THE HULME TUNE

I found that there is new help from Student Finance Direct for those on benefits, but in some cases it is confusing. The “Maintenance Grant” is not what it seems. On one hand it helps some and on the other the Government takes it back. One of their books say that it will come off your benefit and can count as income for certain benefits like Housing & Council Tax Benefit. This grant was recently introduced, but is it a case of the Government playing Sheriff of Nottingham again?

I am pleased that there is such a grant to help the under-privileged in Hulme. I am disgusted that it will effect certain income based benefits. Why? Surely this Government could give better help for train fares, computers, software, clothes, books, materials, sustenance, etc. towards university expenses? The booklet by SFD says that it will work out to be a touch more than they get on benefit.

Student finance which Jobcentre Plus and your local authority’s Housing Benefit section counts as part of your income:

• Maintenance Grant
• Adult Dependant’s Grant

“In most cases, student finance replaces benefits..”

“Many students who are eligible for income-related benefits will find their income from student finance is higher than the amount of benefit they would normally receive. This may result in the student receiving reduced benefits or none at all.”

It’s like throwing 2p in a beggars cup outside McDonalds and saying, “Now buy yourself a Happy Meal and a hot drink!”

What do I mean?

“.. the fixed amounts not counted as income were (in 2007/8) £370 towards the cost of book and equipment and £290 for travel costs.”

‘Well, at least it’s something.’ you may say.  Let’s add up the real cost of going to a university outside Manchester.

In any university life there is the “dissertation”, which requires a laptop so the student can work from home. There are university libraries, but I cannot use a Liverpool University library card at Manchester Metropolitan University library. To use my own university library I have to go back to my university.  Which means more costs in travelling and more money. A decent laptop can cost around £600, then you need software as well.

Next is £290 for travel. At university for 2 days a week at a cost of £9.50 per day plus bus fare to and from the station that is  £23 p/w at present costs using Arriva Buses & North Western Trains. For 10 weeks at university, plus any extra days that the course demands then that £290 is swallowed up quickly.

Oh, by the way. They give you an extra £10 per week not to be taken into account. Any Maintenance Loan will not be taken into account. There are grants and there are loans.

I have met overseas students who have told me how their country or company is supporting them by paying for their flights, accommodation, maintenance support and paying their course fees in full to have university education here in the UK. Getting our education, when this Government is not investing in it’s own people. This shows that other countries are more interested the future of their people and their country’s economical growth more than the UK’s Government. Britain, shamed to say, wants to keep the poor poorer and put them into deep debt. Is this “Britishness”?

I am confused to know if Incap is income based and wondering if I would be penalised by wanting to improve my chances of work in 2012. A year after the proposed opening of MediaCity UK at Salford in 2011.

One person I know on Incapacity Benefit tried getting on a City & Guilds course at WFA Media on Lucy St. She went to inquire and found that she would be CHARGED for the course, where others are getting it for free being on certain benefits. Plus, if she was from an ethnic group it would be free also.

The “Maintenance Grant” should be given unconditionally to all on benefits who want to improve their prospect of a career by seeking higher education and should not be classed as extra income.

I hope that the “Maintenance Grant” won’t effect the money I already get, so that it will give me a better chance of getting a degree. I can focus on the course concentration and not have my head full of money worries like: “How can afford to remain on the course? I’ve been doing so well and my tutors are very pleased with my progress. Now the money has run out and I’ve got a few months left”. If that does happen to the unfortunate students it is not the end of the course, they can apply to their university’s “Access to Learning Fund” which can give them the extra help they need.  I know it feels like begging, but it is there to help and not to put the student down. In this day when people want to be more independent and feel awkward in asking for any support, it is to make sure that you can continue to study or until you find your feet.

The ‘Student Loan’ is bad enough. The grant looks great if it really is extra support that people need. The way forward is higher education, training and working with disability advisers to be able to offer something to employers willing to take us on in this fast technological age.

Thankfully, there are bursaries from the universities themselves at £310 per year and maybe scholarships. It’s a maze you have to go round and this takes up valuable time, especially when students should be studying.

I hope this blog will help those who may have considered higher education, but was put off by serious debt worries and hardship through university life.

What if all this money replaced benefits and all the student was left with was a little extra than normal? Then would this come under the rules of the grant and not the DWP? Technically, as I understand it, you basically sign off to go to university. This could mean that you can now take a p/t student job, low payed as they are, and have some extra money for term-time. Not a lot, but something to spend on new clothes or music or dancing at the Students Union. Then in Summer you can sign back on, it is allowed. Seeing that they won’t force you to look for work, it will take you through to September again.

