20/12/2023 - Permalink

First projects soon to launch on Crowdfund Shropshire

Related topics: Community / Partner organisations

Shropshire residents are being encouraged to get behind community projects as they start to launch on Crowdfund Shropshire.

Crowdfund Shropshire logo

Crowdfund Shropshire logo

This is the first time Shropshire has had its own civic crowdfunding platform designed to match crowdfunding with available local funds. To make it happen, Shropshire Council is working in partnership with Spacehive and local partners including the Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership and Shropshire Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly.

Over the coming weeks people will start to see community projects launching on the site, some are very community focused, and others will benefit the whole county.

The projects already underway are:

  • Get Crafty with Words by Oswestry Community Action (Qube)
  • Shropshire European Organisation’s, Multicultural Children’s Day
  • Little Stars in the Community
  • Walking in Wem Rural Parish

Crowdfund Shropshire is an opportunity for local community groups to bring forward an impactful project in their neighbourhood and receive financial support from the council and the local community – via crowdfunding – to help make it happen.

The council has funding of £150,000 (non-capital funding) through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to pledge to projects through this programme. Groups or organisations could receive up to 60% of their crowdfunding target, up to a maximum of £10,000, pledged by Shropshire Council directly into the campaign.

Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, said:

“It’s so exciting to see the first projects starting to come through on Crowdfund Shropshire.

“As local groups and organisations come forward with new project ideas, we can see how each will make a difference. In the New Year we will share more information about each project and explain how you can help, if you would like to.

“This is a great way for all of us interested in making a difference to help out. Some people may wish to participate in the activities being proposed, others may want to volunteer, some may feel able to pledge and support financially or in other ways.”

People can find out more here: www.spacehive.com/movement/crowdfund-shropshire

Another chance to submit projects

Whilst the initial round has closed, those who have a project in mind can start working towards the next round next year and share their project idea here: https://spacehive.activehosted.com/f/1

Need some help?

There are some helpful videos to help get a project up and running:

Video – How do I create a project? 

Video – How do I cost up my project?

Video – How do I pitch to a fund? 

People can also find more tips and tricks visit the Help Centre.

More about the funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

This has been made possible due to funding under the Communities and Place theme of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund managed by Shropshire Council. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.