Coronavirus (COVID-19): Information about the City Change Fund
City Change Fund
Competition time! Plymouth Climate Challenge LIVE
Projects that could help Plymouth play its part in tackling climate change are being asked to pitch for £15,000 in prize funding at an exciting one-off event.
The Council is keen to hear about projects which bring environmental benefits to the city and to build on the work already happening through its climate change action plan.
If you're a group, business or organisation with a cracking idea to help address climate change, the Council wants to hear from you. It could be a plan to tackle waste, improve a green or blue space, a grow-your-own project or something to do with sustainable energy.
Not only will the 10 shortlisted projects receive a guaranteed £250 prize pledge to go towards a crowdfunding campaign and receive coaching from Crowdfunder UK, the three projects that raise the most money will go on to present their idea to a panel of industry experts at the 'Plymouth Climate Challenge Live Final' as well as receive a further £2,500 prize-funding each.
The winner at the final will also receive an additional £5,000 prize-funding award to go toward their crowdfunding campaign. The competition opens for entries on 14 September and closes on 5 October at midday.
What is the City Change Fund?
The City Change Fund is about supporting local projects for local people. It's a pioneering project in which the Council has chosen to distribute some of the city's Community Infrastructure Levy money to support local projects through a partnership with Crowdfunder.
We've chosen to use the Crowdfunder website to pledge up to 50 per cent of project costs (up to a maximum of £30,000 (+£15,000 from the Climate Emergency Bonus), if they meet the fund's criteria and priorities.
In its first five years, Plymouth City Council pledged £475,010 to 93 projects through Crowdfund Plymouth. For every £1 spent by the city, residents have donated more than double for an additional £1million in support for communities.
How do I access the City Change Fund?
You will need to set up a project on the Crowdfund Plymouth website and meet the criteria and the terms and conditions for the fund. Once you have set up your project, you will be prompted by Crowdfunder UK to apply. If you meet the criteria, we will begin our consultation process and if your project is deemed suitable a pledge will appear from Plymouth City Council.
Please note, we only pledge on projects that are on the 'All or Nothing' funding model and only once they have hit 25 per cent of their target.
We also recommend you run your project for at least four weeks to allow us enough time to assess your project.
The below sets out the Council's criteria and terms and conditions:
Assessment criteria for City Change Fund [PDF, 103KB]
Terms and conditions for City Change Fund [PDF, 121KB]
For further information as to how the fund works please see below:
How the City Change Fund works [PDF, 119KB]
What is the Climate Emergency Bonus?
For projects which are making a significant contribution to Plymouth's efforts to respond to climate change, an additional pledge may be made by the Council in the form of a new 'Climate Emergency Bonus'.
Once an eligible project hits the 100 per cent target, unless agreed in writing with the project beforehand, the Council may pledge an additional 25 per cent of your target (up to a maximum of £15,000).
When applying for the Climate Emergency Bonus, projects should provide sufficient information to prove any claims about the project making a significant contribution to climate change and how the bonus will be used to further Plymouth’s response to the climate emergency.
When applying for the City Change Fund through the Crowdfund Plymouth website, you will be asked then if you are interested in receiving money from the Climate Emergency Bonus.
If you have any questions about this fund please email citychangefund@plymouth.gov.uk or call us on 01752 305477.
Our end of year reports
Crowdfunder end of year report (May 2019) [PDF, 194KB]
Crowdfunder end of year report (May 2018) [PDF, 1.62MB]
Crowdfunder end of year report (May 2017) [PDF, 1.52MB]
Crowdfunder end of year report (May 2016) [PDF, 9.51MB]
Projects we've pledged on so far...
