Projects need to apply by the funding round deadline so that the council can review the projects and decide which ones they’re able to support. 

• Funding round deadline: Wednesday 8 April  2026 

• First council assessment: 26 May 2026

Join us for our next project creator workshop to find out more and learn how you can start a crowdfunding campaign on Spacehive:

• Online workshop: TBC

The following are able to pitch to the fund:

• Public bodies, such as Parish Councils and schools – where they are delivering or hosting community projects and if delivery benefits the wider community. Mainstream expenses such as salaries or replacement street furniture will not be supported
• Registered charities and excepted charities
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations and Community Interest Companies
• Social Enterprises
• Unincorporated community groups
• Individuals - for community projects - not individuals for individual endeavour/benefit.  Under 18s can create projects, but the project will need a project delivery manager - who takes responsibility for its delivering - over 18s
• Constituted community groups
• Faith groups, if the project pitched features non-religious activities and demonstrate the activity is inclusive and does not promote a religious view

The following are not eligible to receive funding:

• Privately held companies for commercial activity (activity delivered for private profit)
• Commercial organisations and exempt charities
• Activity that is more properly the responsibility of other statutory organisations (eg social care; bus subsidies)
• Party political promotion or activities
• Activities related to religious worship. Faith groups may apply for non-religious activities but will need to demonstrate that the activity does not promote a religious view in any way and is inclusive. 
• Projects pitched by individuals & privately held companies, or commercial activities & party political promotion, are not eligible to receive funding

Phased projects, annual events and repeat applications:
Our funding is designed to support projects, not ongoing costs. Projects may be broken down into different phases, where each individual phase can be delivered independently of the other. Annually occurring activities, such as annual events, are eligible, where each year is dependent upon securing funding.

Where a project is broken down into phases, pledges from this fund will not usually exceed £10,000 in a single year, nor £15,000 over three years. For events, applications for activity in consecutive years will be considered, but project creators should seek to increase their pool of supporters, and investigate alternative means of sustaining activity. Projects contributing significantly to the Council’s priorities or demonstrating innovation will be looked upon favourably.

• PLEASE NOTE: we do not recommend project creators propose more than one project per funding round, in order to focus backers towards one funding goal.
• Where projects are part of a larger scheme, the Council reserves the right to view such activity in the funding round, and pledge accordingly.

1) Create a project page
Head to spacehive.com/create to get started.
You’ll need to register for an account and share your project idea. 

2) Apply for council funds
The Spacehive platform will match you to the council funds available through the programme based on your project location. Here you will need to answer some questions from the council regarding your project. 

3) Get your project verified

Before you can start crowdfunding, your project is checked to ensure the necessary permissions and governance are in place. You will need to supply quotes for the main cost items in your project budget too. See the help centre here for verification guidance. Remember to add any pre-campaign funds to demonstrate existing support to the project, see the help centre here for guidance.
 

4) Start crowdfunding
Once your crowdfunding campaign is launched on the Spacehive platform, start raising funds to demonstrate local support. A typical crowdfunding campaign runs for 6-12 weeks. Spacehive offers guidance here to help you achieve your crowdfunding target. If you are successful in receiving a council donation, it will be added to your crowdfunding campaign.

5) Hit your target and deliver your project
Projects must hit their crowdfunding target to receive a Community Innovation Fund donation. Once you hit your crowdfunding target, you’ll receive your funds within a few weeks and you can start delivering your project. 

6) Deliver and complete an impact report

Once crowdfunding is complete, deliver your project within six months and complete an impact report on Spacehive. This is mandatory and shares your success with backers and the council.

Support

• For detailed guidance on each step, visit the Spacehive Help Centre

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

• For local Cheshire West and Chester council support, please contact [email protected]

• Cotswold Community Fund: £110,000 available

• Maximum award: Up to £10,000 or 40% of campaign target

• Got a great idea to bring people together or improve your local area? This fund is here to help turn those ideas into reality. The fund supports groups that bring people together, tackle the barriers and challenges many of us experience or protect our natural and built environment and community facilities;

The Cotswold Community Fund has been developed to support innovative community projects. A great project will hit more than one of these objectives:

• Community led change
• Improved health and food equity
• Well connected and resilient communities
• Improved mental and physical well being across all age groups and backgrounds
• Improved essential local infrastructure that facilitates rural living
• Environmental: Improved environmental outcomes, such as carbon reduction, improved biodiversity or green infrastructure