Cotswold District Council has launched the Autumn funding round of its crowdfunding initiative.

From cycle hubs to cricket clubs, playgrounds to street murals, if you have an idea for a project, you can make it happen with Crowdfund Cotswold.

Residents know best what is needed in their neighbourhoods, and they have the skills and creativity to shape their local area and the future they want. Crowdfund Cotswold provides a springboard for locally-led ideas to attract funding more easily.

Since its launch in 2021, Crowdfund Cotswold has already supported local projects worth over £1 million. And now you can pitch for up to £10,000 from the council to help fund your local community project.

The deadline for the current round of funding for the scheme is fast approaching on October 16.

If you have an idea about a project in your community or want to learn more about the Crowdfund Cotswold initiative ahead of the funding deadline, you can sign up to the council's workshop.

The Project Creator workshop will be held online on Tuesday, September 17, at 4pm.

During the event attendees will:

• Discover the vision behind Crowdfund Cotswold and its potential to empower communities.
• Find out how you can pitch for up to £10,000 from the Cotswold Community Fund.
• Gain a deeper understanding of the project submission process and the evaluation criteria.
• Learn tips and strategies for creating compelling crowdfunding campaigns.
• Join interactive breakout rooms to access specialised support for your project.

The virtual workshop promises to be an engaging and informative session, equipping participants with the knowledge and inspiration they need to shape the future of their local area.

Crowdfund Cotswold projects need to be local and serve a community purpose. Projects can be simple and creative such as a street mural or a community garden, or more ambitious such as hosting large community events.

Projects must be in the UK and can be led by any type of organisation or individual. You do not have to be a charity.

Cllr Lisa Spivey, cabinet member for communities and public safety, said: "We have already seen some fantastic projects come to life in our district since we launched Crowdfund Cotswold back in 2021.

"This is an exciting opportunity for more people to bring their ideas forward. We can't wait to see how our communities make use of this round of Crowdfund Cotswold funding.

"With our autumn deadline fast approaching, we encourage anyone with ideas to come along to our project creator workshop to learn more about the scheme."

If you are interested in raising funds for your own ideas you can get started today by visiting the Crowdfund Cotswold website and creating your own project page.

People and organisations can pledge as little as £2 towards a project. To view all the active projects in the Cotswolds, please visit the Crowdfund Cotswold project page.