In 3 or 4 years time what would you be doing? Sat around the house bored or receiving your degree with a better chance of gaining employment? Go for it!

At one time the Government would throw money to people to help them come off benefits. Now we are treated with contempt.

Some how I think these blogs are going to be my notes on tomorrows radio show on ALL FM.

The great university challenge, for me that is. Are there opportunities for people like me to go and take a degree course? What put me off in the past was the time it would take, the expense, the massive debt and the lack of qualifications. How do I do it?

Was the Government going to help or would I struggle financially and have to give up the course?

I found out that I could get a grant to cover costs like books, travel and other expenses without it touching my entitlement to benefits. I was very surprised and humbled. The best thing is.. I don’t have to pay it back, not a sausage.  My train fare, materials and sustenance is covered and no loan shark in sight. It’s not a great lot of money. It couldn’t cover a night out at the student union, but at least it’s something that helps. The Government only gives me enough to live on and with the rising costs of food & utilities, it would have be a massive obstacle not having that extra financial help. I wish it was enough for a laptop, as well, with some fancy gadgets like memory sticks, external drives and a decent digital camera.

The sad thing is, I would still have to pay back the loan for the course fees and there are conditions to paying it back. Doesn’t mention Lottery wins though. They start to take back a percentage like 9%pa for over £15,000 earned (£15 p/m). The Government does add interest at the rate of inflation only and will write the loan off if you become dead. They’ll write it off if you cannot work as a result of a disability or after 25 years of getting a low income.

There are individual circumstances, which are not covered in this blog. Full detail are in the booklet “A Guide To Financial Support For Higher Education Students” or visit the link Student Finance.

It is very important to choose the right course at the right university.

So, I’m pretty excited that there is help for those who want to go into higher education. Student Finance have an office in Manchester at Overseas House on Quay Street. You can grab all the info you want from the website and apply via their Manchester office.

It’s well worth investigating, as it could mean a chance of a lifetime to gain that important degree and aim for a better future for yourself. I would encourage anyone from Manchester to try to better themselves. This would make Manchester a better choice for industry, like the MediaCityUK project at Salford Quays. Do we really want the BBC to import talent and workers from London and the rest of the UK?

Instead of watching me on TV, you could be the one on camera or employing me.

Your Hulme Community Reporter, Paul Ridyard, has been accepted on a course at the University of Central Lancashire. I’m going to do a BA (Hons) Journalism – Foundation Year Entry based at BBC Radio Lancashire in Blackburn. The course starts in September when I enrol at the main university building in Preston.

It’s a great opportunity for me to gain a qualification that would lead to doing a full-time 3 yr degree course. Will it be easy when I have a disability and claiming Incapacity Benefit, I wonder? After all, the Government would like to see us in employment. Are there opportunities for training and higher education, to give us a better chance of a career, or is the Government more concerned about unemployment figures? I am going to find out.

This Saturday I received the news that I was waiting for, that UCLan had accepted me on the course and had reserved me a place unconditionally. This was great news. Also, I got an email inviting me up to Preston for one of the university’s open days. This would mean forking out £8.70 for the train fare, but I was to find out later that this was an investment.

I got to the Open Day Registration Point in Foster Building (see pic above) and gave my name, received a bag, info I already had and a £1 drinks voucher (bargain). Cheapest coffee was £1, so it was a free drink on them.

While I was there I decided to hand in my acceptance slip to say “Yes” to the course and post my application form for my UCLan Student ID (they have a weird name for it, “Corporate ID”), but getting my passport photo proved to be a bit of a struggle. First of all I had to hunt for a photo booth. I tried the uni library and then the Students Union, eventually I found it. “FOUR POUND FOR 4 PHOTOS!” I shouted inside, in case someone heard me and threw me out – I only needed one. This was another unplanned expense. How much is it going to cost me before I even start studies?

OK, so £4.00 is not a lot. But, then add it to the £8.70 and you see it mounts up. £12.70 is still not a lot, you may think, but deduct that off my weekly benefit money and then you begin to realise that this venture to further my career opportunities is an even bigger sacrifice.

I went back to Foster Building and asked for change, seeing I only had £3.60 in change. The shop didn’t have any and neither did the restaurant. I was told that there was a newsagent close to the SU. So, sweating my shirt wet, I went back to the SU to look for the shop and get some change after buying a drink.

Finally, when I got my pics, I headed back to Registration with a sense of victory.. I did what I came to do. This meant missing the “Hello and welcome to UCLan” sleep-talk in the lecture hall further inside. Which didn’t really bother me at this point.

Foster Building was too warm, I was hot and my asthma was making me feel very uncomfortable. There was no air-conditioning and the doors that were automatic kept shutting. So, I went outside to cool off.

