Crowdfunding success for Exeter Pound

Exeter Pound have succeeded their target and more by successfully raised over £6800 through an exciting Crowdfunder campaign.

With the funds raised they will have the resources to take the local currency to the next stage- going digital.

Not only have the public had the chance to make a difference supporting the local economy & independent businesses, but in return for their pledges they will receive unique rewards such as a locally designed t-shirts, shopping bags or even the ‘Exeter Pound Mystery Box’.

Exeter launched its own paper currency in September 2015 and its reach has been growing ever since. There are now 131 local, independent businesses where shoppers can spend the local cash and 9 exchange points across the city where the public can swap sterling for Exeter Pounds, at a 1:1 exchange rate.

Digital currency means individual users would get their own accounts and be able to top them up online, plus business to business online transactions can be completed making Exeter Pounds more accessible and user friendly to a much wider range of the community.

Hannah Partridge, Project Coordinator said: “It’s a great achievement as we can expect a surge in sign-ups and involvement when digitisation is launched and becomes so much more accessible to businesses as well as the public. This is just a number of exciting projects we are currently developing at Exeter Pound, alongside special edition notes and working closely with events across the city. We are looking forward to the bright future ahead for Exeter Pound.”

Research has already begun into taking Exeter Pound into this next chapter and by the start of May work will be well underway to launching digitalisation. Exeter Pound will be looking to run a pilot of the system this coming summer and users of the Exeter Pound can also expect to see a new website & app system coming their way, with updates on social media as the progress unfolds.

Exeter Pound would like to give special thanks to No Guts No Glory for designing the artwork for the t-shirts & bag rewards, as well as all of the other valued Exeter Pound Traders who contributed items for the other rewards & the Mystery Box.

On receiving the reward of a No Guts No Glory t-shirt, Adam Mitchell said "It's great to be apart of this amazing project and to do my small bit to help the Exeter Pound go digital."

Go to www.exeterpound.org.uk for more information.