People and communities
Crowdfund Walsall helps 39 local community groups raise £392,000 in three years
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A Walsall-based community crowdfunding platform has successfully supported 39 local community groups raise £392,000 in just three years.
Crowdfund Walsall is a partnership between Walsall Council and Spacehive, the home of community fundraising. The programme enables groups across the borough to access funding for community-led projects. The programme is managed by the council’s External Funding Team, who work closely with local and national funders to secure match funding maximising the amount that campaigners can raise to deliver their community projects.
Together, they empower residents, businesses, and organisations to contribute to projects that enhance their neighbourhoods.
Since its launch in February 2021, Crowdfund Walsall has supported 39 initiatives including an Empower Mossley project with Mossley Community Connections CIC and a Greenway Library and Nature Centre at Ryecroft Community Hub. Projects range from revitalising community centres, supporting veterans, improvements of cricket clubs, new outdoor gyms, and the refurbishment of community centres in Walsall.
Since 2021, Crowdfund Walsall has raised £392,000 of total project value and in 2023-2024 alone, benefited over 5,000 residents. The programme, funded by Walsall Council and external partners, delivered 137 activity sessions. 95% of surveyed attendees stated that they enjoyed the activities.
“ Crowdfund Walsall continues to be a source of innovation for Walsall’s communities. The programme is a creative response to the rising cost of living and financial challenges facing local authorities and it enables the council to help improve local areas and work in collaboration with residents, not for profit organisations and local businesses.
We embrace this community support, and the projects funded through the programme highlight the creativity and innovation at the heart of Walsall. We encourage residents, communities and organisations to continue to come forward with their ideas, however big or small, to make Walsall a better place to live, work and visit. “
“ We are Bloxwich’, said, “Crowdfund Walsall helped us to fundraise and complete the first chapter of ‘We are Bloxwich’ film. Not only did Crowdfund Walsall’s support help raise the target amounts, but its wider impact has been incredible with local secondary schools getting involved, and the aging community coming together and sharing stories of growing up. We have managed to gain further external funding to film the remaining of the film and this has had a significant impact on our workshops and helped in securing new partnerships.
We want to thank the External Funding Team at the council for their support, which made the application process easier, and the team’s guidance helped us to deliver what has become a significant project in the local community. “
The Crowdfund Walsall programme aligns with the Walsall Council Plan and the We Are Walsall 2040 long-term vision for the borough.
You can access the Crowdfund Walsall Year 3 report at this link
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To find out more about Crowdfund Walsall, visit: Crowdfund Walsall - Home (spacehive.com)
To date, the programme has received £61,327 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity 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
Crowdfund Walsall supports all community and voluntary organisations within the borough, with particular focus on supporting grass root organisations who may be applying for funding for the first time, or who have recently been established. In addition to financial pledges, it provides information about alternative and external funding and grant opportunities.
£206,115 has been pledged over 39 projects from across the following funds:
- Crowdfund Walsall.
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- Platinum Jubilee Celebration Fund.
- Public Health Tackling Inactivity Funds.
- Public Health - Men’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.
- Town Fund Community Capital Investment Fund.
- UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The Government’s Town Deals programme aims to regenerate towns and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. This is through investments in urban regeneration, digital and physical connectivity, skills, heritage and enterprise infrastructure. As of July 2021, MHCLG has offered Town Deals to all 101 places that submitted proposals, committing over £2.35 billion of investment across approximately 700 projects nationwide.
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