Who are they?
Drawing Board Productions Community Interest Company (CIC) are an ambitious not-for-profit social enterprise founded in 2020 by Directors Mel Page and Amanda Fourie. Based in Stockport, they publish a series of hyperlocal community newspapers filled with positive local news, that inspire, connect and inform residents of all that is happening locally across the South of Manchester.
What do they do and why?
The idea for a positive news publication for the community was born in December 2019 after several conversations with various community groups who were asking for advice on how to reach people with their support offer. Amanda quickly identified a need to better connect clubs, groups and charities with their communities by pulling together news and information into one easy to find place and then sharing it in an accessible printed format.
After securing a small amount of funding in February 2020 to launch a single publication in the Heatons, Heatons Post quickly grew, with community groups and local charities needing to reach people in lonely, isolated and vulnerable circumstances, enhanced by the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Following the success of Heatons Post, Cheadle Post was launched in July 2021 and Didsbury Post in February 2022. Another 8 publications launched between August 2022 and December 2023, proving the need for printed, trustworthy and reliable community publications that break down barriers for digitally excluded and socially isolated residents.
Recognising the benefits to advertisers for Borough-wide coverage, the team decided in early 2024 to consolidate their 11 titles into Borough-wide publications with feature sections for each hyperlocal community. The team now publish three printed titles (Stockport Post, Manchester South Post and Trafford Post) that bring together over 35 communities across Greater Manchester.
The printed positive news publications give residents, clubs, groups and charities an opportunity to connect with their communities with an open invitation to submit content such as local campaigns, calls looking for new members or volunteers, community events or positive local news stories. Printed editions provide an alternative platform to social media and reach those who are digitally excluded and/or socially isolated.
What funding did they receive?
As the organisation supports front line services rather than delivering frontline support services themselves, they found it very difficult in the current climate to get grant funding beyond the initial start-up phase for each publication, and so they needed to think differently about how they funded themselves. They knew that selling advertising space was an option but didn’t have a wide enough circulation at the beginning to attract advertisers, and local businesses reduced their marketing spend with the increase in other running costs, so the publications needed to grow in print volume first to be able to become self-sustaining.
“It took us about 6 months to get our heads around the idea of getting a loan as we were reluctant to take on the financial commitment with such uncertain advertising revenue”
They took out a £30,000 interest-free loan over 3 years through GMCVO’s Proper Good investment programme to increase distribution of the community newspaper. They had an initial 3-month repayment free period to give them time to grow revenue before starting to pay back the loan.
How have GMCVO supported them?
Once the Directors decided that they were confident to take on a loan, they approached GMCVO for support. They were assigned an Investment Manager who worked with them to develop their existing community focussed business plan into a commercially viable business plan and helped to guide through cashflow forecasts and gather the financial information that enabled them to apply for the loan.
“The reality of loans and debt management has not been as scary and daunting as we first imagined and this is definitely due to the support from the GMCVO staff and the funder”
- Mel Page (Director and Co-founder, Drawing Board Productions CIC)
Since receiving the investment in 2022, the current economic climate and external factors have presented challenges that have forced the team to adapt their business plan and instead of growing distribution in the first instance, the number of titles grew to spread coverage across a wider section of the Borough. This has enabled the team to develop the current three Borough-wide titles, which can now grow in print volume, with wider Borough coverage and more advertising prospects to engage with. The team have found that GMCVO have always been understanding of the situation and have been flexible and supportive, extending reporting deadlines and offering a payment break if needed which has helped to alleviate any financial pressure.
You can view the Post Community Newspaper publications here.
Check out Drawing Board Productions’ full portfolio of community projects on their website.
Find out more about GMCVO Social Investment here.
