Media Training for Voluntary and Community Sector Beneficiaries Richard Holmes Communications Manager Objective 1 Programme South Yorkshire United Kingdom

South Yorkshire is NUTS 2 Part of the English region Yorkshire and The Humber Centred around the city of Sheffield Objective 1 for

South Yorkshire Objective 1 Programme In 1990s South Yorkshire suffered high levels of deprivation following the decline in its traditional industries of steel making, heavy engineering and coal mining Programme’s focused on increasing wealth and transforming the local economy €3.3bn programme includes €1.2bn from structural funds 26,000 new jobs created (so far) GDP is rising: latest figures EU %, EU15 84% South Yorkshire is a phasing-in region for

ESF is delivered through a single national programme in England with resources ring-fenced for each region ERDF in the region will be delivered through a single competitiveness and employment objective programme with ring- fenced funding for South Yorkshire as a phasing-in region. Programme to be managed by the RDA Structural Funds in the Region ERDFESF South Yorkshire (phasing-in) €271,041,000€180,694,000 Yorkshire & Humber (excluding South Yorkshire) €312,540,000€214,978,000

Priority 4 – Developing economic opportunities in targeted communities Many small scale, low grant value, grassroots projects Managed by neighbourhood or voluntary organisations Priority 4 contains 11% of SF investment but supports 36% of the projects Volunteers often have limited publicity experience or skills They don’t want to spend their “precious” funds on paid publicity South Yorkshire Objective 1 Programme

We offer training workshops to help these groups use the media to publicise their stories – a low cost option Training is locally based and free Small groups (6-10) Informal and practical Delivered by the Programme’s experienced publicity team

Workshops help participants:  Recognise what is “news”  Understand the media’s needs  How to present their story to give it the best chance of being covered  How to write a press release  Learn where, when and to who they can send stories  Each participant brings a story idea and leaves with a developed press release

Workshops also cover: The importance of the “soundbite” in interviews Using quotes in press releases to express opinions Personalise the stories Focus on outcomes not process Using pictures to sell a story Deciding whether to supply the picture or stage a photo opportunity Deliver a Euopean and programme message

People from around 50 community or voluntary groups have attended the workshops All attendees have placed at least one story in the media, a growing number have placed many We continue to offer a publicity support and mentoring service by and telephone

Contact Richard HolmesT: Communications ManagerF: Objective 1 South Yorkshire Silkstone House Pioneer Close Wath Upon Dearne ROTHERHAM S63 7JZ United Kingdom