Crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder UK announced on Monday it has teamed up with the Birmingham City Council to launch Crowdfund Birmingham.
According to Crowdfunder UK, the 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. While sharing details about the initiative, Councillor Paulette Hamilton, cabinet member for health and social care, stated:
“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.”
Crowdfunder UK Director and Co-Founder, Dawn Bebe, added:
“Crowdfund Birmingham gives local residents the opportunity to support the projects that are close to their heart. 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.”
Crowdfunder UK noted pre-registration is now open for eligible projects, which includes 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.
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