Please follow the below steps to ensure your project is ready for the 9th of September deadline. 

We are also runinig two online workshops on the 9th and 14th of July. Follow this link for free registration.  

Read below process to understand how to get involved.

1.    EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Complete our expression of interest form at your earliest convenience to inform us of your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding. A member of the team will be in touch to provide you with the necessary information and support you may need to help get your project started.  

2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH

Create your online project page which will match you to the Our Tower Hamlets Innovation fund. Here Tower Hamlets Council will ask you some additional questions about your project. You need to complete this step by the 9th of September. 

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 land owner 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.

5.    PLEDGE

Tower Hamlets Council will review all project campaigns and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge in late October.

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT

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

Click here for more information on the Tower Hamlets Innovation Fund

Our Tower Hamlets: #LetsPullTogether through this crisis

Tower Hamlets have been inspired by the community response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and seeing so many people coming together to help each other in these uncertain times.

In order to support organisations who are on the front line, supporting those most vulnerable, we have made some significant changes to how the the Our Tower Hamlets programme operates during this time, enabling these groups to raise the funds they need, fast. 

Changes to the programme:

• Spacehive are waiving their 5% fee for campaigns which provide support to people still shilding or in lock down. Also while other projects need to be part of a particular round whcih have specific deadline, projects suporting people shielding in lock down can come forward at any time. 
• The criteria of the programme has been loosened so that organisations responding to, or impacted by the crisis can raise funds for essential supplies eg food backs, or running costs for a key community asset.
• Projects responding to the crisis will be prioritised by the council who will use the funding associated with this programme to pledge quickly and generously to campaigns wherever possible. 

Key information for you and your organisaiton

• Read the council's latest advice, guidance and information on the coronavirus crisis 
• THCVS has pulled important information together for 3rd sector organisations impacted by the crisis 
• You can also read Spacehive's response to the crisis in a blog by their founder, Chris Gourlay..

Local Covid-19 campaigns

We've already seen people came to us with some great ideas which you can support and take inspiration from:

• Help Bow Food Bank feed the community
• Food for Tower Hamlets by First Love Foundation 

Got an idea and need support?

We'll soon be producing guidance and tips on how to crowdfund safely and successfully during this period. 

Need some more advice on your project idea before you create your project page? Click here to tell us about your idea and we'll feed back with guidance on how to get it ready for crowdfunding.

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