| Project name | Description | Date project closed on Crowdfunder |
|---|---|---|
| You Are More Than Welcome - A Big Meal Together | A community celebration of the diversity of people who live in Plymouth and contribute to making our city a great place to be. | 25 March 2020 |
| Plymouth Brick Project | Brick Project invite the whole city make Glen Park steps explode with colour by collaboratively painting the wall one brick at a time. | 20 March 2020 |
| Spirit of Adventure | Sailing adventures for disadvantaged children in Plymouth on beautiful tall ships and heritage yachts. | 19 March 2020 |
| Help Our Children Get Closer to Nature @ Woodford | To install an Outdoor Classroomat Woodford Primary school so more lessons and activities can be held outside and help get children closer to nature - this will be open to the community outside of school hours | 2 March 2020 |
| Spaceshot youth project | Spaceshot youth project in Ernesettle supports local young people aged 10 to 19 by providing weekly youth sessions and activities. | 14 February 2020 |
| Bake Away Plymouth | Using food as a way to bring people together and break down barriers. I'll do this alongside existing community groups and charities (like the Red Cross, Age UK and Andy's Man Club) to provide support in creating events and activities for people to engage with and form positive bonds to break down social isolation in our local communities. | 22 January 2020 |
| Mayflower A Seachange: Plymouth and its hidden gems | A book by the community, for the community to tell the story of The Mayflower, Plymouth, Plymouth people and it's hidden gems. Proceeds will go to school workshops. | 19 November 2019 |
| Project Pollenize | Pollenize Community Interest Company brings together the power of community and technology to reverse pollinator decline - they aim to populate four new sites in Plymouth. | 8 October 2019 |
| Yoga Loft Plymouth | We need your support to reopen the Yoga Loft on Union Street, to bring positive change and a Zen space to this central part of Plymouth. | 11 October 2019 |
| Help get Power Plant Cafe up and running! | Power Plant Cafe is a new vegan cafe and shop opening in Plymouth. Unfortunately we've had a few problems setting up and we need your help! | 28 September 2019 |
| Warehouse Launch Weekend | To convert the interior of the Leadwork Warehouse into a thriving community space | 20 September 2019 |
| Mayflower Forest | We aim to plant over 1,000 trees creating the Mayflower Forest of silver birch trees and use local stone to create an artistic dry riverbed | 18 September 2019 |
| Community Kitchen | CROPS (Keyham Green Places) is making available its kitchen, fridge and freezer to the local community for free or a small donation. | 12 September 2019 |
| Help Blurt Up From Rock Bottom | Blurt, a nationwide platform supporting mental health services is aiming to raise money in order to continue their services. | 11 September 2019 |
| Plymouth Respect Festival | Plymouth RESPECT Festival's 21st Party: help pay for the event; fund the outreach work with schools/community members - spreading RESPECT. | 16 August 2019 |
| Plymouth Art Weekender 2019 | Help us to make Plymouth Art Weekender 2019 happen! We need your help to access our funding and deliver our fantastic DIY art festival. | 24 July 2019 |
| Special Olympics Mayflower 400 Commemorative Games | In April 2020 as part of Plymouth’s Mayflower 400 celebrations SOPD are hosting the first ever ID International Special Olympics Games. | 10 July 2019 |
| Plymouth Pride 2019 | Plymouth Pride is a day to celebrate and represent the LGBT+ communities of the city of Plymouth, Britain's Ocean City. | 7 July 2019 |
| Plymouth School of Creative Arts New Playground | To create an exciting and purposeful playground for our children and community by raising £8,500. | 10 June 2019 |
| Jar, a Zero Waste Shop for Plymouth | To open a zero waste shop in Plymouth. | 9 June 2019 |
| The Venue: Plymouth | The Venue is an inclusive, friendly local gaming space in Plymouth. We need funds to make the facilities to make the space fit for purpose. | 6 June 2019 |
| Twist: Plymouth's first board game cafe | Raising funds to open Plymouth's first boardgames café. | 21 May 2019 |
| Project name | Description | Date project closed on Crowdfunder |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Epilepsy Support Group | I want to set up a weekly support group for people who suffer with epilepsy in Plymouth. There is no support group here. | 10 January 2019 |
