Unleash your imagination and transform your community with Westhive

Cllr Rizvana Poole, Executive Member for Stronger Healthy Communities, said:

“I am incredibly proud of what our community has accomplished since Westhive launched. The funded projects showcase the creativity and innovation at the core of West Oxfordshire. But there are still many more ideas waiting to be brought to life. 

“We are calling on all residents and community groups to come forward with their innovative ideas. Westhive welcomes a wide range of project ideas, no matter how big or small.  

“And to our young people: your ideas matter too. We have funding set aside for projects brought forward by or specifically designed for young people, so they can also experience positive change in their local areas. 

“Your ideas could be the start of something fantastic for your community, so let's get creative and start making West Oxfordshire an even better place to live, work, and thrive.” 

Celebrating its success since launching in September 2023, Westhive is continuing to inspire creativity within West Oxfordshire and has raised significant funds for outstanding community driven projects, such as Cycles of Good, Cotswolds Arts Through Schools, Get Set Gagingwell – The MAP Project, and Food Surplus Redistribution in Witney. 

The Westhive crowdfunding initiative enables communities to drive the changes they want to see in their local areas. Recognising that residents best understand their community needs—whether for a play park, wellbeing group, energy project, or sports club—the Council is supporting local businesses and organisations to back projects they believe in, contributing up to £10,000 per project themselves. 

Westhive is further strengthened through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via the Community Infrastructure Fund, introduced as part of the government's Levelling Up scheme. This fund aims to revitalise and grow local infrastructure, backing projects that align with the Council's core values and create a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of people in the district. 

On 22 July, Spacehive will be hosting a Project Creator Workshop from 12:30-1:30pm. This workshop aims to guide potential project creators through the process of turning their ideas into reality, providing insights into available funding opportunities and offering valuable advice on creating compelling crowdfunding campaigns. 

The online workshop is free to attend for anyone with ideas to improve their local area. Sign up for the virtual workshop. Remember, you can also contact our Funding Officer for advice and to talk through your plans: [email protected] / 01993 861572.  

What type of projects can Westhive support? 

Projects need to be local and serve a community purpose. Westhive projects can be simple and creative, like a street mural or community garden, or more ambitious, like hosting large community events or support groups.  

Looking for inspiration? The Westhive platform showcases the projects that have successfully crowdfunded with us.  

Join Westhive today by submitting your project idea to us. For more information and to send your project proposal, please visit https://www.spacehive.com/movement/westhive.