Salvesen Mindroom Centre has confirmed that they have been awarded a £116,000 grant from the Scottish Government partner, The Promise.
This transformative funding, effective from October 2023 for 18 months, will revolutionise their transition service, amplifying its impact in Scotland and supporting neurodivergent care-experienced young people.
The core focus of this initiative is to provide individualised in-school support, guiding young people through their transition into adulthood, and nurturing the realisation of their full potential. This grant marks a pivotal moment in Mindroom’s planned expansion of the much-needed service.
Commenting on the grant award, Kelly McFadden, Project Manager of The Promise Partnership, said, “We are delighted to be able to support Salvesen Mindroom Centre with this funding.
“It represents a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for neurodivergent care-experienced young people across Scotland.”
Salvesen Mindroom Centre’s CEO, Alan Thornburrow, added: “This grant is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team. We are immensely proud to embark on this journey, empowering young individuals to shape their own futures.”
Salvesen Mindroom Centre will be working closely with school students, offering personalised one-on-one guidance, using Mindroom’s distinctive “Future Me” resource.
This tool focuses on identifying strengths, aspirations, and dreams of the young person, while also addressing any necessary support they may require to turn these aspirations into reality.
The charity’s approach is rooted in its profound expertise in working with individuals who may have diverse communication needs, ensuring that every person has a voice in shaping their own future and achieving their full potential.
Alan Thornburrowcontinues: “Neurodivergent young people who are care-experienced, are all too often overlooked and it’s our unwavering commitment to ensure they are equipped with the same opportunities as their peers.
“We are dedicated to providing them with the tools, resources, and support needed to thrive and this funding will go a long way to supporting that.”
To extend their reach and impact, the charity is excited to announce plans to recruit and train a dedicated cohort of volunteers. This expansion represents a clear intention to build on their existing successful transition work within schools.
For more information on Salvesen Mindroom Centre go to:
The Sean Connery Foundation has announced four new grantees across Scotland
The philanthropic foundation aims to accelerate positive change through strategic grant-making to institutions and organisations in Scotland and The Bahamas
The new screen-education focused grantees (in alphabetical order) are:
● Glasgow Media Arts Centre (GMAC)
● SCREEN EDUCATION EDINBURGH (SEE)
● Station House Media Unit, Aberdeen (SHMU)
● The Portal Arts, Glasgow
Following the establishment of The Sean Connery Foundation in 2022 by the estate of Sir Sean Connery, the Foundation is pleased to announce four new grantees across Scotland.
These are Glasgow Media Arts Centre (GMAC), Screen Education Edinburgh (SEE), Station House Media Unit (SHMU), Aberdeen and The Portal Arts, Glasgow.
Each of these grantees, along with the Scottish Youth Film Foundation (SYFF), announced in October 2022, support young people in developing the skills, knowledge, confidence and connections needed for work in the film & TV industry at a time when more creators are choosing to produce content in Scotland.
The Foundation’s commitment to these grantees provides unrestricted funding over 3 years, and totals approximately £1MM.
Speaking on behalf of the Foundation’s work in Scotland, Jason Connery said: “Before he was a globally recognized movie star, my dad was a lad from Fountainbridge, and he never once forgot that whilst talent might be distributed equally, opportunity is not.
“By supporting access for passionate young people to the screen sector, no matter what their circumstances, we’d like to help dreams come true. We hope that young people with an appetite for visual storytelling and a curiosity about the many behind-the-scenes jobs that make movies possible, will reach out to our grantees and get involved.”
Foundation Chair, Stephane Connery, added: “The screen sector has enjoyed strong growth in recent years as more global productions choose to shoot their film and TV in Scotland, providing good jobs for industry-ready young people.
“Our screen-education grantees offer a wide variety of programs that introduce participants to the possibility of a career in screen production, often for the first time, and provide a clear path into an exciting industry that is too often considered out-of-reach.”
Each Foundation grantee delivers hands-on introduction to film-making that spans the entire creative process, from writing, producing, and acting, to sound, lighting, set design, costumes, and editing, enabling participants to try out the wide variety of roles available in the screen industry.
In addition to accelerating interest in a full scope of film & TV production careers, the Foundation’s grants portfolio aligns with Scotland’s cultural and educational priorities. By supporting organisations focused on helping passionate young people create and share their stories, the Foundation is investing in a new generation of skilled storytellers and a creative workforce with the 21st-Century literacy capabilities vital to Scotland’s future.
Participants in grantee programs report gaining valuable organisational and collaboration skills, experience in both advocacy and narrative storytelling, and increased confidence, laying the groundwork for fulfilling careers within the creative industry, and beyond.
The goal of The Sean Connery Foundation is to accelerate positive change through strategic grant-making to education and ocean conservation institutions and organisations in Scotland and The Bahamas, the two countries Sir Sean Connery called home.
