Sadiq Khan Pledges Support for Healthy and Lively Community Projects: Crowdfunding

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to support to community-led projects such as kids’ allotments, landscaping and renovating of uncared-for gardens, and the creation of a new Forest School.

Although the mayor already pledges to give each project a £20,000 fund, crowdfunding has been done to gather additional funds for these projects through Spacehive, a crowdfunding website where people can pledge money towards various projects.

Some parts of the gathered donations will be used for healthy and sustainable food. These crowdfunding activities which has the Mayor’s approval will improve access to better healthy food for local communities. It also gives local communities the chance to take part in its preparation and production.

In autumn 2016, another crowdfunding program will be held. The program is part of the London Enterprise Panel’s (LEP) £20m London Regeneration Fund.

Listed below are some of the gardening and parks-focused projects.

Paxton Primary allotment (Lambeth): This project aims at letting children experience the patience in growing their own vegetables and selling them to the community at affordable prices. This project also urges parents and volunteers to participate by giving support and advice to the children. So far, the project already has 78 backers and raised £1,323 of a £7,857 total.

The Phoenix Garden Blooms (Camden): Its aim is to re-landscape and refurbish the phoenix garden before its reopening after the construction of a new community building. In addition, the program also facilitates volunteers, provided with adequate training, to do most of the works. Currently, the campaign has 26 backers and raised £1,445 of a £19,980 total.

Seeing the Wood for the Trees (Ealing): This project involves making a piece of land with its surrounding community into a Forest School. It offers an opportunity for attendees to develop confidence through hands-on learning experience while exploring the beauty of natural environment. The campaign has so far attracted 42 backers and raised £5,731 of a £21,941 total.

Workspace Crèche (Hackney): The project will convert a studio space in Dalston into a workspace as well as a crèche space. It will be a child and work friendly place with an access to a community garden. This will be the best workplace for artists, freelancers and creative entrepreneurs who are also parents. The campaign has so far attracted 24 backers and raised £10,586 of a £32,155 total.

The White House Community Garden (Dagenham): Creating a beautiful community garden at the back of The White House, a former farmer’s cottage on the Becontree Estate is the primary focus of this project. It will be open for community use and artist residencies. The campaign currently has nine backers and raised £185 of a £30,207 total.

Check out this site (from the above link) – an alternative benefit for which crowdfunding can also be used to help social enterprise and local communities and not just be seen as a corporate and capitalist beast.