* Register here for our free online crowdfunding workshop on Tuesday the 11th of June from 12noon- 1pm. *

The Combined Authority are working with community fundraising platform Spacehive for this round of the Community Environment Fund

At this workshop you will:

• Hear about funding available to help make your ideas happen.
• Get advice on creating your project and how to run an amazing crowdfunding campaign.
• Join breakout rooms to access specialised support for your project.

If you have a project idea ready to go, you can get started now by following the steps below.

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1. Create a project page

Head to Spacehive to get started.

Spacehive will help you develop your project so you are set up for success and ready to crowdfund. If you need some feedback on your idea, tell us about it here and we’ll guide you on how to begin.

 

2. Submit your project for verification

Your project costs and necessary permissions will be verified by the Spacehive team. This involves us checking quotes that you provide and whether you need to secure specific permissions to deliver your project. Gather this information in advance for speedy verification.

 

3. Share and collect pledges

Once your project is live, share news of your project via as many platforms as possible. Start raising funds and boost local support before your pitch for funding is assessed by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Spacehive offers helpful tips, resources and direct user support on how to achieve your crowdfunding goals and the Spacehive team is on hand to share lots of advice as you need it.

It's really important to us that you are able to demonstrate community support for projects. This both demonstrates that there is a widespread demand for what you are proposing, and helps to ensure the long term sustainability of projects. We recognise that times are tough, even if your friends and neighbours aren’t able to support with a pledge, they can like and share the project to demonstrate support.
 

4. Access the Liverpool City Region Community Environment Fund

Work with Spacehive to develop your pitch on the platform and you could attract additional funding via a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority pledge from the Liverpool City Region Community Environment Fund. 

This programme offers Project Creators the opportunity to receive a donation from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority provided the project meets the criteria of the fund, as well as having received a sufficient amount of support from the community. There is £350,000 initially available to support projects across the region. You could receive a pledge from the Combined Authority up to £30,000 to get your project off the ground.

Read more about the fund eligibility and desired outcomes here     

                                           

5. Hit your target and deliver your project

This programme works on an all-or-nothing model which means you’ll receive your funds after you have reached your fundraising target. Please allow up to three weeks to receive funds once your campaign ends. Once you have delivered your project, you can update your backers on your successes by completing an impact report on Spacehive. If you do not hit your campaign target, your project will not receive its funding and any backers who have pledged funds will be refunded.

To learn more about crowdfunding on Spacehive, visit the Help Centre.

In 2023, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority published the Five Year Climate Action Plan, reasserting its commitment to achieve this target by 2040 or earlier.

The Action Plan document sets out the measures which can be taken to set the Region on the right path to achieving the 2040 target. It speaks of the importance of community empowerment, and how that empowerment can lead to positive change for environment whilst unlocking further social benefits.

With that in mind, the Combined Authority is looking to support community environment projects in order to raise awareness of the climate emergency, start to mitigate its effects and increase engagement and participation in environmental projects.

There are two funds available:

• LCR Community Environment Fund - small projects (projects up to £6,000 in total value)
• LCR Community Environment Fund - large projects (projects over £6,001 in total value)

For small projects funds, pledges of up to £5,000 are available, up to 75% of your project costs. 
For large projects funds, pledges of up to £30,000 are available, up to 75% of your project costs. 

*The LCR Combined Authority may pledge more than 75% of target in exceptional circumstances.

 

Who can apply for funding?

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority looks forward to receiving applications from charities, non-profit organisations, schools, and community groups to deliver projects that will make a difference to the environment and to the wellbeing of the people who live and work in the city region.

 

Fund will prioritise community groups and not for profits. The following cannot apply to the fund:

• Businesses including SMEs, or any other profit-making organisation
• Individuals acting in a personal or private capacity.

 

Headline criteria: 

The Combined Authority is interested in funding projects that focus on:

• Climate change and resilience
• Air quality and transport 
• Water 
• Accessible green spaces, habitats, and biodiversity 
• Waste and resources 
• Carbon and environment literacy 
• Energy reduction 
• Food and agriculture

 

Project creators will need to demonstrate how their project will do at least one of the following:

1. Improve the environment in the Liverpool City Region (LCR).

2. Encourage long-term behavioural change. 

3. Promote community engagement and participation in environmental projects.

 

To learn more about crowdfunding on Spacehive, visit the Help Centre.

For any additional questions, please contact Spacehive on [email protected]