Dear Q&A
No matter how hard we try we just can’t get funding. We’ve applied to so many funds and send a first stage appplication in yet no one replies. We’re trying all the media and community type trusts. We’re not sure what we want to fund yet, just that we need some more permanent staff. Help
Yours
Confused.
8 Comments, Comment or Ping
know what you want – specifically – and then search out funding sources and apply… and read the Toolkit of course…
best wishes and good luck,
Phil
February 9th, 2010
This is a “going forward” issue that I fear will not be relieved by a new Parliament of whatever hue. This needs to be an issue that we all hit our new or retruned MPs with as soon as possible after the Election, during which they will, I hope, have discovered just how important the 3rd sector was to their success. This needs to be in association with a major CMA head office push.
March 21st, 2010
Hey everyone
I’m here mostly to do a test post, and to add some ‘friends’ (if I can figure that out – clicking on Phil took me to the Radio Regen website)
On the subject of funding though I do like to think some form of ‘core’ funding via the government (or licence fees) will be established in the future, and then all the hard work at these relatively early stages for community radio will seem worthwhile!
Unlikely perhaps, but you never know – we can but try (and try again, and again etc)
Tom
March 22nd, 2010
sorry to be a downer on this optimism Tom but I reckon we can whistle for any core funding from HMG – a tad more hope with the current lot, but kiss it goodbye if Dave his merry axe men get in. My hope is that as we prove ourselves to be ‘necessary’ to public service delivery then we can draw down moderate amounts for that – from a few sources then….
Phil
March 23rd, 2010
This may of been mentioned hundreds of times before, but why dont you speak to a government funding specialist. I know they was a pot of money that has just passed its dead line for training up new staff and more funding on its way for taking staff on. Give this guy a call if you want to know how to alway getting funding
http://www.tony-murray.co.uk/funding
April 3rd, 2010
Why do you say “Give this guy a call ” and not “give ME a call”?
I have no problem with people promoting their services, but stealth advertising (where you give an “independent recommendation” for a company that you work for) is a little bit naughty.
April 7th, 2010
I joined my community radio station about five years ago….because I saw the advert in the local rag and wanted to know more. I thought the idea of locals having a say, producing programmes relevant to the area seemed a good idea. I have had the opportunity to meet /interview people from various sectors and also to do Radio4Me…I am retired so perhaps entering a second childhood, I find talking to myself and imaginary listeners a similar experience to when as a child on my own, played school, being the teacher talking aloud to made up children with interesting names. Now, I invent listeners with equally interesting names and occupations. In addition, I see myself as some supercook with a bargain recipe of the week. Best of all I can write short stories in the name of entertainment….and do all the voices. No one listens….but who cares? Money is there to fund this valuable service to give locals an opportunity. I walk around the area and never hear our station in the background. People either say they listen to other stations playing their kind of music or tune into their favourite radio station. As far as I know, no one has ever really tried to find out about listeners to this station.. I do know that some presenters, who sound much better than I do, can tell you who is listening to them. Election time.coming up….money is supposed to be short, cuts etc. but this station still carrying on…………..but I do like talking to myself without any interruptions…..and pretending I am really entertaining the world wide web listeners as well as those who can manage to tune in within a mile or two radius.. Why not?
April 14th, 2010
Hello confused!
I work for a charity that has just done a round of funding for community media projects so thought I might be able to offer you some tips.
First things first (I don’t know what you have and haven’t done) it is always useful to become a member of your local CVS or support provider. They will send out regular newsletters telling you about funding opportunities of relevance to you. They also have lots of help and support available for filling out application forms and other such development needs.
Second, when writing your application form be specific and creative about what you would like funding for. You said you need more members of staff – very few organisations will give you money just to employ people. Come up with an idea for a project that that member of staff will run. For example a series of radio programmes that will focus on x or engage the community through y.
Third – its all about the community – you need to show how you will benefit the community if you are to get the funding. So not how it will benefit the radio station, but how the wider (not yet involved) community will benefit if the radio station is given funding.
You also need to show that you are prepared to measure the impact of your project and evaluate whether or not the community has benefited at the end.
I hope that’s helpful!
Kim
May 10th, 2010