The perfect way to spend your spare change this month

The advent of digital media has given us many beautiful things; the ability to engage with faraway loved ones, more connected communities, heightened accountability for brands, and Deliveroo, to name just a few. 

But, alas, we all know there’s plenty of bad to go with the good, one being the idea that media, of any kind, should be free to access and enjoy. There is, of course, plenty of space for free content to exist and that is a creator’s right, but, in many cases, it has evoked an expectation that work, no matter how expertly written or created, should not come at a price—with very little thought to those who have dedicated their time, energy and skill to create it. 

The Pound Project is a UK-based independent crowdfunding publisher working to change these views, shouting about the value of reading and writing through all they do. Cornering some of the most exciting voices for their limited edition runs—think Dolly Alderton, Pandora Sykes, The Pukkas, Adwoa Aboah, and Richard and Scarlett Curtis—they are bringing a renewed sense of community to publishing. 

So, how does it work?

The model is simple. A project is announced and a target set, opening up for backers to give their preferred amount, usually £1 to read or listen to the piece online, or £5 to receive a beautiful, sustainably printed hard copy. The team then print only what has been purchased, to avoid waste, and, crucially, ensure authors get paid their equal share. If that’s not enough, they also partner with some amazing organisations to raise money and awareness through their projects, for causes such as addiction, grief, suicide, mental health, the arts, sustainable business, and the environment. To be honest, the Pound Project founder, JP Watson, says it best on his podcast episode with Emma Gannon, so be sure to have a listen if you want to learn more. 

Are you ready for Three Things?

Now that we’ve sold you on the Power of The Pound Project, the good news is that their next project, Three Things, is open until October 13th. On the back of so many incredible conversations around fighting climate change, largely thanks to David Attenborough’s array of recent documentaries, Three Things focuses on practical, straightforward steps we can all take to help protect the planet. Bringing together voices from the worlds of food, fashion and fresh air, it will compile thought-provoking pieces from the likes of Gail Bradbrook, Melissa Hemsley, and Jonathan Safran Foer.

Image Credit: The Pound Project

To learn more about The Pound Project and to become a backer for Three Things, please visit poundproject.co.uk