About the grantees
Established in 1982, GMAC Film is an open access media centre based at Trongate 103 in Glasgow. Our mission is to engage young people, communities, and emerging film talent from under-represented groups to:
● Build confidence, skills and aspirations
● Increase access to education, training and employment
● Raise awareness of social issues through film
● Create a fair, ethical, and diverse screen sector in Scotland
It achieves this through six main pillars of work: youth work, education, employability, filmmaking, partnerships, and community engagement. GMAC Film seeks to empower people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in projects free at the point of delivery so that low income is never a barrier to taking part, giving confidence, knowledge and ambition to those who become involved, allowing each voice to be heard.
Euan Platt, CEO of GMAC Film has said: “GMAC Film has been championing diversity and increased access in the screen sector for over forty years, so we are thrilled to be selected as one of the Connery Foundation’s new grantees.
“This support will allow GMAC Film to sustain and develop its work across our wide range of programmes for young people, communities, and emerging film talent, and help ensure that more people- regardless of background- have the opportunity to use filmmaking as a way of conveying personal experiences, highlighting social issues, and telling powerful stories.”
Screen Education Edinburgh (SEE) provides high-quality screen education, training, and production programs for all ages.
Originally founded as Pilton Video in 1981, SEE specialises in developing people from areas of deprivation, from rural areas and low-income backgrounds, those living with a disability, and those from diverse backgrounds.
Graham Fitzpatrick, Principal Officer for SEE has said: “We are incredibly thankful for the support from The Sean Connery Foundation in establishing our SEE Young Filmmakers Hub.
“This funding will enable us to provide invaluable opportunities to young people between 12 and 18 who are passionate about filmmaking, regardless of their circumstances. With this support, we can help them develop the skills, knowledge, confidence, and connections needed to pursue a career in the film, TV and media industries.
“The vision of The Sean Connery Foundation, inspired by the legacy of Edinburgh born and bred Sir Sean Connery, resonates deeply with our organisation’s mission.
“By supporting local talent and inspiring young people in the city where he grew up, the Foundation is truly connecting with Sir Sean Connery’s roots.
“We are honoured to be representing Edinburgh in the Foundation’s funding portfolio and be part of the Foundation’s efforts to make a positive impact in Scotland’s cultural and educational priorities.
“We look forward to making a meaningful impact in the lives of aspiring young filmmakers and creating a more inclusive and accessible film industry in Edinburgh and beyond.”
Station House Media Unit (SHMU), established as a charity in 2003, is one of the core cultural organisations in North East Scotland and is at the forefront of community media development in the UK.
We are a community anchor organisation, supporting residents in the seven regeneration areas of Aberdeen in film and TV production, radio and podcast broadcasting, traditional and on-line publications, music production and digital inclusion.
These platforms are used as vehicles for personal and collective change; supporting skills development, active citizenship, community capacity building and community development.
The organisation also supports other disadvantaged communities, both geographic and communities of interest, including an employability and training arm, and an adult services arm which provides support and opportunities for adults with barriers, including those who are criminal justice experienced and in recovery.
We are also and SQA accredited learning centre offering a range of high-quality film and media qualifications, including the delivery of the Creative & Digital Media Foundation Apprenticeship in secondary schools across Aberdeenshire.
Murray Dawson, Founder & Chief Executive of Station House Media Unit added: “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected by the Foundation for this award as it aligns perfectly with our core values; transforming the lives of young people from disadvantaged communities through creative film & media.
“This funding will allow us to turbocharge our moving image programmes with young people across the region; expanding existing successful programmes while introducing brand new initiatives co-designed alongside the young people who will directly benefit.
“This generous contribution from the Foundation will undoubtedly lead to raised aspirations of young people across the North East, supporting them to realise careers in the film-making industry, whilst providing them with a transferable skillset that will also build their confidence and self-esteem.
“We can’t wait to see the impact this investment will have on the young people who participate – and to watching all the great films they’ll be making along the way.”
The Portal Arts is an award winning creative media and arts charity based in Govan, Glasgow.
We deliver two strands of work; community media access and Creative Steps for positive mental health. Through co-creative productions, we use filmmaking as a tool for community engagement, to raise issues and represent local people.
Our socially engaged production model delivers media skills through participation, mentorship and training, with the aim of improving wellbeing and addressing inequality.
Creative Steps is a positive mental health programme for adults who are experiencing enduring mental health conditions. We also recently launched The Portal Studios, the film production arm of the charity, which focuses on impact filmmaking and bringing unheard voices to wider audiences.
Moya Crowley, CEO of The Portal Arts has said: “We’re delighted to receive this funding gift from the Connery Foundation, which will allow us to create a significant body of work with young people from under-represented backgrounds, including those with neurodivergent conditions.
“We aim to break down barriers, challenge misconceptions, and enable access for young people by engaging them at an early stage of the filmmaking process, providing them with knowledge, skillset, and confidence, through the creation of short form filmmaking and impact producing, on a broad scale.”
