Walsall Public Health - Tackling Inactivity projects must seek to address health inequalities & the impact inactivity has on specific communities by targeting intervention towards the communities with the greatest need. The projects will target those who are underserved & least engaged in particular:

1. Children &Young People
2. Families
3. Older people
4. People from Black, Asian Other &Chinese ethinic groups
5. People with mental health concerns
6. People with disabilities particularly those with multiple impairments & learning disabilities
7. People who are low paid or unemployed and& in areas of deprivation

Proposals from Walsall Community & Voluntary Sector providers only, with experience of delivering projects that improve residents’ physical health will be considered. Providers can bid to deliver a combination of the following: early interventions, building resilience, meaningful physical activities, community cohesion, sustainability and future-proofing and legacy for activities delivered, prevention &/or awareness of long terms conditions.

There is up to a maximum £5,000 or 60% of your project target available, per organisation, per year (following the calendar year from Jan to Dec). 

As there is limited funding available for this round - the projects will be considered on a first come first served basis. The first projects that submit a pitch, are successful through verification and become Live and Crowdfunding will be considered for funding-until the £20,000 allocation is pledged.

Everyone should have a fair opportunity to realise their potential, to contribute to society and to enjoy a fulfilling life. We want to support creative, locally-led proposals that support our most inactive communities to move more and the health and wellbeing and wider benefits associated with this.

Projects will be expected to capture data to demonstrate that their projects are supporting their local communities to get active and move more as well as wider health and wellbeing outcomes. This will include completing WEMWBS; physical activity measures as well as capturing qualitative feedback through a range of mechanisms.

Outcomes will also include those relating to: community cohesion and engagement, development of relationships and partnerships and environmental impact.

1. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/ ATTEND A WORKSHOP

Complete our Expression of Interest Form as soon as possible to inform us of your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding. 

2. PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH

Create your project page on Spacehive and pitch document, which will match you to the Tackling Inactivity fund.

3. VERIFICATION

The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by our specialist verification team. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have landowner permission for your project.

4. CROWDFUNDING

Run your crowdfunding campaign 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 council will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to 60% of your project target up to a maximum of £5,000.

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT

To be eligible:

• the project must be delivered in Walsall, must benefit Walsall residents and priority will be offered to Walsall led organisations.
• the project must tackle inactivity and other wellbeing outcomes for Walsall residents
• the project must be delivered by a not-for-profit organisation, community and voluntary group, social enterprise or charity
• a school which is working in partnership with a non profit organisation.

​What can't we fund: ​​

• Individuals are not eligible for this fund.​

• Projects supporting private interests / profit making organisations.​

• Projects excluding any particular groups in society or those with protected characteristics.​

• Proposals from political groups.​

• Projects that are part of a campaign or promote particular religions/faiths/political ideologies not considered to be inclusive​

• We are not able to match fund Statutory provision, Local Authority teams or Council projects.​

The Council will never be the first organisation to pledge to your project as they will want to see that you have local support from your community before a pledge is made.

Walsall Men's Wellbeing Fund projects must seek to address health inequalities and the impact Mental Health and Wellbeing has on men especially:

1) Young men
2) Older men
3) Men from Black, Asian Other, ethnic groups
5) Men with physical, leaning or mental disabilities
6) Men who are  low paid, unemployed or live in areas of high levels deprivation
7) Men who identify as GBTQ+
8) Carers

Providers can bid to deliver a combination of prevention, early interventions and activities that improve wellbeing, such as mental health awareness raising, building resilience, meaningful physical activities, improving relationships and social connection, community cohesion,volunteering  peer mentorship and skills sharing, etc.

Everyone should have a fair opportunity to realise their potential, contribute to society, and enjoy a fulfilling life.

Having good mental health and wellbeing enables this to be possible. There is increasing evidence on the protective, risk and environmental factors associated with men's mental health and the benefit of interventions that promote mental wellbeing at individual, community and population levels.

Early recognition of men's mental health problems in diverse communities and understanding the various challenges men face are essential to deliver appropriate interventions, improve outcomes and reduce the risk of escalating difficulties.

Providers will support each participant to complete a wellbeing plan and to conduct a follow-up review of their progress. Providers must also sign up for the Walsall Mental Heath and Wellbeing strategy and No Wrong Door approach to support men to access intervention at the right time. Providers must capture the number of men who are direct beneficiaries (client demographics). PHQ 2 and WHO 5 Wellbeing measures are to be carried out with participants before and at the end of each intervention.

1.    EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/ ATTEND A WORKSHOP

Complete our Expression of Interest Form as soon as possible to inform us of your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding.

2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH

Create your project page on Spacehive which will match you to the Walsall Council fund.

3.    VERIFICATION

The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by independent verifiers, Locality. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have landowner permission for your project.

4.    CROWDFUNDING

Run your crowdfunding campaign. Start 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 council will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to 80% (or the maximum of £5k). We will inform you of this once your pledge has been approved by the panel.

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT!

Over the next two years, Crowdfund Walsall (UKSPF) are able to provide funding for projects, which improve places, spaces or resident's quality of lives in Walsall. There is up to £5,000 or 60% of your project target available, per organisation, per fund, per year (following the calendar year from January to December).

