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Apply: Charity Press Programme

Thanks for your interest in Media Trust and PA Media Group’s free charity press programme!

This ongoing programme is designed to help UK-based charities and nonprofit organisations with limited communications capacity share important and newsworthy stories with journalists across the UK.

As places are limited, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Media Trust will assess:

The strength and newsworthiness of the proposed story
Why the story is relevant now
Its potential interest to journalists and their audiences
The organisation’s communications capacity
How much the charity would benefit from additional communications support

Please complete the form below to tell us about your organisation and the story you’d like to share. Please note that applying does not guarantee selection, distribution or media coverage.

Unsure where to start? Our press release template maps out a basic structure for writing a press release, and details all the key information PA Media will need to get your story live.

Download our press release template

"*" indicates required fields

How Media Trust may use your data

We will use the information you have provided to: 

Assess your eligibility for this training.
Contact you about your application.
Let you know about similar opportunities we feel may be of interest to you.

If you are successful in securing a place, we may also share your data with our partners facilitating the training.

We promise to keep your data safe and secure and will never sell your data. For more information on how we protect your personal data, see our Privacy Policy. By filling out this form, you agree to us storing and using your data as described.

We are dedicated to making reasonable accommodations to ensure that all applicants can submit their application and participate in our selection process. If you encounter any difficulties filling out our application form or require additional support, please contact Lara on laran@mediatrust.org.

Eligibility Criteria

Before completing this form, please confirm that your organisation:

Is a UK-based charity or operates with a charitable purpose (such as a CIC or a CIO)

Has an annual income of £1 million or less

Has limited in-house communications or PR capacity

Does not receive retained or ongoing support from an external PR or communications agency

Has a potential story that could be developed into a press release

Can nominate a lead contact to work with Media Trust if selected

Please confirm your commitment * REQUIRED

If your organisation does not meet all of the above criteria, it will not currently be eligible for the programme.

I confirm my organisation meets all of the above criteria

Your organisation's details

Organisation name * REQUIRED

Organisation website * REQUIRED

Organisation location * REQUIRED

Please select the region where your organisation’s registered office is or where you predominately work.

Type of organisation * REQUIRED

Briefly describe what your organisation does

Registered charity number

If your organisation is not a registered charity, please type n/a

What is the size of your organisation based on annual income? * REQUIRED

Who is your organisation's lead contact for this opportunity?

Name * REQUIRED

First Last

Job title * REQUIRED

Email * REQUIRED

Tell us about your communications capacity

Please answer a few questions to help us understand what capacity for communications and media engagement your organisation currently has.

1. Who is responsible for managing communications and media engagement at your organisation? * REQUIRED

For example, do you have a dedicated communications employee or team? Or is communications managed alongside other responsibilities by your CEO, fundraising staff, volunteers, etc?

2. Do you currently receive retained or ongoing support from an external PR or communications agency?

Yes

If yes, please briefly explain the support you receive.

Tell us about your press story

You do not need to write your answers in the style of a press release. We are interested in the substance of the story rather than how polished your application is at this stage.

3. In one sentence, what is the headline of the story you would like to share? * REQUIRED

4. Please tell us more about this story * REQUIRED

Please explain what has happened or will be happening, who is involved or affected, and what you would like journalists and the public to understand. (Up to 3500 characters.)

5. Why does this story matter now? * REQUIRED

Tell us what is new, significant or timely about the story and why people might be interested in it now. For example, is it linked to new research, a campaign launch, an awareness date, a significant milestone or a connection to something currently in the news? (Up to 3500 characters.)

6. Has this story already been publicly announced or covered by the media?

Yes

Partly

If yes or partly, please provide brief details and any relevant links.

7. Is there a particular deadline or date you'd ideally like the press release to be shared? * REQUIRED

Please include any planned announcement dates, awareness days, embargoes or other time-sensitive deadlines.

8. Have you already drafted a press release for this story?

Yes

We have started one

If yes, please copy a sharable link here.

It doesn’t need to be finished, and sharing it with us isn't essential to your application, but it helps us understand your story and whether it's a good fit for distribution through PA Media

Working together

If you're selected, Media Trust and our volunteer media professionals will work with you to strengthen your press release before it's distributed through PA Media’s platform.

9. Would you be happy receive feedback on your press release and make any agreed changes before it's distributed?

Yes

10. Would your lead contact usually be able to respond to questions or suggested changes within two working days during the press release development period?

Yes

This would depend on the timing

11. Is there anything that would affect your availability during the development period?

Yes

This would depend on the timing

Declaration

On behalf of the charity, I confirm that:

- The information provided in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

- I have authority to submit this application.

- I understand that submitting an application does not guarantee selection for the programme.

- Relevant information from this application, and any draft press release we provide, may be shared with vetted volunteer media professionals for the purpose of reviewing our proposed story and providing feedback.

- If selected, we will work with Media Trust to review, fact-check and finalise our press release within the agreed timeframe, and will approve the final version before it is distributed.

- The charity remains responsible for the accuracy of all facts, claims, quotations and other information it provides, and for obtaining all necessary permissions and internal, legal and safeguarding approvals.

- We have permission to use and distribute any information, quotes, images and other materials we provide as part of this programme.

- If selected, we will provide an appropriate media contact and ensure that they, or a nominated colleague, are available to respond promptly to reasonable journalist enquiries for four weeks following distribution.

- I understand that distribution through PA Media’s platform does not guarantee media coverage.

- I understand that journalists and media outlets retain full editorial control over whether and how they use the press release. Media Trust cannot control and is not responsible for independently produced media coverage, including its headline, framing, tone, omissions or any changes or inaccuracies that were not contained in the final press release approved by our charity.

- I have read and agree to Media Trust’s Privacy Policy.

Please confirm * REQUIRED

I confirm my organisation agrees to the above points

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Terms and conditions * REQUIRED

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