Please note this fund is open twice per year for spring and autumn funding rounds.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is committed to building greener, fairer and stronger communities.

Working with common purpose alongside our residents, public services, and businesses, we will harness the strengths, hopes and dreams of our communities so that fewer people will be held back or left behind. We will also have a relentless focus on value for money, stretching our collective resources and innovating to make a positive difference.

We believe that lasting change is needed to: tackle the climate emergency; to see more children and young people have a better start in life; to create more good jobs; to have healthier communities, living longer more independent lives; to see more neighbourhoods that are great places to call home; and ensure an efficient and empowering council.

The Cheshire West and Chester Council general fund has been set up to support and enable local organisations and groups to fund projects that will help us achieve the objectives set out in the Council Plan. The plan can be found here.

The priority areas identified in the plan are:

•    Thriving people and places
•    Feeling safe
•    Resilient people 
•    Enjoying opportunities
•    New ideas that help the many and not the few
•    Clean and green agenda

We are looking forward to receiving project ideas that will address issues such as:

• tackling the climate emergency
• enabling more children and young people to have a better start in life
• creating more good jobs
• supporting healthier communities
• enabling people to live longer more independent lives
• making neighbourhoods great places to call home.

1.    SHARE YOUR IDEA + ATTEND A WORKSHOP
Complete our Project Idea Form as soon as possible to tell us about your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding.
 
2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH BY 23RD MARCH 2022
Create your project page on Spacehive which will match you to relevant funds.

3.    VERIFICATION
The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by Spacehive's verifiers. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have landowner permission for your project.

4.    CROWDFUNDING
Run your crowdfunding campaign between April and June. Start by getting lots of small pledges from the community to show local support for your project. This will help unlock bigger pledges.

Note that 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 smaller pledges from local people.

The Spacehive team is on hand to share lots of advice on how to run a brilliant crowdfunding campaign.

5.    PLEDGE
The council will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to £5,000/max 50% (or 75% across multiple council funds) of your target typically six weeks after the fund deadline (week commencing 9th May).

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT 

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

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

All projects taking part in the Cheshire West Crowd must be eligible for Spacehive. Please review Spacehive's eligibility criteria here.

Cheshire West and Chester Council will not directly or indirectly support the use of crowdfunding:

1. To fund or part fund statutory Council services apart from in exceptional circumstances.
2. To support raising of investment for private, profit making businesses unless the businesses are properly structured Community interest partnerships or cooperatives (unless in exceptional circumstances to be considered on a case by case basis).
3. To projects that do not meet the objectives in our Council plan.
4. To support projects taking place outside Cheshire West and Chester.

For feedback on eligibility and for support to get your idea ready for crowdfunding, share it with the Spacehive team via our Project Idea Form.

This fund will provide Capital investment to tackle the climate change emergency. 

Please note: Project creators will need to evidence green house gas reduction and be specific about volumes.

As well as making the Council a greener organisation, we will work with businesses and communities to ensure that our borough reduces its carbon footprint and that future generations are protected from climate change. We have a shared responsibility to act and there will be a real urgency to our response. While this is a real challenge it presents great opportunities to build a green economy, more active residents, less congestion, warmer homes, and a more efficient use of our resources.

Energy, Transport, Housing, Land Use, Waste and Recycling are priorities for this fund.  What we'll fund:  Projects that tackle the climate emergency by delivering quantifiable carbon benefits. Examples include but are not limited to:

•    Renewable energy projects
•    Energy efficiency projects
•    Heat pump projects
•    Zero or low carbon transport
•    Waste reduction
•    Natural capital/natural environment projects. 

• The Council producing less greenhouse gas
• Residents and businesses producing less greenhouse gas
• Improved access to alternative modes of transport such as buses, electric vehicles, cycling and walking
• More energy efficient homes and buildings
• Less waste and higher rates of recycling

When assessing your pitch, the following will be taken into account:

• The degree of community support for your project in the form of pledges towards your crowdfunding campaign
• Delivering greenhouse gas reduction benefits
• Compliance with financial regulations - The Council has a set of financial and contract procedure rules that explain how all goods, works and services must be procured
• Compliance with all legal requirements
• Achieving best value
• Ensuring transparency, openness, non-discrimination and fair competition 
• Demonstrating probity, consistency, accountability and integrity
• Supporting the council’s corporate vision and Play Your Part outcomes framework
• Capital projects - When considering support for capital projects (fixed items) or equipment, applicants are advised to check whether any planning permission or other authority is required for the project with the appropriate Service

1.    SHARE YOUR IDEA
Complete our Project Idea Form as soon as possible to tell us about your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding.
 