UK Shared Prosperity Fund priorities support projects that bring people together, build on community spirit or enhance the places and spaces of our borough. We want to support creative, locally led proposals that help the area recover and grow stronger. Building resilient, healthy, and safe neighbourhoods, that people want to live, work, play and learn in, through targeted improvements to the built and natural environment.

Our priorities are: Capacity building and infrastructure support for local groups.

All projects must be located within the borough boundaries. Crowdfund Walsall (UKSPF) is only able to match-fund projects that are being delivered by constituted organisations including registered/local charities, community groups, social enterprises, residents and trader associations.

All pledges that are received through the UKSPF must be compliant with the UKSPF branding and publicity guidelines. Please see the link here for further information and details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-branding-and-publicity-6

Outcomes of this fund are improved engagement numbers for your organisations. These will be monitored through your current engagement numbers, then expected engagement numbers, revisited at the end of your project and then again at 12 months after the intervention.

1.    SHARE YOUR IDEA + ATTEND A WORKSHOP

Complete our Project Ideas form ​​​​as soon as possible to tell us about your idea and register for a workshop (see News & Events tab for more information).

2.    CREATE YOUR PROJECT ON SPACEHIVE

Create your project page and pitch document on the Spacehive portal, which will match you to the fund name. You are encouraged to create your project early, to unlock support from the Spacehive team. 

3.    GET YOUR PROJECT VERIFIED

The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by Spacehive's verifiers before you begin crowdfunding. Submit early to ensure you’re verified before the deadline. Verification takes an average of four days where project creators have the relevant documents to hand. 

Before you submit for verification, make sure that you have:

• Proof of permission (e.g. event license, council agreement, landowner consent). Read more about permissions.

• Evidence of costs (e.g. building work quotations, links to online shop listings, UKSPF adheres to Public Contract Regulations - where single items are over £2,500 we will require 3 quotatations).

• Relevant insurances, policies, or qualifications (e.g. organisation constitution, safeguarding policy, certifications).

• Evidence of any funds that you have received for this project that you would like to have shown on your campaign (e.g. grant agreement, scan of a cheque, bank statement).

4.    LAUNCH YOUR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN AND PITCH TO THE FUND

Once verified, launch your crowdfunding campaign. Ensure you have submitted your fund pitch by the deadline too, to be considered for a pledge from the council.

Please note: the council will not be the first organisation to pledge to your project and will first want to see community support and backing, in the form of pledges from local people towards your campaign.

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

Please note: a typical crowdfunding campaign should not exceed three months.

5.    ASSESSMENT AND PLEDGE

The council will review all projects typically 6 weeks after the deadline and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to  a maximum pledge of £5,000 (or 60% of overall project costs) during their live campaign. For example, a £8,000 campaign could get up to £4,800. 

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT 

You need to hit your target in order to receive the funds you raise. Please allow up to three weeks to receive funds once your campaign ends. Once you deliver your project, you can update your backers by completing a colourful impact report on Spacehive. 

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

For any additional questions, please contact Spacehive on support@spacehive.com.

This project 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’

The Community Capital Investment Programme aims to provide grants to Community and Voluntary sector organisations in order to deliver capital improvements to premises in the Bloxwich and Walsall Towns Deal. We are looking for projects which re-furbish and upgrade buildings and equipment to provide innovative and supportive environments for the people of Walsall. To apply for a Community Capital Grant, you must be able to evidence the need for the grant, the outputs that will be achieved, and any health and wellbeing benefits resulting from the funding. Grants are available for charities or not-for-profit community and voluntary sector organisations based in Walsall Town Centre or Bloxwich; that provide learner assisted outcomes these areas.

Please refer to the Towns deal boundary maps using the link below:

https://go.walsall.gov.uk/business/regeneration-and-investment/town-deal-walsall/town-deal-board or

https://mymaps.walsall.gov.uk/walsalltowndealsolo.html

https://mymaps.walsall.gov.uk/bloxwichtowndealsolo.html

Your organisation MUST be within the boundary of the Walsall or Bloxwich towns deal boundaries to be considered eligable for Community Capital funding.

The outcomes following your successful project delivery are to reduce barriers, through accredited and non-accredited learning which gives people the opportunity to thrive and ultimately contribute to their local economy.

1.    ATTEND A WORKSHOP

Attend a Crowdfund Walsall project workshop and begin your project page. Need feedback on your idea? Tell us about it via this short form and we'll feed back with guidance on how to get started.

2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH

Create your project page on Spacehive and submit this for verification with the Spacehive team.   A member of the Crowdfund Walsall team will be in touch to ask you additional elagibility questions before you are invited to complete your pitch paperwork.

Once the CFW and SH team have approved your intial project page and eligability - you can then pitch to the Community Capital Investment Programme. 

3.    VERIFICATION

The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by the team and independent verifiers, Locality. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have landowner permission for your project.

4.    CROWDFUNDING

Run your crowdfunding campaign during the funding round you have pitched to. Start 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 council will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to 90% for capital costs. We will inform you of this once your pledge has been approved by panel.

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT 

Before pitching please ensure you speak to a member of the Crowdfund Walsall team to support the verification process. Externalfunding@walsall.gov.uk