Scheme to help save Hucknall community groups from 'friendship tax' launched by UK charity
Community groups in Hucknall and the local area, are being thrown a lifeline after British non-profit charity, GatherUK, launched a new scheme to combat the rising ‘cost of connection’ imposed by global tech giants.
As major international event platforms hike their annual organiser fees to nearly £300 per year, many local hobby groups, walking clubs, and support circles are facing the threat of closure.
In response, Nottinghamshire man Steve Podbury has founded GatherUK.org – a ‘digital town square’ designed to keep local communities alive without the corporate price tag.
Steve Podbury created GatherUK.org after noticing that many Hucknall and Bulwell – and wider Nottinghamshire – clubs were struggling to pay the high monthly fees charged by big tech companies.
He said: "It started to feel like a friendship tax.
"You’d have a local walking group or a craft club, and suddenly they’re being asked to pay £15 or £20 a month just to have a list of who is coming to the next meeting.
"For a small group, that’s the difference between staying open or folding.
"We are seeing a 'Silicon Valley Tax' on local friendship,.
"When it costs hundreds of pounds just to list a book club or a coffee morning, the heart of the community starts to fade.
"GatherUK isn't a corporation – we are a non-profit alternative built to ensure that connecting with your neighbours remains accessible to everyone.”
The initiative has already gained traction with organisers who are migrating their entire memberships to the platform to escape controversial ‘attendee fees’ and high subscription costs.
Unlike commercial rivals, GatherUK operates as a social enterprise, reinvesting into the community rather than paying out to shareholders.
The platform offers essential tools for the modern ‘community hero’, including automated waiting lists for popular events and secure, privacy-first messaging.
Steve continued: “It’s designed to be a ‘digital town square' – a simple, safe place where people can find local groups without their data being sold or their budgets being drained.
“This isn't a big corporate venture, it’s a local project for local people.
“We want to keep things simple, no hidden catches, just a better way to run a local club.
"I want to make sure that in five years' time, our community groups are still running because they aren't being bled dry by tech fees."