NORTHERN VISIONS MEDIA TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
The trustees present their annual report for the year ended 31 March 2023. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with periods commencing from 1 January 2016)
Objectives and activities
The Northern Visions Media Trust was established in July 2002 to:
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Advance education and training in television production techniques for the public benefit and for people of all ages and abilities living in Northern Ireland (the "area of benefit").
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Promote community development in the area of benefit by:
· providing facilities to and assisting community and voluntary sector organisations and groups to create their own television programmes;
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producing promotional material for such organisations and groups.
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Promote community arts, culture and heritage in the area of benefit by providing tuition and information and encouraging and facilitating community participation in arts, cultural and heritage activities and events.
As Chair, I am delighted to report that we have continued to deliver a range of activities and training to a variety of communities, voluntary groups and individuals. We continued to operate an open policy with access, participation and learning designed into the heart of our media programme, services and facilities. No media skills are required. We employ the community arts tenets of access, participation, ownership, authorship. We conduct action research and pilots. We prioritise the needs of disadvantaged people within an overall commitment to equal opportunities. Our partnerships include those delivering anti-poverty programmes, social inclusion, lifelong learning, skills based initiatives for the unemployed and eradicating child poverty. We maintain an arts and digital media centre as a central resource, embracing new technologies and innovation, including digital technology and distribution platforms not readily available to other organisations which is why we have developed an open access policy for all ages/abilities/skills and experience. Even the poorest neighbourhood has resources to offer. These may be experience/knowledge based rather than physical resources. It is important to us that they are afforded the same value as Northern Visions resources.
Children and Young people
We’ve worked with primary schools and after schools groups on animation projects and on a digital storytelling project with puppets and computer animation (Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain, St. Patrick’s Primary School, Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain, Donegall Road, Strandtown, Gaelscoil Éanna, Spectrum Centre and An Droichead.) This included over 150 local children. Our smART project has produced 50 arts projects on differing art forms with different youth groups. We use the Ladder of Participation (UNICEF), in terms of ensuring a youth focused initiative. We have used this on many occasions in the past and have found it a simple but invaluable methodology. Young people are also engaged with our Inheritance project which focuses on arts and the environment, have produced discussion programming with us in relation to this project. They are supported with training and mentoring. We’ve partnered with other groups to showcase their work on the NVTV platform.
Media Literacy
We have developed our work in the arts with people with disabilities with projects in partnership with Open Arts such as Sensorama, WAVE Trauma Centre and Brain Injury Matters. We enhanced the disability access to our building in 2019/20 and have been DDA compliant since 2004.We made special arrangements for people with disabilities to be included in our activities during the pandemic as it became clear early on that they were being left behind.We recently partnered with NI Screen to facilitate CINE, a scheme funded by the Department for Communities which provides eighteen month apprenticeships in the creative industries for individuals from underrepresented, ethnic minority, socio-economic, and disabled communities of all ages.
Volunteerism
We have encouraged volunteer contributions in Active Citizenship, Special Schemes with Women, Irish language arts/film, Ulster Scots arts/film, the Intercultural Lounge with Black and Asian community and Community Relations.
Older People
We have continued to support the involvement of older people in programme production. Arts Projects
We maximise public benefit by investing a high proportion of human and financial resources in the arts through creative productions, training, digital media resources, distribution and exhibition. Our training and skills enhancement takes place during engagement in the creative process on projects conducted with partner organisations in the cultural and community sector. Training
We offer training in all aspects of digital media, workshops, an Active Citizenship/volunteering programme with free training and mentoring, advise on progression routes, give artists and volunteers editorial control over creative output, create opportunities for artists to document their creative practice, provide opportunities for individual artists to be employed on arts projects. The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a company limited by guarantee.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: Mr S Wood
Mr D Rushton (Resigned 31 January 2023)
Ms C McAlonan-McCrudden Mr G P O'Caireallain
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up. The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Mr S Wood
Director Dated: 20 December 2023