News Item

Ace Fund grant for video training project

A project that is teaching filmmaking skills to unemployed young south Sefton residents has become the latest recipient of funding from a local grant scheme. Bootle-based Periscope Productions has been given £500 from the Regenerus Ace Fund for its community journalists initiative which will see the young people creating a celebratory short film about Crosby and Waterloo.

The film will focus on the positive impact that Antony Gormley’s Another Place has had on the town, and feature interviews with local people and businesses on how the area has changed for the better since the ‘Iron Men’ took up residence on the beach. Participants will be involved in all aspects of the film including research, contacting local people to arrange interviews, location filming and promoting the film to a wider audience.

Along the way they will learn key production skills including storyboarding, sound, lighting, camera technique and video editing. The Ace Fund grant will help to pay for the participants’ transport and food costs and the hire of technical equipment.

Jonathan Dawe of Periscope Productions commented: “As well as providing community education opportunities our aim is to foster a greater appreciation of the local environment and in particular Antony Gormley’s wonderful installation.”

Regenerus Ace Fund Co-ordinator, Eve Money, added: “We’re delighted to have been able to support this very worthwhile project which is teaching valuable new skills to local young people and at the same time encouraging more people to visit our area.”

The Regenerus Ace Fund provides a grant of £500 each month to a project that will help to improve life in the organisation’s core south Sefton operating area. Applications from established community and voluntary organisations are welcome, but the Ace Fund is also open to informal groups of local residents joining forces to work on a one-off, environment-related project.

For more information about future Ace Fund grant opportunities and an application form visit www.regenerus.org.uk or ring Regenerus on 0151-934 2637.