Media Trust calls for professionals to volunteer for mentoring scheme

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Communications charity the Media Trust is calling for media professionals with digital skills to share their expertise as part of a new mentoring scheme.

With the launch of the Digital Volunteer Recruitment Campaign the Trust is hoping to build on its existing network of 2,101 volunteers by signing up journalists and other media workers to work alongside charities, community groups and young people that need assistance with digital projects.

The campaign is looking for those with digital media, marketing, communications, social media, web development, digital photography and film production skills in particular. A Facebook app offering a Digital IQ test has been launched to promote the recruitment drive.

The aim of the mentoring scheme is to help communities and organisations reach new audiences and get their voices heard, says the Trust in a release. The media organisation published research yesterday looking at the state of local news media in the UK, which found that local communities feel disempowered and irrelevant.

"Too many charities, communities and young people are missing out on the vast benefits of digital media, and because of this often face exclusion and isolation, or simply don't reach their full potential," says Gavin Sheppard, director of marketing for the Media Trust, in a launch statement.

"This campaign sets out to encourage digital professionals of all levels to pass on their skills, including those who might otherwise hesitate to volunteer, via a range of flexible options. Whether it's mentoring a young person on their media project, or providing one-off advice to a community group about their social networking, any contribution could make a real impact and bring with it a huge sense of personal and professional reward for the volunteer."