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Introducing the Flush Forward Challenge United Kingdom

The Flush Forward Challenge United Kingdom (UK) is seeking to build a deeper picture of issues across the UK caused by non-sewered sanitation, and determine if reinvented toilet technologies (RTTs) could help overcome these issues. 

We’re looking for organisations who want to overcome the social and environmental effects of non-sewered sanitation and enable local communities and ecosystems to thrive, now and into the future. 

Through the challenge, up to three organisations will receive £40,000 and a range of expert support to investigate non-sewered sanitation-related problems in their region over 6 months from January to June 2027.

Who should enter?

We’re looking to work with organisations that are directly dealing with the social and environmental effects of non-sewered sanitation in their local region or catchment, and who want to better understand issues and build a clear and actionable vision that could enable local communities and ecosystems to thrive.

Ideal entrants will: 

  • Bring a deep understanding of local problems, pressures and/or communities. 
  • Be conveners who can bring together local stakeholders to tackle local issues. 
  • See and understand local problems, but wish to delve deeper into analysis with access to support and expertise. 

This may include local councils, environmental groups, river trusts, national parks and new appointment and variation (NAV) water companies. To be eligible, entrants must be: 

  • any public body or part of government in the UK (including but not limited to local authorities and national park authorities), 
  • a registered charity in the United Kingdom, 
  • a licensed water company 

and hold an official or charitable mandate or responsibility over a UK region or catchment that they enter the challenge with. 

Entrants are welcome to work with other organisations, including informal and unincorporated organisations, but the entrant will hold full responsibility for all aspects of participation in the challenge.

What’s on offer?

Spend 6 months delving into the world beyond the sewer – up to three finalist organisations will each be awarded £40,000 to fund staff time, along with a range of expert support. 

Expert support on offer will include: 

  • Independent regional or catchment analysis
  • Systems thinking training
  • Support and facilitation to deliver stakeholder engagement sessions
  • Expert guidance on potential solutions to overcome local issues (including RTTs & other solutions)
  • Visits for finalists and key stakeholders to a working reinvented toilet. 
  • Monthly 1-to-1 Mentoring

After 6 months, finalists will submit their analysis of local issues together with a clear, actionable, and evidence-backed vision for how they could overcome these issues. We welcome open publishing of these vision documents by finalist organisations, but it is not a requirement. Insights from all three finalists will be used to create a publicly available report about the potential for reinvented toilet technologies in the UK. 

Subissions will be reviewed against the assessment and judging criteria, and the finalist who best meets the winning judging criteria will be selected as the winner of the Challenge. The winner will have the opportunity to explore potential pilots for reinvented toilet technologies or launch a challenge prize to engage local organisations in overcoming local non-sewered sanitation issues in line with the needs of their region or catchment. 

Challenge Timeline

Entry Period – October to December 2026

The entry period runs from 5th October 2026 to 16th December 2026. During this time, you can find out more about the challenge, attend a webinar or workshop and enter. Entries must be submitted by 12 noon on Wednesday, 16th December 2026.

Assessment and Judging – December 2026

Entries will be screened for eligibility, and then reviewed against the judging criteria. Up to three of the entries that best meet the criteria will be selected as finalists. Finalists will be announced at the end of January 2027.

Development Period – January to June 2027

From the end of January 2027 to late June 2027, up to three finalist organisations will receive a range of expert support, including a regional non-sewered sanitation analysis, systems-thinking training, mentoring and workshop facilitation and support. 

Finalists will be guided through a structured programme, with regular meet-ups with other finalists. Finalist organisations will need to commit approximately 9 days per month of a mid-level manager (approximately 0.5 FTE), who should be supported with regular check-ins with a senior sponsor for the duration of the programme, but we can adapt the programme to support available organisational capacity and resourcing. 

On Friday 25th June 2027, finalists will be required to submit their analysis and vision documents.

Assessment and Judging – from June 2027

Judges will select a winner from the three finalist submissions. The winner will be announced in July 2027. The winner will have the opportunity to explore potential pilots for reinvented toilet technologies or launch a challenge prize to engage local organisations in overcoming local non-sewered sanitation issues in line with the needs of their region or catchment. 

Celebrate & Share

We will celebrate the achievements of all.