A TOTAL of 11 community-led projects have received the pledge of cash support from Cheshire East Council.
They include a family hub in Macclesfield, the restoration of the footpath along part of the Trent and Mersey canal at Wheelock Wharf, Sandbach, and a project to provide adaptive bikes on a local cycle track in Poynton.
The council has pledged up to £10,000 to each of the projects, which were selected from almost 20 ideas from community groups and individuals that want to improve their local area.
In the last few weeks, the projects have been drumming up support from local people and businesses in the hope of showing the strength of community buy-in for their ideas.
The crowdfunding campaigns are the first projects put forward as part of the council's 'Cheshire East Crowd' - a programme run in partnership with civic crowdfunding website Spacehive, which invites communities to come together and propose ideas to regenerate their local areas.
The 11 pledges announced are part of a larger programme, which will look to invest up to £100,000-a-year into projects over the next three years. The next call for project ideas will be in January.
Anyone from the borough can play their role in shaping Cheshire East's future by proposing ideas, supporting campaigns and providing the skills and resources to help projects flourish.
Chris Gourlay, founder and chief executive officer of Spacehive, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Cheshire East Council on this exciting initiative, which has already inspired hundreds of people and groups from across the borough to engage in transforming local places."
Mick Warren, who chairs the environment and communities committee, said: "The Cheshire East Crowd represents a pioneering way for people from the borough to drive the change they want to see in their local area from the grass roots up.
"It is inspiring a new generation of changemakers and their supporters - creating a springboard for creative and innovative ideas for their communities."
The Sandbach Wheelock Wharf canal footpath restoration project will receive a £926 council contribution. The council has also pledged £5,190 to help replace outdated and dangerous trim trail equipment at Dane Hill Close Park in Disley.
Poynton Pedals for All will receive a contribution of £6,458 which will help to fund further adaptive bikes, enabling limited mobility users to enjoy a ride along the Middlewood Way.
And £7,000 will be given towards a new lift for the Water Street Family Hub in Macclesfield.
Sue Reason, project creator and chair of Poynton Pedals for All, said: "Our project seeks to purchase adaptive bikes for our local community, to enable opportunities for all to enjoy our lovely Cheshire countryside.
"The benefits of cycling improve physical and mental wellbeing, as well as helping our environment and these are key values which we seek to promote."