21

New year, New career! If you’re looking for a fantastic new role in 2025 then look no further than a new role as Corporate Volunteering Officer with us! Apply now! If you are passionate about rivers and have experience in leading volunteer activities this could be the role for you! Join our team to develop, plan and lead river clean up and restoration activities for corporate volunteer teams on the riverbanks and in-channel on the Thames and its tributaries. Application closes on Friday 17th January. Details below: https://lnkd.in/gayvgFv #greenjobs

Happy New Year from the Thames21 team! Together, we achieved so much in 2024, and we are super excited to achieve more in 2025. In 2024, we worked with our volunteers, partners and funders to offer solutions to water quality challenges, we took part in the ‘March for Clean Water’, we engaged thousands of people to help to improve their local rivers, we helped Londoners to celebrate their local rivers as part of the London Rivers Week festival and we won awards. We really appreciate all your support and efforts. We couldn’t thank you enough. We turn 21 this year, so it’s set to be an exciting year for us. In 2025, we’ll continue to work with our volunteers, communities, ‘River Action Groups’, supporters, funders, corporate volunteering partners and project partners to help to protect the River Thames and its tributaries. Wishing everyone a prosperous and impactful 2025 - we have lots to share with you! And we have a lot of collaborative work to do to help our rivers!

The whole Thames21 team would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers, ‘River Action Groups’, participants in our activities, supporters, funders, corporate volunteering partners and project partners for working with us to help to protect the River Thames and its tributaries. Without all of your support, we couldn't have achieved so much in 2024. We appreciate you and give huge thanks to you. We hope you have a lovely and restful festive break and that you can relax, enjoy some time close to nature and visit your local river. Thank you all again and we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy 2025. Our offices officially close on the 25th of December and we’ll return on the 2nd of January. See you on the other side! We want to connect more communities to their local rivers in 2025. Part of the local community? Want to mark some community-based river restoration events in your diary? Please check out our 'What's On' page and register for one of our community-based events here: https://lnkd.in/gMDvKnjv

Ofwat, the water industry regulator, has announced that it will be increasing consumer bills by 35% excluding inflation over the next five years for Thames Water customers. While Thames21 understands the need for investment in infrastructure, we are concerned about the impact on London's households, and we are keen to understand how Thames Water will allocate these funds to improve its sewerage infrastructure while protecting the environment and restoring river health. Read our full statement on Ofwat’s final determination published today here: https://ow.ly/QVOt50Uu8Lp

2024 has been a busy, exciting, and rewarding year at Thames21. We’re extremely proud of all we have achieved and look forward to continuing to maximise our efforts to protect and restore London’s waterways, engage communities, and connect more people to their blue and green spaces. As the year comes to an end, we look back at how it all started 20 years ago and at some key moments and highlights in our 2024 round-up. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/duzuNQ4e #thames21 #roundup #riverrestoration #environmentalaction

We are thrilled to welcome Lula Wattam to our team. Lula will be working as an Engagement Officer. Prior to joining Thames21, she completed an Undergraduate (SOAS) and MRes (Goldsmiths) in Anthropology specialising material culture of bedrooms and environmental exploitation of terrestrial and extraterrestrial landscapes. She has worked as a librarian, gardener, prop designer and activities coordinator with elderly and disabled adults across London. She enjoys creating ponds, taking care of her pet shrimps and elaborate fancy dress. Read more about her by scrolling down our 'Contact Us' page via the link here: https://lnkd.in/gWFr2gMx #newstarter #thames21 #riverthames #rivers #environmentalcharity #riverrestoration #communityvolunteering

We need the private sector… and the private sector needs us. London is a River City, and there should be enough water and nature within the Thames Basin to keep it a thriving, resilient and biodiverse powerhouse. In theory. In reality, the climate crisis is putting London’s homes and businesses under increasingly severe stresses. Threats of flood, water shortage and biodiversity loss to London are high, and these are compounded by a pollutant cocktail of agricultural runoff, road runoff and sewage that blight the water we all rely on. The risk to your business is real. Corporates: your clients, suppliers, partners and customers will increasingly need boldness in investment, action and commitment to nature-based solutions that are needed to reduce flood risk, increase water storage, improve water quality, and boost biodiversity. And they’ll need it at scale. Don’t wait until they’ve asked you. Contact tom.whitehead@thames21.org.uk to join Thames21 at the forefront of building climate resilience across London and the Thames Basin. Do it for water. Do it for nature. Do it for people. Do it for business.

Pangbourne Meadows is a popular area located on the banks of the River Thames in Berkshire. During the summer, lots of people swim in this stretch of the River Thames. As part of our Reclaim Our Rivers project, we have released findings from our citizen science water quality monitoring programme, which analysed six sample points located between Pangbourne and South Stoke, South Oxfordshire. The results show that water quality is generally good in this stretch of the River Thames. Nevertheless, results also showed that recommended safe levels of ‘Intestinal Enterococci (IE)’ were exceeded at one sample point near the Pangbourne Sewage Treatment Works. In addition, heavy rainfall also negatively impacted water quality during one day in September 2024, as high levels of Faecal Indicator Organisms (FIO) were found. Monitoring our rivers is the first step to improving water quality, but authorities often lack the resources for constant oversight. So, enter our fantastic citizen scientists: local volunteers who not only understand their rivers but are always on hand to collect crucial data. Their presence democratises the process, turning river monitoring into a community-driven effort with real emotional investment. The results of this water quality monitoring programme are a step in filling an evidence gap and creating better understanding of the potential problems threatening river health in the upper course of the River Thames. The Reclaim Our Rivers project aims to improve access to safe rivers and lakes across the Thames Basin by engaging citizen scientists in water quality monitoring programmes, collecting and disseminating data to aid understanding of bacterial pollution, and increasing the number of inland bathing water designations in the region. Read full report and findings here:  https://lnkd.in/ei7sc6_z 👏 Aggie Hodges #reclaimourrivers #bathingwaterstatus #bathingwater #pangbourne #waterquality #pollution

Recycling charity RECOUP held a plastics conference which brought together industry leaders, advocates, and innovators to discuss the pressing issues surrounding sustainability and the future of plastics. The event, which took place in September, was packed with insightful discussions on the circular economy, regulatory frameworks, and collaborative efforts to reduce our plastic footprint. Thames21’s Aidan Hubbard and Luca Marazzi (L-R pictured left) attended the conference. They have shone a spotlight on the key takeaways from the event. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e53yMFHn

Earlier this year, we commissioned kayaker, adventurer and creative technologist Karina Townsend to create an underwater Thames soundscape called ‘ADrift’. Karina launched her kayak to capture sounds of the Thames at nighttime. A fascinating watch! Thames21’s Communication Manager, Liz Gyekye, recently caught up with Karina to find out how she felt floating down the Thames during nighttime, why she made the film and the challenges she faced, among other things. Read full interview and watch video here: https://lnkd.in/gwvn4Nri #riverthames #thames #kayaking #thamesatnight #hydrophones