Leading musicians and changemakers are supporting a new social media platform focused on building communities and a fairer, more sustainable world

The brainchild of Frome-based Pete Lawrence, who also co-founded The Big Chill festival (launched 1994), Campfire Convention offers a new form of social media, free from algorithm dominance and advertising funding, which empowers people on and off line to connect, build community and catalyse social change.

Having soft launched in September 2017, Campfire has just launched a 'Fire in the Belly' Fundrazr crowdfunding campaign, supported by its patron, musician/producer Brian Eno, DJs Norman Jay and Greg Wilson, and other music industry changemakers.

The crowdfunder will help develop the platform to the next level, with a clarion call to anyone seeking a new and more inclusive approach to the way we do social media.

Pete Lawrence, Founder of Campfire Convention, says: "In the wake of the Facebook / Cambridge Analytica scandal, it's now clear that the 'surveillance capitalism' model of social media is unsustainable, built as it is on monetising data.

"The full implications of us choosing a digital advertising platform as our presumed safe space in which to spill all our most intimate thoughts, hopes, fears and passions are only now being realised. It creates a forum in which the owners of a gigantic operation rule the social media world, arguably the wider world too, for their own ends and for shareholder profit.

"My vision for Campfire is to provide an alternative forum which actually does what it says on the 'social network' tin: help to build and strengthen communities. Campfire works for its members and seeds new ideas and social change for the benefit of all.

"As part our next phase we're looking to reward our members through a Karma Scheme which simply measures input and renumerates accordingly. However, we need your help to ensure this dream of an ethical social network that gives back to, and builds real-world belonging, can become a sustainable reality."

Encouraged by The Big Chill's success in building a 40,000 capacity event around a thriving online community united in a common interest, Pete was inspired to explore how communities and social networking can make a difference. His vision for Campfire took this concept of community a stage further as he observed the era of people self-interestedly fending for themselves morphing into a growing eco-consciousness, a collective sense of responsibility for stewarding our planet, and a movement towards member-led co-operative projects.

Notions of David and Goliath may be apt given that Campfire has around a dozen part-time volunteers compared to Facebook's staff roster, recently recorded as 35,587. But that won't dampen Campfire's passion to provide new ways for us to connect and spark new ideas.

Pete Lawrence says: "We believe this kind of model can help shape the future for community social networking, one that can work for the good of all.

"It's time to spark the next chapter of our story. We invite you to back our campaign and join us around the campfire. With a fire in our belly we can light a spark for a real alternative, together."