When I wandered back in, the receptionist was very nice and kind. She gave me a re-usable internal mail envelope and a pair of scissors with a cheaper branded version of the Pritt Stick. I stuck my pic to the form and put it in. Sigh of relief.

One of the welcoming staff called me over to ask me where I got my photos from. I was puzzled at first, because it was me who was asking 30 minutes before. Then I though it was amusing; but I was pleased to be able to help and pointed them in the right direction.

Time was heading towards 1pm and I deeded to get to the journalism talk in another of the university buildings. The information booklet for the Open Days at UCLan said that there was a shuttle bus that picked people up from the station and went round the campus every 10 minutes. I didn’t see one, but there were a few coaches parked up in the side street adjacent to Foster Building. My spine was hurting me and I didn’t want to walk. I asked one of the drivers for the shuttle, he said he didn’t know. Then he said he’d take me to the place. It was great, as I was the only passenger – a whole coach to myself!

When I arrived at the Greenbank Building, where the journalism course talk was, I was directed to the lifts and the second floor. I sat for 45 minutes in another stifling warm room. No, open windows or air-con. I was hoping that my anti-perspirant deodorant would keep working or I’d stink the class out. I then ate my chicken butties and finished my drink off while the talk started, after inhaling my asthma medication again.

The Course Leader, Shirley Lewis, gave a PowerPoint presentation about the range of different courses in Journalism that we could go on for a degree and the foundation. My plan was to do the foundation course, so I’ll have entry to university, then change to Film & TV to do a degree. Then, when the Journalism course touched upon Radio & TV studios, I realised that maybe I should continue in 2009 doing a journalism degree. This is why it paid for me to go on Sunday; otherwise I would have my sights set wrong. Most of the class was made up of 18yr olds with aging parents and not feeling intimidated or out-of-place, I said to one of the teenagers, “Please remember me next year as you do your degree, I might need your help!”

So, how should I, with a working class background, approach this course? Should I go dreading it and fearing the worse, knowing that, at the end of 1 or 4 years, I’ll be further in debt by 10’s of thousands of pounds?

I simple thought came to me. A few weeks ago I was watching a TV programme explaining how children take in more when learning is made fun for them. ‘That’s the key!’ I thought. My attitude is going to be one of excitement, adventure and it’s going to be fun. Fun learning, fun doing and fun meeting new people.

Today, Monday, I went to the student loan people on Quay Street and gave them my passport to photocopy for their records.

I thought about how much it would cost me to travel by train 2 days a week to do this course and any extra expenses on the way. I am hoping that the Government has made a provision for this through grants. If not, then there are bursaries. I hope that this expense will be covered somehow, as it’s going to be a long cold winter if not. Enough to put most people off higher education. I’ll let you know as soon as I get news.

I did bump into an ex-Manchester Metropolitan University student who works behind a bar on Oxford Rd. I thought it was strange that he had passed his degree, but was working as a bar tender. He told me that he took a film course that was just history and styles and that he couldn’t find work with it. He said that if he had waited until now, he could have gone on a better course.

This is not unusual with some university graduates. Another student, a few years ago, told me that his degree wasn’t worth the paper it was written on. This is shocking, but there are courses out there that could lead to a dead end. I did suggest he could do what his tutor did, those who can’t.. teach!

Finding the right university is equally important.

My bar tender friend said that he couldn’t go on another course to gain the degree that would give him a greater opportunity of finding a career in film. I asked, “Why not?” He told me that the last degree put him in too much debt. So, here is a young man aged about 22 with no job after his degree and in a lot of debt. I did suggest that he could do a postgraduate instead.

Choose carefully the course you want to do. Many parents push their sons & daughters in to courses what they think they should do. This is nothing but controlling. I’ve talked to a few unhappy students in the past and found that the course they were on was not their desired one, but pushy parents put them there. I did advise them to see a student adviser and one changed her course and is now very happy and has worked with needy children in under-developed countries in Europe, like Romania, fulfilling her dream. Fortunately for her, the advice came at the right time during her 1st year.

This student loan scheme was New Labours’ idea of student poverty and needs to be stopped. So that students who end up on the wrong course won’t literally have to pay (back) for their mistake for years to come. How many more students have wasted 3 yrs and got nowhere and have serious debts?

If I give my honest view in these blogs, then hopefully things can be done to improve life for others. Otherwise, some things would get over-looked.

Prayer is going to get me there!

As I was looking to make ends meet, I decided to pop into Tesco Metro, on Market Street, and look for some of them offers that saves me benefit money from running out. When I got to the drinks range, I noticed an offer that I just had to refuse. That Tesco was offering a bottle of Sparkling Vimpto 95p for 1 or 2 for £2.00.

