December 2008
Guardian Charity Awards 2008 - Winners Announced
The winners of the annual Guardian Charity Awards were revealed at a ceremony in central London on Thursday 4 December, presented by Sarah Brown. Media Trust sponsored the awards, providing a prize of a tailored package of media services including a place at a training event and a bespoke media match. The winners are Straight Talking Peer Education, Surrey; RoadPeace, Brixton; Action for Sustainable Living, Manchester; The Iceni Project, Ipswich and Envision, Birmingham and Greater London. The Guardian Charity Awards are unique in the way they recognise small and medium size charities with a budget of less than £1 million.
David Brindle, public services editor of the Guardian, and chair of the 2008 judging panel commented: ‘The winners have demonstrated innovative, pioneering work and make an outstanding contribution to social welfare in the community. We hope that these awards will bring recognition, increase credibility and open the doors to future success for the winning charities'.
The five winning charities were selected from over 500 entrants to this year’s awards. As well as Media Trust's prize, they will each also receive £6,000, a brand new PC from Trams and a half day consultancy package from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
The judging panel also included: Sarah Brown, president, PiggyBankKids; patron, SHINE, Womans Aid, and White Ribbon Alliance; Caroline Diehl, chief executive, Media Trust; Stuart Etherington, chief executive, NCVO; Baroness Valerie Howarth, chair and president, Livability; vice patron of Childline; Dame Suzi Leather, chair, Charity Commission and Jane Asher, president, National Autistic Society.
December 2008
Who met their match in 2008?
Media Matching are running a quick festive matching survey - we'll be using the results for PR to try and encourage more volunteers to sign up. Media Matching from Media Trust brings charities together with journalists and communications professionals who volunteer their skills to support them. The time it takes can be five minutes at a ‘speedmatching’ evening. It is up to the volunteer adviser how much time they can spare, but however little, it can make a huge difference to a small charity.
You could win a bottle of champagne. We're looking for your mistletoe match - Jon Snow or Fiona Silverton? The biggest mismatch – Sarah Palin and world geography or Boris Johnson and the Olympic flag?, and who met their match in 2008 – Estate Agents or John McCain?
Good luck and happy matching!
December 2008
Have your say about BIG millions
Media Trust are encouraging charities and voluntary groups to take part in The BIG Lottery Fund Big Thinking www.big-thinking.org.uk public consultation which is asking for the public's views on where the Big Lottery Fund's good cause millions should be spent.
BIG - which is the biggest of the Lottery good cause funders being responsible for allocating half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery - launched the public consultation to ask organisations and individuals across the UK to engage in the debate on how the Big Lottery Fund should allocate more than £2 billion through its grant funding programmes between 2009 and 2015.
Jo Inskip, Community Newswire Manager said: “Media Trust work with numerous small charities and see the difference funds like BIG can have on the community. It is vitally important that those involved in charity, community and voluntary work have their say in where the money should go. This could effect you.”
Big thinking is open to all individuals and organisations across the UK and organisers are urging the public to get their thinking caps on and have a say. Big thinking will hold a series of national, regional and local face-to-face events, as well as online methods including questionnaires, blogs and videos at www.big-thinking.org.uk.
November 2008
Charities offered chance to win digital media campaign
Two London charities are being offered the chance to work with a group of industry experts and deliver an online marketing campaign free of charge.
Charities from across the capital are being invited to apply to the competition, which is being run by Media Trust and the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB).
The campaign might involve developing social networks and online communities, promoting an anniversary or special event, connecting with a specific group of people, or expanding a charities network of volunteers.
Felicity Lambert, Media Matching Manager at Media Trust, said: "If you want to increase your social networking presence, create a buzz about your cause or encourage more people to get involved in volunteering or fundraising, this is the ideal way to do so.
"Online marketing is increasingly used by corporate companies and charities alike. We are offering this chance to two charities to learn how to use these powerful and far reaching tools."
Media Trust, which aims to bring the media industry and charities together, says the competition is aimed at smaller organisations who would lack the funds for a digital marketing campaign otherwise. It hopes to offer this opportunity to organisations across the UK in the future.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on November 26 and successful applicants will be notified by December 8, with the project beginning in the new year.
Every charity that enters this competition will receive a free copy of the IAB's Social Media handbook, and a free copy of the Media Trust's How to Use New Media book.
To receive an application form email mediamatching@mediatrust.org or call 020 7217 3771.
