Milestone achieved: 100th organisation signs up for the March for Clean Water in London on November 3rd

In a powerful show of public outrage over the state of the UK’s waterways, convenors of the March for Clean Water have announced that the 100th organisation has officially pledged to join the rally, set for Sunday 3^rd November in central London.

Mental Health Swims, the coalition’s 100th member, joins a diverse array of organisations – both large and small – from across the UK. Other organisations to recently sign up to join the March include smaller groups like The Blue Tits, The Marine Conservation Society, Friends of the Earth, East Kent Climate Action, the Outdoor Swimming Society, alongside larger organisations such as the National Trust, Greenpeace, RSPB, British Rowing and Wildlife Trusts. 

Charles Watson, River Action’s chair and founder and co-convenor of the march, said, “This landmark achievement highlights the immense momentum, public anger, and frustration fuelling the march. Environmental charities, anglers, wild swimmers, members of the legal profession and high-profile campaigners such as Chris Packham, Paul Whitehouse, Jo Brand and Liz Bonnin are coming together to amplify the urgent call for action from Sir Keir Starmer’s government to put an end to the poisoning of our rivers, seas and lakes.”

Comedian Joe Lycett who made a television documentary about the terrible state of the UK’s sewage network (Channel 4’s Joe Lycett v Sewage) said, “Our rivers and seas are still, literally, shit. I fully support this brilliant campaign.”

Rachel Ashe (MBE), Managing Director & Founder of Mental Health Swims, said, “Mental Health Swims is proud to be part of the coalition for the March for Clean Water. Due to the water quality issues throughout the UK, we are having to cancel some of our mental health peer support swim groups to ensure that participants and volunteers do not get sick. It’s really disheartening for our volunteers and participants who have worked hard to build a support group in their local community that comes together over a love of outdoor swimming. We want to see the new government taking action to address the water pollution crisis.”

The March for Clean Water promises to be a vibrant, family-friendly demonstration that sends a clear message: the public will no longer tolerate politicians who talk tough on water pollution but fail to take meaningful action against human sewage and agricultural runoff in our rivers, seas, and lakes. Visit: marchforcleanwater.org

ENDS

Notes to editors
Last week the March for Clean Water was rescheduled for Sunday 3^rd November after the announcement of a far-right rally outside Downing Street on 26^th October and the calling of left-wing counter protests.

The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.

To date, 100 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Ilkley River Action Group, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.

River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.