Residents, grassroots groups, and community organisations working to improve their local communities can today apply for a share of up to £230,000 to help turn their bright idea into reality.
The funding comes as part of ‘Crowdfund North of Tyne’, a small grant scheme run by the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) – headed by elected Metro Mayor Jamie Driscoll – and crowdfunding partner, Spacehive. The average grant is around £5,000. Charities, constituted community groups, and community interest companies can potentially receive assistance with up to 60% of their total project costs. Individuals working outside of these groups can apply for up to £1,000.
Coquetdale Repair Cafe, Rothbury.
Local people and organisations that successfully pitch their initiative to NTCA must then crowdfund part of their costs to demonstrate public support for their project. Ideas are then judged on the number of community backers – and not the amount of money raised. NTCA and Spacehive are available to fully support groups throughout this process.
Projects that make it through to the final stage receive a pledge, from the NTCA, to help them achieve their fundraising target. Since launching in 2020, during the pandemic, the NTCA has awarded more than £200,000 to 33 community projects. These include:
- Coquetdale Repair Café – invites local people from Rothbury to bring in any valued broken possessions and staff will fix it, over a cuppa and cake;
- Recyke y’Bike – a Byker-based charity specialising in refurbishing donated bicycles, saving thousands from landfill;
- Sensory on the North Sea – enabling disabled children and kids with life-limiting conditions to skipper a Catamaran for the day on the North Sea.
Recyke y’Bike, Byker
Commenting on the opening of the latest funding round, Mayor for the North of Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, said: “So many local people and grassroots groups are buzzing with great ideas on how to improve their communities. Well, we’ve carefully set aside some cash to help these community heroes make those ideas a reality.We’ve come straight out of a pandemic and into a cost-of-living crisis. At this challenging time, it’s so important that we pull together to help improve each other’s lives.”
Got a bright idea? Click here to register for our 8th February online launch event. Alternatively, get in touch with Spacehive via support@spacehive.com.