For more information on how the internet can be used to market charities visit www.iabuk.net/en/1/socialmedia.html.
October 2008
New Media Matching service in Wales giving charities and community groups a stronger voice
Media Trust’s Media Matching service brings together media and communications professionals (advisers) with charities and voluntary organisations that want to improve the way they communicate. This free service aims to match skilled advisers as volunteers with charities or voluntary organisations. With hundreds of registered advisers, a huge range of skills are covered including PR, marketing, design, branding, digital media, web services and communications strategies. This service is being relaunched in Wales with the help of funding from the Chartered Institute of Marketing Charitable Trust.
Joanne Sullivan from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan is Media Trust Cymru’s new Media Matching Manager. Joanne, who is married with one child and a fluent Welsh speaker, previously worked for BBC Wales and S4C. She said: ‘I am looking forward to working with and helping charities in Wales to get their message out there. This will improve the way the voluntary sector communicates and therefore help them raise funds and awareness of their cause which is essential for smaller organisations with little money to spend on communications. We are particularly keen to encourage more Welsh speakers to get involved with Media Matching.’
The free Media Matching Service is open to all third sector organisations and anyone from the media and communications industry in Wales. If you're a media or communications professional with two or more years experience - you could get involved with Media Matching. Or if you're a charity that needs support making your voice heard or raising your profile, Media Matching could help.
“There are many organisations and charities which approach ITV Wales on how to make their story news worthy - how they can ensure that their story gets on the news, current affairs and other programming we produce. Effective communication- from press releases to phone briefings is essential to communicate an organisation’s aims and objectives, and I believe that Media Trust is the ideal support mechanism for the voluntary and community sector in Wales, in the English and Welsh language.”
Shone Hughes, Community Affairs Manager, ITV Wales
Media Matching is holding a speedmatching event in Wales on 18th November 2008 at BBC Wales in Cardiff. Speedmatching works in a similar way to speed dating. Ten voluntary organisations each get five minute slots to talk with ten different media advisers about what kind of support they are looking for, while advisers try to give on the spot help and advice, as well as looking for longer term volunteering opportunities.
To find out more go to Media Trust Cymru or contact Joanne Sullivan on joannes@mediatrust.org or 07515795836
October 2008
Media Trust’s Summit About the Boy triumphs in television category at this year’s IVCA Clarion Awards 2008
Media Trust’s documentary Summit About the Boy has won the television category at The International Visual Communications Association (IVCA) Clarion Awards 2008, it was announced today.
Summit About the Boy, a 1x30 documentary, premiered on Charge, Community Channel’s youth platform in June 2007. The documentary followed Lee McConville, 23, from Lozells, a deprived area in Birmingham, who in a radical change of environment was sent to Germany to report for The Times on the meeting of the world’s most powerful nations – the G8 summit.
Lee was mentored throughout Tony Blair’s last summit by acclaimed journalist Philip Webster, Political Editor, The Times. In stark contrast to Philip’s 30 years as a journalist, Lee had no experience of writing and was unsure of the relevance politics offered him or his peers.
The documentary is part of Media Trust’s Youth Mentoring scheme, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), directly targeting young people in specific areas across England. Media Trust links organisations working with disadvantaged young people aged 13-25 with media professionals who act as mentors on media projects, sharing their practical skills and expertise.
For this project, Media Trust’s Mentoring team bought together The Times and Fairbridge, a youth charity working with young people from inner cities, offering them long-term personal development programmes.
Lee attended a Fairbridge centre in the West Midlands and through this became involved in Summit About the Boy.
Summit About the Boy was short-listed in the television category alongside other nominees from Channel 4 and BBC One. Made for Community Channel the film was produced and directed by Teresa Smith, associate produced by Georgia Dussaud and executive produced by Katie Simpson.
Launched in Parliament in 2003, the IVCA Clarion Awards are not-for-profit and recognise best practice in communicating the importance of CSR, sustainable development, social inclusion and ethical debate.
They make a unique contribution to both business and society by identifying the role of communicators in encouraging an ethical culture and fostering higher levels of engagement with key social or environmental issues.
The 2008 Clarion Awards winners were announced at a gala awards ceremony at The BFI Southbank on September 26.
Katie Simpson, Director of Communications and Youth Media at Media Trust said: "I'm thrilled that Summit about the Boy has won a Clarion Award in the television category. This project was much more than just a TV programme; it changed lives. Since the filming, Lee has started a NCTJ course and is still in regular contact with his mentor Phil and over the past couple of weeks has been at the party political conferences recording interviews with the country’s leading politicans for a special programme – McConville Reports, for Community Channel’s youth strand Charge."
