Context

River Action is on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers by raising awareness of river pollution, applying pressure to polluters, including industrial and agricultural producers and water companies, and calling for regulatory change.  

Our activity

Seahorse has played a significant role in supporting River Action since its inception, convening its advisory board, delivering its launch, developing campaign strategies to increase public awareness of the plight of our rivers and helping River Action engage across the media, political and NGO landscapes. 

In 2023, we convened over 70 organisations to support the launch of the ‘Charter for Rivers’. We developed the Charter’s 10 asks, working closely with sector experts and launched the Charter in Parliament with the then Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee. 

Most recently in 2024, we supported River Action with the ‘March for Clean Water’ which saw 15,000 people flood the streets of London calling for the Government to stop poisoning of waters.

We designed and then launched an APPG on Water Pollution at the same time as the March, partnering with Surfers Against Sewage, with who we also collaborated with in our submission to the independent Water Commission – the largest Government review of the water sector in history. 

Our impact

Seahorse has helped River Action identify and build its unique role in the wider environment sector, becoming an established brand and a leading voice drawing attention to the declining state of the UK’s rivers. 

At the end of 2024, River Action and Seahorse secured our main advocacy ask of the March for Clean Water with the Government launching an Independent Water Commission. Seahorse has been engaging directly with the Water Commission policy team to discuss our submission response, and we have secured meetings with special advisors in Number 10 and Defra Ministers to discuss River Action’s new strategy on agricultural water pollution.

The state of our rivers is now a top priority for Government, as demonstrated during the general election in 2024 and Government action since e.g. the Water (Special Measures) Bill, the Independent Water Commission, and a second Water Bill due to be announced later in the year.

Not only is this a priority issue for the public and politicians, but our work with River Action has resulted in polluters admitting culpability and committing to reducing pollution.