Take A Break offers readers the chance to edit

Take a Break has teamed up with a local magazines franchise to award four readers the chance to edit a community title for 10 months.

The Bauer weekly is offering its readers the chance to head the Community Times initiative, a UK-wide franchise which offers people the chance to operate and own their own glossy A5 magazine and online business directory for their local communities.

Community Times, a Swansea-based business launched in early 2006, offers franchisees the opportunity to run their own title while it provides templates, design, proofing, printing and accountancy support.

Franchisees are responsible for sourcing advertising revenue for each edition, which will be sent out to a minimum of 3,000 households.

The deal with Take a Break will mean the title picks up the tab for the £4,950 start-up costs for four readers who will then be encouraged to go into their community to generate features and source revenue for the title, most of which they are promised to receive back as income. Community Times will print and distribute the magazine.

Take a Break editor John Dale said: "‘We are looking for readers who want to improve their community. They need vision, initiative and plenty of commitment. We want our winners to play an important local role in dealing with issues such as antisocial behaviour."