Community projects appeal for donations

From providing a new bus service in Upton to helping the homeless, there are several worthwhile projects across the Malvern Hills District appealing for donations.

Malvern Hills District Council has pledged funding of over £117,000 so far to support 26 local projects on the specialist crowdfunding platform Spacehive, resulting in a total of almost £323,000 being raised from over 1,000 pledges.

The rest of the funding will come from communities, local businesses and foundations. Anyone can contribute by chipping in as little as £2 to help a project on its way to success.

The projects currently appealing for donations on Spacehive include:

• Prevent homelessness in Malvern - this project by Maggs Day Centre aims to raise over £30k to expand their services at the centre in Malvern.
• Malvern Link Community Fridge - the Parish of Malvern Link with Cowleigh are aiming to raise over £9k to revamp their kitchen area to support more people.
• Upton Shuttle Bus - Community Action Malvern and District is aiming to raise nearly £5k to create an Upton Shuttle Community Bus route that will provide a service to the village around the town.

Malvern Hills District Council is supporting these projects through several funds including the People Make Places Fund, Ticket to Ride Fund, Destination Zero Fund and Councillor Ward Budgets.

In support of its asset-based community development approach of building more effective relationships with communities, the council have committed £500,000 towards a Connected Communities Fund with empowerment and investment for local communities being one of the priorities.

Cllr Tom Wells, Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: "We are pleased to be supporting these projects which will provide targeted help to people who need it most. These projects will boost connectivity within the district, support people that are homeless and sleeping rough, as well as provide access to fresh foods through a Community Fridge scheme.

"We launched the Civic Crowdfund platform as a way to help local communities raise money for local projects that make a real difference and deliver more than the standard approach of the council just handing out small grants. It has been incredibly successful and to date over £323,000 has been raised for 26 different projects with the council putting in £117,000 funding to help. It has been a real joy to see the funding helping local community projects from improving local facilities and spaces and funding local wellbeing support to helping biodiversity projects to help tackle climate change.

"I would like to thank our residents who are the driving force behind the fantastic projects that have been funded through the platform and everyone who has pledged their support."

Visit www.spacehive.com/movement/worcs/projects for more information, projects can be searched for by title.