2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH BY 23RD MARCH
Create your project page on Spacehive which will match you to relevant funds.

3.    VERIFICATION
The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by Spacehive's verifiers. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have landowner permission for your project.

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

Note that 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 smaller pledges from local people.

The Spacehive team is on hand to share lots of advice on how to run a brilliant crowdfunding campaign.

5.    PLEDGE
The council will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to £5,000/max 50% (or 75% across multiple council funds) of your target typically six weeks after the fund deadline.

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT 

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

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

The fund will provide Capital investment to tackle the climate change emergency.  The science and evidence is clear - climate change poses a massive threat to our way of life and the time for action is now. We use the phrase 'climate emergency' to reinforce the urgency required. If we don't face up to our responsibility we will see more flooding, pollution, threats to wildlife and an uncertain future for the next and future generations.

While Government and international bodies should take the lead, we can make a big difference locally. Our ambition is to become a carbon neutral borough, reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases to net zero by 2045 or earlier. Council emissions only make up 0.7 per cent of the borough's greenhouse gas emissions. As a council we will play our part and we will be carbon neutral by 2030, but we need to encourage and support others to reduce their emissions.

The UK is not currently going to meet its target of being carbon neutral by 2050, so there is a need to rapidly increase the rate of greenhouse gas reduction to ensure that west Cheshire makes its contribution to this national and international challenge.

This will require concerted action across industry in particular, given the high level of manufacturing in the borough. We will also need to see more sustainable energy, waste, transport and land use. Every citizen has a role to play, and often small things will add up to a big difference.

If we get this right we will not only secure a better future for those that follow us, we will also support economic growth in new green industries, support healthier lifestyles and help tackle fuel poverty.

All projects taking part in the Cheshire West Crowd must be eligible for Spacehive. Please review Spacehive's eligibility criteria here.

For feedback on eligiblity and for support to get your idea ready for crowdfunding, share it with the Spacehive team via our Project Idea Form.

Cheshire West and Chester Council will not directly or indirectly support the use of crowdfunding:

1. To fund or part fund statutory Council services apart from in exceptional circumstances.
2. To support raising of investment for private, profit making businesses unless the businesses are properly structured Community interest partnerships or cooperatives (unless in exceptional circumstances to be considered on a case by case basis).
3. To projects that do not meet the objectives in our Council plan.
4. To support projects taking place outside Cheshire West and Chester.

In addition, the council cannot support:

 •    Anything that does not respond to the Climate Emergency
•    Ongoing revenue or maintenance costs
•    Any costs incurred when putting together an application unless specifically authorised and funded via pre-development funding
•    Loans or interest payments
•    Anything party political, including supporting political organisations 
•    Anything solely for religious purposes
•    Lobbying against Council policy
•    Anything that will bring the Council into disrepute
•    Anything contrary to the Council’s financial regulations or Council policies
•    Anything illegal
•    Anything which is met by a Schools Pupil Premium Strategy
•    Any organisations planning to use funding to hand out separate grants to other people or organisations.

The objective of this fund is to support the reduction of the number of suicides in middle aged men (target age 40-60) and to enhance men's awareness and ability to improve their own mental health. Projects that pitch to the fund could include: 

•      Exercise-based activities such as cycling and running.
•      Practical activities such as gardening, woodwork and metalwork.
•      Arts, crafts and creative activities. 
•      Bee-keeping.
•      Photography.
•      Drama and theatre.

In 2018 NHS England (NHSE) announced a 3-year suicide prevention funding programme worth £25 million that will reach the whole country by 2021. It forms part of the government's commitment to reduce suicides in England by 10% by 2021.

Through this fund we will be providing the opportunity for organisations to develop transformational programmes which should be informed by local data and identified need. We are looking for: Projects that use an interest to create a (or build upon an existing) peer support network for men, who can support each other on an ongoing basis.

Projects should have the 'Five Ways to Wellbeing' in mind when they are creating their offer. Participants will have improved their health and wellbeing. Participating males will have an improved knowledge of health and wellbeing services in the local and surrounding areas through signposting. Participating males will have an increased understanding of how to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Any case studies must be co-produced with the men involved, offering them the opportunity to share their journey. Case studies can be captured in writing or digital form.

Sustainability is key. A clear outline of how the project is sustainable after the funding has ended must be included.

We will not fund: Specialist mental health treatment. Interventions for men outside of the specific age group.

1.    SHARE YOUR IDEA
Complete our Project Idea Form as soon as possible to tell us about your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding.
 