Simpson adds: "Much has been written about the state of modern television and factual programming, but this is a project which proves that TV really can bring about positive change."
Lee can be seen reporting from the party political conferences, including interviews with The Prime Minister and leading politicians and political commentators in McConville Reports for Charge on Community Channel on Sunday 12th October 2008 at 12:30pm.
For further information please go to www.communitychannel.org and www.ivca.org
September 2008
Secretary of State calls for the media to broaden the range of its sporting coverage in exclusive interview with Your Sport
Your Sport – The first and only nationally available TV show dedicated to grassroots sport launches on Community Channel from 22nd September.
The new series is backed by key sporting and media organisations including: The Football Foundation, The FA, Sport England, BBC and ITV Local.
Britain’s elite athletes got the coverage they deserved following their successes at the Beijing Olympics.
Now the new weekly show Your Sport turns the TV spotlight on grassroots sport, celebrating the trials and triumphs of local champions from across the UK.
Your Sport is a brand new weekly show giving grassroots organisations the chance to share their stories, news and successes, as well as letting viewers upload their own sporting footage.
The series launches with an exclusive interview with Andy Burham MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in which he calls for the media to play a more active role in promoting a wider range of sporting activities.
He argues: "The public can get interested in sport at any level. It’s all about the stories, the people. It’s also about celebrating sport at all levels and I think at times traditional broadcasters haven’t done enough to celebrate the full diversity of sport.”
Burham goes on to add that the “traditional media has over-covered a certain number of sports but hasn’t done justice to a full range”.
He continues: “In this period we are now entering all sport needs to be celebrated and I want to see more grassroots stories featured in the media, and if it’s not on the mainstream channels then on multi-platform services.”
In his interview Burnham stressed that the media has a role to play in promoting the availability and diversity of local sporting opportunities, he says: “While big name success is a driver to participation and inspires young people I take a more grassroots view. If young people go down and find decent facilities and a welcoming atmosphere at their local club, that more than anything engages them and gets them to stick with sport."
The show’s presenter Theone Coleman, a 23 year-old volunteer from Bournemouth, knows first-hand about the benefits of community sport.
Coleman says: "Sport is a great way of avoiding the pitfalls facing young people today. Early in my life I made some mistakes and ended up in prison. Getting involved with a sports project has been central to my rehabilitation. Your Sport on Community Channel will be about inspiring all kinds of people by showcasing the potential benefits of sport.”
Dominic Cotton, the show’s producer, has a 13-year career in broadcasting, working on shows including Football Focus and Final Score.
Cotton says: "Sport is about so much more than big names and big money. Your Sport will celebrate the power of local sport and be a place where inspiring grassroots stories can be heard.”
September 2008
Community Channel premieres new film to raise volunteering awareness for disabled people
'Britain’s Missing Top Model' finalist Sophie Morgan is backing Community Channel's 'Helping others can help U'' campaign to encourage more disabled people to get involved in volunteering.
Community Channel will be dedicating a week of programmes focusing on disability to celebrate 'Helping others can help U' and will be showing programmes featuring a range of organisations and well known personalities including: Richard Attenborough, Bill Nighy and Sophie Morgan.
During this week, a new programme also titled 'Helping others can help U' will premiere on Sunday 21st September on Community Channel. The film presented by Sophie Morgan, will showcase the work of a range of volunteers matched with different organisations from across the UK.
In this programme, Sophie volunteers to help out on an activity course with The Back Up Trust, a national charity that supports people, young and old, with spinal cord injuries.
Sophie has personal links with The Back Up Trust following her own accident and was the winner of Cosmopolitan’s Girl of the Year award in recognition of her outstanding work for them. She still continues to support them, organising the charity’s City Dinner in London. With a love of sport and adventure, Sophie has been involved in a range of activities like climbing, absailing, canoeing and horse riding, all organised through this charity.
Sophie says of the charity: “Back Up sees a person’s ability, rather than their disability. I visited a Back Up activity course, to meet volunteers and participants, all of whom were there to prove to themselves, as much as anyone else, just what they’re capable of doing. This campaign is a great opportunity to show that everyone has something to offer and that volunteering can be a really rewarding experience and a great way to learn new skills, meet new people and have fun”.
