59496Open Collective for Community SupportClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKThe COVID-19 pandemic has put many in our communities in difficult and worrying situations. But as early as February, we began to see community groups forming across the country to respond in amazing and generous ways to ensure their neighbours are not going through this alone. Over the past months they have provided life-saving support to millions of people, such as dropping off prescription medicine or food. Many of these individuals and families would've been at danger if not for the help of community groups as some are not covered by statutory services and had nowhere else to turn to for support. However, needs are evolving quickly, and without systems in place, groups may not be able to meet these challenges over the months to come. We set up this project to support community groups by providing them with resources and structures to ensure that the groups are functioning effectively, safely, and are sustainable throughout this crisis. For example, much of the time local groups have no bank account, legal status, governance, decision-making structures or back office systems. Whilst this allows them to act quickly it can pose a significant problem when it comes to financial accountability. To meet this challenge, we are providing innovative fiscal hosting service through a platform called Open Collective. This enables community groups to easily and transparently raise money and manage their finances, such as reimbursing volunteers who are buying medicine out of pocket for neighbours in need. As the fiscal host we are the legally constituted organisation that enables community groups to transact financially without needing to legally incorporate themselves. We hold community group's funds in our bank account and generate invoices and receipts for financial contributors. Having a fiscal host also allows the community groups to receive donations from bodies that rightfully require a level of accountability normally provided by legal status. It also protects against the risk of people donating directly into individuals' bank accounts, with little to no accountability of where that money will go. Open Collective keeps a public record of all the transactions, of donations and expenses. With the support of Innovate UK, we were able to set up this whole operation and support 150 groups across the country. With an extension for Impact, we'll be able to take the next big step in our innovation. We'll focus on how we can provide long-term support for these groups so that their work isn't a temporary phenomenon but one that continues to build resilience and positive impact in their communities. There's been a growing demand from foundations and the philanthropic sector to engage with our fiscal hosting service as a way to disperse support to hyperlocal community groups. We will focus on building a re-granting service through Open Collective so that community groups and grant making bodies can work together.