2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH BY 6TH APRIL 
Create your project page on Spacehive which will match you to relevant funds.

3.    VERIFICATION
The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by Spacehive's verifiers. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have landowner permission for your project.

4.    CROWDFUNDING
Run your crowdfunding campaign between April and June. Start by getting lots of small pledges from the community to show local support for your project. This will help unlock bigger pledges.

Note that 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 smaller pledges from local people.

The Spacehive team is on hand to share lots of advice on how to run a brilliant crowdfunding campaign.

5.    PLEDGE
The council will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to £5,000/max 50% (or 75% across multiple council funds) of your target typically six weeks after the fund deadline.

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT 

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

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

As part of the Poverty Emergency declaration Cheshire West and Chester Council has made a commitment to tackle poverty in all its forms and at its roots to build a fairer future for all. 

We know there are people in our borough that don’t have enough money to be able to afford the essentials, such as food, heating, housing and transport.  Sometimes this is a temporary situation, sometimes this can be longer term.

In Cheshire West and Chester, we want to make a permanent difference.

Our communities are at the heart of our response and we want to support the excellent work that goes on across our Borough. To complement the Council’s own work, we are interested in supporting community-led projects that tackle poverty and inequality in Cheshire West and Chester that:

•    engage and empower voices of people experiencing financial hardship and poverty
•    that are led or shaped by the communities that will benefit from the work 
•    that provide practical solutions and support for people on low incomes or those experiencing financial hardship
•    that address low income and financial hardship in creative ways
•    that can prevent people from falling into poverty.
•    that consider the needs of everyone in our community, particularly people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, across different age groups and people with experience of disability

We hope to support initiatives and organisations that tackle poverty and inequality within the borough and address key issues such as social isolation and loneliness, health, mental health and wellbeing, debt and money advice, skills and employment, digital inclusion, access to affordable food, fuel poverty, rural poverty, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport.

We particularly welcome bids that 
•    target deprived communities 
•    address rural poverty and help people to connect with others on the issues affecting them in relation to low income.
•    consider the needs of everyone in the community, particularly people from different backgrounds, across different ages and with experience of disability. Examples might include asylum-seekers and refugees, gypsy and traveller communities, women in refuges, people with autism, low income pensioners, carers, care leavers and single parents
•    could potentially be replicated across the whole borough or adapted to include rural areas and most isolated groups affected by poverty
•    support fair pay and employment practices, including community education around worker led cooperative models
•    have a positive impact on environmental and /or mental health and wellbeing, 
•    pro-actively de-stigmatise poverty
•    empower local residents through advocacy and engagement

1.    SHARE YOUR IDEA
Complete our Project Idea Form as soon as possible to tell us about your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding.
 
2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH BY 23RD MARCH 2022
Create your project page on Spacehive which will match you to relevant funds.

3.    VERIFICATION
The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked by Spacehive's verifiers. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have landowner permission for your project.

4.    CROWDFUNDING
Run your crowdfunding campaign between April and June. Start by getting lots of small pledges from the community to show local support for your project. This will help unlock bigger pledges.

The Spacehive team is on hand to share lots of advice on how to run a brilliant crowdfunding campaign.

5.    PLEDGE
The council will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to £10,000/max 75% of your target typically six weeks after the fund deadline (week commencing 9th May).

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 smaller pledges from local people.

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT 

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

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

Projects will be assessed based on how far they deliver the outcomes listed above and their fit with the following themes:

• Listen to the voices of people experiencing financial hardship and poverty
• Take urgent action to tackle the immediate consequences of hardship and poverty
• Transform how we do things to tackle the root causes of poverty.

As well as the fund criteria, projects will also be assessed on the amount of local support for the idea, in the form of backers towards the crowdfunding campaign. Projects could recieve a pledge up to £10,000 (a maximimum of 75% of the funding target). See "How it works" for more information. 

All projects taking part in the Cheshire West Crowd must be eligible for Spacehive. Please review Spacehive's eligibility criteria here.

Cheshire West and Chester Council will not directly or indirectly support the use of crowdfunding:

1. To fund or part fund statutory Council services apart from in exceptional circumstances.
2. To support raising of investment for private, profit making businesses unless the businesses are properly structured Community interest partnerships or cooperatives (unless in exceptional circumstances to be considered on a case by case basis).
3. To projects that do not meet the objectives in our Council plan.
4. To support projects taking place outside Cheshire West and Chester.

For feedback on eligibility and for support to get your idea ready for crowdfunding, share it with the Spacehive team via our Project Idea Form.