This programme also features a range of other organisations including:
The Middleton Park Equestrian Centre, Leeds where volunteers with a learning disability are making a real difference, and Breakthrough UK in Ardwick Manchester, a charity dedicated to promoting the rights, responsibilities and respect of disabled people in the workplace.
East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley, is a National Trust property. Volunteers with a learning disability are acting as consultants to make sure the property is accessible for everyone. The National Trust relies upon the support of its volunteers, and through volunteering, it gives people the opportunity to make a difference in conserving the environment and the UK’s heritage.
Self Help Services, a user-led charity that co-ordinates a wide range of primary care mental health services and self-help initiatives for people experiencing mental ill-health, discrimination, social exclusion and/or emotional problems. The charity is run by volunteers who have all faced mental health difficulties themselves and their personal experiences have made this charity the success it is today.
Neurosupport in Liverpool shows the contribution of volunteers who have had experience of neurological conditions including Epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, brain tumors and Alzheimer’s allowing them to offer a unique perspective to other users.
The campaign 'Helping others can help U' runs throughout September. To find out more about volunteering opportunities in your area go to www.communitychannel.org/volunteer.
Find out about other programmes on Community Channel.
August 2008
Young people embrace traditional values and demand tougher action on crime in new research
Charge, Community Channel’s youth platform recently commissioned a survey of 2000 young people aged between 16-19 years old, to tie in with the Autumn launch of its politics show The House, presented by young people and filmed in the House of Commons.
What the survey research revealed is a generation of socially astute, politically aware young people as well versed in the Cameron Factor as the X-Factor. These young people embrace traditional values like parental role models, tougher crime deterrents and the desire to do well at school.
Main survey findings
At odds with the media emphasis on the power of celebrity culture on young people, the research revealed a politician with more profile than a pop star, with more young people recognising David Cameron (63%) than Leona Lewis (45%). When it comes to keeping up to date on current affairs, 67% of respondents revealed that they regularly watch the news or read a newspaper, debunking ideas that this is a generation only obsessed with celebrity magazines and throw away culture.
In terms of role models the overwhelming inspiration for respondents came from more traditional quarters, with the largest majority (40%) citing their parents as their main inspiration. Once again the celebrity factor was less influential with only 15% of respondents naming a celebrity as their main role model.
Survey respondents also gave their support to back to basic crime deterrents. An overwhelming eight out of ten young people (83%) supporting Boris Johnson’s plans to make knife carriers pay the price by helping to clean up their community through street cleaning, collecting rubbish and tackling graffiti.
When it comes to what worries young people, the issue of fitting in with peers and looking the part was as strong as ever, with 70% of respondents citing it as their main concern. The worry triggers for young people all centred on traditional or recurring issues like the desire to perform well in the classroom. 18% citied doing well at school as a major concern, whilst any pressure to be in a gang came in at the bottom of their list, with only 13% pinpointing it as a worry.
Regional variations show that for young people in the North East their overriding concern is to perform well at school (19%), as oppose to the West Midlands (42%) and the East Midlands (36%) where the desire to have the right things is their major worry trigger.
Hannah a young reporter for Charge, aged 20 said: ‘ There’s a lot of young people who don’t carry knives, or go out looking for trouble, but the actions of a few mean that we often get lumped together and given a bad name. A lot of us are interested in politics, not just celebrity gossip and actually want to get our views heard’.
Community Channel and Charge are a Media Trust initative.
August 2008
Orange Rockcorps and Charge on Community Channel launch competition for young filmmakers
Charge on Community Channel (a Media Trust initiative) has joined up with Orange Rockcorps to launch a competition giving young filmmakers the chance to make a film showcasing their quest for a ticket to the Orange Rockcorps concert.
The only way to earn a ticket to the exclusive live concert in the Royal Albert Hall on the 26 September 2008 is to volunteer for 4 hours. Three chosen competition entrants will get the chance to create a film and one of these films will be broadcast on Channel 4 in October 2008. All three films will also be showcased on Charge, Community Channel’s youth platform.
Each winning entrant will get a £500 grant to create their film, will be invited to an all expenses paid workshop in London and will be assigned a film industry mentor who will work closely with them to make their film a reality.
The winner will be announced at the Orange Rockcorps concert, get their film shown both on TV and online and will receive a Sony Ericsson handset.
