Media Trust Funding

Media Trust is running the Community Voices programme which is funding 26 selected projects, all of which will benefit from face-to-face training and professional mentor support. We hope they will not only showcase the value of the Community Voices spirit, but also inspire other communities to make a difference.

The grant application process is open for isolated and disadvantaged communities in England. You don't have to have an official status as an organisation, however you could be an organisation (for example a charity, housing association or local authority) applying in partnership with, or on behalf of, a community of people. Equally you could be an individual member of your community.

Here are some other examples:

Projects already using digital media to develop their work with a specific community (perhaps a library with an online access programme looking to work with an identified deprived or isolated community)
More formal community organisations looking to develop digital media to engender community voice and cohesion (perhaps a carers' trust looking to use digital technology to support isolated informal carers in their homes)
More informal communities looking to embrace digital media (perhaps a residents' or tenants' association in a deprived community looking to use digital media as a mechanism to bring residents together)

So that they can ensure the grants go to community-led projects, you need to be able to demonstrate that you have the backing of the community for the project you propose. Projects have to be fully engaged with the communities they aim to benefit.

Projects selected will be showcased on this website, with each project receiving a bursary to attend one of our training events, and a wealth of additional communications support. If you're helping to give your community a voice through digital media we'd like to hear from you.

Grants range from £1500 to £14 000

The application process will run until 28th February 2010. All community projects will be selected by 31st March 2010, and will run until March 2011.

For further information and how to apply, please go to http://www.mediatrust.org/community-voices/grants/