You've helped us raise a massive £32,893.19 from crowdfunding and match funding from Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Lankelly Chase. We also got some funding through Tudor Trust. THANK YOU! You made it happen.

**************************************************************************

“We need to re-balance the content of our newspapers, TV, radio and social media. This is an ambitious initiative to start tilting stories in the right direction – and I’m supporting it!” Julie Pybus

I'm crowdfunding to pilot a project to create a network of media confident spokespeople with real experience of pressing social issues facing UK society today. By the end of May 2019 we had an initial fund to get started. We've subsequently had additional funding of £10,000 from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and £10,000 from the Lankelly Chase Foundation and a donation to support one of the participants via Tudor Trust. Justgiving Crowdfunder doesn't include a way to showcase offline donations/grants.

My crowdfunding for the network will continue throughout the year as the more we raise, the more support we'll be able to provide. So if you want to help create a more diverse media which reflects the views and ideas of a wider cross section of society, you can get involved by donating and helping to realise the ambition of this project.

If we turn on the news, open a newspaper, look online we are constantly reminded of the many issues facing society in the UK today.

However, more often than not, we aren’t hearing about them from the experts who have experienced them. There are thousands of people in our communities with first-hand experience of the issues around us who are full of insights and ideas for solutions to create lasting change.

But are they being listened to? Are their voices being heard?

The Network:

After 25 years of working with people with these lived experiences, we have identified the elements holding them back from media attention. We have listened to their concerns and are creating this pilot programme to help ensure they are trained and supported to get the coverage they deserve and to give them a platform they might not usually have. Our programme will be free for participants to break down further barriers that they might face. I'm inviting you to help realise this vision and to support their journeys. As part of our community you will have a real hand in ensuring our network of diverse voices are central to the national conversation.

Our 6 month pilot programme will include online and face to face support from expert storytellers and media professionals, training workshops, one-to-one mentoring for all participants and meet-ups with journalists and media professionals.

By supporting this crowdfunder you will help to:

>Develop their skills and digital know-how:

An expert team of storytellers and media trainers from diverse backgrounds will help the group develop their skills. We’ll deliver a programme of bespoke media and communications workshops and support. Being able to present in public, engage with and talk journalists and media professionals, participate in conversations online, write blogs, create vlogs will all be part of the development plan for our expert storytellers.

>Connect them to others:

We have fantastic and supportive Being the Story members who want to share their skills and energy with the cohort. We believe that mentors are key to creating the right environment for the members to support each other as well as bringing in additional voices from the world of media and journalism as a sounding board.

>Improve representation and diversity of voice

We create connections to the media and journalists, influencers and policy makers. This programme will make sure that our network is visible and at the centre of conversations.

>Build the confidence in our storytellers:

As well as being there to build our storytelling changemakers' skills, we provide valuable soft-skills and pastoral care so that our members grow in confidence. Ready to become the members and influencers of tomorrow.

Behind this Network

Jude Habib, Founder of sounddelivery

Jude has spent 20+ years working to ensure that the voices of people who might be considered invisible or marginalised are heard and giving them a platform for their ideas. From her early career as a BBC producer and reporter and now through her organisation sounddelivery she has worked to put a spotlight on issues that may go unreported or misreported in the media or stigmatised by the public or not listened to by politicians or commissioners of services. She’s done this by collaborating with people and communities who have direct experience of the issues and supporting them to share their stories and insights to have maximum impact.

Thank you so much for supporting us and those we are creating the network for.