Sefton Council has reopened its Sefton Crowd civic crowdfunding platform for Spring 2026, launching the new funding round on 2 February 2026. Residents and community groups in Bootle, Merseyside, can now pitch projects — such as community gardens or youth clubs — on the Spacehive crowdfunding platform to seek backing from both the public and the council.
The council has allocated a £50,000 central pot for this round in partnership with Spacehive. Individual projects can receive a pledge from the council of up to £5,000 (or up to 40% of a project’s total funding target), provided they first secure community support through small donations on Spacehive.
This funding coincides with the commencement of the main construction phase of the Bootle Strand transformation. Official council records show demolition of older Strand units was completed in December 2025; the council is seeking community-led projects to provide local activities and social value while construction work continues through 2026 and 2027.
Local volunteers who need help drafting their project plans can attend Project Creator workshops run by Sefton CVS (Sefton Council for Voluntary Service). Some residents have told the Liverpool Echo — in letters and coverage — that the £5,000 cap should be higher. The council has stressed the value of the Sefton Crowd platform: ‘Local people in their communities are in the best position to see opportunities for innovation and improvement. The crowdfunding platform is another way in which the council works in partnership with all its communities to enable positive change,’ said Cllr Liz Dowd, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement.
For more information, groups are advised to visit the Sefton Crowd page on Spacehive and Sefton Council’s news pages, or contact Sefton CVS for workshop dates and support.
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