Connections celebrates 25 years of enabling disadvantaged young people to enter the film and TV industry with new bursary scheme
Howard Lake | 20 February 2008 | News
Connections Communications Centre, the charity giving new opportunities to disadvantaged young people to develop film, TV media and music skills, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a new bursary scheme. Through excellence and innovation in education and career development, Connections has empowered excluded teenagers and budding filmmakers to tell their stories.
The new bursary scheme offers companies a unique opportunity to contribute to developing the energy, creativity and drive of talented young individuals that would otherwise be denied access. These bursaries are creating the facility for young people to develop their technical and professional skills into marketable products. Companies can choose from a range of bursaries, with film content ranging from relevant contemporary issues and corporate responsibility initiatives. The bursaries will result in broadcast quality films created by those who would not otherwise have had the opportunity.
Last year, Connections supported over 500 young people with structured video camera editing and music technology training. Over 85% of trainees come from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds. Nearly all of the young learners were at risk of exclusion, or were not in any other education, training or employment.
Paul Brett, Chairman of Connections said: “We’re very proud of our 25 years of helping young people from different backgrounds into an industry where they have traditionally been underrepresented. Connections currently has a client base of over 200 London creative businesses, this ensures that our support for young people, new entrants and freelancers is in line with employers needs. Through our bursary programme we hope to engage companies looking to expand their corporate responsibility programmes into their advertising programme by using our young people to build their products.”
For further information on the bursary packages, please contact Jacqueline Davis on 020 8735 6015.
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For further press information, please contact:
Emma Walton, Walton Public Relations, 86 Roman Way, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 2HD. Tel: 01451 821800 Mobile: 07515 357842 Email:
em**@wa******.com
Notes to Editors:
Connections has:
• supported thousands of unemployed people to gain vocational entry level skills for the film and broadcast industry
• awarded hundreds of film bursaries to first time directors
• delivered over a thousand video, music and animation workshops for young people through drop in or in partnership with schools, youth clubs, community groups and youth offending teams.
• provided thousands of film makers with free or subsidised equipment hire.
Connections is supported by
• London Development Agency
• European Regional Development Fund
• Learning and Skills Council
• Film London
• Media Box
• Donations
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.