Aberdeen Charity receives over £1million investment from Inspiring
Scotland.
Station House Media Unit, a community media resource operating across
the regeneration areas of Aberdeen has just been awarded just over
£1million to support the organisation’s ambitious programme of work
with vulnerable young people over the next 10 years.
On 20th November, Inspiring Scotland (an exciting new funding body with
the aim to change people’s lives for the better through significant
long-term funding) announced its intention to invest £55 million of cash
in 24 charities over the next ten years through its 14:19 Fund. These
charities are to receive the initial investment of a fund that is
targeted at improving the lives of 14 to 19 year olds who are struggling
to make a successful transition from school to the next stage of their
lives.
Murray Dawson, Project Director at SHMU, was delighted on hearing the
news. "It's absolutely fantastic, and it's a testament to all the hard
work that all the volunteers, Board members and staff team invested in the
application process. This is a milestone in the charity’s development, and
coming at a time when funding in the voluntary sector in Aberdeen is
extremely stretched, this investment from a major external funder of over
£1million, with a financial commitment for 10 years, really is tremendous
news".
The funded initiative, shmuTRAIN, will support and encourage vulnerable
young people from the regeneration areas of the city to participate and
train in community media production (radio and video production, and
design and on-line publications), with a focus on three keys strands:
early intervention – developing a vocational training programme in schools
focussing on digital media for young people aged between 14 and 16 who are
showing early indications of not moving into further education, employment
or training;
positive transitions – to support young people aged between 16 and 19 who
are not in education, employment or training to move on to a positive
destination, including an apprenticeship scheme;
shmu training arm – to support the organisation in its aim to become a
designated community media training centre offering accredited training
opportunities ranging from SVQ accredited core skills through to degree
level courses.
"We plan to deliver a 10-year programme of activities, which will grow
from working with 212 young people in year one to over 500 young people
per year in year ten" continued Murray. "The initiative would also not be
possible without the enthusiasm and commitment from our strong network of
partners who will support and enhance this initiative in order to impact
on, and transform the lives of the young people involved" he added. "Key
partners include: Aberdeen Works (the new challenge forum which feeds into
The Aberdeen City Alliance), Community Training Unit, Careers Scotland,
Adult Learning, Northfield Academy, Pathways, Aberdeen College, Aberdeen
City Council, Dialogue Youth and Family Learning".
Total project cost for the shmuTRAIN project over 10 years will be
£2,843,543, with an investment from Inspiring Scotland of £1,073,803.
For more information on Station House Media Unit phone 01224 515013 or
visit http://www.shmu.org.uk, and for Inspiring Scotland and the 14:19
Fund, phone 0870 428 1982 or visit http://www.inspiringscotland.org.uk
- ends -
Notes to Editors:
Contacts
For further information, and/or to arrange interviews please contact:
Murray Dawson, Project Director, Station House Media Unit on 01224 515013
Catriona Henderson, Head of Communications, Inspiring Scotland on 0131 442
8764 or 07793 258 120.
Brendan Rooney, Scottish Government, on 0131 244 2960.
Quote from Inspiring Scotland Chief Executive
Andrew Muirhead, Inspiring Scotland Chief Executive, said: "We are really
excited by the work the 24 charities we’re investing in will deliver
across 17 local authorities in Scotland. 56,000 vulnerable 14 to 19 year
olds will receive support over the next ten years, and we are excited by
the prospect that 35,000 of them will end up in education, employment or
training because of this investment. We anticipate the 14:19 Fund will
attract up to another £67m of support for these charities and are looking
forward to producing results for the young people who, for a whole variety
of reasons, need extra support, and for our investors who have made this
possible". "As well as developing the charities, it is creating links
between them and the business community and has attracted a high level of
interest including international interest," he added.
Quote from Fiona Hyslop, Education Secretary, Scottish Government
Inspiring Scotland has also received the backing of the Scottish
Government, which has invested more than £9m over three years to be used
alongside support from other investors.
Fiona Hyslop, Education Secretary, said: "In these difficult economic
times, it's crucial that we equip our young people with the skills to
reach their potential and contribute to a more successful Scotland".
"We want to boost opportunities for young people who might lose their way
when making the transition from school and we know the vital role the
third sector plays in achieving this. That's why we're investing in
Inspiring Scotland - to provide charities with long-term and sustainable
funding that will enable our young people to receive the guidance and
support they need in continuing their education, or obtaining employment
or training."
please reply to murray at shmu.org.uk
Murray Dawson
Project Director
Station House Media Unit
Station Road, Woodside,
Aberdeen AB24 2WB
Tel - 01224 515013
http://www.shmu.org.uk
Listen to our community radio station live on 99.8FM and at
http://www.shmufm.net
SHMU is a charity registered in Scotland - SC034211 and a registered
Limited Company
- SC332413
