Nearly two years ago, we ran our first fundraiser, #Novara10K. With the money we raised, and our small base of regular subscribers, we’ve done a lot: we’ve expanded our video and audio operation, seen our articles section mature and expand, been able to pay external contributors, started our event series, and most recently, we’ve begun working from our own studio. Over that time our audience has more than doubled.

The UK is facing an economic crisis, falling living standards, a climate crisis, the rise of the far-right. More than ever, we need a resilient Left. This means we need a strong Left media, capable of thinking honestly about the issues facing us, tackling these issues head-on, as well as reaching out to those who aren’t yet on side. Our wide range of output – from listicles to essays, from punchy videos to in-depth discussions – does exactly that.

But all this costs money: studio rent, equipment, contributor fees and digital infrastructure. We do a lot with a little, but we can’t do anything with nothing. We won’t charge for content or cash in on sponsorship deals with Pepsi. We don’t have private fortunes, or state backers, or big capital behind us – we just have you.

£40,000 could allow us to:

• Retain the Novara studio for one year, from which we can produce ever more regular audio and video content, and expand our range of programmes. The studio is an absolutely essential base for this project, and without it our production time is much slower.
• Begin increasing our fee offer to our external contributors.
• Increase access to our events, and move them beyond London.

We know £40,000 sounds like a lot of money – but compared to the operating budgets of mainstream media outlets, it’s very little. We’re asking for your support because it’s essential to sustaining and growing the organisation. And we ask for it with a substantial record of achievement, representing countless unpaid hours of work by the Novara Media core team. Throughout this fundraiser month, some of our editors will be highlighting their favourite parts of our back catalogue, but we encourage you to look through the site yourself when thinking about donating.

If all our followers were to give just a small amount each, this fundraiser would be over in no time. Not everyone can afford to give – but if you enjoy our work, and you believe in what we’re doing, maybe you could forego a couple of your preferred beverages this month and lend us a hand instead. In the longer term, growing our regular subscriber base will allow us to meet the future well-prepared – so if you can spare a few quid a month, why not sign up for a regular subscription?

We’ve achieved so much already – but the truth is, we’ve barely begun. Be a part of the change. Help us build a new media for a different politics.