Crowdfunder cash extension

A further five months of support has been made available to Scottish projects looking at crowdfunding as a source of finance.

An initial two-year contract had been adopted, but a further five months of support has been made available until the end of July.

Crowdfund Scotland is being implemented by Crowdfunder and the EU and Scottish Government funded programme LEADER.

Its aim is to raise awareness and experience of crowdfunding for alternative finance for businesses and community groups in rural areas.

Rural areas have the opportunity through crowdfunding to develop their social infrastructure and economies in increasingly new and more sustainable ways.

The Crowdfund Scotland portal is managed by three crowdfunding coaches, set up to support projects in a number of LEADER areas including Forth Valley and Lomond.

Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER chairperson Douglas Johnston said: “Our LEADER support has focused on coaching on how to run a successful Crowdfunding campaign, so we are absolutely delighted that so many groups across the participating LEADER areas have done so well with their campaigns.

“Crowdfunding offers an alternative to direct grants from funders, and can be used to match fund grant funding where this is sometimes needed.

“Having seen over £1m raised so far we’re delighted to have been able to extend the programme through to the summer, particularly given the additional challenges that many small community groups and charities are facing as a result of the Covid crisis.”

To partner with Crowdfunder contact the account management team at: am@crowdfunder.co.uk.