In this day of credit crunching tighter budgets and supermarket price wars, do they really want to charge me more for buying extra? I think it was a mistake in the pricing of the product at the store, rather than Tesco wanting more profit. I pointed this out to the supervisor, who went as bright red as her Tesco fleece and then disappeared with the label to the stock room apologising. Maybe I should have told her that I was not from Trading Standards…sshh!

Satisfied that I helped both shopper and Tesco Metro, I treated myself to four bottles of Sparkling Vimpto Light.. no, not really, not at that price offer!

Why should we pay for Experian or other CS company mistakes in giving credit risk assessments that are wrong?

I just opened a Barclays Bank account and put money into it. Then I went and contacted the people who pay money into my account and those that take some out every month.

A month later, I went back to Barclays Bank, Market Street, Manchester, and asked for a DEBIT card and cheque book. Fair enough. I have these services at LloydsTSB. So, I would imagine that Barclays would give me the same. Right? Wrong!

The bank did a credit check.. hold on! A ‘credit check’, not for “credit” or a loan or a credit card or a mortgage.. but for me to use MY MONEY in a useful way to shop online and send money by post to love ones.

I felt really humiliated that Barclays Bank refused me on the grounds of a credit check at Experian. WHAT? I explained to the man that I AM NOT BORROWING MONEY AND LLOYDS TSB ALREADY GIVE ME THOSE SERVICES.

I didn’t want to borrow money, buy on credit, pay over a time period, take a mortgage out, have a credit card or arrange a large overdraft. I just wanted to use my account like I have at LloydsTSB.

He did suggest that I PAY to have my ‘credit score’ checked. I told him what he could do with his bank, in a nice way of course. Pay? For what? So, Barclays Bank want me to pay the company, Experian in this case, that said “No” unreasonably? Barclays Bank must be joking? Barclays don’t want my money then? Then Barclays say I must take it up with Experian myself and pay for their misjudgment.

A credit score to open an account at Barclays Bank and use the services? A few years ago all you needed was a £1 to open an account and get the services you need. It’s the basic requirements. I’m changing bank asap! Maybe stay with LloydsTSB if the other 2 are just as bad.

How do you avoid this? Well, find out if you are black listed by any company. Go into different banks or stores that use credit scoring and tell them that you want to take a service but not sure if you’ll score. This service is then free as the bank or store will pay for this, to do it yourself will cost you. Ask which one it is. Then you’ll know for sure and this will save you time and keep a note of the stores that do use them.

The easiest way to pay is to save up and buy it straight away, you won’t have to pay interest then and you could bag a bargain if there’s a sale on or barter for cash payment. The store should not need to ask you for sensitive information then or be embarrassed when it says “no”.

Before you open an account or use a service or purchase an item, ask them which credit scoring company they use. If they say the one you that has black listed you, you can then walk out and go to a number of others - you can choose.

Better still, go to the CAB and get good advice about credit scoring.

You could write to the credit scoring company and pay to have your good name cleared. But, if they have black listed you, then why pay for their error? Why can we not take such a company to court for defamation of character, this is what it really boils down to; they’re saying in effect that you are not trustworthy and bad with money, a high risk - even though you’ve paid every bill and never been to court over finances?

Yet, another credit scoring company will give me the thumbs up. Tough, Barclays, you used the wrong one and I’m taking my money somewhere else.

Off-shore banking is better if you have loadsa dosh. I’ve been disgusted with British banks and their rip-off illegal high charges.

To be fair Barcalys Bank say they are to reduce their overdraft fee.

After writing my previous article for Mywebconnect, I contacted the BBC to see if they could clarify on their proposal to employ those of us who have a talent, but don’t have the privilege of a 1^st degree with honors and a Masters just to read the autocue.

It’s actually a misconception that  BBC jobs require a formal qualification as standard. We’re always recruiting for a wide range of roles  and although they each call for different qualities, it’s surprising how far life experience can take you. In a few selected areas such as technical jobs we do specify particular levels of qualifications as typical with other companies.

My point here is that the our approach is NOT looking for qualifications rather than the other way round as your quote infers.

“…maintaining standards” also sounds a little strange. This was in relation to managing people’s expectations - so although we’re actively seeking to make ourselves more open and accessible as an employer - we’re still looking for individuals with real potential as well as experienced talent. It’s not a question of a lowering quality but more about our supporting and nurturing individuals with talent to fulfill their potential.

Fiona Wright

Senior Resourcing Project Manager, BBC at MediaCityUK

Perhaps I have been misconceiving this concept, but what evidence is there that truly exists in supporting this?

