A crowdfunding initiative to help residents and organisations raise money for community projects has been launched by South Kesteven District Council (SKDC).

SKDC has teamed up with national crowdfunding platform Spacehive to launch CrowdfundSK - an initiative that gives groups and individuals with project ideas the ability to attract funding from the community, council, businesses and foundations through one portal.

Along with funding, there is additional support available to those interested in staging events and workshops, templated resources and one-to-one support.

The aim is to provide a springboard for project ideas to attract the funding they need more easily and enable anyone who cares about the area to get involved and contribute.

SKDC has allocated £70,000 to support project ideas that benefit a community, with a maximum of £10,000 available per campaign. Pledges will be made available during the spring and autumn each year.

Pledges start at £2 towards a project and contributions are charged only if the campaign hits its targets.

The initiative will be launched at a free-to-attend workshop being held on Thursday, 3 October, at Jubilee Church Life Centre, in Grantham, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. To register click on the red button below.

Fundraising campaigns on Spacehive have the highest success rate of any crowdfunding platform in the UK and it has become the default way for a growing number of councils to fund place-based community projects.

Acting Leader of SKDC Coun Kelham Cooke said: "I can't wait to see the range of ideas that are brought forward.

"Local people are best placed to understand the challenges and opportunities where they live and this model puts them and their ideas in the driving seat.

"I'm inviting businesses and organisations who, like South Kesteven District Council, are committed to going that extra mile to ensure that our district is as proud and prosperous as possible, to join us in offering support either through funding or in-kind.

"By working together we can make a real difference in our communities."

People or groups that post project ideas with Spacehive will be automatically matched with SKDC's fund and others where they can request a pledge towards their crowdfunding campaign.

Chris Gourlay, Founder and CEO of Spacehive said: "South Kesteven is bursting with ideas so we see the potential to make an exciting impact together.

"We encourage anyone with an idea for improving South Kesteven to post it on Spacehive today.

"We are looking forward to helping people bring their projects to life."