The London Borough of Havering has launched ‘Havering Together’, a new community crowdfunding programme in partnership with Spacehive, aimed at enabling residents, voluntary groups, and community organisations to bring local ideas to life. The scheme focuses on supporting projects that improve neighbourhoods, strengthen communities, and deliver positive local impact. Using Spacehive’s established crowdfunding platform, groups can raise funds from residents, businesses, and other supporters, with the Council providing backing and match funding to help projects succeed.
Funding for the programme comes from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL), which allows councils to reinvest funds raised from local infrastructure and housing developments back into communities. Each project can access up to £5,000, creating a collaborative funding model that combines council investment with community contributions and external support. This approach maximises impact, encourages local ownership, and builds on Havering’s previous experience with community crowdfunding, which demonstrated strong resident engagement and value for money.
The programme includes support for groups at every stage, including guidance on developing project proposals, building local backing, and delivering initiatives safely and transparently. Interested groups can register for online workshops on 15 and 16 April to learn more about the scheme. The Spacehive platform ensures a robust due-diligence process to help communities develop strong project ideas and deliver them effectively.
Councillor Gillian Ford, Deputy Leader of Havering Council, highlighted that the fund puts communities at the heart of local decision-making, turning ideas into real projects that make a difference while leveraging every pound invested. She noted that the £40,000 NCIL investment would help attract additional support from local residents and organisations, fostering pride, partnerships, and participation. Misha Dhanak, CEO of Spacehive, added that the programme provides a platform for Havering’s passionate communities to act on ideas ranging from improving green spaces to enhancing services for young people, creating lasting local change.
Further details on applying, eligibility criteria, and funding timelines will be shared soon. More information is available on the Spacehive website or via the Council’s social media channels.
