Are you a small charity registered in England? If so Media Trust wants to invest in you. Increase your impact with our Volunteer Filmmaking scheme.

Update: The deadline for applications has now passed. Charities have been selected for series six.

Be heard! Be broadcast!
Films are an incredibly powerful medium for story telling. Whether you want a promo, short documentary, animation or drama we’ll attempt to match your organisation with a professional filmmaker who will realise your vision for just £1000 – a fraction of the usual cost!

These films, of up to five minutes in length, can be used to raise your profile, liven up your website, bring your best case studies to life, engage your audience and add to your fundraising efforts. They will also be guaranteed a broadcast slot on national television - on Community Channel. In addition you will receive guidance on how to market and distribute your film on various platforms.

Now in its sixth year, Volunteer Filmmaking has produced more than 125 films for small charities in England working in areas such as youth, health, disability, community, sport, arts and the environment.

What’s it going to cost?
We are able to reduce production costs by bringing in volunteer filmmakers and donating our own resources to the scheme. So for just £1000 your charity can have a broadcast quality film worth up to £10,000.

Volunteer Filmmaking is part funded by the Office for the Civil Society with the aim of supporting small community organisations and encouraging volunteering in the film and television industry. To date Volunteer Filmmaking has seen the equivalent of £1,250,000 donated in time and resources by the media industry.

What to expect?
Don't worry if you are inexperienced in the world of filmmaking. Although there are many elements involved - developing ideas, scripting, setting up shoots, filming and editing - your filmmaker and Media Trust will work with you to create a film you will be proud of.

Watch previous films
All films produced through the Volunteer Filmmaking scheme receive a guaranteed broadcast on Community Channel as part of our Untold Stories strand presented by Sir Trevor McDonald. You can view the Untold Stories films or download the factsheets here

Testimonials
Christine Hawthorn, from J-U-M-P said, 'Like many other charities our resources are limited. As a result of the broadcast on Community Channel there has been lots of positive feedback and offers of help. People have also contacted us through our website and on Facebook where we have a link to the film. Thank you Media Trust for enabling us to show potential supporters and children and their families what we can achieve.'

Nina Arwitz from Mosaic Community Trust said, 'The process was incredibly easy and straightforward, and did not take too much additional capacity from our already thinly stretched team. Our volunteer filmmaker was brilliant, and we are all very happy with the film and excited about using it to reach new people.'

Adoption UK's Erika Pennington said, 'The volunteer filmmaker assigned to us was extremely professional, diligent and committed. The end result of the project was an impressive and informative film that has increased awareness of an important issue affecting many adoptive families and will, we hope, help influence change in this area.'