| Freedom Community Festival 2018 | To raise funds to put on this year's Freedom Community Festival which will be held at Freedom Fields park on Saturday 2 June and Sunday 3 June 2018. | 23 May 2019 |
| The Bounty Project | To enable young and disadvantaged people to have the opportunity to experience Bounty's End, the replica boat from the C4 series, Mutiny. | 13 May 2019 |
| Respect Festival Parade Programme | This project will allow 200 children and community members to take part in Plymouth's Respect Festival parade extravaganza and workshops. | 4 May 2019 |
| The Soapbox Big Push | Stiltskin's Soapbox Theatre is almost at the first phase of completion, but we need a little extra support to make this a real showstopper. | 21 March 2019 |
| Save the Northern Belle | We want to save the Northern Belle and bring this much loved historic vessel back into use for the community. | 21 February 2019 |
| Lady Astor 100 Statue Campaign | To raise a statue to celebrate 100 years since Nancy Astor was elected as the first female MP to take her seat in the Houses of Parliament. | 27 December 2018 |
| Charity Premises | Provide Devon, a charity providing food and other essentials to people in poverty within Plymouth and the surrounding areas is looking for money to refurbish their new premises. | 24 December 2018 |
| Sailing Tectona - New Generator and oven | Tectona has been taking disadvantaged individuals sailing for ten years. She is now in need of a new 'green' oven and generator to continue! | 23 December 2018 |
| A new home for Plymouth Arts Centre's cinema | Plymouth Arts Centre are raising money to 'kit out' the cinema which is moving to a new home. | 19 December 2018 |
| Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support - Centre Refurb | We aim to refurbish our centre, to make the space we have a bright and more welcoming place for the asylum seekers who use our services. | 3 December 2018 |
| Snapdragons Plymouth CIC | We want to transform the old Bowling Green in Plymouth's Victoria Park into an exciting new community space - for children, families and the whole community. | 30 November 2018 |
| Sheds for a refugee allotment project in Plymouth | Our large allotment has communal and individual plots for refugees. We aim to raise £500 for two new sheds and benches and £500 for tools. | 27 November 2018 |
| The Clipper Share Offer | Buy a share in Nudge and be part of bringing The Clipper on Union Street back in to use for long term community benefit. | 24 September 2018 |
| Cleaning in Progress | Raising funds to produce 'Cleaning in Progress' an ambitious, large scale interactive performance as part of Plymouth Art Weekender 2018. | 25 July 2018 |
| Devonport Sport For All | Sport For All – providing more opportunities for the community of Devonport to lead an active life improving their health and well-being. | 23 July 2018 |
| Elburton Primary School Jubilee playground | To provide a Jubilee playground for the pupils at Elburton Primary School, Plymouth. | 15 July 2018 |
| Project name | Description | Date project closed on Crowdfunder |
|---|---|---|
| Photo-Food with Fotonow CIC | To deliver a series of cooking and media sessions and publish a cultural recipe book with Plymouth's refugee and asylum seeker community. | 8 May 2018 |
| Tea Dance with a Twist! | Having successfully run 14 Tea Dances with a Twist! We need to raise funds for another five events whilst we secure long term funding. | 15 March 2018 |
| Street Factory #UnitedWeStand | Open a community venue where everyone can feel physically, mentally, and spiritually safe – and free to express, respect, and learn together. | 9 February 2018 |
| Merchant Navy Monument | To erect a monument on Plymouth Hoe, dedicated to those who have served or are serving in the British Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets. | 18 December 2017 |
| Low Profile: Never Give Up | To support the research and development of new participatory artworks over the next year. | 2 November 2017 |
| Borrow Don't Buy | To help start Plymouth's first library of thing, a resource in which people can borrow needed items instead of buying them. | 11 October 2017 |
| Radiant Grotto 2017 | To fund the Radiant Christmas Grotto to take place in the city centre in December 2017. | 2 October 2017 |
