Ealing locals urged to get behind feel-good projects

Ealing Council will provide match-funding from its Future Ealing Fund for projects that secure enough public backing.

Ideas include a proposal to establish a junior golf academy at Brent Valley Golf Club, Hanwell, a scheme to encourage people to make short films about Southall, and a plan to establish a community arts hub and vegetable garden at North Acton Pavilion.

The Spacehive website lists each of the projects, the financial support they need, the steps they are going to take to turn their idea into reality and the deadline for securing pledges.

Projects that hit their resident fundraising goal will receive up to 50 percent match-funding from the council. Those that don’t reach their target will not receive any funding either from resident’s pledges or the council. All projects have different funding deadlines with the first closing in early July.

And Ealing Council is now on the lookout for the next batch of community projects to give its support to. From Tuesday, 13 July, groups can submit their good ideas for consideration for the next round of Future Ealing Fund support. Schemes that are backed by the council have the chance to benefit from a share of a £60,000 crowdfunding pot, as much as 50 percent match funding, marketing support from Spacehive and much more.

Anyone interested in taking part should sign up for an online workshop on Thursday, 13 July from 2-3pm. There they will hear details on the criteria for projects and the submission process. Those interested can sign up online. Those unable to attend can ask for more details via email at support@spacehive.com.

Councillor Jasbir Anand, cabinet member for thriving communities, said: “Ealing’s strength has always been its community and I know how much local people care about their area. As a council, we want to support positivity, good ideas and local action through our Future Ealing Fund, and the groups and projects involved need their neighbours to support them too.

“These are small projects designed to make a big impact and every pledge matters, regardless of how big or small it is. I invite everyone to go to the Spacehive website and see if there is a project they would like to back. The groups behind them are part of a huge community-led effort to make our borough better post-COVID and they need our help.

“And if you’re feeling inspired, and have a good idea of your own, take a look at our website to find out how you could be involved in the next round of crowdfunding.”

The Future Ealing fund is just one of the ways that the council supports local projects. More information about the other help available for good ideas can be found at www.dosomethinggood.org.uk/fundraising