A crowdfunding scheme in the Cotswolds has won a national award. 
Cotswold District Council’s Crowdfund Cotswold project won the Community Involvement award at this year's Local Government Chronicle Awards. 

Launched last year in partnership with crowdfunding platform Spacehive, the website allows residents, businesses, the council and other organisations to pledge money alongside each other to fund projects that improve their neighbourhoods.

Jenny Forde, the council's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said, “We launched the Crowdfund Cotswold platform as a way to help local communities raise money for local projects that make a real difference and deliver more than the standard approach of the council just handing out small grants.

“It has been incredibly successful and to date over £400,000 has been raised for 24 different projects with the Council putting in £130,000 funding to help.

“It has been a real joy to see the funding helping local community projects from improving local playgrounds and funding local wellbeing support to helping launch the amazing reusable ‘Cotswold Cup’ to help tackle climate change.

“I would like to thank our residents who are the driving force behind the fantastic projects that have been funded through the platform and everyone who has pledged their support.

“I’m so happy to see the project recognised at a national level up against so many other council projects. I hope it will help others look at how we can use innovative and creative ways to support local communities.”

The Local Government Chronicle Awards recognise best practices across local government, with CDC beating off London Boroughs, city and county councils to win their award.

Judges said Crowdfund Cotswold was a bold and brave approach to a tried and tested crowdfunding model that offers a sustainable platform of community empowerment and organisational transformation.

Joseph Walker, the council's community partnership officer, said: “The LGC Awards celebrates projects delivered by local authorities across the UK, providing vital services and transforming lives, so it’s really rather humbling to have our own contribution recognised, and absolutely a testament to the project creators and supporters who’ve embraced Crowdfund Cotswold.”

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CDC was also shortlisted for the Climate Response award in partnership with Forest of Dean and West Oxfordshire District Councils for the production of the Net Zero Carbon Toolkit which shows residents and developers how to produce low carbon homes.