The Community Newswire, a news service dedicated to the work carried out by community and voluntary organisations, is under threat of closure.
The service was launched as a joint initiative between the Press Association and the Media Trust in 2004 with funding coming from the Active Community Unit within the Home Office.
The wire aims to provide a channel for community and voluntary groups, who have little contact with the media, to make their voice heard.
However, Government cutbacks will mean the free-to-use service will be closed unless a new funding source can be found.
Media Trust chief executive Caroline Diehl said in a statement: “The Government spending review has resulted in a number of service cuts and unfortunately this includes our hugely popular Community Newswire service, which we deliver in partnership with the Press Association. The service will close on Thursday 31 March.
“We are actively seeking replacement funds and it is absolutely our intention to reintroduce Community Newswire as soon as we are able.
“Many of the charities who use Community Newswire have told us that they are writing to Nick Hurd MP to ask that the funding be reinstated.”
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