Funding for youth-led media projects

Project launched to help youth groups in the UK produce work on the theme of community cohesion 20th August 2009: A national media funding body has launched a project aiming to help youth groups across the country produce work on the theme of community cohesion. Mediabox is a fund that offers 13-19 year olds the chance to create their own media projects and get their voices heard and Mix Mediabox is inviting organisations working within the community to apply for grants between £5,000 and £20,000 for youth-led media projects that explore the theme of community cohesion. It is particularly looking for organisations that bring young people from diverse ethnic, economic backgrounds, faiths or areas together to work on a media project. It wants organisations to provide them with the opportunity to explore issues around identity, diversity, sense of belonging in their community and then tell their own stories and experiences in a creative way. Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, said: "We want to hear from young people about how they value diversity. By giving them the chance to work on their own media project they will have a voice in the media and be able to tell their own story about the communities they live in and the issues they face. "I encourage as many local authorities, charities, trusts and organisations as possible to take advantage of the Mix Mediabox funding as this will greatly contribute to building community cohesion in areas across the country." Shahid Malik, Communities and Local Government Minister, said: "The vast majority of people are happy with the community they live in, and believe that different groups get on well together in their area. But we know that challenges to cohesion do exist and there are those who try to undermine our shared values. "Projects like this can help to tackle head-on the sense of unfairness and disaffection that is alienating some communities - bridging the gaps between young people from different ethnic and faith groups." Mix Mediabox is open to registered charities, trusts, local authorities and associations. Applications are actively encouraged from regions that have previously been under-represented, namely the North-east, the East of England and Yorkshire and Humberside. The grant team at Mediabox will be on hand to offer application support and advice on how to find media professionals to facilitate projects. Mix Mediabox is run in partnership by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Communities and Local Government to help achieve the Government's vision for cohesive and integrated communities. By Lorraine Connolly, Community Newswire