Maybe the first step towards this is the BBC coming along side MCIN and us community reporters,  encouraging us and allowing us behind the scenes peek at North West Tonight going out live and being taught some journalism (for free) at BBC Manchester on Oxford Road. This is a major first step and I personally welcome this. They are really holding their arms out to us, giving us a taster of what goes on behind the scenes of live regional news programming.

It allowed me to imagine myself sat on the red couch next to Ranvir Singh- yes, please - reading the news! But, in the back of my mind, I cannot see it, in itself, as being enough to be employed by the BBC. I’m still not persuaded by the BBC that qualifications are not really important and I hope they prove me wrong. There again, if they do spot talent then wouldn’t we still need some level of skill and training -but where from? University of course! As anyone from the Community Reporters had a real offer of going on a placement yet? My point exactly!

Next is the ‘Introduction to Journalism’ workshops, of course it’s not comprehensive. (It is not until next week when I go to the BBC to learn more about regional news gathering and reporting. So, I cannot comment on it until I’ve experienced it first hand.)

OK. Let’s say you can point a camera, choose a good backdrop, do a white balance, press a button and record some footage. Then edit that on Final Cut Pro and produce a little piece about your corner of the woods. You then post that on the Internet as community news and write a little story to the video and post a picture taken from the footage you were editing on the timeline. You practice and practice and then you learn from the TV and other online media sites. A job comes up at the BBC, they ask you to send in your CV. What are we to put for work history (unemployed, sickness & other benefits), qualifications (none), experience in media production (voluntary community news gathering) and a good knowledge of BBC procedures in media news gathering and journalism (behind the scenes look at NWT)? Arrgh!

How would I feel if my CV was mainly blank and at the bottom “Community Reporting”? Not very confident next to 100 graduates from MMU, Salford Uni, Man Uni, UCLan, Edge Hill Uni and all other universities in the North West; all having been on placements at 3sixtyMedia, BBC Manchester, Liverpool, etc., Granada/Carlton, Lime Pictures and Channel M as part of their course. Remember the last job advertised in my previous report? Not forgetting that young female university graduate, who was on a 6 week placement – now she knows BBC procedures.

More jobs opportunities are coming soon to Manchester when Channel 4 has its regional news programs for Channel 4 News, even though ITV who part-owns ITN covers local news already. Would C4 grab established people from Channel M, Granada Reports and North West Today/Tonight, who are experienced already? Or, is C4 looking for everyday folk like you and me? Will they just advertise and take on more university graduates with a degree and an MA to read the autocue?

I believe we must, amidst the competition (500 applicants for 12 placements), look realistically at this and past the hype. We are all used to politicians saying they will do this or that, then we vote them in and they mess this country up more. Like when Gordon Brown says he wanted to eradicate child poverty, then Alistair Darling scraps the 10p tax rate and sends the poorer families further into poverty. So, should we just open our arms wide and fully believe the BBC? Maybe they could really be totally genuine and will employ local people at MediaCityUK.

The BBC are making every effort to put their point across through video, seminar workshops, leaflets and behind the scenes invitations. It certainly increased my expectations that I could, one day, be employed by the BBC. Then, I began to look realistically at my chances and realised that I still needed to gain more qualifications and up-skill. I have talent and have been spotted by BBC recruitment, but I’ve not been contacted yet. “I’m still free, by the way, BBC!”

I like to think that the BBC are sincere about the way they say they are looking for ‘local voices’ and new talent and not just in its cleaning department. We don’t want to end up missing the boat on the Manchester Ship Canal, do we?

This is Paul Ridyard,  for MCIN Community News - Hulme.

Are they sure it was 70,000 Chrysanthemums that they laid in Albert Sq. for pay-per-view? Was it not 69,999? Can they do a re-count? Great for ‘guess the number of flowers’ competition. Who’s paid for this? Us, as in Man City Council? Arts Council? Save the Beetroot Chrys’s?

The best view was from inside the Town Hall of course.

Lay a lawn in the middle of Manchester and put a pretty pattern of Chrysanthemums from an old textile  design and what do you get? News coverage! But, what’s  it for?

It’s to promote Jo Vickers, who’s an artist and senior art lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and she has a business in wedding and events flowers called “Spectacular Space”. A great advertising publicity stunt. And just to stop anyone thinking about the environmental implications of pollution in transporting the things, they will be composted for recycling. Deep Purple is a rock band.

Did anyone pay a pound to go up scaffolding to see the view from above? Me neither! I hung around to see if someone would, but it remained empty. I did see an elderly couple coming down the steps, but I think they were looking for the toilets.

