World Media Initiatives (WMI), a community interest company that works with young people including those from disadvantaged communities and in danger of going into custody to teach them the skills of film making, has received £50K in funding from Big Issue Invest, the investment arm of Big Issue Group.
The organisation creates fun learning experiences and wonderful opportunities for young people aged 9-19 years old. The participants get to learn to create film scripts, prepare storyboards, crew and cast for their production, carry out pre-production activities and produce their films which are premiered to family, friends, colleagues, and the community. WMI also takes them on trips and organises lectures with key industry figures.
Since 2013, WMI have worked with more than 2,000 children in and out of schools in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, and London to produce more than 150 films and hold over 100 film premieres. They have also developed several independent film projects.
One of the projects within this programme was the “Junior Filmmakers Knife crime project”, a series of films tackling the dangers of knife crime and gang violence. The project was funded by L&Q Foundation and produced by young people from Milton Keynes, Buckingham and London some of whom had faced the problems addressed.
The investment from Big Issue Invest will help with the creation of the Milton Keynes Film Academy (MKFA) which will provide post-16 film education for young people who intend to pursue careers or an education in film. The Academy will not only provide theoretical education but hands on film-making experience which no other educational body in Milton Keynes provides.
Anabel Feria Dominguez, Investment Manager at Big Issue Invest, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to be able to support a brilliant and creative organisation such as World Media Initiatives. The work they do to help young people from underserved communities is excellent, and I am very much excited to see them expand and bring their programmes to many more young people!”