For the time being, the Foundation is not accepting unsolicited grant requests.
For more information on The Sean Connery Foundation:
The Edinburgh Remakery has been granted £10,000 as part of the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards.
The latest phase of the Movement for Good Awards will see more than £500,000 in funding be awarded to 31 charities working across the climate change and environment, education and skills, heritage and arts and rural and community sectors.
The Scottish based charity is an award-winning environmental social enterprise committed to creating a culture of sustainable, waste-free living and protecting the planet for future generations.
The £10,000 funding will go towards the charity’s Tech Exchange for Community Hubs project, which will gift up to 200 refurbished electronic devices to 10 Community Hubs, giving their beneficiaries essential access to digital support and services and replacing old devices with newer, higher quality, refurbished ones.
The awards are designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities and beyond. More than 500 charities applied for the funding with the winning projects being selected against four criteria: impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.
Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “At Benefact Group we believe business should be a force for good. More than ever, charitable causes need sustained support and a sense of financial stability.
“Through our Movement for Good larger-grant awards, we are championing a more imaginative way of supporting charities so that they can have some certainty in these challenging times.
“We know our funding can be a lifeline to those who are struggling with cost-of-living increases and a grant of this scale can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do.
“Benefact Group is the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK and has an ambition to be the biggest. Owned by a charity, all our available profits go to good causes, and the more the Group grows, the more the Group can give. As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do.”
Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery Ltd, said: “The Edinburgh Remakery social enterprise is committed to supporting people in our communities whilst creating positive change for our planet.
“We reduce waste by taking in old electronics to be refurbished and reused, we reduce carbon emissions by providing affordable and eco-friendly alternatives to buying new, and we support our communities by providing people in need with gifted tech devices and valuable life skills to improve employability, confidence and wellbeing.
“Thanks to the Movement for Good funding, we are able to further our mission and help even more people whilst reducing waste and helping our planet at the same time.”
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
Joanne Smith, Founder and Chief Executive of FACT, said: “FACT is delighted to be receiving a £20,000 grant from Walk the Walk to help us provide support to some of the most vulnerable people in the North East due to a diagnosis of cancer.
Leith Theatre Trust has received an award of £11,000 to support business planning, leadership training and a package of consultancy work to strengthen its operation.
Leith Theatre is a Category B listed building, which had been empty from 1988 until 2016, when it partly reopened for pop-up events. There is still much work to be done to enable the building to fully re-open, programme and operate on a permanent basis.
This funding will provide mentoring consultancy works, accounts and leadership training, and a package of consultancy expertise work covering financial, marketing / fundraising, audience development and community membership, and stakeholder engagement.
Leith Theatre is one of six theatres to receive funding through the second round of the Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Programme, run by the national advisory body for theatres.
The others are Brighton Hippodrome, Derby Hippodrome, Granada in Walthamstow, Groundings Theatre in Portsmouth and Streatham Hill Theatre (above).
The programme is designed to support theatres on the Theatres Trust’s Theatres at Risk Register to commission expert advice and acquire the skills and knowledge to push forward capital projects to help save their theatres. Alongside the funding, the theatre will receive support and advice from the Theatres Trust advice team.
Lynn Morrison, Exec Director of Leith Theatre Trust said, “We are delighted to receive this funding and most especially at this time.
“We are a Theatre at Risk and a business start-up, with major refurbishment and construction needs. This funding allows us to prioritise strategic next steps for Leith Theatre and invest in expertise to work with us to support our business planning. The timing could not be more perfect and will help to build confidence at this time as we plan for what will be a new future.”
Theatres Trust Architecture Advisor Claire Applebysays: “We know how difficult it can be for theatres to raise funding for the early stage concept and viability works and for organisational support.
“These first stages of a project provide the vital foundations for both project and organisation, and we hope that with this support, these theatres will be able to make real progress.”
Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Programme is supported by Historic England, The Pilgrim Trust and Swire Charitable Trust.
Sue Bowers of the Pilgrim Trustsays: “The Pilgrim Trust recognises the importance of supporting theatres at risk to save their buildings and give them a viable and sustainable future.
“This is not just because so many of the buildings are of outstanding significance, but also because a restored, vibrant and well visited theatre building can assist with the regeneration of the centres of our towns and cities. We are delighted to be funding this programme.”
Martha Allfrey Trustee of the Swire Charitable Trustsays: “The Swire Charitable Trust is delighted to be supporting the Theatres Trust’s Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Programme.
“We applaud its goal of removing vulnerable theatres from the Theatres at Risk Register, thus securing the future of these vital cultural, community and heritage assets.
“Theatres Trust’s unique and intense work with these theatres can lend support in so many ways, offering exciting opportunities to the community and campaign groups involved – we will follow the progress of each project with great interest.”
