# Connections celebrates 25 years of enabling disadvantaged young people to enter the film and TV industry with new bursary scheme

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/02/20/connections-celebrates-25-years-enabling-disadvantaged-young-people-enter-film-and-tv-industry-new-b/
- Published: 2008-02-20T16:45:26+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/newswire/Connections logo_1203525804.
jpg)

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.

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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.

-ends-

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**@******
pr.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

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