Crowdfund Birmingham to help vulnerable people

By on 01/02/2017 in Cllr Hamilton, News, Partnerships with 0 Comments

Birmingham City Council is launching Crowdfund Birmingham, on the UK’s #1 crowdfunding platform, Crowdfunder and wants to hear now from local organisations interested in raising money through crowdfunding. Cllr Paulette Hamilton

Birmingham City Council has set aside £470,000 from its Community Innovation Fund to provide match funding to pledge on projects that will benefit the people of Birmingham.

Pre-registration is now open for eligible projects which include those that could empower local communities to improve people’s independence, become more resilient and improve health and well-being; they also need to show they can reduce demand on adult social care by focusing on early intervention, to stop care needs escalating. Projects that meet the criteria could attract a pledge from the city council of up to £10,000 or 50% of their funding target, whichever is the lower.

The funding is designed to provide ‘seed funding’ to encourage organisations to try new innovative ways of working to tackle priorities set by the council for vulnerable adults, e.g. to lessen homelessness and maintain tenancy and improve health and wellbeing

Councillor Paulette Hamilton, cabinet member for health and social care, said: “I believe this pioneering partnership between Birmingham City Council and Crowdfunder will be of real benefit to our city. Not only will it stretch our grant funding that much further, it’s a great platform for local innovation and entrepreneurship.”

“We are keen to help match-fund projects that stimulate long-term community resilience and equip the local community to play its part in improving health and wellbeing. They need to be self-sustaining and able to evidence measurable benefits to vulnerable populations across Birmingham.

“The funding is designed to help organisations find new ways of accessing funding, but with a focus on ensuring the skills and support that is needed is instilled in the local community rather than having to continually purchase short term and often expensive expertise; we want to develop more resilient and independent local communities that thrive through taking ownership and control of their own communities’ needs and aspirations.”

Crowdfunding is a way of raising money from the community around you. You add your project to Crowdfunder, set a funding target, explain what you want to do with the money - and offer rewards in return for pledges of cash. A reward can be a product, benefit, service or simply a ‘thank you’.

Crowdfund Birmingham was developed in a new partnership between Birmingham City Council and Crowdfunder. Any local charity, business, social enterprise or individual can use Crowdfund Birmingham to raise funds from supporters. It is also a new way for groups to access grant funding from the city council.

If your project meets Birmingham City Council’s eligibility criteria, you could secure a pledge from the council, when your crowdfund is successful.

The pioneering partnership will include offering free coaching and workshops to project owners interested in crowdfunding for their project to develop their skills and improve their chances of success.

“Crowdfund Birmingham gives local residents the opportunity to support the projects that are close to their heart,” said Crowdfunder Director and Co Founder, Dawn Bebe. “By showing their support for specific projects, local residents can send a signal to Birmingham City Council about which projects they think should receive funding. I’d encourage any project interested to register their interest early to secure the best support possible.”

Local projects interested in raising funding with Crowdfund Birmingham, should register their interest on: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/Birmingham.   If your project could be eligible for a pledge from the city council, the city council will get in touch to discuss your idea and support you with coaching and advice so that you can develop the best campaign possible.

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For media enquiries contact Sarah Kirby on 0121 303 3885

Editors Notes:

Crowdfunder is the UK’s #1 rewards crowdfunding platform having raised over £30,000,000 for community, business and social enterprise projects across the UK. Its first pioneering local campaign, Crowdfund Plymouth has raised almost £1,000,000 for over 140 projects in 18 months.

Crowdfund Birmingham - How does it work?

If you have an idea that could benefit the local community, you can create a project on Crowdfund Birmingham and start raising money, awareness and support.  Once the project raises 50% of their funding target from “the crowd” and if the eligibility criteria are met, Birmingham City Council would pledge a further 50% towards your project and if the full funding target is met, all funds are released and you can make your project happen.

What does it mean for local residents?

Crowdfund Birmingham gives local residents the opportunity to support the projects that are close to their heart, by allowing them to pledge towards their funding target and spreading the word in return for some “rewards”.  At the same time, by showing their support for specific projects, local residents will send a signal to Birmingham City Council about which projects they think should receive grant funding.

How to get involved

If you are a local group with a project idea (or two!), visit the Crowdfund Birmingham site and register your interest by completing an online form.  The city council will get in touch to discuss your idea and support you with coaching and advice so that you can develop the best campaign possible.

If you are a local resident, watch out for the launch of Crowdfund Birmingham in early January and start supporting the projects that most inspire you!

When is this happening?

Crowdfund Birmingham will be available online from March 1, 2017 on http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/Birmingham

For information on taking part, contact: Jess Ratty, jess.ratty@crowdfunder.co.uk

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