Hi John,

We raised a HUGE £200,000 in this year's appeal, match funded by the Big Give. Thank you to all of you that donated. In the run up to the general election, we'll be doing everything we can to get sewage and plastic pollution high up on the agenda for the next government, and this appeal gives us the funds to go full-force. 

We're prepping for our Paddle-Out on the 18th, new locations have been added to the map. See you there! 

Here's a few things we're chatting about today:

🔵 It's nearly the start of designated bathing water season! More monitoring and eyes on the data 

🔵 Welsh alerts are now up and back on the Safer Seas and Rivers Service App 

🔵 Water companies publish their CSO data - but it's not the good news that we wanted 

🔵 There's some movement on a UK wide deposit return scheme, finally!

🔵 We'll be talking all things Plastic Free Schools on a webinar with Let's Go Zero on 21st May! 

Bathing Water season starts mid-may

Bathing season starts soon! Even though so many of us are in the water year-round 👀...designated bathing waters are tested between mid-May and September across the UK for bacteria that is harmful to human health.

The monitoring is carried out by each region’s environmental agency and determines the level at which a site meets bathing water criteria and standard.

Here are last year's classifications for a reminder of how the sites given an annual status. 

Water company keeping a grip on data

More water companies have now added sewage pollution alerts to online maps. This is a great step for transparency, but having to rely on models and systems created by water companies (with verification or approval from regulators) is extremely problematic. It also makes it much harder for us to interpret the data ourselves. 

From the 18th April, Welsh Water have updated their system for displaying sewage pollution alerts. This may result in an increase in alerts, but for the time being we're keeping this in place so you don't miss out on the info. 

How to build a Plastic Free School?

Our Plastic Free Schools team will be joining a webinar with Let's Go Zero to talk about all things Plastic Free Schools and how it can be implemented into different educational settings. See you there! 

Save the date: 21st May at 3.45pm. 

Is a DRS finally on the cards...

The ball is finally rolling on the UK's plans to capture plastic in a deposit return scheme, and stop billions of bottles ending up in the ocean. But is it all that it should be? And why do we still have years to wait?

💩  This year, we've already had a total of 15,797 SEWAGE POLLUTION ALERTS across the UK

...monitored by our SSRS app.

This includes DOUBLE the amount of alerts from March to April, from Northumbrian Water. 

 Use the app to take direct action with your MP and water company leader, now. Let them know you won't stand for this shit.

Are you looking to take on an epic fundraising challenge?

Would you like some help making it happen?

Whether you want to paddleboard around the UK, swim the channel, or simply do a sponsored litter pick, Give Star are giving away £20k in their Adventure For Good Grant to help make it possible. That way you get to do a dream challenge, AND raise money for your favourite charity without the expense of making it happen. Want to know more?