Got an idea that might have a positive impact on your community? The council’s Ealing Together Fund is back again offering you a chance to turn that idea into a reality.

The latest round of £50,000 funding is due to open up to submissions on 6 March. The last round, in October, resulted in a wide range of projects receiving backing – from hedgehog highways to healthy activities for young people.

The Ealing Together Fund is a crowdfunding opportunity that encourages the community to take the lead on changing a piece of their neighbourhood for the better. It helps people come together and co-design projects and to empower them to turn an idea into reality. It could be started off by a group of residents, an individual or a community group.

On 6 March, at 12noon, there will be a special workshop being held to help you get started. You can sign up online.

Councillor Jasbir Anand is the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities. She said: “Come along to the free workshop on 6 March for a chance to hear from the funders and to speak with crowdfunding experts Spacehive about your potential project ideas, and find out all you need know to get going. You can gain experience from the previous, diverse range of community projects that have been supported by the fund.

“Whether your project is big or small, this is your opportunity to learn how you can make a real difference in your local area through Ealing Together and bring your idea to life.”

In particular, the fund is keen support proposals that:

• Help people achieve their potential by creating volunteering opportunities to learn new skills, or offering an apprenticeship, or creating jobs
• Bring people together to celebrate culture and heritage, promote inter-generational understanding, or provide reminiscence activities for older adults
• Improve people’s health and well-being
• Or, make the borough a greener and cleaner place by reducing the carbon footprint.

What’s on offer?

There is a £50,000 funding pot this time. From that, there will be a maximum of £10,000 per project for physical (‘capital’) elements of the project, capped at 50% of the project’s total costs.

There is also a simplified route for smaller projects (under £3,000) with slightly fewer questions being asked.

How does it work?

From 6 March you will need to get your project proposal together and get any permissions you need and quotes for necessary work – and your project ideas should be submitted on the Spacehive online platform and pitched to the council by Wednesday, 26 April.

You then need to get your crowdfunding campaign going by the middle of May and, in early June, the council will announce which of the projects it will be backing with money from the Ealing Together Fund and any further advice and support.

The idea is for you to then be able to get started on your project in July.