If Manchester City Council asked me, I would have told them how to make some money and get the publicity. Ditch the dead heads and put a few holes in it! 9 to be precise. Then charge £3 a time to business people who want to improve their putting on their lunch break, but wait until the warm weather comes.

It’s a girlie thing, yuk.

Now, if she did it as a Manchester United logo then I would respect her turf. Even volunteer to cut her grass, feed & weed the lawn and talk to the flowers to stimulate healthier blossoming. Then picnic and sun bathe in the rain and then build a 9 hole putting course around it.

Fore!

Kaite with Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz in “Happy Days”.

TV legend Henry Winkler was at WHSmith in the Arndale today, Sunday 6 July. Many came to see him and he delighted children with his coin trick. He breaks a 25cent coin in his mouth and then it comes back as a full coin again. Henry was there for a couple of hours signing copies of his children’s book series about a boy called Hank Zipzer, ‘the worlds greatest underachiever’.

It started off a bit frustrating at first. First the Arndale security would not let us interview those that met him. Then the mic lead I borrowed from ALL FM crackled and popped. So, we decided to do the interview even if the mic lead wasn’t working. I know.. but what where we suppose to do? I wish I had my own equipment.

Finally, the mic lead worked and Kaite interviewed Henry for The Hulme Tune on Thursday 10 July. Kaite sat next to him and asked him about his dislexia and how much of the books’ character, Hank Zipzer, was based on himself. Henry talked about how much the books has been selling and what was special about 19th August 2008.

Afterwards, Henry gave her a kiss on the cheek and signed a copy of one of the books. Kaite was thrilled to have met him and couldn’t wait to tell all her family and friends across the world. WHSmith also took pictures, as well.

Tomorrow he’s off to a Stockport school to see the children. You can tell he really loves children. Henry is a real down-to-earth nice guy and WHSmith were hospitable, too - we appreciate that - thank you guys.

You can hear the interview on ALL FM on this Thursday’s show!

EMAIL THE SHOW

Will this lead to actual real jobs within MediaCity and other media production houses renting property from Peel Holdings at Salford Quays? What skills are relevant to CBBC that are developed over this signed agreement or by community reporting?

I’ve seen the MediaCityUK’s Media City promo DVD when I was at BBC Radio Lancashire. I was assured that the BBC would NOT be moving workers from London to Manchester and that job opportunities would be open to local people. Are Salford or Manchester University students, who are from London originally, classed now as local because they live temporary in Manchester & Salford?

Such a proposal looks exciting for us com reporters who have the heart and are not “university degree clones”. It does look like the BBC are looking for real local ordinary folk, who, with help and encouragement (esp. from the Job Centre + & Connextions), could contribute talent and creativity.

Yet, I find that Job Centre Plus (plus what?) is not interested in anyone being trained for 2011 - only that they get them off the dole. That’s the impression I get, anyways. How do people keep the Job Centre off their back while training, when the Government has took people’s freedom away and forces them to do 15 hours over 5 days, sat in a dingy rundown office  sifting through papers, to be forced to do the worse lowest paid job ever  or “..you’ll lose your benefits if you don’t apply for it”? That’s reality. Those 15 hours could be best spent learning, developing and engaging in new technology training to work across multi-media platforms. Why doesn’t the Government help those people to gain skills and really learn and develop those gifts, instead of being more interested in vote-grabbing unemployment figures and using the money for new fitted kitchens in their second homes?

What real skills are developed and what qualifications do people actually gain from this partnership?

The clock is ticking towards 2011 and I’m interested to see how MCIN & the BBC can help those, who are volunteering for free like me, get into media paid employment. Not just for MediaCity, but the rest of the media industry throughout the UK. It takes 1 year to study an undergraduate course in Journalism and 3 years after that for a degree. That takes us to 2012 by my watch. Still, handy for Newsround.. and how, exactly, does community reporting fit in with the rest of CBBC?

Then there’s WFA Media, plenty of skilled students come out of there. Adult Learning Centre, Manchester University, Man Met University, Salford University, MANCAT, Manchester College, North Trafford College, Loreto Sixth Form College and let’s not forget North West Vision & Media trainees as well - all skilled students, all wanting jobs at MediaCity. That’s not including Tameside, Oldham, Bolton and Stockport Colleges.

I don’t want to be still volunteering in 2012, still claiming benefits, while all the jobs at MediaCity are taken up by the above.

If the BBC have come up with a tangible viable practical way for those of us who are volunteering in the community media sector to break into the media industry, then I’m all for it. If its just an exercise in community relations, then what’s the point?

When the BBC informed me that they were committed to looking for local people with a heart for media production and “not university clones” I thought, ‘great - now show me!’