The closing date for the competition is Thursday 21st August 2008 at 5pm
July 2008
NCVO and Media Trust to run joint Data Protection event
Media Trust and NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) have partnered to run a conference focusing on Data Protection issues important to the voluntary sector. See details below:
Data Protection and Communications for the Voluntary Sector
Monday 8 September 2008
10.00am-4.00pm
London
Make sure your organisation, and those that you work with and support, are compliant with Data Protection legislation. Join us at this Data Protection seminar to learn about:
(Please note the seminar focuses on fundraising, marketing and communications. HR and financial Data Protection issues will not be covered).
This event is part of the Marketing Communications National Support Service (NSS).
July 2008
Community Newswire announces new staff appointments
Lorraine Connolly has been appointed as the new Community Newswire News Editor and Emma Foster has joined the team as the Community Newswire Reporter.
Lorraine was previously managing editor of Emap’s Media & Marketing Europe and has worked as a freelance journalist on national newspapers and a range of leading lifestyle magazines. Lorraine also has hands on experience of working in the charitable sector having completed two placements with the Voluntary Service Overseas in India including launching an internet-based disability news service and a weekly radio programme staffed by blind people.
Emma has been with PA for almost a year on the journalist training programme and previously worked as a press and PR officer for the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust. In this new role, Emma will be reporting on a range of third sector and community focused stories.
Joanna Inskip, Community Newswire Manager said:
'I'm delighted to welcome Lorraine and Emma to the team - they bring with them a wealth of experience, both as journalists, but also through their own personal engagement with the charitable sector’.
Community Newswire is the joint initiative between The Press Association and Media Trust. Find out more about Community Newswire.
July 2008
Community Newswire secures partnership with online social enterprise Fresh Ties
Community Newswire has announced a new partnership with Fresh Ties, a not-for-profit organisation which enables communities to create practical solutions to local issues. Community issues and local projects are promoted via the FreshTies website, along with requests for help required including spare equipment to time, knowledge and skills which community members can donate.
This new partnership will give local people the opportunity to tell the media their stories, via the Community Newswire.
Joanna Inskip, Community Newswire Manager, said:
‘At the heart of Community Newswire is the continued drive to give voice to the small charities and community organisations who may not have their own press office or even PR.
Partnerships with community focused organisations like Fresh Ties are a vital component of our continued drive to nurture the impact and reach of Community Newswire'.
Community Newswire is the joint initiative between The Press Association and Media Trust. Find out more about Community Newswire.
June 2008
Media Trust announces range of new funding and partnerships
At Media Trust’s annual reception held on the 10th June, Media Trust Chairman Andy Duncan welcomed a range of new funding and partnerships for Media Trust.
These include:
Media Trust Chairman Andy Duncan said:
‘Media Trust plays a key role in connecting the media industry with diverse and marginalised communities. The new partnership with 4IP and Media Trust represents an exciting opportunity to explore new ways of using the internet to further the public impact of both organisations’.
Mark Thompson, Trustee of Media Trust, also spoke at the annual reception and said:
‘Partnershipsare at the heart of the BBC’s public service delivery. Media Trust complements and adds value to the work of BBC, enhancing our ability to give voice to charities and communities’
June 2008
EyeWonder and Media Trust partner to launch premiere of new Community Channel and UNICEF series
In partnership with Media Trust, pioneering rich media company EyeWonder Inc., donated creative and media resources to create an interactive campaign to promote Community Channel’s launch of Ewan and Charley – A Road Less Travelled and raise awareness of UNICEF's work across Africa.
The three-part series, premiered in April on Community Channel and follows Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as they take time out from their African travels during Long Way Down, to visit three UNICEF projects. Each programme shows unseen footage from these visits and provides a moving insight into the stories and experiences of children and families who have benefited from UNICEF funded projects in the region.
'As we continue to drive our business globally, we are pleased to be able to make a difference; to leverage our services and technology ad platforms to help drive awareness for this worthy cause. Media Trust is an excellent collaborator and we truly enjoyed working on this campaign,' said John Vincent, chairman and CEO at EyeWonder. 'Besides, this is for UNICEF, and we feel positively about supporting that organisation's work in Africa.'
The campaign ran from 21st April to 10th May and EyeWonder Inc. produced three ground breaking expanding interactive web banners which used a variety of rich media. Aside from EyeWonder’s donation of creative services, the campaign also recieved free exposure across a wide range of websites including those owned by Bauer Publishing and Channel 4.
