Ayrshire LEADER launch Crowdfunding website

Ayrshire LEADER have teamed up with Crowdfunder to launch a new online platform for groups, organisations and businesses to raise money, awareness and support using the power of the crowd.

Ayrshire LEADER's Local Action Group (LAG) is the first in the UK to embrace this fundraising concept with the launch of #Crowdfund Rural Ayrshire.

In addition, the LAG may also make financial pledges to projects of up to a maximum of £5,000, where they meet the Ayrshire LEADER programme criteria and have raised half of their online crowdfunding target. A total of £250,000 is available for this purpose.

A similar scheme by Plymouth City Council placed £90,000 of funding into crowdfunded projects. In total these have raised more than £500,000 across the city via the partnership.

Chris Savage, Chair of the Ayrshire Local Action Group said:

"It’s fantastic to be working with the committed team at Crowdfunder and to be at the forefront of ground-breaking rural development in the UK."

Claire Monaghan, Head of Communities at South Ayrshire Council said:

"As Accountable Body for the LEADER Programme, the Council is delighted to be working with the Ayrshire Local Action Group as it innovates in rural Ayrshire. We are excited about our communities sharing the social and economic benefits of #Crowdfund Rural Ayrshire as this initiative takes off."

If you are part of a rural community or have a businesses that wants to deliver projects that will foster business and enterprise, connect people and places, promote tourism, culture and local heritage or open up opportunities to access the natural environment, this initiative could be for you.

For more information about #Crowdfund Rural Ayrshire and how to get involved contact the Ayrshire LEADER team on 01292 616655 or visit http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ayrshire-leader.

Looking for funding?

Using the SRN Funding Search you can search over 1,000 funds that support projects in rural Scotland. It's free to use and you can save searches, create reports and sign up for funding ebulletins.

More about LEADER across Scotland

You can find out about LEADER across Scotland in the LEADER section of our website, where you can also submit an Expression of Interest form if you have an idea for a project.

And watch our short film below to find out more about six inspiring projects that received funding in the LEADER 2007-2013 programme.

Scottish LEADER programme from ScottishRuralNetwork on Vimeo.