Section: Hostels & Foyers

Media Training Centres Launched in Foyers

Communities Minister Iain Wright launched a network of 10 media training centres, which aim to give hundreds of young homeless people the skills to take up jobs in the media and music industries.

The media centres, based in hostels for young homeless people run by the Foyer Federation, will give residents the opportunity to develop skills ranging from cinematography, to radio and music production. New partnerships with media organisations will help young homeless people get into careers.

Communities and Local Government has given the Foyer Federation £350,000 in funding to set up the 10 media centres in England, as part of its £90 million hostels improvement programme. BBC news presenter and former Strictly Come Dancing star Natasha Kaplinsky today joined Iain Wright at the Brighton and Hove Media Centre to launch the network.

The launch is part of the £90 million hostels improvement programme, which aims to transform hostels into centres that give homeless people access to the training and support they need to move on with their lives.

BBC Training & Development is sending staff on placements to the media centres to give training, mentoring and practical tips to young people on how to get into and ahead in the media industry.

Foyer in Focus: Darlington YMCA Foyer

Darlington YMCA Foyer provides accommodation, training and support to 31 young people in the Durham area, and is an accredited member of the Foyer Federation.

Darlington YMCA Foyer is an excellent example of how Foyers can provide an inspirational hub for young people in their community. In addition to the services provided above, Darlington YMCA Foyer also provides a number of volunteering programmes that encourage Foyer residents to get involved in either work at the Foyer, or in the local community. Many of these programmes are open to non-residents from the local community.

Apart from being fun, volunteering offers young people the opportunity to develop new skills such as teamwork, communication, and decision-making. By taking part in volunteering activities, residents often generate evidence that can be used as part of their training portfolio for the Learning Power Award. By using volunteering to generate evidence towards their Learning Power Award and key skills, residents achieve both the Millennium Volunteer Award and a qualification at the same time.

The Foyer runs a number of volunteering programmes aimed at young people aged 14-25 years. These include:

At present, 20 out of 31 residents are currently doing some form of volunteering and are involved with numerous activities and events. Residents have been putting together a DVD about volunteering, which will be distributed to local agencies and schools. Furthermore, residents received funding from Big Boost for an arts project in Darlington, called Darlington: Old and New, and used the Foyer's new Media Centre to create the display.

Darlington YMCA Foyer forms part of the Foyer Federation's 10 Media Centres around the UK, which were set up with funding from CLG's Capital Improvement Programme and aim to provide young people with new skills as they have fun being creative.

Darlington YMCA Foyer was recently awarded a 'Best Practice Award' for their outstanding work at the Foyer Federation's annual Practice Event, and has received £1000 worth of goods from Currys.

Information Notes

Foyer in Focus is contributed by the Foyer Federation. For further information, contact Louise Meincke, Policy and Communications Officer: louise@foyer.net; tel. 020 7430 2212.

www.foyer.net

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Reporting on July 2007

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