| Whey Down South: Redevelopment and Tour | To redevelop the Narwhal Ensemble's debut show 'Whey Down South' before taking the show on tour! | 28 September 2017 |
| The Urban Studios | To start up and complete the build project for a new body-positive Fitness Studio, which will home and support a Mental Health Enterprise. | 25 September 2017 |
| Benthic Caress | One-off sonic art silent disco for 100 people at the tidal pool, Devils Point for Plymouth Art Weekender, to promote care for marine life. | 23 September 2017 |
| Where's Abi? Beyond Face Youth Company | We are raising funds for a brand new musical production Where's Abi? Highlighting issues around bullying. | 15 August 2017 |
| Support Spaceshot youth project | We are raising funds to keep Ernesettle's Spaceshot youth project running while we secure funding for the future. | 26 July 2017 |
| The Waterfront Theatre Festival 2017 | Drake's Drummers Theatre Company are looking to run the first Plymouth Waterfront Theatre Festival, on Plymouth Hoe foreshore, summer 2017. | 7 July 2017 |
| eXXpedition Round Britain 2017 | Circumnavigation of British Isles by sail, trawling for plastics and toxics, raising awareness of ocean plastics pollution in seven shore stops. | 1 July 2017 |
| Celebrating Community Through Our Local Park | To celebrate Moor View Park in Mutley, Plymouth, as an important and effective space for bringing the local community together. | 13 June 2017 |
| Save Spaceshot | We are desperately trying to raise funds to allow the continuation of the Spaceshot youth project in Ernesettle. | 31 May 2017 |
| No Walls Creative Arts | We are committed to developing the Arts within in Plymouth, we have launched this campaign to raise funds for technical equipment. | 12 May 2017 |
| Project name | Description | Date project closed on Crowdfunder |
|---|---|---|
| Final Year Degree Show: Uncommon Ground | We are BA(Hons) students in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking at Plymouth College of Art raising money for our final year degree show. | 28 March 2017 |
| BJ Sailing | To code and equip a donated Sigma 38 yacht to allow disadvantaged persons to partake in the Fastnet Race 2017. | 27 March 2017 |
| Education Through Expeditions (ETE) | Raising aspirations of young people in Barne Barton and King’s Tamerton Plymouth through a once in a lifetime educational journey to Lapland. | 15 March 2017 |
| The Real Junk Food Project | To build a food store and kitchen enabling us to continue to intercept, cook and provide meals to all, using food destined for landfill. | 4 February 2017 |
| 'Make An Entrance'at The Soapbox Theatre | Help us to make our theatre more accessible for children and their families by adding a ramp and larger doorway for wheelchairs and pushchairs. | 2 February 2017 |
| Moments Cafe and Dementia Hub - A Christmas Wish | To complete the build project of a retro themed good food cafe. The profits will support a dementia information and activity hub upstairs. | 21 December 2016 |
| Mayflower Autonomous Ship Ltd | Get your name on the first robot ship to cross the Atlantic: celebrating the past, heralding the future and making history for Mayflower 400. | 19 December 2016 |
| Illuminate and Thanksgiving 2016 | Illuminate/Thanksgiving 2016 is a fun but truly symbolic partnership community and arts Mayflower 400 event with a Native American theme! | 24 November 2016 |
| BIG Christmas Weekends! | Please help us make Plymouth's Waterfront sparkle this Christmas - we need your support to create a festive treat for the whole community! | 16 November 2016 |
| Flameworks Ignite : Education | Help us Ignite. A new community arts education area for Plymouth. | 28 October 2016 |
| Heated Recovery Blanket - Dartmoor Rescue Plymouth | DSRTP volunteers support emergency services 24/7/365 saving lives in the local community. This heated blanket will help us do this. | 21 October 2016 |
| Eva's World Play Café | Eva's World/Café Be Play Café expansion. Sensory play area, disabled toilet, more seating and a bigger kitchen. | 26 May 2016 |
| Plymouth Wrestling needs a tag team partner! | We are Plymouth Wrestling Association! Help us bodyslam our target of £600 to bring more exciting family friendly entertainment to Plymouth! | 20 May 2016 |
| Ernesettle Discover Shack | The children of Ernesettle Community School want to build a 'Discovery Shack' to enable more outdoor learning! | 3 May 2016 |
