Spacehive
Founded in 2012, Spacehive is a UK based crowdfunding platform whose goal is to help improve local civic community spaces. Since October 2018 over 500 projects have secured funding through successful campaigns, some of which have featured in the national news including the famous Bristol Park and Slide. Spacehive has helped 52% of projects reach their fundraising target, with 79% reaching the 10% mark of their fundraising campaign. Spacehive provides a platform for project owners to promote their campaigns and raise funds, and like most other provides takes a percentage of the sum collected. It also provides specialist software and support services to local authorities, foundations, and organisations working in partnership with them to fund projects alongside the crowd and monitor their social impact. The 'Camden Future High Streets Crowdfund' is the latest partnership aimed at rescuing Camden town's retail business, and judging by national UK reports over the years every bit of help is needed.
The Camden London Borough Council has launched this initiative to support the delivery of innovative forward thinking projects aimed at supporting the revitalisation of Camden high streets. The projects mainly in aid in re-imagining and rebuilding retail business and helping into a sustainable model for long term prosperous trade. The council has set aside £360,000 for worthy projects awarding £35,000 per project to cover up to a maximum of 50% of the project's costs. The remainder must be raised through the Spacehive crowdfunding platform. So far two projects have been announced as the first to receive support. 'Camden's Sustainable Interactive Market', a project geared to setting up workshops to help businesses develop more sustainable practices such as up-cycling received £11,000, whilst £9,500 was awarded to 'Town Spot', a project that uses exhibitions and storytelling to promote the town's local businesses.
“From the projects that came forward for the first funding round, we have selected two impressive bids that both meet the criteria to help make our high streets even more inclusive, sustainable and successful, as well as supporting our Future High Streets’ vision and objectives.The projects are still running their campaigns and raising money to reach their targets and I would encourage individuals and organisations to show their support and get involved by donating to a campaign.”
Councillor Danny Beales, Cabinet Member 'Investing in Communities, Culture & an Inclusive Economy
A third project is currently under review - an artistic initiative to design and create street art for shop shutters in the town's Gospel Oak ward, and the council have also announced the next round of funding to be launched in Spring of 2022. With both projects so far over 50% closer to crowdfunding success, the future for Camden high street looks positive, and could provide a working model for other parts of the UK to adopt. However Camden is a small, a Borough of London and so what works there might not be sustainable for a big city such as Bristol whose town centre has taken major blows with closure of department store Debenhams, and Marks & Spencer which recently closed its doors after over 50 years in business.
To get involved in the Camden London Borough Council and Spacehive initiative follow the links below;
If you've got an exciting project that fits this partnership's remit email crowdfundcamden@camden.gov.uk
To pledge support for the current projects click on the Space Hive links below;
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