South West Screen are the regional partner for Mediabox in 2008/09, and applications are now being welcomed from youth media projects around the South West.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has invested £2 million in Mediabox for 2008. Mediabox is run by First Light Movies, Media Trust, Skillset and the UK Film Council. It offers disadvantaged 13-19 year olds the opportunity to develop and produce creative media projects, using film, television, print, radio or online platforms. Mediabox is for young people to express their own opinions, ideas and views, gain new skills, encourage creativity, boost personal development and get their voices heard.

Three different types of grants to make and distribute youth-led media projects are offered, ranging from £100 to £40,000. Mediabox is continuing the Mid and Big Mediabox grants to make and distribute youth-led media projects that express young people's ideas and views in a creative way, using their preferred media platform.Young individuals can apply for My Mediabox, while organizations can apply for Mid and Big Mediabox.

Mid Mediabox (for charitable trusts and unincorporated associations) - grants of up to £20,000
Big Mediabox (for legally constituted organisations) - grants of up to £40,000

Both Mid and Big Mediabox are open to youth and/or media focused organisations. Mediabox can only award grants to organisations and young people in England. There will be a two-stage application process for groups wishing to apply to either Mid or Big Mediabox (see application deadlines below).

Sas Bonser is the Mediabox Co-ordinator in the South West, based at South West Screen. If you are thinking of applying or would like further information Sas can be contacted on a Wednesday or Thursday at South West Screen by phone on 0117 952 9977 or via e-mail.

Regional priorities for Mediabox projects:

Media type
High priority: Digital and Interactive Media, print, photography, graphic novels and radio.
Low priority: Film & TV

Sub-regions
High priority: Gloucestershire and Somerset
Medium priority: Wiltshire, Devon and Dorset
Low priority: Bristol and Cornwall
We welcome strong partnerships, building on the work already done by Mediabox.

Based on last year's analysis of young people taking part in projects, Mediabox would welcome applications working with:

• Young parents
• Young carers
• Young people with disabilities
• Looked after young people

HOW TO APPLY

Application forms and guidance notes on applications are available via the Mediabox website.

Round 1 applications
Stage 1 application deadline: 2pm, Tuesday 29 April 2008
Stage 2 full submission deadline: 2pm, Tuesday 10 June 2008

Round 2 applications
(Not yet open for applications)
Stage 1 application deadline: 2pm, Tuesday 19 August 2008
Stage 2 full submission deadline: 2pm, Tuesday 30 September 2008

More Information