If its true, then it’s brilliant and that means they can have talented people, some who maybe dyslexic but creative.. those that are not able to gain a degree but can put sound & voice clips together with digital effect and make a great trailer or news report.. and those who might not have a GCSE but has a good personality that can “tell it as it is”.

If it’s just hot air, then we should get our license fee back for the next 10 years.

Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz in the US sit com “Happy Days”, has dylexia. He now writes children’s books and is the founder member of Children’s Action Network. So, this guy proves that given a chance you can make it.

BBC Local Radio & North West Tonight have staff already and paid placements are given to.. you guessed it.. university graduates - community reporters only get a tour.

I have a BA Hons degree in Contemporary Film and Video from Manchester Metropolitan University. While at university I did some work experience on Spooks. Since graduating I have built up my experience, working within the industry on various productions.

There were nearly 500 applications for 22 places across the North of England

My placement is split: 6 weeks on North West Tonight (regional news for the BBC) and 6 weeks on The Cup for Hartswood films; a comedy shot in an ob doc style, set in Bolton about the lives of the parents of an under 11’s football team.

http://www.northwestvisionandmedia.co.uk/page/amy-somers

The BBC say they are not looking for “university clones”, you don’t have to have a degree to work here. Mmm… maybe that memo hasn’t reached BBC Manchester yet!

Trust: Trust is the foundation of the BBC, we are independent, impartial and honest.

CBBC would probably want talented children, computer animators, runners and researchers. So this leaves BBC Formal Learning in which we would have a chance to gain any employment, in my opinion, in MediaCity. The production houses already have their staff. Cosgrove Hall (Danger Mouse) are moving from Charlton to Salford, perhaps even make a new animation series called “Salford and The Wheelie Bins” to celebrate the move.

Doing radio and community reporting has helped me to practice and develop skills. However, I found that this may not be enough. I still need to learn more to get into broadcasting.

Community reporting is only one of the multi-media platforms along with video camera work, video editing, taking audio from timelines, posting images and writing updates, sound editing, researching, producing trailers and ads - all within BBC guidelines and basic values.

After returning from BBC Radio Lancashire, I found that I needed to gain a qualification -  even though I have the skills. Yes, I do need some more training to come up to BBC standards. Community reporting for MCIN was a step in the right direction as it shows that I am ready for the multi-media age. It does help you get to the next step and found it, in itself, is a good practice ground for honing your skills. A show case to prove I can do it. But, now I must move on and apply for a recognised qualification and learn.. in fact, you never stop learning in the industry.

What I am really saying is, I believe com reporters still need to further develop our skills through education and training or placement schemes. Com reporting is a good platform for seeing if you have a skill in web reporting and updating. The practice is good in developing, the more you do the more you flow. But, is it enough to get paid employment at the BBC in MediaCity in 2011?

Hands up if you know how to operate a Z1 camera? Me neither! Write a treatment? Extract audio from Avid?

It does look promising, Gary, developing “clear pathways into the BBC and the wider industry” and I’d like a closer look at this as 2011 approaches. It does look like a step in the right direction and is good for a starter. I would like to see these “pathways” to work work and see the BBC really helping us volunteers towards training and industry recognised qualifications or a paid full time career.

“This partnership has helped raise the aspirations of the local community reporters who feel that they have a real possibility of working at the BBC or in media.“

Gary Copitch, Director of MCIN

Local? To Salford or Manchester as well? Is BBC Manchester giving us local (Salford & Manchester) community volunteers placements, paid or unpaid? If the BBC are committed to taking on local talent, without university degrees or distinctions from acting schools, then how do we find the jobs they say they will give us?

Is there really a real possibility? Even though I’ve seen MediaCityUK’s promo DVD, I’m still not totally convinced - unless you’re a 14yr old.

This is an extract from an email from Sophia Rehman, Editorial Administrator, Talent & Diversity, Commissioning Management at Channel 4:

Diversity Production Training Scheme – TV and New Media

Opportunities nationwide

We’re on the lookout for new voices. Talented people who are keen to spend 12 months with either a TV or new media production company, building the skills they need to launch their careers. The important thing here is NEW voices. Which is why this programme has been created for those who think they might never be able to break into the industry. There could be a hundred reasons why: you may be disabled for example, or from an ethnic minority, or perhaps you’ve never seen the inside of a university. Maybe you believe that your age could cause those doors to slam in your face. Whatever. The important thing is that you can bring ideas, energy and real passion. In return, we’ll bring you every opportunity to shine.