| Ocean City PFC-Plymouth's Powerchair Football Club | Plymouth's Powerchair Football Club was founded in 2014 by a player of the sport. We are a non profit organisation, run by players and carers whom all volunteer their time on the committee, during training and at fundraisers. | 22 April 2016 |
| Project name | Description | Date project closed on Crowdfunder |
|---|---|---|
| Study to refurbish Blockhouse Park and CCTV | Appoint a local architectural practice, who already have experience in Blockhouse Park to produce a feasibility study. | 28 April 2016 |
| Plymouth Conservation Volunteering 2016 | New conservation volunteering opportunities in Plymouth and surrounds to benefit people, the environment and wildlife! Brilliant rewards available! | 5 April 2016 |
| Four Greens (FGCT) Ernesettle Community Allotment | To create a local community allotment, to provide volunteering opportunities, increase sense of community and connection to the environment. | 4 April 2016 |
| Plympton Community 3G Pitch | We've managed to achieve partnership with the FA for a 3G pitch in Plympton. Please help us to raise funds towards the overall project. | 28 March 2016 |
| The Red House Theatre Project | Friends of PSCA want to raise £5,000 for equipment for the Red House Theatre. Please help us make our community hub amazing! | 25 March 2016 |
| Plymouth Arts Centre Live | To raise £3,000 so that people can enjoy ballet, theatre, opera and exhibitions in our cinema streamed live from shows at national theatres. | 24 March 2016 |
| Walk around your home before its built | Walk around your home before its built with TruVision using state of the art virtual reality, with the ever so popular, Oculus Rift! | 23 March 2016 |
| Far Flung Dance Theatre | We are Far Flung Dance Theatre, a newly formed professional inclusive dance theatre performance and training company based in Plymouth. | 13 March 2016 |
| Vision for the Pillars | To fund a commission for an iconic work of art for the people of Plymouth, commemorating the historic relationship between City and Minster. | 11 March 2016 |
| PCA Student Conference 2016: Facing the Edges | Please support our student conference to be held on 21 January 2016. It is being organised and run by 2nd year students on the painting. | 19 January 2016 |
| Sole of Discretion | A social enterprise seeking to protect the marine environment through the creation of a dedicated supply chain for ethically caught fish. | 8 January 2016 |
| Collings Park Trust | Collings Park Trust is a registered charity which is working to save a precious green space in the heart of Plymouth. | 11 December 2015 |
| Plymouth Argyle Ladies FC | To raise funds to be able to sustain our future in the Women's Premier League. | 12 November 2015 |
| Let's end child poverty in Plymouth! | Plymouth Drake Foundation is working to raise £10,000 to help tackle child poverty in Plymouth. Over 10,000 children in Plymouth live below the poverty line. It will take the people of Plymouth working together to end child poverty in Plymouth. Today you can help make a start by supporting the Drake Foundation. | 10 November 2015 |
| CLASP | The CLASP Network aims to facilitate, join-up, support and engage schools, communities and businesses for a sustainable future. | 4 November 2015 |
| In Other Words | An opportunity for LGBT+ writers to create short plays based on real life stories shared as part of an award winning archive. | 3 November 2015 |
| Shed On Wheels Repair | We have a lovely, bespoke, old Morris milk float called the Shed On Wheels that needs repairs so it can travel in Plymouth again! | 7 August 2015 |
| Beyond Face Youth Company | To provide a pathway for Black and Asian young people into theatre and dance in Plymouth. | 28 June 2015 |
| Union Corner: An exciting new community hub | Stonehouse Action are a group of local residents who love Union Street and are transforming a derelict shop 'Union Corner' on Union Street. | 19 June 2015 |
| Plymouth Deaf Association: Drop-in Centre | Would like to create a community cafe/drop-in centre for Deaf British Sign Language users within Plymouth and the surrounding areas. | 16 June 2015 |
| Cinema in the City | To raise £5,000 to fund cinema events all over Plymouth, including Open Air Cinema at Royal William Yard, this summer. | 8 May 2015 |
| Children's Creative Hub: The Soapbox Theatre | Help us transform a disused building in Devonport Park Plymouth into a creative arts studio and theatre for children and their families. | 1 April 2015 |