Community groups have until 18 November to put a project on Cheshire West Crowd, as the council's crowdfunding scheme turns five and extends its deadline.
Community groups, charities and residents with an idea for their neighbourhood now have until 18 November to put a project forward to Cheshire West Crowd, the council’s crowdfunding scheme, which is five years old this autumn. Cheshire West and Chester Council extended the deadline for the current funding round to mark the anniversary, so that more organisations can take part.
The quick answer
- What: Cheshire West Crowd, a crowdfunding platform run with Spacehive, where local projects raise money from supporters and can apply for match funding.
- Deadline: 18 November 2026 for new projects to join the current round.
- Who can apply: charities, community groups, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, and residents with community-focused ideas.
- Experience needed: none. The council says groups do not need to have crowdfunded before and support is available throughout.
- Where: the Cheshire West Crowd page on Spacehive.
Five years of projects
The first projects launched in autumn 2021. Since then, the council says, the scheme has helped community-led projects across the borough raise money, find supporters and deliver benefits for residents. It names the kinds of idea it wants: greener neighbourhoods, support for young people, health and wellbeing, better community spaces, and sport, culture and the arts.
Projects raise money from their own supporters on the platform, and can also draw on match funding to help them reach their target.
The council leader, Councillor Louise Gittins, said the people mattered more than the totals:
“The greatest thing about Cheshire West Crowd isn’t the money raised, it’s the people behind the projects.
“Over the past five years, local residents, volunteers and community organisations have shown incredible creativity, passion and determination in delivering projects that make our borough an even better place to live.
“As we celebrate five years of success, we’re not just looking back at what has been achieved, we’re looking ahead to the ideas, projects and community leaders of the future.
“Somewhere in Cheshire West and Chester, someone is sitting on an idea that could transform their neighbourhood. We want to help them make it happen.”
A repair cafe that is still going
Transition Tattenhall Repair Cafe was one of the very first projects to succeed on the platform. Peter Radley, from the repair cafe, said:
“In 2022, our project was just an idea. We knew we wanted to make a difference in our community, but we needed support to get started.
“Cheshire West Crowdfunding via Spacehive gave us much more than funding. It helped us raise awareness, connect with supporters and build momentum around the project.
“The impact of what we achieved is still being felt today, and we wouldn’t be where we are without the support we received.”
The cafe has run continuously since its first session in July 2022. By its own count it has fixed 537 items and kept them out of landfill, saving around 12,900kg of CO2, and it estimates the repairs have saved their owners £26,850.
His advice to anyone still deciding:
“If you’re thinking about launching a project but you’re not sure whether to go for it, my advice would be simple: do it. There are people in your community who will believe in your idea and want to help make it happen.”
What it means for you
If you run a club, charity or residents’ group, or have an idea for your street or village, you have until 18 November to register a project on the Cheshire West Crowd page. You do not need to have crowdfunded before; the council says help is on offer at every stage.
Running something in Chester, Ellesmere Port or Northwich that has been funded this way? Tell us about it at hello@chesteronline.co.uk.
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