A new way for East Devon's community and voluntary groups and other not for profit organisations to attract more than £50,000 of funding available for projects

For many years East Devon District Council, Devon County Council and Devon and Cornwall Police and other local councils have supported local projects through various funding pots. But now, in partnership with Crowdfunder and other local authorities from across Devon, they've launched Crowdfund Devon, which gives community groups and other not-for-profit organisations, including town and parish councils the means of promoting a project in one central place to attract funding from many sources.

In essence, Crowdfund Devon is a one-stop-community funding shop, designed to help local communities achieve their funding goals - without endless form filling - and give life to projects that will benefit local residents.

Through Crowdfund Devon, they can apply not only for up to £10,000 of the £50,000 of funding available from East Devon District Council for East Devon projects, but also for a large amount of county-wide funding available from Devon County Council and from Devon and Cornwall Police. At the same time they can apply for grants from national pots that are present on Crowdfunder and attract other funding from the local community.

This Devon crowdfunding initiative allows local communities/not-for-profit organisations to put all their funding together to help them unlock even more money and make their idea a reality, all through a simpler process.

Anyone with a project in mind, who wants to learn about crowdfunding and how it can help make things happen, can book a place on East Devon's free crowdfunding workshop, which is taking place on Wednesday 13 February, 4pm to 7pm in Honiton. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. You can book a place on Eventbrite or by calling 01395 517569.

Find out more about Crowdfund Devon  on the Crowdfunder website and get involved in crowdfunding.

Action East Devon is a not for profit organisation that can also help advise on crowdfunding.

Dawn Bebe, Director at Crowdfunder, said:

A good idea will remain just an idea until it's got the financial support to turn it into reality.  Traditionally funding can come from many places, but increasingly one of the key areas of funding a grass roots idea is via 'the crowd' – the local community, local Councils and other funders.

Quite simply, Crowdfund Devon puts it all in the one place.  It's the place where local groups or individuals can promote their projects in order to attract funding from the crowd, by way of pledges in return for rewards. They can also attract a match pledge from one of the participating authorities' funds or even a national fund like M&S energyfund – which could double the money they raise.

More than 320 projects in Devon have already raised £1.5 million on Crowdfunder so far, but with the ability now to attract additional pledges from partners in the county, we hope to turn even more great local projects' ideas into reality.

Councillor Dean Barrow, East Devon District Council's portfolio holder for Finance said:

We're really excited to be part of this crowdfunding pilot. It's an excellent way to help our communities support each other and help more great projects happen. It will make the limited money we have as a council go further and go towards projects that the community/crowd themselves feel are most important. Crowdfunder will support you through the process of crowdfunding, so don't delay, get involved now.  

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council's Communities Cabinet Member, said,

We already do a lot to financially support local projects and local groups, to help pay for equipment, improvements, and to help get local projects off the ground. Those groups also usually need to raise finance from other sources to support their ideas. By bringing these applications for funding into the one platform, Crowdfund Devon is the place where projects can be brought to the public's attention in order to attract donations, and the authorities with discretionary community budgets can also choose to support bids with match-funding.

Partnership Superintendent Jim Gale said:

Devon and Cornwall Police are delighted to be the first police force in the Country to invest in the Crowdfund initiative. Supporting local people to help each other is at the heart of making communities safer, and this modern and accessible approach helps to reduce isolation and vulnerability by investing in areas which communities themselves identify as being the most important.