The Community Channel, owned by the Media Trust, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to ensure its continued survival, and said it will close at the end of the month without financial support.

The channel, which was launched in 2000, is dedicated to the charity sector, and gives charities and community organisations the ability to “mobilise and access millions of people”. Available free on Sky, Virgin and Freeview in 26 million households, its programmes feature people from all the UK’s nations and regions.

The channel has launched a crowdfunding campaign, hoping to raise £300,000 by 30 June to “give it time to then increase its revenue from partnerships and advertising”.

The crowdfunding campaign is still a long way off its target – having so far raised just over £27,000.

The Community Channel receives over £3m in kind annually from commercial broadcasters. In the last five years Community Channel has trained, filmed, showcased and resourced nearly 4,000 charities, and the channel has tripled its advertising, sponsorship and partnership income to over £300,000.
Lord Michael Grade, former BBC Chairman and chief executive of Channel Four – as well as interim chair of the new Fundraising Regulator – said: “Britain would be a poorer place without Community Channel. It is unique in the world as a means of galvanizing support for so many communities and causes. I urge people to get behind the community shares scheme and continue to hope that, even at this late stage, a funding solution can be secured to keep it going now and for the long-term.”

Caroline Diehl, chief executive of the Media Trust, said “This is an urgent but unique opportunity for people and organisations to own a part of a national TV channel that changes lives. You can be part of it, but we need people to pledge now!”