The North of Tyne Combined Authority is to launch a new crowdfunding website to help communities recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Named Crowdfund North of Tyne, it will use the Spacehive digital fundraising platform to support new projects across Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland.
It will provide a hybrid crowdfunding and grant-making platform that pools funds between public authorities, businesses, foundations and the local community to pay for projects that improve local places.
North of Tyne said it will fund projects that aim to bring people together, create or improve green spaces, improve mental health, inspire creativity and opportunity for all, or support social enterprise and co-operative development.
The money raised from crowdfunding could be spent on hosting an event, purchasing new equipment or materials, running training courses, starting new groups, carrying out special repairs or conservation work or covering volunteers’ expenses.
Range of ideas
Councillor Joyce McCarty, North of Tyne’s cabinet member for employability and inclusion, said: “We’re excited to launch this partnership with Spacehive and I can’t wait to see the range of ideas that people bring forward.
“Local people are best placed to understand the challenges and opportunities in their local area and our new platform puts them and their ideas in the driving seat. It’s a very creative and innovative project to support communities at an incredibly challenging time.
The site is scheduled to be formally launched on 1 October.
Image from North of Tyne Combined Authority
