WALL Heath in Bloom has become the first community organisation to secure funding through Crowdfund Dudley Borough.

Dudley Council and Spacehive co-ordinate the £480,000 funding pot which provides support to community projects across the borough.

The Crowdfund Dudley Borough platform offers an opportunity for projects to access funding through public pledges and community support. Projects create a funding page and invite backers. Once they hit a certain amount of community pledges, the council assesses the project’s viability and, if approved, provides the remaining funds, usually between 50 per cent and 80 per cent.

Councillor Paul Bradley, Dudley Council's cabinet member for economic delivery, said: “I am thrilled to announce pledge funding for Wall Heath in Bloom, the first community organisation that has successfully raised the funds it needs through the Crowdfund Dudley Borough pilot programme. 

“There are currently eight community-led projects crowdfunding through Crowdfund Dudley Borough, with more to come. These projects exemplify the spirit of community collaboration and creativity that Dudley Council is dedicated to fostering. I encourage more community organisations to take advantage of this opportunity and pitch their ideas for a pledge.”

To register a project, begin crowdfunding and apply for a pledge from Dudley Council, visit www.spacehive.com/movement/dudley 

Crowdfund Dudley Borough has received £200,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and £287,000 from The Dudley Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).