As noted in the last issue, this is the final issue of the Messenger to be produced with the support of our current National Lottery funding. But, don’t worry, this isn’t the final edition of the Messenger!
We have submitted another bid to the lottery to continue producing the paper, although on a more restricted budget. Unfortunately, this is likely to mean the loss of our Outreach and Volunteer Support Workers – in the short-term, at least.
As part of the new plan (whether lottery funded or not) we will be making sure that we cover all the physical production costs of the paper ourselves. Currently, each edition costs £3,500 to design, print and distribute across the ward. However, the advertising included only raises £2,000 per issue, which leaves us with a shortfall of some £12,000 a year to raise.
This will mean making some changes to the paper, though hopefully not ones our readers will particularly notice. More colour will mean we can sell more advertising, at a higher rate, and we will, for instance, be introducing subscriptions – so you could buy a non-Burngreave living loved one a year’s worth of Messengers delivered direct to their door!
We will also be creating partnerships with other organisations in the area so that we can help to support one another, and help to ensure that the community can hear about, and take part in opportunities created.
If you have any other ideas about how we can fundraise, or new ways we can build partnerships with other groups in the area, please let us know! You can email us at our usual address, and we will be holding an open meeting with all our friends and partners in May or June, please see the next issue for full details.
As it says below, the Burngreave Messenger is a community newspaper, with editorial independence, distributed free to households in the ward. And that is what we intend to remain.
“The Burngreave Messenger is a community newspaper with editorial independence, funded by advertising and the Big Lottery.
Registered Charity: 1130836. All content is copyright Burngreave Messenger Ltd or its voluntary contributors.”
