Ten media organisations have pledged their support for the Community Channel, it was announced today.

The BBC and Sky, along with ITV, Channel 4, Five, ITN, Discovery Networks Europe, Telewest's content division Flextech and indy trade association Pact have signed a Joint Declaration of support for the channel. This document reads as follows:

"We agree to make the Community Channel a key external TV partner in our efforts to bring news, information and enthusiasm about the work of the voluntary, charitable and community sectors to our viewers.

"Wherever possible we undertake to make relevant programming available to the Community Channel once it has fulfilled its uses on our own services.

"Wherever editorially relevant we will use on-air references and pointers to inform viewers about the programming and information available on the Community Channel. We will develop a marketing plan jointly with the Community Channel to help viewers to find it. We will work with regulators and others to ensure that effective information can be given about the Community Channel."

The channel is carried on Sky, Telewest digital cable, ntl analogue cable and Freeview. Only Sky and Telewest carry the channel 24/7 - it timeshares with other broadcasters on the other platforms.

"No other country in the world can boast of a media industry that is big and brave enough to work together to help the charity and voluntary sector in this way," said Caroline Diehl, chief executive of the Media Trust. "Their vision, together with our funding from the Home Office Active Communities Unit, has helped the Community Channel become a beacon for positive action in the digital world."