MARGINALISED voices will be given a second chance this July, for the return of the Swindon Zine Festival.

The second event of its kind in Swindon brings together makers of zines, pronounced as an abbreviation to magazine, which are homemade and self-published magazines made using a basic printer and computer set-up.

The medium is well-used by individuals who for a variety of reasons want to make their voices heard and feel like the mainstream media doesn’t represent them.

This year’s event had zines on mental health, women’s history, living in rental housing, and LGBT issues.

Organiser Julie Gough, a graphic designer and illustrator from Swindon, makes illustrated zines on women’s history.

Using a Macbook and some production software she produced a zine on Swindon suffragette Edith New and sells them through the online shop Etsy.

“We had zines made by someone who was autistic and we got the feedback and people said it helped explain so much to them," she told the Adver.

“Quite a few people were selling zines on the subject of mental health.

“A lot of it is the recognition that you’re not the only one going through something.

“You might be a marginalised group but there’s other people like you, and it's going to be OK.

"I think that aspect is the best thing about it.”

The inaugural Zine Fest in August was well received from people who travelled far and wide to meet up and see each other’s work.

There were around twenty stalls of people selling their zines, a community table selling a variety of publications sent in, as well as a workshop for people new to the scene.

“The community aspect of it was the best bit," she added.

“It was nice to be able to put a face to the artwork you had been buying.

“Everyone who came to sell their zines was really positive about it, and they got to meet each other. They said we created a really nice environment,”she said.

“As long as you’ve got a pen and a piece of paper then you’re fine.

“We made sure that people knew that we were giving priority to more marginalised voices, so if we had a lot of submissions from loads of white men doing the same thing we probably wouldn’t include them all."

Applications to be a stallholder for this year's event can be done through the website at swindonzinefest.wordpress.com

It will be on July 27 at the Central Community Centre in Emlyn Square, from 9am until 5pm.