Crowdfund Dudley Borough logo

New crowdfund scheme to offer nearly £500,000 for community projects

A new funding programme has been launched offering nearly £500,000 to support community projects across the borough.

Dudley Council has partnered with community fundraising platform Spacehive to launch the new platform.

Called Crowdfund Dudley Borough, it will offer more than £480,000 in funding for community improvement initiatives. It could be to improve green and town centre spaces, supporting young people, helping to reduce inequality, addressing isolation or improving access to the arts.

Residents will have the chance to propose and crowdfund for projects - such as community gardens, street furniture and public art - that will benefit the local community. Dudley Council could pledge up to £20,000 towards a project.

A drop-in launch event is being held on Tuesday June 4 where people can find out more information, including tips and advice on how to launch a crowdfunding campaign.  To register for the in-person event, which will run from 12 noon to 1.30pm in Dudley, please sign up at https://dudleyci.co.uk/services/crowdfund-dudley-borough

To start a project, keep updated on further workshop dates, or to receive more information visit https://www.spacehive.com/movement/dudley

Crowdfund Dudley Borough has received £200,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and £287,000 from The Dudley Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Helen Martin, director for regeneration and enterprise, said:

“This is a fantastic partnership which will provide hundreds of thousands of pounds to improve our borough.

“People or groups don’t need to have any past experience of crowdfunding, we can help them along every step of the process.

“At a time when we have had to temporarily cut community forum grant funding due to budget pressures, this cash could help fund much-needed projects in our wards.”

Misha Dhanak, CEO of Spacehive, said:

“We’re proud to partner with Dudley Council and launch Crowdfund Dudley Borough which will help residents drive transformative, positive change in their local area. 

“We’re really excited to see the ideas that people come up with and the vision they have for the place that they call home.”

Ends

Contact Information

Dudley Council

pressoffice@dudley.gov.uk

Notes to editors

Notes to editors

Crowdfund Dudley Borough social media hashtags #CrowdfundDudleyBorough #UKSPF

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK 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. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

About Spacehive: The home of community fundraising, Spacehive makes it easy for people to improve their local area. We build technology to help crowdfund local projects that communities want; from spruced up playgrounds and new street markets, to city farms and learning hubs. We have helped fund over 2,000 ideas and raised more than £30 million to support local communities.

When local communities have an idea and start a project, Spacehive connects it to exclusive funds from companies, councils and foundations that want to help bring communities to life. We have the highest success rate of any crowdfunding platform in the UK (85% success rate, rising to 94% when a partner pledges). Spacehive helps deliver transformational local ideas that make communities happy, proud and prosperous. For more information visit spacehive.com

For more information contact:

Jason.whyley@dudley.gov.uk

Strategic Partnership Manager

Dudley Council

01384 817847

jane@spacehive.com

Spacehive Limited

07798 605799