Working with us

Our marine stewardship programme was established to support community initiatives that further good management of the marine estate.

Overview

Overview

There is no longer a formal application process for community projects; instead we are taking a greater role in the initiation and development of projects in partnership with our stakeholders and tenants. This change reflects our continued commitment to the successful stewardship of our marine estate, as well as the growing capacity within our marine team to take an increasingly proactive approach. As we are now involved in the development of project ideas from the outset, we can ensure that our stakeholders and tenants do not expend their own resources in developing ideas which we are unlikely to be able to support.

Although we are now focusing on initiating projects ourselves, we are nevertheless open to direct approaches from individuals and organisations with initial ideas or outline project proposals. All such approaches will be considered in line with the funding priorities and to be eligible for the marine stewardship programme, projects must comply with the Crown Estate Act 1961. This means that projects must have a clear link to our land, either by demonstrating good management of specific areas of our property, or by promoting good stewardship of our foreshore and seabed. If you are unsure whether the area in your project is managed by us please contact us with the location co-ordinates and we will advise.

Key priority areas

Our community projects focus on five key priority areas.

Accessibility
Enabling safe access to the marine environment, for example installation or improvements to slipways, pontoons, moorings; installation of disabled access.

Awareness
Helping to increase understanding of important marine issues, for example education initiatives; interpretation; support of seminars, conferences and publications.

Biodiversity
Supporting conservation of priority species and habitats at national and local levels, for example habitat creation initiatives; dune restoration; contributions to UK BAP targets; management of designated sites and species in line with wider policies.

Environment
Encouraging the reduction of litter within the marine environment, for example beach cleans, schemes to provide waste and recycling facilities; remediation of risks to environmental status.

Management
Assisting understanding of how best to manage the marine estate, for example best practice guides; studies which support development of management options; applied research related specifically to the management of our property.

Funding terms of reference

Funding terms of reference

These terms of reference set out the conditions under which funding is offered through the programme:

Projects supported by the marine stewardship programme must be related to our property, either by demonstrating good management of specific areas of our property or by promoting good stewardship of our foreshore and seabed.
Funding can be awarded for one-off projects or for projects lasting up to a maximum of three years. We encourage proposals that bring together a range of partners where necessary but equally we can also be the sole funder.
Funding will not be given for projects offering either commercial gain or which accrue personal financial benefit to the applicant.
Previous recipients of funding from the marine stewardship programme may reapply for funding, providing the original projects have been satisfactorily completed and evaluated.
Project proposals are welcomed from community groups or voluntary and other organisations but funding from us is not intended to replace statutory funding.
Project proposals are required to show how lasting benefits for our foreshore and seabed will be achieved. Proposals also need to have a strategy for promoting and evaluating the project.
Our offer to fund a project is inclusive of VAT and is dependent upon agreement of a set of predetermined terms and conditions, which includes details of project milestones, payment arrangements, publicity and acknowledgement details, evaluation and reporting requirements, as well as IP and data requests where necessary.
During the life of the project updates on progress will be required and at the end of each funding year projects may be asked to provide input into our formal evaluation process.
Any publicity relating to a funded project must acknowledge our contribution. The use of our logo must comply with our corporate guidelines which will be provided to you as part of the letter of award. All use of our logo must be approved by us in advance.
Successful projects will be required to provide photographs, written summaries and quotes relating to their project. These will be used to promote the marine stewardship programme in our annual report, on our website, in any publicity and promotional work deemed appropriate by us. We may also request opportunities to visit your project at a time suitable for both parties.

Coastal Communities Fund

In July 2011 the Treasury announced a Coastal Communities Fund, and the fund was launched in February 2012.

The fund is a government mechanism for determining and providing support to coastal communities, and will be administered by the Big Lottery's Big Fund.

The value of the fund, administered annually, is linked to The Crown Estate's annual marine estate income. We have no involvement otherwise and continue to pay all of our profits to the Treasury for the benefit of the nation.

For more information please contact the Big Lottery on: 08454 10 20 30.