First Crowdfund Crawley project reaches its target

A project on Crowdfund Crawley has already reached its funding target, just a month after launching.

The Caroline Haslett Memorial Project was the first project to be uploaded to the Crowdfund Crawley website and reached its target of £713 with pledges from the public, West Sussex County Council and Growing a Greener Britain.

The project involves the 'adoption' of a landmark urban pylon and its surroundings for a public realm memorial to women's equality champion and electrical engineer Dame Caroline Haslett (1895 to 1957) at a site near her birthplace in Three Bridges.

The funding will pay for a wide consultation involving neighbourhood leafleting, noticeboard posters, banners, drop-in presentation events, slideshows and preparation of on-line media material and questionnaires.

Another Crowdfund Crawley milestone has also been reached, with Crawley Borough Council making its first pledge to a project.

The council has pledged £5,000 for a wheelchair swing in the play area in Maidenbower Park. The project idea came about through local social media discussions and Autism Support Crawley decided to do something about it.

This contribution – along with pledges from the public and West Sussex County Council – has helped raise £9,105 towards the project’s target of £12,892.

Of the eight projects currently on Crowdfund Crawley, one has reached its target (the Caroline Haslett Memorial Project), three have received pledges towards their targets and four are at the preparation stage.

Crowdfunding gives local people a platform to raise awareness and support for their project, also giving them the opportunity to unlock grants and other funds.

The money is collected by Crawley Borough Council through charges against new development to create the Neighbourhood Improvement Fund. Community organisations with crowdfund project ideas can access the Neighbourhood Improvement Fund and be considered for a pledge, provided their idea benefits the residents of Crawley by improving the local environment, community services or facilities which are sometimes affected by development. The council may pledge up to 50 per cent of the total project target, capped at £5,000.

There is a five per cent charge to all successful projects who have used the Spacehive website. This is an administration cost which includes an external company, locality, to help check that projects have included the necessary information to give people the peace of mind when making a pledge. Organisers are reminded to raise extra to cover the charge. Projects which fail to reach their target will not be charged.

For more details or to pledge visit the Crawley projects page on the Spacehive website.