Daren Forsyth, Media Trust's Director of Innovation and New Media said, 'This was a groundbreaking and exciting campaign for Community Channel, which launched a high profile series, and drew attention to the work of UNICEF. This unique partnership with EyeWonder enabled the channel to reach even more online audiences with a compelling and creative digital campaign using innovative technology,'
He aslo added that. "EyeWonder’s commitment to this project and the external partners who donated page impressions, all demonstrate the willingness of the corporate world to support a not-for-profit campaign.'
You can view the programmes from the series and find out more about Ewan and Charley – A Road Less Travelled on the Community Channel website.
June 2008
Everyone loves a good neighbour - except if you live in England!
According to a new survey commissioned by Community Channel, almost six out of ten people (56%) living in England don't know their neighbours and would not ask them for help. The research carried out in conjunction with Time Banking UK, examined attitudes to time and neighbourly co-operation.
Most people said they felt embarrassed to ask for help because they didn’t really know their neighbour(s) (35%) and some people said they wouldn’t trust them (7%). Londoners are the least likely to know their neighbours (40%), while respondents in the East Midlands (20%) admitted to not asking neighbours for help as they were unsure as to whether they should pay them or return the favour.
Time Banking encourages people to give their time, swap skills and become more involved in their local community. With more than 80 Time Banks across the country, Time Banking is modelled on the idea that someone can freely give up one hour of their time to help someone else and in return they will receive a time credit which can be cashed in when they need help themselves. Weddings and funerals have been organised and paid for using this unique bartering method.
In the current credit-crunch climate, Time Banking offers an innovative model and gives individuals the potential to pool resources, be more self sufficient and save some cash!
The survey also revealed that almost half of those questioned felt they had wasted time waiting in for tradesmen and handymen who never show up. London once again topped the stakes for time cheated – with 62% of respondents admitting that they whiled away hours waiting for no-show trades people.
When it comes to attitudes to time, 34% of respondents in the North West felt they often ended up spending time doing things they didn’t enjoy. In London and the South East, the top number of respondents (36%) considered themselves time poor, constantly in a rush and trying to juggle work and home life, alongside family and friend commitments.
Keith Winestein, Campaigns Manager, Community Channel, comments: 'You could be living next door to a plumber or someone who has green fingers and not even know it. In an age where watching the pennies is becoming more important, getting to know your neighbour could save you a lot of money and it seems to be something of an untapped resource.'
He continued: 'If your neighbours don’t have any skills which could be useful to you why not join your local Time Bank. Here you’ll meet people with a huge range of skills from ironing and dog walking to guitar teaching and yoga skills.'
June 2008
Volunteer Films to air on Community Channel
Twenty five inspiring short films made by the Media Trust Volunteer Films project are broadcast this month on Community Channel from Mon 2 June at 6.30pm.
All films were made by media industry professionals who volunteered their time to make a film for a small to medium sized charity.
Whether it's beekeeping, kids cookery, conservation or medical matters you're interested in, watch them on Community Channel, or view the films online on the Community Channel website.
June 2008
Media Trust launch new campaign with Time Banking UK
Media Trust Campaigns in partnership with Time Banking UK, have just launched their new campaign Helping others can help U, which will run throughout June.
The campaign highlights the benefits of Time Banking - an innovative way of exchanging skills in your community.
If you've ever wanted to learn to play the guitar, or how to salsa, Time Banking could be the way to do it. Time Banking works on the premise that everyone has something to offer, from dog-walking to mowing a neighbour's lawn and for every hour spent helping someone else, you get an hour's help with something you'd like in return.
To learn more about the campaign or get involved, visit the website and be in for a chance to win a fabulous designer watch.
You can also join the campaign, watch the short film 'It's About Time' or if you're in London, make a date to go to our one of our two Festivals (see details below).
Festival dates and locations
Saturday 21st June:
Lewisham Shopping Centre, Lewisham SE13 7HB (3 min walk from Lewisham DLR)
Sunday 22nd June:
Highbury Fields, Islington, N5 (1 min walk from Highbury & Islington tube)
May 2008
Media Trust supports Guardian Charity Awards 2008
The Guardian Charity Awards have been running for the past 16 years and champion the outstanding contributions of small and medium sized charities to the improvement of social welfare in the community.
Media Trust is proud to be supporting this year's awards by offering prizes of tailored media services packages to help award recipients raise their profile and promote their cause.
Prizes consists of a Media Matching session with a top media or communications adviser, places at Speedmatching events and attendance at a Media Trust training seminar or workshop.
