STRUGGLING music venues are being aided by a new campaign to secure their future.

The 1865 in Southampton and The Railway Inn in Winchester have both been added to the ‘Red List’ as part of a new initiative that aims to help the countries worst hit venues survive the financial troubles posed by the pandemic.

The #Saveourvenues campaign by Music Venue Trust (MVT) is helping grassroots music venues who were inlegible for the recent government backed Cultural Recovery Fund.

A ‘Traffic Light’ system is highlighting how safe venues are financially by categorising them as red, amber and green.

Those at imminent danger of permanent closure are categorised in the ‘Red List’, a list of the 30 UK venues most at risk.

Guy Benfield, Venue Coordinator at The 1865 said: “We were shut for over 6 months and we have incurred debts with things like rent.

“We thought we would be included in the Arts Council bail out but we weren’t.”

Staff are currently without work as a result of the pandemic and with no income at the moment, the venue is in need of financial help.

The crowdfunding initiative was launched yesterday and gives people the opportunity to choose an individual venue to donate to.

If an individual target is reached by a particular venue the surplus donations will go towards supporting other venues in crisis.

Although The 1865 has a high target of just under £64k, Guy hopes that with the crowdfunding, together with help from future grants and support, they will be able to reach it.

He said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of people who have contributed so far.

“I hate having to ask people for money but we had no choice.”

At the time the Echo went to print, the Crowdfunder had raised £6,373 of the target.

The Railway Inn has also been donated £4,344 of its £49k target.

Mark Davyd, CEO of MVT said: “If people want these local venues to still be there when this is over there is a very clear call to action: choose a venue, get donating, get writing, get calling, get organised. Save them all.”