Sefton Council has launched a new round of funding to back ideas which will put local people at the heart of the efforts to create more vibrant, resilient and connected communities.
The funding opportunity is part of Sefton Crowd, an initiative that aims to give anyone who lives locally with ideas about how to improve their area the opportunity to gain funding via the UK’s leading civic crowdfunding platform Spacehive.
The aim is simple – to fund and deliver exciting and innovative ideas to improve Sefton put forward by the local community, for the local community.
The council has allocated a dedicated fund of £50,000 for projects taking part in the programme.
So far, over 750 residents, businesses and other organisations, have come together alongside the council to get behind 17 ideas, with over £90,000 raised across Sefton. From wildflower meadows to virtual music festivals, Sefton Crowd is helping people bring their ideas to life.
The Woodend Community Woodland Project is just one example.
Frank Sharp, Trustee of Friends of Maghull District said: “In the most challenging of times, the rich, accessible, friendly collaborative support from Spacehive and the incredibly generous motivational pledges from their partners Sefton Council, Idverde and others made the seemingly impossible possible.
“This enabled us to exceed our £23,803 funding target by 14%, to reinvigorate an historic woodland entrance to Maghull, with a welcoming, accessible, safe, iconic and engaging wildlife friendly space, focusing on enhancing the environment, history, community, and legacy.”
The deadline to put forward your own idea is the 21st April. You can get started by simply visiting Spacehive’s website and creating your own project page.
Spacehive will also lead a programme of events for anyone who is interested in learning a little bit more or might want to test or discuss ideas that they would like to put forward first. Free online events are taking place on the 9th March at 2pm and 19th March at 12pm.
Sefton Crowd forms part of a new approach to civic planning by Sefton Council which sees crowdfunding as a key channel to involve communities and local organisations in regeneration.
Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for communities and housing, said: “We’re ready to support projects that answer our call for ideas which put local people at the heart of the efforts to help Sefton recover from the pandemic.
“I’m also calling on companies and foundations to join us in offering support – whether funding or in-kind – to the ideas people post on the platform so we can work together to make them a real success. The more people that get involved in Sefton Crowd the more amazing places we can create together.”
And it’s not just the council offering funding to local projects. The idverde Community Investment Fund could pledge up to £1,000. It aims to empower local people to deliver sought after projects that improve their local green space or the public realm, enhance the local environment, and boost the wellbeing of local people.
If you are interested in taking part in the next funding round of Sefton Crowd, as a funder or to fund your own project, please visit www.spacehive.com/movement/seftoncrowd or email info@spacehive.com.
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