Caroline Diehl, Media Trust's Chief Executive, will also be involved as part of the judging panel choosing winners who will be announced at the awards event in December.
To find out more or to submit an application visit society.guardian.co.uk/charityawards.
April 2008
Mediabox and Bebo launch film competition
Two Talented – searching for dual talents in front of and behind the camera judged by T4 presenter Rick Edwards
Mediabox and online social media network, Bebo, are launching a competition to give ten budding young filmmakers the chance to make their own short films.
The films will be showcased on Bebo and Charge, Community Channel’s youth platform.
‘Two Talented’ is supported by T4 presenter and new XFM radio host Rick Edwards and will encourage disadvantaged young people aged 13 to 19 to make films about their extraordinary friends.
Rick Edwards said: “If like me you’ve ever wanted to make a film but just haven’t got the cameras or whatever, then this competition’s for you. I’ve got one problem with it - why didn’t it exist when I was a teenager? I’m well gutted. So don’t be surprised if you get an entry from an ‘Edward Ricks’ of London”
As well as getting their films seen on TV and online, the winners will receive a video camera and a £250 grant to make the film.
To enter the competition, entrants need to visit the Charge profile on Bebo and write a short paragraph on why their friend deserves to have a film made about them. Winning entrants will then be invited to an all-expenses paid filmmaking workshop in London and will be mentored by media professionals who will work closely with them to make their filming project a reality. The closing date for entries is April 30th 2008.
Completed films will be shown on Bebo ({www.bebo.com/chargetv}) and broadcast on Charge TV (Sky 539, Virgin TV 233 and Freeview 87). The competition is aiming to attract dual talent – both in front of and behind the camera.
Karla Geci, Marketing Manager, Bebo said “Video is core to the Bebo experience; our users actively create, consume and share video content throughout the site which translates to approximately 1.5 billion videos served every month. The ‘Two Talented’ filmmakers competition is a great outlet for young people on Bebo who love video and want to express themselves through it.”
March 2008
Media Trust partners with Capacitybuilders on National Support Service (NSS) project
Media Trust is delighted to be running the Marketing and Communications workstream of the Capacitybuilders' funded National Support Service (NSS).
Media Trust's role is to be provide a range of services to help support Third Sector organisations with their Marketing and Communications needs.
The project begins at the start of April. Please email nssadmin@mediatrust.org if you would like to know how Media Trust can help your organisation, or you would like to get involved.
March 2008
Small charities offered broadcast quality film for one-off fee of £1 000
Media Trust is launching its fourth series of Volunteer Films and looking to support 25 small charities that would benefit from a short promotional film for and about their organisation.
The project is open to any charitable organisation with an annual turnover of less than £2 million. A professional film can easily cost in the region of £10 000 to £15 000, so this is a unique opportunity for low funded charities to promote their work through film, which will also be broadcast on Community Channel. Each is film is produced by TV professionals who volunteer their time and skills to help the charity.
Now in its fourth year, Volunteer Films has produced more than 75 films for small UK charities working in a wide range of areas such as disability, youth, community conflict, race relations, sport, arts and the environment. The films are made specifically for each charity, who can utilise them for a variety of uses including: fundraising, raising awareness or recruiting volunteers.
"The film really brings our organisation to life in the way a leaflet or an email never could. We're enormously grateful and highly recommend Volunteer Films for any charities thinking of creating a film" comments Jamie Dear, Trust Youth.
It is estimated that so far the equivalent of £750 000* has been donated in time and resources by the media industry, with films being produced by professional filmmakers from leading production companies, and broadcasters including: the BBC and Turner Broadcasting. Personalities who have also given up time to appear in such films include Jon Snow, Bill Turnbull and Dame Kelly Holmes.
“This project is great for people working in the often cynical world of TV to get an opportunity to put their skills to something that will actually benefit the world!” comments George Harris, TV producer/director
The total cost to each charity is £1 000, for which a broadcast quality film is produced, with guaranteed airtime on Community Channel. The charity is also provided with a DVD copy of the film and given a version suitable for streaming on the Internet. Charities are given professional marketing and PR advice from volunteer media advisors to ensure the films achieve maximum impact.
Previous films have been broadcast on BBC Big Screen, as part of Media Trust’s ‘It’s All About U’ volunteering campaign. A 30 second promo made for beatbullying was used on the YouTube/beatbullying site during anti-bullying week. Last year, commercials company PINK produced a film for Young People Theatre Company, which went on to win silver at the British Television Advertising Awards.
All charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits operating in England with a turnover of under £2 million are now welcome to apply. Volunteer Films hope to receive applications from a diverse range of charities in terms of both region and subject matter.
For further information and an application form, email volunteerfilms@mediatrust.org. Application forms should be returned by Monday 31 March 2008.
* Production costs are calculated in terms of production equipment used and time donated by various media professionals.
March 2008
‘Media Trust Cymru study shows charities’ appetite for media and communication advice’
A new study, exploring opportunities for young people within media in Wales has been released today by Media Trust Cymru. The study has already been submitted to the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) who they are working with in partnership.
The study found that the proposed initiative of developing and designing innovative and challenging volunteering opportunities for young people from the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) within media, communications and creative companies is welcomed in Wales. 96% of the young people who responded expressed a keen interest in getting involved.
Laura Rich, Youth Volunteer Worker with CAVO (Ceredigion Association Voluntary Organisation) Ceredigion said “An opportunity like this would keep charities up to date, bring a younger element into volunteering and break down prejudices opening up a two way experience for both volunteers and media.
Respondents to the questionnaires, focus groups and semi structured telephone interviews were very positive about the knowledge, skills and experience the young volunteers could acquire. They also recognised that the selection and assessment of the young people would be key to the success of the initiative. The development of the skills base of the young people who volunteer is likely to have a long term and broad impact in relation to their personal and professional development leading to an increase in their employability.
A further mutual benefit was the potential for increasing the understanding between the sectors and raising awareness of how both sectors operate including specific issues such as those facing people with disabilities.
Ruth Parry, who conducted the study says “The infrastructure put in place for progressing this initiative will be key to its future success and Media Trust Cymru is in a strong position to learn from other Media Trust initiatives which are based on tried and tested models”.
Media Trust aims to boost its representation in Wales in order to roll out more of its services into Welsh charities and build effective communications in the third sector.
Ruth Parry added: “This initiative would offer a real opportunity to provide a positive brokerage role between media, communications and the creative companies and young people within VCS in Wales”.
‘Media trust is actively seeking funding for a project that brings media and charities in Wales together’
To download a copy of the report, please visit: Media Trust Cymru
February 2008
Mediabox announces sixth round funding
Mediabox today announced almost £250,000 of funding to inspire disadvantaged young people to have a positive voice in the media.
In this latest funding round, 16 youth organisations and media companies have been awarded grants for projects including film, TV, computer games, online and print.
Mediabox is a Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) fund which offers13-19 year olds the opportunity to develop and produce media projects.
To date, Mediabox has funded 133 projects, giving out almost £4.5 million from which over 6000 young people in England have benefited.
Examples of funded projects from the sixth round include:
The following organisations have all been awarded funding in the sixth round:
Mid Mediabox
It was announced in December 2007 that The Department for Children, Schools and Families has provided funding for Mediabox for a further 12 months.
Information on funding deadlines and application guidelines will be available by 29 February 2008, to find out more please visit www.media-box.co.uk.
January 2008
BBC seconds Community Sports Manager to Media Trust
Media Trust has appointed Dominic Cotton as Project Manager, Community Sports. Currently Head of PR for the BBC’s Your Game initiative, Dominic has joined Media Trust on a 6-month attachment to develop and build community sports opportunities and activity across Media Trust’s full range of services, with specific emphasis on film and TV production (Media Trust Productions), Campaigns, Youth Media and Community Channel.
Dominic has been a volunteer Media Trust Advisor since 2005 giving guidance to a range of sports charities and before working on the Your Game project, Dominic was a sports presenter, reporter and producer at the BBC and other news organisations including Sky and ITN.
“Community sport is increasingly being recognised and valued for the key role it has in supporting communities and people,” said Caroline Diehl, Media Trust CEO.
“In the run up to the London Olympics, Media Trust will be working closely with grassroots sports groups to help raise their profiles and to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of community sports across the country. Dominic has extensive experience within the field of sports, both in front of and behind the camera, and we are delighted that he will be driving forward Media Trust’s plans,” she adds.
Dominic Cotton said, "I am a passionate believer in the power of sport. It has a positive impact in communities across the UK and with the Olympics coming to London its influence is set to grow. While at Media Trust, my aim is to ensure the hard work being done at grassroots level gets the attention it deserves.”
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