Media Trust has been awarded funding from the Department for Education’s Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) grant to deliver its youth media work for the next two years.

The funding will support hundreds of young people with training, media mentors, work experience placements and opportunities to showcase their work in the media.

Katie Simpson, Creative Media Director and Deputy Chief Executive of Media Trust, said: “Over the next two years, this funding will enable us to deliver further positive activities for young people and continue to work closely with media companies, media professionals and youth organisations to help unlock young people’s potential using the power of media.”

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families Tim Loughton MP (pictured) said: “The voluntary sector plays, and will continue to play, a significant role in reforming services for children, young people and families. I hope this grant further inspires a responsive and determined sector to do even more to improve outcomes for children, young people, parents and families.”

On 22 February Tim Loughton demonstrated this commitment to improving services by meeting with a group of young people, including Media Trust Young Ambassador Sabian Muhammad, to hear their views about the biggest issues facing young people today. The meeting was part of an ongoing series of discussions with stakeholders about how to create a culture in society that is more positive for young people, and in the run up to the sector wide 'Positive for Youth' summit in London on 9 March.

The Minister said: “I am committed to young people having a seat at the top table. We had a wide-ranging discussion that shows just how valuable it is to involve and listen to young people. I want to set the standard for councils and others by involving young people directly in developing our policies. I'm looking forward to meeting the group again”.