Sunlight breaking through the trees in the New Forest
Up to £2000 is on offer for eco-friendly projects that will help deliver Winchester City Council’s target of becoming carbon neutral district by 2030, thanks to an innovative digital fundraising scheme.
The ‘Greener Future Fund’ Crowdfunding platform is for any voluntary or non-for-profit organisations to fundraise online from within their communities and networks in the Winchester district, but also from national funds with possible match-funding from the council.
Up to ten standout projects will be selected by the council to unlock a grant of up to £2000 each. These ideas will need to demonstrate how they will cut carbon emissions through transport, energy, property or behavioural change. Examples include: the delivery of electric vehicle charging points in a community area, the installation of green technologies such as solar panels, or an energy reduction scheme.
The council funds will be released when projects have raised at least 25 per cent of the total costs of their target and the council will match-fund up to half of their project costs or £2,000, depending on what which figure is less.
Cllr Paula Ferguson, said: “The Greener Future Fund is a really innovative way to make great ideas a reality because funds and community support can be raised together from the offset. The Council’s target for the district to be carbon neutral by 2030 is ambitious and this scheme is about helping people in the district drive the change we need. Crowd-funding is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional ways to raise money and already there have been some inspiring success stories since we launched the Winchester platform in February. So if you have a great green idea and you think this scheme could help you unlock it, please get in touch with the team.”
For more information visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/greener-future-fund or email: grants@winchester.gov.uk
