Crowdfunding page launched to help Hemel Hempstead charities and businesses

A new Hertfordshire wide crowdfunding platform has been set up this week giving local groups and organisations an opportunity to secure funds in a new way.

Crowdfunding is a digital method of raising finance by asking a large number of people to each give a small amount of money.

Organisations and individuals can add their projects onto a crowdfunding webpage and use social media and their networks to build support and enthusiasm for their ideas, amassing pledges from the community, public and private organisations to achieve their funding target.

Crowdfund Hertfordshire has been set up specifically for the county to provide applicants with access to local funding, including the Hertfordshire County Council’s Community Innovation Fund and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Small Business Innovation Fund.

It is hoped that some district and borough councils will also add funds later this year.

This new fund is being managed by Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF), a local grant making charity. HCF has been successfully managing over 100 local funds on behalf of local businesses and families, including Hertfordshire County Council’s Community Innovation Fund for many years.

HCF sees crowdfunding as a natural extension to the support it currently provides to the local voluntary sector.

Terry Douris, Executive Member for Education, Libraries and Localism at Hertfordshire County Council said: “We are very pleased with the launch of this new crowdfunding page for Hertfordshire.

"We believe this new approach will help us to reach a new and wider audience thus allowing available funding to go further and help ensure the right local projects get the help they need in a transparent way.

"Crowdfunding is also a great way for communities to be public decision makers and take the lead in implementing ideas or projects that can benefit their local area.”

Helen Gray, Foundation Director for HCF said; “Fundraising and the ability to diversify income is extremely relevant at the moment.

"The current crisis has meant that many charities need to find new ways to fund their activities as their usual fundraising initiatives have had to be closed or cancelled.

"Crowdfunding is a powerful way of raising money, bringing people together and spreading awareness of good causes.

"HCF is pleased to be involved in this initiative and we will use our local knowledge and expertise to ensure that the impact of local funds are maximised.”

For more information on the funds and how to apply, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/programmes/crowdfund-hertfordshire.

For information about HCC Community Innovation Fund, which aims to support community projects for adults in Hertfordshire with grants of up to £5,000, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/community-innovation-fund.

For information about Hertfordshire LEP Small Business Innovation Fund, which aims to provide support of up to £5,000 to micro and small businesses in the tourism, leisure, hospitality, retail, arts and cultural sectors, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/small-business-innovation-fund