On Thursday, Crowdfunder UK announced it has formed a partnership with the Dorset County Council to offer up £200,000 to crowdfunding youth projects. According to the crowdfunding platform, the council has set aside an Innovation Fund of £200,000 to provide young people with places to go and things to do, or to help young people improve their community through social action – volunteering, campaigning or having a voice in local decisions.
It was also revealed that the council will decide how much money will be contributed to each project based on whether it will be delivered in an area of deprivation or where there are fewer existing places to go, things to do or opportunities for social action. Campaigns launching as part of Crowdfund Dorset will be eligible for a contribution from the council of up to half the cost of a project to a maximum of £5,000. Community groups must also raise 25% of their target before they will be considered eligible for council funding.
Jason Nuttall, head of funding at Crowdfunder UK, stated:
“We are delighted to be working with Dorset County Council as it takes up the exciting opportunity of opening up crowdfunding for the county with the added benefit of funding contributions for projects. We know this model works, and we are excited about sharing the social and economic benefits of the campaign for the county as this partnership takes off.”
Cllr Rebecca Knox, Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, commented:
“It’s a pleasure to be working with the committed team at Crowdfunder in order to distribute funds direct into the heart of our community. Crowdfunding is a democratic and transparent way of distributing funds and we are delighted to be at the forefront of innovative community funding in the UK. We hope this will be the first of many examples of using crowdfunding to support a range of different projects.”
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