North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll has outlined plans for a crowdfunding scheme that aims to help community projects raise money from individuals, businesses, local authorities and charities.
Crowdfund North of Tyne will see the North of Tyne Combined Authority working with digital fundraising specialists Spacehive to support projects that aim to bring people together, create or improve green spaces, improve mental health, inspire creativity or support social enterprises.
The authority has set aside £50,000 to help projects it supports on the programme, with the hope that they will also get backing from the community and other sources of funding.
People and organisations can pledge as little as £2 towards a project and contributions are only charged if the fundraising campaign hits its targets.
Mr Driscoll said: “Coronavirus has hit us all hard and it will take time for us all to recover. Crowdfunding can help us get there.
“Improving our communities is not a spectator sport. We all have a role to play. Crowdfund North of Tyne matches people with the ideas to people with the money.
“You don’t have to have a plan to change the world to take part – we are looking to support projects big and small.”
The Spacehive site is used for small community fundraising efforts, but has also been used by local authorities to top up funding for projects they cannot afford on their own.
Successful projects have been supported in Brighton and London, including an initiative to save an independent cinema and schemes to fund superfast broadband in isolated rural areas.
The North of Tyne initiative will be launched at an online event on October 1. The event is free but interested parties need to register.
Founder and CEO of Spacehive Chris Gourlay said: “The Spacehive team are excited to help launch Crowdfund North of Tyne. The North of Tyne is the first Mayoral Combined Authority in the country to launch such an initiative.
“We encourage anyone with an idea for improving Newcastle, North Tyneside or Northumberland to post it on Crowdfund North of Tyne. We look forward to helping people bring their projects to life.”
More details on the scheme, and the launch event, can be found at https://www.spacehive.com/movement/crowdfund-north-of-tyne.
