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£8.25 million to give Young People a Voice

Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and Young People, has announced £8m of funding to give thousands more disadvantaged young people the opportunity to produce creative media projects.

The cash injection for the Youth Media Fund adds to the £8 million pledged for the project in 2006 and will mean that the initiative will continue for a further two years from April 2009.

The Youth Media Fund initiative gives young people the chance to take part in ‘Mediabox’ projects where they can express their ideas and views on issues that matter to them using print, television, film, radio, digital, or online media.

Since the projects started in 2006, Mediabox has invested over £6 million in funding, benefiting over 9,500 13-19 year olds across England, and young people’s projects have been showcased across a wide range of channels including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, as well as online sites like YouTube and MySpace.

Children and Young People’s Minister Beverley Hughes said: “I am delighted to announce that we are continuing to support and fund Mediabox. This is a vital scheme which helps thousands of young people across the country, particularly those who face challenges, get involved in exciting media projects. For most young people it’s the first opportunity for them to have their say as well as developing new skills and the chance to be creative.

“Mediabox projects have been showcased to a wide audience, enabling young people to have a voice in the media, bringing positive changes to their lives and communities and giving them a sense of real achievement. This boosts young people’s self confidence and broadens their personal and career horizons. I look forward to hearing more from young people through future Mediabox projects.”

Mediabox offers disadvantaged 13-19 year olds living in England the opportunity to develop and gain a range of transferable skills and experience that will better prepare them for adulthood and the world of work.

In addition, it provides policy makers with innovative examples of young people’s perspectives on issues that affect their daily lives, and provides employers, including the media industry, with trainees from backgrounds and with experiences currently under-represented in their workforce.