06.06.06
Stranger Magazine at Show

Royal Cornwall Show visitors were the first to read the latest edition of the highly successful Stranger Magazine, which is produced from an office in Falmouth and is now distributed across Cornwall, Devon, Bristol, London and Brighton.

The tenth edition of the bi-monthly Stranger magazine was launched on Friday June 9th at the Objective One Partnership marquee, number 76.

The new issue will include interviews with Julia Goldsworthy and José González; features on Fifteen Cornwall, Homegrown Surf and Skate Heroes; green living and a photo essay of iconic images of Cornish summer life.

Stranger is run by Helen Gilchrist, who grew up in Cornwall and returned to set up the magazine after working as a freelance journalist in London. "I could really feel that things were changing in terms of outlooks and opportunities for young people in Cornwall," said Helen. "I set up and launched the magazine on a shoestring, but was helped with loans from the Princes Trust and the SWIG (South West Investment Group) Phoenix Fund, and have received a lot of support from the Objective One projects Unlocking Cornish Potential and actnow – who helped me set up the website.

"I wanted to coincide the launch of the first issue with the start of the Combined Universities in Cornwall, to signal the beginning of a new era for young people in the region."

The first issue, published in October 2004, was produced from the dining table in Helen's home. The company has now grown and expanded to its own office, on Killigrew Street. Helen now employs two graduates - Clare Howdle and Charlotte (Lotte) Mahon - under the Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) scheme.

UCP, which is a Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative run by Cornwall College, has received Objective One investment. UCP places graduates with Cornish businesses and provides support for up to twelve months.

Clare graduated from Liverpool University in English and Communications. She was born and grew up in Liskeard and the UCP placement meant she could return to Cornwall to work. Clare's job at Stranger includes securing national and international advertising clients and developing the Stranger brand and other commercial opportunities.

Lotte, who graduated from University College Falmouth in Broadcasting has been working on attracting more local advertisers for the magazine and managing the distribution since the introduction of the £1.50 cover price in April.

"It is exciting for all of us because the magazine has such a small staff, so we are all at the helm," added Helen. "Introducing a cover price was nerve wracking and almost like launching again but we had suppliers selling out after ten days and ordering more copies."

For further information please contact Clare Morgan on 01872 223439 or email: cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Unlocking Cornish Potential project through the European Social Fund (ESF).

Editor's notes:

Helen Gilchrist, Clare Howdle and Lotte Mahon will be at the Objective One Partnership stand (number 76) on Friday June 9th to launch the 10th issue of Stranger.

Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP): UCP programmes place graduates with small and medium sized businesses in Cornwall and can last for up to 12 months. Investment in UCP through Objective One means that participating businesses receive 30% of the cost of taking on their graduate for the duration of the project. Graduates and their employers also receive support from an independent mentor, 70% of previous UCP graduates have been offered a permanent position with their host company at the end of the project. UCP was the first project launched by the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) initiative to offer direct business support. It is managed by Cornwall College. To date (June 2006) 150 graduates have been placed with businesses.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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