North East Combined Authority

Project groups will need to be based in Newcastle, North Tyneside or Northumberland and meet one or more of the following criteria to pitch to the main fund:

• bring people together in new ways 

• support people’s wellbeing and mental health - especially outdoors

• inspire creativity and opportunity for all – including promoting lifelong learning

You’ll also need to:

• Show us that the idea comes from, and is for, your local community
• Tell us how you’ve considered the needs of everyone in your community, particularly people from different backgrounds, across different ages and with experience of disability 
• Demonstrate the support of your community through pledges, likes and comments on the campaign page.

*Investment from the Crowdfund North of Tyne’s Main Fund is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

Through the programme we are hoping to support projects which help create a locally-led recovery and re-imagination of the region.

We are particularly interested in funding projects in the following areas: 

1. Mental Health and suicide prevention 

2. Homelessness

3. Cost of living initiatives eg food/fuel poverty

4. Litter or fly-tipping

5. Equity, diversity, inclusion and tolerance. 

As part of the Crowdfund North of Tyne programme, there are two funding rounds a year, in the Spring and in the Autumn. The Spring funding round is now closed - stay tuned for an update on the next round. 

In response to the ongoing cost of living crisis, the North East Combined Authority can now pledge up to 90% or up to £30,000 towards your crowdfunding project if you are an organisation and £1,000 if you are an individual. 

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1.    EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/ ATTEND A WORKSHOP

Complete our expression of interest form at your earliest convenience to inform us of your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding. 

2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH

Create your online project page where your project will be matched to relevant local funds. 

3.    VERIFICATION

The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by Spacehive's in-house verification team. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have land owner permission for your project. 

4.    CROWDFUNDING

Start your crowdfunding campaign. Focus by getting lots of small pledges from the community to show local support for your project. This will help unlock bigger pledges.

5.    PLEDGE

The Combined Authority will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge a month after your campaign starts. 

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT

Projects which hit their target early can continue to raise money until their original deadline thorugh 'Overfunding'. Pledges will be collected and transfered to the project normally within 10 working days.

Charities, social enterprises, constituted community groups and community interest companies (CICs) based in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland can potentially receive a pledge of up to £30,000 or 90% of total project costs.

Crowdfund North of Tyne aims to fund projects which are strongly community -led and at neighbourhood level.  The type of activity is generally more important to us that the type of group, but priority is usually given to organisations with an annual income of less than £500k. 

Well-established charities and organisations with ambitious targets are welcome to apply but will need a plan for funding the rest of their project goal. Our team may be able to advise on other funding streams which could be available to you.

We understand that businesses are often at the heart of our communities and that they are an important part of a strong and vibrant social tapestry. We welcome applications from private companies, providing they meet the following additional guiding principles.

• The business must not make any financial gain or economic advantage from the grant.
• Projects should not be for commercial advantage, represent an extension or scale up of existing business activity, pay for running costs or constitute business support.
• The business should act as an intermediary, with any benefit from the grant flowing directly through to the local community. Checks will be made to ensure the support does not constitute a subsidy, and if it does, it will not be awarded. (Subsidy control guidance can be found here).
• Businesses must be able to demonstrate that the initiative they are proposing is strongly community-led. They should have a minimum of 40 community backers before receiving funding from the North East CA.
• The business should already have a strong connection with their local community and ideally already be working with the community. The business must have demonstrable community reach and influence.
• Businesses must be small, local and independent with a head office in either Newcastle, North Tyneside or Northumberland.
• If the fund is oversubscribed in a given round, priority will be given to eligible applications from community organisations.

Project groups will need to be based in Newcastle, North Tyneside or Northumberland and meet one or more of the following criteria to pitch to the main fund:

• bring people together in new ways
• support people’s wellbeing and mental health - especially outdoors
• inspire creativity and opportunity for all – including promoting lifelong learning

You’ll also need to:

• Show us that the idea comes from, and is for, your local community
• Tell us how you’ve considered the needs of everyone in your community, particularly people from different backgrounds, across different ages and with experience of disability 
• Demonstrate the support of your community through pledges, likes and comments on the campaign page.* 

*Projects receiving grants from this fund will be part-funded through by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

Through the programme we are hoping to support projects which help create a locally-led recovery and re-imagination of the region.

We are particularly interested in funding projects in the following areas: 

1. Mental Health and suicide prevention 

2. Homelessness

3. Cost of living initiatives eg food/fuel poverty

4. Litter or fly-tipping

5. Equity, diversity, inclusion and tolerance. 

As part of the Crowdfund North of Tyne programme, there are two funding rounds a year, in the Spring and in the Autumn. 

In response to the ongoing cost of living crisis, the North East Combined Authority can now pledge up to 90% or up to £30,000 towards your crowdfunding project if you are an organisation and £1,000 if you are an individual. 

---------------------------

1.    EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/ ATTEND A WORKSHOP

Complete our expression of interest form at your earliest convenience to inform us of your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding. 

2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH

Create your online project page where your project will be matched to relevant local funds. 

3.    VERIFICATION

The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by Spacehive's in-house verification team. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have land owner permission for your project. 

4.    CROWDFUNDING

Start your crowdfunding campaign. Focus by getting lots of small pledges from the community to show local support for your project. This will help unlock bigger pledges.

5.    PLEDGE

The Combined Authority will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge a month after your campaign starts. 

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT

Projects which hit their target early can continue to raise money until their original deadline thorugh 'Overfunding'. Pledges will be collected and transfered to the project normally within 10 working days.

Individuals and non-constituted community groups based in Newcastle, North Tyneside or Northumberland can pitch for a pledge of up to £1,000.