We're still collecting donations
On the 2nd May 2020 we'd raised £11,210 with 149 supporters in 40 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for our community group, we cannot continue without vital fund-raising.
by Matthew Eaves in Chelmsford, England, United Kingdom
On the 2nd May 2020 we'd raised £11,210 with 149 supporters in 40 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
We'll resume our outreach work away from our studio, funding an outside broadcast unit to go out and about covering local events whose aim is to improve the lives of others.
Our coffee shop is closed, we have no money coming in
The global COVID-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for millions of British small businesses, community groups and individuals.... which is going to make it very challenging for Chelmsford Community Radio to survive. Together we can help.
To be straight and level with you, Chelmsford Community Radio 104.4fm needs your help, and the situation is desperate.
Our community
We have 10,000 listeners online, more on FM. We’ve been broadcasting for 7 years online, and 3 years on FM. We have many messages of support and appeals for our continuation, but times right now are tough.
As Chelmsford's only Community Radio Station we've been funded almost entirely by our own fundraising, primarily though our own Community Shop, Coffee at the Mill (in Mousham Mill, adjoining our studio). Sadly, this small business is currently suffering an enormous downturn in trade due to Coronavirus and we can no longer manage our operating costs for the radio station.
- we cannot currently afford our studio rent (£700 a month)
- we cannot afford our PRS / PPL Music licence (£2200 a year)
- we cannot afford our broadcasting licences and associated insurance (£2000 a year).
- we cannot rely on advertising
- grant funding has worked, but is not something we can rely on.
Right now people are not visiting Moulsham Mill, we cannot sell coffee, cake, toasties... and so we are not making the money we need to continue operating.
We’ve never asked for handouts before, we’ve always raised revenue ourselves.
Our Target
We need to act now in order to survive, and propose a target of £10,000 to ensure our service can continue, this buys the valuable time we need to establish grant funding going forward.
Small businesses are also not able to help us, with advertising cancelled. (We offer advertising from as little as £100 a month for 10 ads a day, but even that right now is not accessible to businesses that are currently unable to trade).
This then means we are unable to cover our broadcast costs.
If you listen to our station, please consider helping us.
Key facts
We are NOT a commercial station, we're here to help locally:
We are entirely run and managed by volunteers
nobody is paid (with the exception of our Coffee Shop servers)
We have broadcasted continuously since 2013, we moved onto FM in March 2017.
Our objective is to showcase, share and celebrate the local community of Chelmsford and surrounding areas.
We produce an average of 80 hours of live programming a week, via our team of 80 volunteer members
Supporting all ages and abilities
Chelmsford Community Radio 104.4FM has is here for the community in general, especially young adults, people with learning disabilities, people with mental health issues, independent artists, bands, musicians, authors and the elderly.
If you’ve ever listened to us, or been on air to share your news or music with our community, this is your time to show you care and help keep us on air.
We are currently committed to see our way through the Coronavirus pandemic and will continue to offer an information service where access to our studios allow, we have asked our volunteers and members to make content from home.
We believe now is the most important time to provide a community service, keeping people connected during social isolation, and providing much needed information, music and chat as well as discussions and specialist shows to engage the community in a dialogue about the city they love. We love it too.
We need your help to do this.
Thank you.
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