 What you get:

Training and experience. Lots of it. You could be developing story ideas for Skins, joking with Justin on the Friday Night Project or flirting with Gordon on the FWord. You could even be whipping up widgets for one of our websites. That’s the kind of thing you can look forward to during your year. Of course, there’ll be on-the-job learning when you’re with your assigned production company. But you’ll also get structured industry training sessions at Channel 4 and other top locations every month. Depending on the area you focus on, these might include working on location and in the studio, writing treatments, script reading, archive and copyright research, sketch writing, interviewing, camera techniques, games creation, working with actors and assessing contributors for television. On top of all that, there’s a generous training allowance of £17,000.

 Then what?

Although we can’t promise you a job at the end of it, we can promise that you’ll have developed the skills, knowledge and network of key contacts you need to start building your career.

This sounds fantastic “on the job training” and, as you can see, Channel 4 is dedicated to this. Even though C4 is London based, there are production companies here in the North West and I would imagine that there would be localised placing. But, the biggest production company in Manchester is the BBC itself along with Carlton/Granada.

I’m not paid to do this, so I’m not ringing round and writing to all these people. But, it does look good for the future and one way to prove you really want to do it is to do it voluntary at first. With real help from the BBC in getting into the industry it could lead to a fulfilling exciting career and good pay.

Here is a recent BBC vacancy:

Broadcast Assistant- Radio Drama

Knowledge, Skills & Abiities

Postholders at all levels must have a minimum of the following:

1. Broadly based general knowledge, with enthusiasm for and knowledge of broadcasting and the output of BBC Radio Drama.
2. A knowledge of the drama community and an interest in working with writers, actors etc.
3. Good knowledge of reference sources.
4. Knowledge of radio production techniques and of operational and administrative systems.
5. Familiarity with the technical equipment used in radio production and potential to undertake straightforward operation under transmission pressures.
6. Good aural judgement together with a developed interest in sound.
7. Good understanding of BBC Producer Guidelines.
8. Knowledge and experience of using IT systems / keyboard skills.
9. Knowledge of BBC accident, incident, broadcasting emergency and evacuation procedures.
10. A creative and proactive approach and able to offer up ideas and suggestions for future Drama.

BBC.co.uk/jobs

How do you get to know 1 - 10 unless you’ve been inside the BBC and trained in this area?

I joined MCIN November of last year and over 9 months later, still no news of BBC training in Manchester.. tick.. tick.. tick..

If  the BBC in Manchester are really committed to us, then it could be an exciting prospect and a great opportunity for all of us who are working voluntary, for no pay, because we want to do it. Hopefully, it will lead to payed full time employment in the media industry.

“Isn’t it small?” I remarked. “I know!” replied Kaite. What a grand day out in them there hills, we had.

BBC Radio Lancashire sits in a small showroom at the heart of Blackburn. Quietly ticking away the beat of entertainment, music and local news, pumping it out across the Lancashire hills to feed the brains of attentive listeners and any wandering sheep.

Their open day gave us an insight into the diversity of the ‘now’ BBC local radio & it’s multi-media platforms. Oh, let’s get techie. Creativity, opportunities, food & the Ladies @ Lunch went down a treat. Kaite enjoyed herself, as there were a few charity shops close by. Myself, I got to find out more info about News & Journalism courses held at UCLan.

What I learned at the first workshop was valuable, even if I never get to do a course like undergraduate.. or is it foundation? Anyways, I suddenly realised that what skills I gained here in Manchester is exactly what BBC local radio or BBC journalism is looking for. People that can work across different multi-media platforms, producing content for radio, TV and website.

The last time I went to a BBC open day was a few years back when BBC Manchester opened it’s doors for a day. That was not very good, too many people collecting free pens besides me. I just didn’t get anything out of it. BBC Radio Lancashire was more smaller and better, having quality workshops where I gained insight and got better understanding of todays 21st Century BBC background diversity drive.

There was a workshop on Media City, Salford Quays, and what it means to have a media city there for 2011. Did you know that there will be doctors and dentists there, too? All private, I guess! I know CBBC is not my ambition, but there are other opportunities in the UK (think national).

Some guys were surprised to find out that you can have a career in the BBC developing software. Yes, BBC iPlayer is an example. Then there’s web development and other areas, such as electricians. All them cables, someone has to change the fuse when they blow!

One day, you could be driving up the M61 / M6 and be listening to Paul Ridyard on BBC Radio Lancashire. Why not BBC RM, you may ask? They haven’t rang me yet. And I’m still waiting to hear about the 2 day journalism workshops put on by BBC Manchester. I won’t hold my breath, instead I’m going to find out more about BBC Lancashire & UCLan and look at the education opportunities and career prospects.. seeing that BBC are heading North, doesn’t seem to be much happening here at the mo.

Yes.. that is Tony Livesey on the wall and somewhere in the distance, where the banner is, is sex change soldier Jan Hamilton.